Dan laughed softly.
“I didn't imagine you would be the first to advise me to shirk it.”
“I wouldn't ordinarily, but you don't know Antioch. They can make it very unpleasant for you. The town is in a fever of excitement over what has happened to-day. It seems the men are not through with you yet.”
“Yes, I know. My father should have gone back. It looks as if I'd yielded, but I couldn't ask him to when I saw how he felt about it.”
“You see the town lives off the shops and road. It is a personal matter to every man, woman, and child in the place.”
“That's what makes me so mad at the stupid fools!” said Oakley, with some bitterness. “They haven't the brains to see that they have a lot more at stake than any one else. If they could gain anything from a fight I'd have plenty of patience with them, but they are sure losers. Even if they strike, and the shops are closed for the next six months, it won't cost Cornish a dollar; indeed, it will be money in his pocket.”
“I don't think they'll strike,” said the doctor. “I didn't mean that exactly, but they'll try to keep you on a strain.”
“They have done about all they can in that direction. The worst has happened. I won't say it didn't bruise me up a bit. Why, I am actually sore in every bone and muscle. I was never so battered, but I'm beginning to get back, and I'm going to live the whole thing down right here. I can't have skeletons that are liable to be unearthed at any moment.”
He took a letter from his pocket, opened it and handed it to the doctor.
“I guess you can see to read this if you will step nearer the street-lamp.”