The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-20


and feet of another, he dozed off.
1t wasn't long before Porky completely lost
his way in the wilderness of dreams. What an
easy road to forgetfulness. At first a distant
vision of little garden seemed to rotate about
his subdued senses 1t appeared SO far away
and always turning-tUrning as tho it were
glued on to a tasty spinning merry go round.
The hallucination soon faded away, and men
tai image Of a little cottage entered upon the
stage The picture was indistinctly blurred it
seemed to him as tho the tiny house rocked
unsteadiy; as rowboat lost in storm Sud-
denly the walls disappeared and entering the
unenclosed house, he dreamt Of clasping his
sister tightly in his arms. cold smile crossed
his immobile lips as he imagined Jeff thanking
him for the gift. This irregular chain of scenes
was abruptly broken by the shrill clarion of
familiar bugle call, which instantly brought
Porky to his feet.
A T>the outskirts of Maiden the soldiers
- alighted, formed ranks and another par
ade EMBODIED itself into the city. Upon cross
ing a wooden bridge the footsteps of the
marchers echoed in the distance like the stimuli
taneous cracking of thousand whips in the
hand of giant Goliath Arriving at the heart
Of the business district these apostles of de-
struction broke ranks, and like SO many we'll
trained automatons, began their performance.
IN an instant rigid Gordon was thrown about
most deserted streets. On each corner a SEN.
incl was posted, and machine guns were plac-
ID within easy reach. Every available sharp
shooter was assigned roof top with orders to
shoot at the least semblance of crowd.
Porly was detailed picked squad and or
dered to guard the property of the United Mine
Company where demonstration of striking
miners was expected.
In normal times the population of Maiden
was about twenty thousand but now after
months of bitter industrial strife many families
had migfatHds to e1e1ghboring hcities. y Almost
| daily one could see along the state road never
ending exodus of vehicles carrying what little
furnishings the fugitives possessed. Leading
stores were closed because of lack of BUSH
ness. Most of the natives kept indoors; what
few people sauntered about the streets did so
aimlessly, just shuffling along from nowhere
to nowhere At home the kids kept lookin' at
you with their hungry little eyes protruding
inquisitively; but quiet never saying a word.
A precocious intuition seemed to inform them
that something was wrong. And in the streets
the stencil of uncleaned cutters was unbear-
able. The very rows of the two-story dwell
ings seemed to sag under the weight of black
fumes emanating from their chimneys. To a
stranger it would seem as tho a plague had
struck the town-and one did; an Industrial
plague.
A RRIVING at the pit-head of the mine, Porky
scattered his men about the premises.
Propped his gun against fence, rolled a ci-
gazette and began perambulating leisurely up
and down the wet grounds. What fools these
people were, he thought; always striking, al
ways kicking. "What in hell did they want,
anyhow"
Porky's cogitations were abruptly arrested
by the approach of a crowd of miners from
the west side. Face after face appeared in an
irregular procession. Lean, hungry looking
men, they were, for the most part. nl-fitting
clothes hung loosely on their shrunken frames.
Their faces bore a grim determinaton-the de-
termination of hunger was indelibly stamped
upon their foreheads.
Spying the soldiers around the pit, the min
ers stopped and instantly one of the crowd
arose upon box and began addressing them.
HE hadn't spoken long when Porky approached
with drawn revolver and commanded cockily:
"GOWan get along This amt no nlace To