Bennington laughed. "I'm afraid you're a coward. So Mr. Chittenden must join the union or go. It isn't a question of wage scale or hours; it simply revolves around Mr. Chittenden. Supposing he joins the union, what will you give him to do?" Bennington's voice was that of a man who wishes to know all sides of the question. "Well, he'll have to learn where they all started from." "Mr. Chittenden is an expert machinist." "Let him join the union, then, and there won't be any trouble here. I want justice. This shop is union, and no non-union man can work here. I want justice, that's all." "You'll get that all in good time, Mr.--ah--?" "Morrissy." "Mr. Morrissy. Mr. Chittenden, are you willing to join the union?" Bennington smiled as he plied this question. "Not I! My word, I'd as lief starve as become a union man, and under such a master. I prize my manhood and independence above all things. I have already refused to join. I never take back what I say." "Neither do I, Mr. Chittenden." Bennington stood up. "Then out he goes," said Morrissy, recovering his truculence. "On what authority?" Bennington's voice was growing milder and milder. "On what authority?" he repeated. "On mine!" cried Morrissy. "You are mistaken. I am master here. Mr. Chittenden will remain on the pay-roll." "Then in ten minutes the men will walk out on my orders. You're making a big mistake, Mr. Bennington." "That is for me to judge." "Ten minutes to make up your mind." Morrissy made a gesture toward his watch. "Don't bother about the time, Mr. Morrissy. We'll spend the ten minutes in the molding-room." Morrissy turned pale. "Oh, we shan't come to fisticuffs, Mr. Morrissy. I am a gentleman, and you are not. Not a word!" as Morrissy clenched his fists. "Mr. Shipley," said Bennington to one of the committee, "will you get all the men together? I have a few words to say to them before this ten minutes is up. I want to give the men a fair show." "You can have twenty minutes, my English-bred gentleman," snarled Morrissy. At that moment he would have given a thousand dollars for the strength to whip the man whose ruin he believed he was planning. "I'm kind of anxious myself to hear what you've got to say. "In fact, I hope you will listen carefully to every word I say," replied Bennington, with a nod toward the door. The committee went out solemnly. Morrissy was next to the last to go down the stairs. Bennington followed closely behind him. "Some day I'll get a good chance at you, Mr. Morrissy, and the devil take care of you when I do. I shall see to it that the law will be found to fit your case." Morrissy shifted over to the balustrade, looking over his shoulder at the speaker. "Look here, you can't talk to me that way, Bennington."