“He'd tell you they were doing their best,” said “Big Jack.” “And maybe he thinks they are. But you'll see—something'll keep happening; they'll drag on from day to day, and they'll not start the fan till they're ready.”
“Why, it's murder!” cried Hal.
“It's business,” said Tom Olson, quietly.
Hal looked from one to another of the faces of these working people. Not one but had friends in that trap; not one but might be in the same trap to-morrow!
“You have to stand it!” he exclaimed, half to himself.
“Don't you see the guards at the pit-mouth?” answered David. “Don't you see the guns sticking out of their pockets?”
“They bring in more guards this morning,” put in Jerry Minetti. “Rosa, she see them get off.”
“They know what they doin'!” said Rosa. “They only fraid we find it out! They told Mrs. Zamboni she keep away or they send her out of camp. And old Mrs. Jonotch—her husband and three sons inside!”
“They're getting rougher and rougher,” declared Mrs. David. “That big fellow they call Pete, that came up from Pedro—the way he's handling the women is a shame!”
“I know him,” put in Olson; “Pete Hanun. They had him in Sheridan when the union first opened headquarters. He smashed one of our organisers in the mouth and broke four of his teeth. They say he has a jail-record.”