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fellow like me to be a member with chaps like you。 But meantime；
for the present I must resign。 You have treated me like a brother
and a chum。 I have learned a lot from you all； but one thing
especially； which I shall never forget： that there is no real
difference in men that is due to their position in life； that a
man's job doesn't change his heart。〃
He paused for a few moments as if to gather command of his voice；
which had become suddenly husky。
〃I am sorry to leave you； boys； and I want to say to you from my
heart that though I cannot remain a member of this union； I can be
and I will be a brother to you all the same。 And I promise you
that； as far as I can； I will work for the good of the union in the
future as I have done in the past。〃
McNish alone was prepared for this dramatic announcement； although
they all knew that Maitland sooner or later would assume a position
which would link him up with the management of the business。 But
the suddenness of the change and the dramatic setting of the
announcement created an impression so profound as to neutralise
completely the effect of McNish's masterly speech。
Disappointed and enraged at the sudden turn of events； he was too
good a general to allow himself to be routed in disorder。 He set
about to gather his disordered forces for a fresh attack； when once
more the hockey men took command of the field。 This time it was
Snoopy Sykes； the most voiceless member of the union。
After a few moments of dazed silence that followed Maitland's
announcement of his resignation； Snoopy rose and； encouraged by the
cheers of his astonished comrades； began the maiden speech of his
life。
〃Mr。 President；〃 he shouted。
〃Go to it； Snoopy； old boy。〃
〃I never made a speech in my life； never〃
〃Good； old scout； never begin younger！ Cheerio； old son！〃
〃And I want to say that he don't need to。 I once heard of a feller
who didn't。 He kept on and he didn't do no harm to nobody。 And
the Captain here wouldn't neither。 So what I say is he don't need
to；〃 and Snoopy sat down with the whole brotherhood gazing at him
in silence and amazed perplexity； not one of them being able to
attach the faintest meaning to Snoopy's amazing oration。
At length Fatty Findlay； another of the voiceless ones； but the
very special pal of Snoopy Sykes； broke forth in a puzzled voice：
〃Say it again； Snoopy。〃
There was a roar of laughter； which only grew in volume as Snoopy
turned toward his brothers a wrathful and bewildered countenance。
〃No；〃 said another voice。 〃Say something else； Snoopy。 Shoot a
goal this time。〃
Again Snoopy rose。 〃What I said was this；〃 he began indignantly。
Again there was a roar of laughter。
〃Say； you fellers； shut up and give a feller a chance。 The Captain
wants to resign。 I say 'No。' He is a darned good scout。 We want
him and we won't let him go。 Let him keep his card。〃
〃By the powers；〃 roared Macnamara； 〃it is a goal； Snoopy。 It's a
humdinger。 I second the motion。〃
It was utterly in vain that Brother Simmons and his whole following
pointed out unitedly and successively the utter impossibility and
absurdity of the proposal which was unconstitutional and without
precedent。 The hockey team had the company with them and with the
bit in their teeth swept all before them。
At this point； McNish displayed the master…hand that comes from
long experience。 He saw his opportunity and seized it。
〃Mr。 President；〃 he said； and at once he received the most complete
attention。 〃A confess this is a most extraordinary proposal； but
A'm goin' tae support it。〃 The roar that answered told him that he
had regained control of the meeting。 〃Brother Simmons says it is
unconstitutional and without precedent。 He is no correct in this。
A have known baith maisters and managers who retained their union
cards。 A grant ye it is unusual； but may I point oot that the
circumstances are unusual？〃Wild yells of approval〃And Captain
Maitland is an unusual man〃louder yells of approval〃It may that
there is something in the constitution o' this union that stands in
the way〃Cries of 〃No！ No！〃 and consignment of the constitution to
a nameless locality。〃A venture to suggest that a committee be
appointed； consisting of Brothers Sykes； Macnamara and the
chairman； wi' poors tae add； tae go into this maitter with Captain
Maitland and report。〃
It was a master…stroke。 A true union man regards with veneration
the constitution and hesitates to tamper with it except in a
perfectly constitutional manner。 The opposition to the
administration's original resolution had gained what they sought； a
temporary stay。 The committee was appointed and the danger to both
the resolution and the constitution for the present averted。
Again Mr。 McNish took command。 〃And noo； Mr。 President；〃 he said；
〃the oor is late。 We are all tired and we all wish to give mair
thocht to the main maitter before us。 A move； therefore； that we
adjourn to the call o' the Executive。〃
Once more Brother Simmons found himself in a protesting minority；
and the meeting broke up； the opposition jubilant over their
victory； the supporters of the administration determined to await a
more convenient time。
CHAPTER XII
LIGHT THAT IS DARKNESS
At the next monthly meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union；
the executive had little difficulty in finally shelving the report
of its committee appointed to deal with the resignation of Captain
Maitland； and as little difficulty in passing by unanimous vote
their resolution held up at the last meeting。 The allied unions
had meantime been extended to include the building trades。 Their
organization had been perfected and their discipline immensely
strengthened。 Many causes contributed to this result。 A month's
time had elapsed and the high emotional tides due to athletic
enthusiasm； especially the hockey victory； had had space to
subside。 The dead season for all outdoor games was upon them and
the men； losing touch with each other and with their captain； who
was engrossed in studying his new duties； began to spend their
leisure hours in loafing about the streets or lounging in the pool
rooms。
All over the country the groundswell of unrest was steadily and
rapidly rising。 The returned soldiers who had failed to readjust
themselves to the changed conditions of life and to the changes
wrought in themselves by the war； embittered； disillusioned and
disappointed； fell an easy prey to unscrupulous leaders and were
being exploited in the interests of all sorts of fads and foolish
movements。 Their government bonuses were long since spent and many
of them； through no fault of their own； found themselves facing a
situation full of difficulty； hardship； and often of humiliation。
Under the influence of financial inflation and deceived by the
abundant flow of currency in every department of business；
industries by the score started up all over the land。 Few could
foresee the approach of dark and stern days。 It was in vain that
financial leaders began to sound a note of warning； calling for
retrenchment and thrift。 And now the inevitable results were
beginning