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imprisonments for picketing； or sometimes merely for booing at the
remnant of those who still clung to their employment。 One magistrate in
particular； a Judge Hennessy； was hated above all others for giving the
extreme penalty of the law； and even stretching it。 〃Minions； slaves of
the capitalists； of the masters；〃 the courts were called； and Janet
subscribed to these epithets； beheld the judges as willing agents of a
tyranny from which she； too； had suffered。 There arrived at Headquarters
frenzied bearers of rumours such as that of the reported intention of
landlords to remove the windows from the tenements if the rents were not
paid。 Antonelli himself calmed these。 〃Let the landlords try it！〃 he
said phlegmatically。。。。
After a while； as the deadlock showed no signs of breaking； the siege of
privation began to tell； ominous signs of discontent became apparent。
Chief among the waverers were those who had come to America with visions
of a fortune； who had practised a repulsive thrift in order to acquire
real estate； who carried in their pockets dog…eared bank books recording
payments already made。 These had consented to the strike reluctantly；
through fear； or had been carried away by the eloquence and enthusiasm of
the leaders； by the expectation that the mill owners would yield at once。
Some went back to work； only to be 〃seen〃 by the militant； watchful
picketsgenerally in their rooms； at night。 One evening； as Janet was
walking home； she chanced to overhear a conversation taking place in the
dark vestibule of a tenement。
〃Working to…day？〃
〃Yah。〃
〃Work to…morrow？〃
Hesitation。 〃I d'no。〃
〃You work； I cut your throat。〃 A significant noise。 〃Naw； I no work。〃
〃Shake！〃
She hurried on trembling； not with fear； but exultingly。 Nor did she
reflect that only a month ago such an occurrence would have shocked and
terrified her。 This was war。。。。 On her way to Fillmore Street she
passed； at every street corner in this district； a pacing sentry； muffled
in greatcoat and woollen cap； alert and watchful； the ugly knife on the
end of his gun gleaming in the blue light of the arc。 It did not occur
to her； despite the uniform； that the souls of many of these men were
divided also； that their voices and actions； when she saw them
threatening with their bayonets； were often inspired by that inner
desperation characteristic of men who find themselves unexpectedly in
false situations。 Once she heard a woman shriek as the sharp knife
grazed her skirt： at another time a man whose steps had been considerably
hurried turned； at a safe distance； and shouted defiantly：
〃Say； who are you working for？ Me or the Wool Trust？〃
〃Aw； get along；〃 retorted the soldier； 〃or I'll give you yours。〃
The man caught sight of Janet's button as she overtook him。 He was
walking backward。
〃That feller has a job in a machine shop over in Barrington； I seen him
there when I was in the mills。 And here he is tryin' to put us out
ain't that the limit？〃
The thud of horses' feet in the snow prevented her reply。 The
silhouettes of the approaching squad of cavalry were seen down the
street； and the man fled precipitately into an alleyway。。。。
There were ludicrous incidents； too； though never lacking in a certain
pathos。 The wife of a Russian striker had her husband arrested because
he had burned her clothes in order to prevent her returning to the mill。
From the police station he sent a compatriot with a message to
Headquarters。 〃Oye； he fix her！ She no get her jawb nowshe gotta stay
in bed！〃 this one cried triumphantly。
〃She was like to tear me in pieces when I brought her the clothes；〃 said
Anna Mower； who related her experience with mingled feelings。 〃I
couldn't blame her。 You see； it was the kids crying with cold and
starvation； and she got so she just couldn't stand it。 I couldn't stand
it； neither。〃
Day by day the element who wished to compromise and end the strike grew
stronger； brought more and more pressure on the leaders。 These people
were subsidized； Antonelli declared； by the capitalists。。。。
CHAPTER XVIII
A more serious atmosphere pervaded Headquarters； where it was realized
that the issue hung in the balance。 And more proclamations； a la
Napoleon； were issued to sustain and hearten those who were finding bread
and onions meagre fare； to shame the hesitating； the wavering。 As has
been said； it was Rolfe who； because of his popular literary gift；
composed these appeals for the consideration of the Committee； dictating
them to Janet as he paced up and down the bibliotheque； inhaling
innumerable cigarettes and flinging down the ends on the floor。 A famous
one was headed 〃Shall Wool and Cotton Kings Rule the Nation？〃 〃We are
winning〃 it declared。 〃The World is with us！ Forced by the unshaken
solidarity of tens of thousands； the manufacturers offer bribes to end
the reign of terror they have inaugurated。。。。 Inhuman treatment and
oppressive toil have brought all nationalities together into one great
army to fight against a brutal system of exploitation。 In years and
years of excessive labour we have produced millions for a class of idle
parasites； who enjoy all the luxuries of life while our wives have to
leave their firesides and our children their schools to eke out a
miserable existence。〃 And this for the militia： 〃The lowest aim of life
is to be a soldier！ The ‘good' soldier never tries to distinguish right
from wrong； he never thinks； he never reasons； he only obeys〃
〃But；〃 Janet was tempted to say； 〃your syndicalism declares that none of
us should think or reason。 We should only feel。〃 She was beginning to
detect Rolfe's inconsistencies； yet she refrained from interrupting the
inspirational flow。
〃The soldier is a blind； heartless； soulless； murderous machine。〃 Rolfe
was fond of adjectives。 〃All that is human in him； all that is divine
has been sworn away when he took the enlistment oath。 No man can fall
lower than a soldier。 It is a depth beyond which we cannot go。〃
〃All that is human； all that is divine；〃 wrote Janet； and thrilled a
little at the words。 Why was it that mere words； and their arrangement
in certain sequences； gave one a delicious； creepy feeling up and down
the spine？ Her attitude toward him had become more and more critical；
she had avoided him when she could； but when he was in this ecstatic mood
she responded； forgot his red lips； his contradictions； lost herself in a
medium she did not comprehend。 Perhaps it was because； in his absorption
in the task； he forgot her； forgot himself。 She； too； despised the
soldiers； fervently believed they had sold themselves to the oppressors
of mankind。 And Rolfe； when in the throes of creation； had the manner of
speaking to the soldiers themselves； as though these were present in the
lane just below the window； as though he were on the tribune。 At such
times he spoke with such rapidity that； quick though she was； she could
scarcely keep up with him。 〃Most of you； Soldiers； are workingmen！〃 he
cried。 〃Yesterday you were slaving in the mills yourselves。 You will
profit by our victory。 Why should you wish to crush us？