“I have not seen him, nor will I.” “Wrong again, lad. Let’s go back now, an’ have it out wi’ him before he goes whoam.” “No, no, I refuse to see him.” “Then Ah’ll see him. A thing like that mustn’t be. Discharged for no cause! Never! Ah’ve brought back the men, an’ Ah can bring them out again. Ah will, too, before Ah’ll let injustice like this happen!” “What good would that do? The men are helpless, as you know; besides, they wouldn’t come out, and, if they thought of doing so, I would myself beg of them to stay in their places. No, the proper thing now is to keep quiet; work hard; fill up the empty treasury; organize the trade--not locally, but universally; and see, when the next strike comes on, that we are not led by a fool like Gibbons.” “But lad, don’t ye want to find out why you’re paid off? It’s rank injustice, but there must be some reason for’t in Sartwell’s mind. Ye’ve like said some foolish thing that’s been misrepresented to him, an’ Ah’m sure Ah can put it straight. Ah didn’t think Sartwell was the man t’ listen t’ any jabber that was brought t’ him, but one can never tell.” “You’re quite right about Sartwell. He wouldn’t pay attention to talk that came to him, no matter what the talk was. No, it’s deeper than that. He knows my opinions about the proper organization of the men, but that wouldn’t influence him for a moment. Because I said no reasons were given, you mustn’t think I don’t know why he turned me adrift. I do, but it’s not a subject I care to talk about, even with you, Mr. Braunt. Only I should like you to understand that interference will do no good. I should like to drop out quietly and have nothing said. Remember that I, knowing all the circumstances, am not sure but that, were I in his place, I should have acted exactly as Sartwell has done. I’m not going to have this made into a grievance, for I don’t want it talked about. The main fact to know is that Sartwell and I are enemies, and there can be no peace between us until one or other is defeated. If you could talk Sartwell into asking me to come back,--and you know the difficulty there would be in that,--I wouldn’t go back. So you understand the uselessness of seeing Mr. Sartwell.” “But lad, how are ye t’ live?” Marsten laughed. “Oh, I’ll have no difficulty in making a living. Don’t you fear. I’ll stick by the Union too, and some day I hope to show Sartwell how a strike should be conducted.” “Right ye are, if that’s the game!” cried Braunt, bringing his hand down on the other’s shoulder. “Ah don’t believe much in strikes, but Ah believe in ye! Ah’ll see the men to-night, an’ All’ll have ye made secretary to th’ Union. That will be our answer ta Sartwell. Then, lad, ye can have enough to live on, and ye can put the pieces o’ th’ Union together ta suit ye.” “I should like that,” said Marsten, eagerly.