Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-05-27
way and that, trampling the weak IN

way anu tHaL, Iranhpllns the weak nn-
derfoot, crushing, struggling, swearing,
| without reason or purpose. The police,
instantly suspecting riot, rushed in,
using their batons freely.
. BY sheer strength Fitzhugh wedoed
his way to the protection of a door,
which, being partly open, gave way
before The impact of his body, precipi-
/ tating him into a narrow hallway He
regained his feet in second, and
| stepping outside closed the door and
stood with his back against it.
| The next moment a singular thing
| happened. From out that frenzied
mob, like ship tossed by restless
sea into haven of safety, woman
was swept squarely into his arms For
bare moment he held her, flushed
and palpitating, in close embrace.
Then he released her and saw her hat
was missing and that her clothing was
! torn and disarrayed
THANK your she exclaimed breath
lessly.
| The rays Of nearby street lamp
fell athwart her face, and his first
| thought was that she was a Jewess
then a Russian, he added, apparently
OF good birth and schooling Though
she spoke with slight foreign accent, !
| her English was grammatically per-
feet. Her forehead, unusually broad
and high for a woman, and her cast of
| features denoted uncommon intellect.
| Like angry waves the mob ragged
about them in their inadequate refuge,
and he opened the door, pushed her
into the hallway, and followed, clos
ing the door behind them.
You'll find it safer in here" said
he, and added with some hesitation 4
"1-my name is Fitzhugh. You needn't
tell me yours If you'd rather not
Il see no reason why shouldn't, .
she retorted, yet with the hot color
Strom, Mr.. Fitzhugh, and l am very
happy to know you, even if only for
minute" She held out to him a
small, dark hand, and he pressed it in
his large, white one
Are you going inside?" she asked.
II don't think So" he laughed, and
motioned toward the crowd outside.
"How can II"
"You-I might be able to get you
inf you care to co."
de started. Then you are an"
"OhH' Her hand fumbled excitedly
at her neck, then dropped to her side
with little gesture of dismay I'm
of
valued very much. 1t was brooch
an heirloom. And I've lost itn'
He struck match and together|
they searched the floor.
Perhaps YOU dropped it outside,"I
he suggested; and feeling the neces-
sity of doing something, yet knowing
the futility of the action, he opened
the door leading to the street Mid
way between the door and the alley,
against the brick wall of the building,
he saw a large packing case. He
noted 1t was Of strong material, re-
enforced at the corners.
The woman seemed to have forgot
ten her loss in the rush of some
stronger emotion. She stood beside
him, gazing at the Nnclean crowd with
WiStful eyes, and there shone in the
liquid depths great sadness, and
something far rarer besides-sympa-
thy. You poor, wretched people y hel
heard her murmur. "How | wish II
could talk to you as should like to !nl
He looked at her quickly. His bud
ding thought burst suddenly into full
bloom. TO 'show OFF, before this
woman, to parade his talent beforeI
her, to Impress her and win her adj
miration-what delight that would be Il
Perhaps could do it for YOU" he
offered, his voice betraying his eager
ness. would you like to hear mel
try?'
Without waiting for her answer,
fearful lest 1t be negative, he ell
bowed his way to the packing easel
mounted it, drew deep breath, and
stood up to his full height The arc|
lamp, beating upon his face, served
uncommonly well for calcium light
"Fel-low cit-i-zens!'' His deep-toned|
bass doomed up and down the street.
"The time has come for revolt. The|
rich and the mighty have ground us
in the dust long enough. We must
turn. We must claim our own. Wei
are the pro-ducers-the backbone OIL
this powerful nation Who shall con-
troll 1.-THE capitalists or the working
men?"
His voice, deep and sonorous, pro-
nouncing each word very fully and
very distinctly, rang out over the dis
ordered crowd like foghorn cutting
through misty night.
1t was the old story of noise being
mistaken for wisdom, and it infamed
his hearers like fire to dry twigs.
Nothing could have more aroused
them. When after several minutes OIL
thunder and bombast he brought his
address to whirlwind close and
bowed and turned to climb down, there
was rumbling, mumbling, confused
outcry that arose, one solid roar oil
appreciation, and lasted until the CIV