hr.thecarpetbaggers-第106部分

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　The　noise　subsided　to　a　murmur；　then　all　the　men　were　watching　him。　Tom　waited　until　it　was　as　quiet　as　he　thought　it　would　get；　then　he　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　〃We　called　this　meetin'　because　today　the　pany　laid　off　fifty　men　an'　we　couldn't　find　Riordan　to　tell　us　why。〃　He　fumbled　with　the　gavel　for　a　moment。　〃The　union；　which　is　supposed　to　give　us　protection　on　our　jobs；　has　now　got　to　act；　even　if　we　don't　know　where　Riordan　is。　The　men　that　were　laid　off　today　had　seniority　an'　there's　no　reason　why　the　pany　shouldn't　take　them　back。〃
　A　roar　burst　from　the　crowd。
　〃While　you　fellers　was　drinkin'　beer；〃　Tom　said；　〃I　looked　up　the　rules　in　the　bylaws　printed　in　my　union　book；　an'　it　says　that　a　meetin'　is　entitled　to　call　for　a　strike　vote　if　more　than　twenty…five　members　is　present。　There's　more　than　twenty…five　members　here　an'　I　say　we　should　vote　a　strike　by　Monday；　unless　the　pany　takes　us　back　right　away。〃
　〃Strike！　Strike！〃
　〃We've　all　been　faithful　employees　of　the　pany　for　many　years　an'　always　gave　them　an　honest　count　an'　they　got　no　right　to　kick　us　out　like　that。〃
　〃Y…aay！〃
　〃Don't　let　the　nickels　stick　to　your　fingers；　Tom；〃　a　man　in　the　back　shouted。　〃There　may　be　a　spotter　in　the　crowd。〃
　There　was　laughter。
　〃If　there　is　a　spotter；〃　Tom　said　grimly；　〃let　him　go　back　to　the　pany　an'　tell　'em　what　we're　doin'　here。　We'll　show　'em　they　can't　push　us　around。〃
　There　was　a　burst　of　applause。
　Tom　waved　his　hand。　〃Now　we'll　vote　on　a　strike；〃　he　said。　〃All　in　favor　say　aye。〃
　The　men　were　suddenly　quiet。　They　looked　at　each　other　nervously。　The　door　at　the　back　of　the　hall　had　opened　and　Riordan　was　standing　in　it。　〃What's　all　this　loose　talk　about　a　strike；　men？〃
　They　turned　in　surprise　and　stared　at　him。　The　ruddy…faced；　heavy…set　union　organizer　started　down　through　the　meeting　hall。　A　buzz　came　up　as　they　saw　him。　It　was　almost　a　sigh　of　relief。　Riordan　was　here。　He'd　tell　them　what　to　do。　He'd　straighten　everything　out。
　〃Hello；　Tom；〃　Riordan　said；　walking　around　the　table。　He　held　out　his　hand。　Tom　shook　hands　with　him。　It　was　the　first　time　he'd　done　so。
　〃We　came　down　here　because　we　thought　the　union　should　be　doin'　somethin'　for　us。〃
　Riordan　gave　him　a　shrewd　look。　〃Of　course；　Tom；〃　he　said　soothingly。　〃And　it's　the　right　thing　ye　did；　too。〃
　Tom　sighed　in　relief。　For　a　moment；　he　had　thought　Riordan　would　be　angry　at　the　way　they'd　e　in　and　taken　over　the　hall。　He　watched　as　Riordan　turned　toward　the　men　and　held　up　his　hand。　A　silence　came　over　the　hall。
　〃Men；〃　Riordan　said　in　his　deep　voice；　〃the　reason　you　couldn't　find　me　was　I　beat　it　up　to　the　pany　office　the　minute　I　learned　about　the　layoffs。　There　was　no　time　to　call　a　meeting　but　I　want　you　to　know　that　the　union　was　right　on　the　job。〃
　A　cheer　went　up　from　the　men。　They　looked　at　each　other　embarrassedly。
　〃And　I　want　to　express　my　appreciation　to　Brother　Tom　Denton　here　for　his　prompt　action　in　bringing　you　all　down　here　to　the　union　hall。　It　shows　that　Tom　Denton；　like　every　one　of　you；　knows　that　the　union　is　his　friend。〃
　Tom　blushed　as　the　men　cheered　again。　Riordan　turned　back　to　the　crowd。　〃I've　been　working　all　afternoon；　fighting　with　the　management；　and　finally　I　got　them　to　back　down　a　little。〃
　A　loud　cheer　shook　the　ceiling。
　Riordan　raised　his　hand；　smiling。　〃Don't　cheer　yet；　boys。　Like　I　say；　I　only　got　them　to　back　down　a　little　bit；　but　it's　a　start。　They　promised　to　have　more　meetings　with　me　next　month。〃
　〃Are　they　takin'　us　back？〃　Tom　asked。
　Riordan　looked　at　him；　then　turned　back　to　the　men。　〃The　management　agreed　to　take　back　ten　of　the　men　who　were　laid　off　this　week。　They　also　agreed　to　take　back　ten　more　men　next　month。〃
　A　strange　silence　came　over　the　room。　The　men　eyed　each　other　nervously。　〃But　more　than　fifty　of　us　were　laid　off；〃　Tom　said　loudly。　〃What's　ten　men　out　of　that　many？〃
　〃It's　a　start；　Tom；〃　he　said。　〃You　can't　do　it　all　at　once。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Tom　demanded　hotly。　〃They　laid　us　all　off　at　once。〃
　〃That's　different；〃　Riordan　said。　〃The　pany　has　the　right　to　lay　off　if　business　is　bad。〃
　〃We　know　that。　What　we're　sore　about　is　the　way　they　did　it。　They　paid　no　attention　to　the　seniority　they　agreed　to　in　the　union　agreement。　They　laid　off　all　the　sixty…five…cent　men　and　kept　the　fifty…five…centers。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Riordan　said。　A　harsh　edge　had　e　into　his　voice。　〃But　their　taking　back　ten　men　is　a　start。　It's　better　than　having　all　fifty　of　ye　out　on　the　street。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　men。　〃Ten　of　you　will　go　back　to　work。　Maybe　next　month；　ten　more　will　go　back。　That's　better　than　nothing。　The　pany　doesn't　care　if　you　go　on　strike。　They　claim　they'll　save　money　by　not　running。〃
　〃I　say　we　take　it；〃　one　of　the　men　shouted。　〃Ten　of　us　workin'　is　better　than　none　workin'；　like　Riordan　says。〃
　〃No；〃　Tom　said　angrily；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃The　pany　should　take　us　all　back。　Each　of　us　has　as　much　right　to　work　as　the　next　one。　If　all　us　sixty…five…cent　men　would　accept　a　cut　to　fifty…five　cents；　the　pany　could　keep　us　all　on。〃
　Riordan　laughed　hoarsely。　〃You　hear　that；　men？〃　he　shouted。　〃Would　you　like　to　take　another　pay　cut？〃
　There　was　a　murmur　from　the　crowd。　They　shifted　uneasily。　〃I'd　rather　take　a　pay　cut　than　have　us　all　laid　off；〃　Tom　said。
　Riordan　glared　at　him。　There　was　no　friendliness　in　his　eyes　now。　He　had　been　angry　ever　since　he　got　a　call　from　the　pany　personnel　manager；　advising　him　he'd　better　get　down　to　the　union　hall。　The　call　had　caught　him　at　a　very　embarrassing　time。　He　got　out　of　bed；　cursing　as　he　struggled　into　his　clothing。　〃What　is　it；　honey？〃
　〃Some　jerky　conductor　has　taken　over　the　hall　and　is　talking　strike　to　the　boys。〃
　〃But　he　can't　do　that；〃　his　paramour　answered　in　a　shocked　voice。　〃You　promised　the　pany　they'd　have　no　trouble。〃
　〃They　won't；〃　he　said　harshly。　〃Nobody　can　make　Riordan　break　his　word！〃
　By　the　time　he'd　driven　down　to　the　union　hall；　he'd　simmered　down。　But　now　he　was　getting　angry　again。　He　had　a　hard　enough　job　explaining　to　his　wife　where　he　was　spending　his　Saturday　nights；　without　having　it　loused　up　by　a　bunch　of　stupid　trolley　men。
　He　turned　back　to　the　crowd。　〃I　propose　we　settle　this　here　and　now；〃　he　shouted。　〃You　have　a　choice。　Ten　men　go　back　to　work　or　you　strike。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Tom　protested。
　〃The　men　already　turned　your　proposal　down；〃　Riordan　snapped。　He　raised　his　right　hand。　〃All　in　favor　of　returning　to　work　raise　your　right　hand。〃
　About　ninety　men　raised　their　hands。
　〃Nays？〃
　There　were　only　a　few　raised　hands　besides　Tom's。
　〃The　ayes　have　it。　Now　you　men　go　home　to　your　wives。　I'll　let　you　know　on　Monday　which　of　you　go　back　to　work。〃
　Slowly　the　men　began　to　file　out　of　the　room。　Tom　looked　at　Riordan　but　the　man　didn't　meet　his　eyes。　Instead；　he　went　back　into　his　little　glass　cubbyhole　and　picked　up　the　telephone。
　Tom　walked　wearily　toward　the　door。　Some　of　the　men　looked　at　him；　then　quickly　hurried　by；　as　if　they　were　ashamed　to　meet　his　gaze。　At　the　doorway；　he　turned　and　looked　back。　Riordan　was　still　using　the　telephone。
　The　night　was　clear　and　bright　and　a　warm　breeze　came　in　from　the　bay。　He　walked　along　thoughtfully。　He　wasn't　going　to　be　one　of　the　lucky　ten　who　were　going　to　be　taken　back。　He　was　sure　of　that。　He'd　seen　the　anger　in　Riordan's　eyes。　He　turned　the　corner　and　walked　to　the　car　stop　on　the　next　block。　Idly　he　wondered　if　his　pass　was　still　good　now　that　he　was　laid　off。
　Two　men　came　past　him　on　the　darkened　street。　One　of　them　stopped。　〃Got　a　match？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Tom　said。　He　fumbled　in　his　pocket。　He　might　not　have　a　job　but　matches　he　still　had。　He　struck　the　match。　The　sudden　hardening　in　the　man's　eyes　and　the　sound　of　footsteps　behind　him　were　a　warning　that　came　too　late。　There　was　a　sharp　blow　to　the　back　of　his　head　and　he　stumbled　to　his　knees。
　He　reached　out；　grabbing　the　man　in　front　of　him　around　the　legs。　The　man　swore　under　his　breath　and　kicked　upward　with　his　knee；　catching　Tom　in　the　groin。
　Tom　grunted　from　the　pain　as　he　went　over　backward；　his　head　striking　the　sidewalk。　As　if　from　a　long　way　off；　he　felt　the　men　kicking　at　him　as　he　lay　there。　He　rolled　over　toward　the　edge　of　the　sidewalk　and　into　the　gutter。
　He　felt　a　hand　reach　into　his　pocket　and　take　out　his　pay　envelope。　Feebly　he　tried　to　grab　the　hand。　〃No；〃　he　pleaded。　〃Please；　no；　that's　my　pay；　it's　all　I　got！〃
　The　man　laughed　harshly。　He　aimed　a　final　kick　at　the　side　of　Tom's　head。
　Tom　saw　the　heavy　boot　ing　but　he　couldn't　duck　away　from　it。　Then　the　lights　exploded　in　his　face　and　he　rolled　over；　face　down；　in　a　puddle　of　water　in　the　gutter。　He　came　to　slowly；　painfully；　to　the　sound　of　water　against　his　face。　He　moved　his　head　wearily。　A　gentle　rain　had　begun　to　fall。
　His　body　ached　as　he　pushed　himself　up　on　his　hands　and　slowly　got　to　his　feet。　He　swayed　dizzily　for　a　moment　and　reached　out　to　the　street　lamp　to　steady　himself。　The　lamp　flickered　and　then　went　out。　It　was　almost　morning。　The　sick　gray　light　of　the　day　spilled　down　around　him。
　He　saw　his　blue　conductor's　cap　lying　in　the　gutter；　not　far　from　where　he　stood。　Slowly　he　knelt　and　picked　it　up。　He　brushed　it　off　against　his　coat　and　walked　toward　the　corner。　There　was　a　mirror　in　the　corner　of　the　drugstore　window。　He　paused　in　front　of　it　and　looked　at　himself。
　His　uniform　was　torn　and　shredded；　his　tie　askew；　the　shirt　buttons　ripped　away。　He　put　his　hand　up　to　his　face　in　touching　wonder。　His　nose　was　puffed　and　swollen；　and　one　eye　had　already　turned　purple。　With　the　tip　of　his　tongue；　he　could　feel　the　jagged　edges　of　broken　teeth。
　He　stared　for　a　moment；　numb　with　shock；　then　he　began　to　understand　what　had　happened　to　him。　Riordan　had　done　it。　He　was　sure　of　that。　That's　why　Riordan　had　been　on　the　telephone　when　he'd　left　the　union　hall。
　Suddenly；　he　realized　he'd　never　be　able　to　go　back　to　work　for　the　cable…car　pany。　Riordan　would　see　to　that；　too。　He　stood　there　looking　at　himself　and　the　tears　began　to　run　down　his　cheeks。　Everything　had　gone　wrong。　Everything。　Now　he　had　no　job　and　no　money。　And　worst　of　all；　he'd　have　to　tell　Ellen。
　She'd　never　believe　he　hadn't　been　out　on　a　drunk；　and　the　ironic　thing　was