The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-05-01
The LIEUTENANT

warm as roasted salmons 1t was the sign that
the lieutenant must leave.
They send them here to trouble me, muir
INJURED the vice-consul as the lieutenant left.
The lieutenant continued his @searchZ after
he had pawned his watch for a few dollars.
He read the sign: Finnish Clothing Store
Matt Huuska Proprietor
From the darkest corner came Finnish
Clothing Store, Matt Huuska" himself, who
smiled his sweetest smile and asked, as hum
dred times before: ss..
---lWhat will you haye2s@sfao or yy66
/ What do want! Bread, thought the lieu
tenant. fn sysga.f aagny .ggfn na~
He told his1troubles i He spread his medals
and recommendations over the counter, en-
velope upon envelope, box after box. He told
his story, his deportation from his Sutherland
Matt Huuska, Proprietor, understood very WELL
nodded his head, understood perfectly. He ex-
amined the medals, even the letters, and orna-
ments engraved on them.
Il am delighted, he said. But am not able
to give any kind of work
But your BUSINESS is very good, pointed
out the lieutenant
Yes, but would lose it if you were here.
Why?
-Because-you see-you fought against
the workers.
Against red robbers corrected the lieu
tenant
oh yes, against robbers, but my custom
ers. they have tendency to defend. . .
these robbers, HIM.
And you. you submit. so far!
Matt Huuska's eyes flashed:
u am forced to submit
The friendly guise was removed and he
stared into the lieutenant's eyes, his brow
darkened for moment and his goodbye was
as sweet as if he hoped to ask the lieutenant
to hang himself.
Time flew
The petty bourgeois stepped aside-hats off
of course, recognizing his 'god-damned good
work. in the prison camps, adoring his medals,
absent-mindedly looking at his recommended
tons, but firmly refusing to give him work
Doors were closed noisily when the white guest
knocked. Or they pretended that they had
never even met him. The young republic
far in Northern Europe had forgotten her gal
liant son.
1t was the morning when the young wife had
found out that her last cent was gone.
What cruel fact!
A street repairing gang Weakened IN his mind
sympathetic feeling. 1t seemed to be very
simple work-everybody can do it wen if he
has not medals of honor or recommendations
in his pocket. He swallowed hard, drew nearer
the foreman and asked for work confusedly.
The foreman looked him over carefully. But
the lieutenant got his shovel
The shovel is not an odd tool No special
experience is necessary to learn to use it. In
stead of a sword he had the shovel in his hands.
Quickly he remembered-how he had sent to
heaven many who had shoveled for living.
And he realized that shovel was tool that
could raise revolutionary IDEAS
At breakfast time tall, strong man came
nearer to him and called him by a friendly
nickname 1t hurt his pride but remember
ing his present situation, he was silent
Did you come from Finland recently? the
man asked.
Yes, answered the lieutenant quietly.
With whom did you fight in the civil war?
Il fought against the robbers.
DO you mean that you fought against
capitalists?
Il mean that fought against red robbers.
| have some medals.
The lieutenant imagined that his answer
would arouse a feeling of WOrshin amongst the