There were four affirmative answers.
"You know he's for sale?"
"I've been forced to buy him!" said Driscoll.
Baxter went on more easily, and with the smoothness of a book. "We have all found ourselves, I suppose, compelled to take measures in the interests of peace or the uninterrupted continuance of business that were repugnant to us. What I am going to suggest is a thing I would rather not have to do; but we are face to face with two evils, and this is the lesser.
"You will bear me out, of course, when I say the demands of the union are without the bounds of reason. We can't afford to grant the demands; and yet the fight against the union may use up the whole building season. We'll lose a year's profits, and the men will lose a year's wages, and in the end we'll win. Since we are certain to win, anyhow, it seems to me that any plan that will enable us to win at once, and save our profits and the men's wages, is justifiable."
"Of course," said three of the men.
"What do you mean?" Driscoll asked guardedly.
"Many a rebellion has been quelled by satisfying the leader."
"Oh, come right out with what you mean," demanded Driscoll.
"The quickest way of settling the strike, and the cheapest, for both us and the union, is to—well, see that Foley is satisfied."