"Nigh five years, Father."
"And you got all—those things?"
"Sure. More."
Father Adam nodded.
"And those are the things a man's entitled to. Just those," he said. "If a man wants more it's up to him. He must earn it in competition with the rest of his fellows. If he can't earn it he must do without, or quit the honesty that entitles him to hold his head up in the world. There's no honesty in the things these men propose."
"That's so, Father."
There was decision in the man's agreement. But even as he spoke his gaze wandered in the direction of two small children, like bundles of fur, playing in the snow.
"Poor little kids," he said. "Say, it's hell for them with heat cut off."
Again the tall man nodded as he followed the other's gaze.
"That's so. But I don't blame the mill-bosses. This gang is trying to steal from the men who've always handed out a straight deal. Do you blame them for defending themselves?"