The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-11-01

II guess you know all about our
grievances, he clustered with an air
of significance.
Il didn't know you had any," re-
turned Goodkind suavely
You didn't know we had any"
Joe didn't understand the employers
approach.
''Ah, you fellows are never salts
fed" Benfield broke in warmly.
You're getting plenty for what you
o." GoOdkind followed up. What
are you complaining about? You've
left good jobs to follow a lot of idle,
disconnected agitators. We've got to
win this fight on principle. The work
is there. 1 pay what 1 can get men
for, and not a cent more. Take it or
leave it."
I'VE got to hang together to get
anything" retorted Joe.
You're hanging-and what have
you got?" Goodkind had conferred on
Hennig, but it was Umanski who an
swered. Still standing quietly with
arms folded. his voice was as unemo-
| tional a shis pose.
Il work twelve hours-every day
thirty years-got nothing" he said
brokenly.
why should you have" broke in
Benfield. AN unframed man"
Jerry had been surveying the pro-
ceedings scornfully. He broke his ST.
lence now. sneeringly.
You don't even know English" he
said derisively.
I
twelve hours a day?" Umanski's
query was pathetically earnest.
Nobody asked you to take the
job" Jerry flung. Nobody asked you
to come over here. You're not an
American"
Umanski Strengthened quickly at
this remark.
Il was an American" he said with
a strange dignity.
'When?" sneered Jerry.
when 1 fight in the war"
Goodkind senior had turned to
Umansk now.
What do you want?" he asked in
terested.
I wanna chance to learn" replied
the stark figure, and a chance to
live. wanna chance to see--sun."
Your SOM" asked Goodkind. mis-
taking the word.
Gods sun" replied Umanski Il
never see him. Go to mines-him not
up. Work in mines-him not see. Go
home-him gone. Got baby five
years ago. Never see him. Go to
mines-him not up. Come back-hlm
sleep. Go one day-him gone"
''Dead?''- Goodkind's face took on
gravity.
My wife say: Good Not such
many to feed"
Hennig. easily swayed, had caught
something Of Umanskis note Of pro-
test
1T amt fair" he whined.
Jerry, apparently uninterested.
| drew out his cigaret case, lavishly
engraved affair. and took out a Gig
aret. Suddenly Umansh lost his stol1
cism and, unfolding his long strong
arms. crossed with rapid strides to
the younger Goodkind's side.
THAT little box" he shouted.
What you pay for him?" He pointed
to the cigaret case. Jerry, anticI-
pating, turned his back on the burn
ing eyes Of the man, not deigning to
answer. Il know" said Umanski.
| Gold. You pay more for him than
I got for swing pick thirty years. Me
and six families-we live in one
house you own. We got one room
upstairs, two down cellar Sleep
| there. Eat-cook - wash - upstairs.
See nothing but brick yard and
clothes hang up to dry. Wife-she
carry water from yard. Mel carry
/ potato peeling out front. Him rot. If
I don't like that. 1 quit-and starve. q"
You want to live on Fifth Ave, &"
said Jerry disgustedly.
IF don't like, other mans
WILL" continued Umanski. unmind-
| full. "Other mans take my Job. I got
| little girl 20 years old. Awful nice
little girl. Got gold hair. Got blue
| eyes. Her take sick. She sorry she's
sick"
His eyes went far away-looking
hack perhaps to two cellar rooms
and yard with clothes hung up to
dry, and beyond that into the dank
darkness of a mine.
She wanna go church. She ask
me; Pop, buy me pretty new dress
for church. Buy me pretty pink
dress. Where 1 get him? We hire
doctor once and he say: 'Air-sun-
shine-milk-eggs Got no Job. NY
little girl she cough-and cough
and one night slfe die"
He Strengthened now to his full
height.
Il tell you we git right to quit.
he said feverishly. I'VE got right
TO hang together. We got right to
dght-to lve-and, by God, we gonna
fght-we gonna live-we gonna-by
| God"
There came a sudden blare of music
and ripples Of laughter as the door
10 the music room opened and Dilly
Gillian burst in upon the tense
peroration Of this creature bounded
W memories.
Now, look here. JeEry, you're not
going to" billy began. Then she
raw that she had interrupted. I'm
/ sorry" she said haltHngly. =
Umansld stood looking at her. she
was 20! She had gold hair! She had
blue eyes. She had a pink dress!
Umanski stretched two trembling
arms toward her, then brought them
lack to cover his face. Haunted and
helpless he sank into a chair.
CHAPTER X
A Substitute
A heavy pail descended upon the