Nuddle saw Mamise first and winked, implying that he also was making a fool of Davidge. Davidge looked sheepish, as he always did when he was caught in a benevolent act.
“I was just talking to your brother-in-law, Miss Webling,” he said, “trying to drive a few rivets into that loose skull. I don’t want to fire him, on your account, but I don’t see why I should pay an I. W. W. or a Bolshevist to poison my men.”
Davidge had been alarmed by the indifference of his sentinels. He thought it imbecile to employ men like Nuddle to 309 corrupt the men within, while the guards admitted any wanderer from without. He was making a last attempt to convert Nuddle to industry for Mamise’s sake, trying to pluck this dingy brand from the burning.
“I was just showing Nuddle a little bookkeeping in patriotism,” he said. “The Liberty Loan people are coming here, and I want the yard to do itself proud. Some of the men and women are going without necessities to help the government, while Nuddle and some others are working for the Kaiser. This is the record of Nuddle and his crew:
“‘Wages, six to ten dollars a day guaranteed by the government. Investment in Liberty Bonds, nothing; purchases of War Savings Stamps, nothing; contributions to Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., K. of C., J. W. B., Salvation Army, nothing; contributions to relief funds of the Allies, nothing. Time spent at drill, none; time spent in helping recruiting, none. A clean sheet, and a sheet full of time spent in interfering with other men’s work, sneering at patriotism, saying the Kaiser is no worse than the Allies, pretending that this is a war to please the capitalists, and that a soldier is a fool.’
“In other words, Nuddle, you are doing the Germans’ business, and I don’t intend to pay you American money any longer unless you do more work with your hands and less with your jaw.”
Nuddle was stupid enough to swagger.
“Just as you say, Davidge. You’ll change your tune before long, because us workin’-men, bein’ the perdoocers, are goin’ to take over all these plants and run ’em to soot ourselves.”
“Fine!” said Davidge. “And will you take over my loans at the banks to meet the pay-rolls?”
“We’ll take over the banks!” said Jake, majestically. “We’ll take over everything and let the workin’-men git their doos at last.”