The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-13
THE SCAB

dudU. Inere WOulu pc Jne snow, anu alIer
that tete tete lunch, dancing; then, then
1t was with a pleasant feeling of anti
cipation that he handed Rosie into his smart
little coupe and swung the car away from the
poorer quarter of town.
MEANTIME as Rosie had surmised, Joe had
A'A gone to the union hall, but after listening
to a general discussion for a while he drifted
restlessly out into the street. ws.5
beating monotonousy his wifes words, Lazy
good-for-nothng, lazy good-for-nothing. The
injustice of the charge ranked keenly. 1t made
him think, give got to find work"
1t was while in this frame of mind that he
met Casey. Casey was head stevedore boss for
Mickner and Mack's, and, of course, looking
for men.
More damn fool you, Joe, for going out" he
argued. you're bound to lose, way things
are and meantime your wife and kid are up
against it, too. Don't forget that, Joe, the
women get it in the neck when you men let the
union pull you"
Instead of cursing him as he would have
done earlier in the day, Joe only thought:
Maybe Rosie amt so wrong to bawl me out
After all, married man has to think of his
family. ;"
The voice of the tempter went on:
'Looka here, Joe, we need good man like
you. Right now. Tonight. Come in while the
comings good, because, believe me, they'll be
Istampeding back in another fortnight, and then
whereH you be? The company'n remember
them that stood by now Better take me up
Joe."
Still Joe hesitated. To be scab. God, he
had always hated a scabl The words were
forming on his lips. In another moment he
would have said go to hell, Casey" when
smart coupe swung around the corner. He
recognized Mel Browning, his landlord, at the
wheel, and the woman at his side looked so
= r. ~
lent start. OF course it couldn't be Rosie; but
the resemblance the woman bore to her start
ed an unpleasant train of thought in his mind
After all Rosie was young and pretty, fond of
nice clothes and good time What if she
should be tempted to let some of them gay
blades, like young Mel was, take her around?
Of course Rosie wouldn't! Still if she did,
wouldn't it be his fault? She was asking him
for those things, wasn't she? and if he didn't
give them, why He felt his hands clench at
the bare thought.
'Say, Casey" he muttered thickly, chow
much is in that job?"
ERROWNING had taken Rosie to one of the
- best shows in town, which she had I'M
lfegnedly enjoyed. 1t had been so long since
she had been anywhere that she felt as if she
were living in dream. Afterwards he dN not
find it hard to persuade her to run out to
gay little place he knew of for bite to eat.
''It is twelve now,' he replied to her half
hearted objections, land your husband home
probably an hour ago. Might as well be hanged
for sheep as a lamb"
She laughed at this. After all, why not?
Joe always came home by ten-thirty; so Bobbie
wouldn't be alone after Mrs Jones retired. It
might be good thing to give Joe jolt. Be-
sides there was absolutely no danger with
Browning. Her escort was proving himself a
perfect gentleman, with just enough attention
in his manner to make her realize that she was
a woman and young, and pretty, and desir-
able. Why not drain the cup of pleasure to the
dregs for one night, since she could do so with
out harming anyone? OF course she would
never go with him again; So
CHE had never been to roadhouse like this
before. The main dining-room was bow
er of shaded lights, rose, green, purple. An
orchestra played jazz that made the feet want
to dance, dance. There was the tinkle of
ole fho LAM Of