Chapter XLI. The Strike

           

           ThebarnatwhichHurstwoodappliedwasexceedinglyshort-handed,andwasbeingoperatedpracticallybythreemenasdirectors.Therewerealotofgreenhandsaround—queer,hungry-lookingmen,wholookedasifwanthaddriventhemtodesperatemeans.Theytriedtobelivelyandwilling,buttherewasanairofhang-dogdiffidenceabouttheplace.

           Hurstwoodwentbackthroughthebarnsandoutintoalarge,enclosedlot,wherewereaseriesoftracksandloops.Ahalf-dozencarswerethere,mannedbyinstructors,eachwithapupilatthelever.Morepupilswerewaitingatoneofthereardoorsofthebarn.

           InsilenceHurstwoodviewedthisscene,andwaited.Hiscompanionstookhiseyeforawhile,thoughtheydidnotinteresthimmuchmorethanthecars.Theywereanuncomfortable-lookinggang,however.Oneortwowereverythinandlean.Severalwerequitestout.Severalotherswererawbonedandsallow,asiftheyhadbeenbeatenuponbyallsortsofroughweather.

           “Didyouseebythepapertheyaregoingtocalloutthemilitia?”Hurstwoodheardoneofthemremark.

           “Oh,they’lldothat,”returnedtheother.“Theyalwaysdo.”

           “Thinkwe’reliabletohavemuchtrouble?”saidanother,whomHurstwooddidnotsee.

           “Notvery.”

           “ThatScotchmanthatwentoutonthelastcar,”putinavoice,“toldmethattheyhithimintheearwithacinder.”

           Asmall,nervouslaughaccompaniedthis.

           “OneofthosefellowsontheFifthAvenuelinemusthavehadahellofatime,accordingtothepapers,”drawledanother.

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