Raging, Forbes stood up.
"Against your principles, is it?" he cried. "Well, it's against the principles of this firm to talk to you!"
"Mr. Forbes——"
"That's all I've got to say."
The organizer was unruffled. He maintained a rather terrifying dignity. He turned to the men.
"Come on, fellows," he said.
With a loud scraping of feet, the strikers and their leader passed out of the room.
Luke and Forbes remained quiet. Even for some time after the room was empty, they said nothing, and while they sat thus, a boyish voice rose from the street:
"Oh, I love my boss:
He's a good friend o' mine;
An' that's why I'm starving
Out in the bread-line!"
Somebody laughed, and several voices took up the chorus: