The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-18
Pricked Into Action

- ED MURPHY came home from his nine hours OF
~ work at the plant. He entered the kitchen
where his young wife, a bride Of five months, was
engaged In cooking the evening meal Hilda, the
wife, Of Scandinavian descent was small and
pretty. She was wearing neat little apron which
had been wedding gift and had started out on the
theory that she must look slouchy when Red
arrived from work.
Red was Irish and young husky He looked
unconsciously picturesque in pair of tightly fit
ting truosers which displayed shapely and sturdy
leg. Short, they showed expanse of ankle above
the low shoes! At the waist-a small waist such
as an athlete values-they were tightly belted in.
And above the belt was prodigious chest covered
with blue flannel shirt while on top of that was
a heavy sweater coat, unbuttoned. The whole out
fit of clothing made Red look about broad a
barn. sstt .E8s. aaA Ass. ef.,
Red stopped over and gave his lunch kit a slide
across the linoEeum into the corner near the gas
stove. He then took OF cap that had been ct q
raksh angle on his head of rebellous, red, curly
hair, and gave'ft a7toss toward hook the wall,
where it caught and hung itself. IA
This accomplished Red threw both arms about
Hilda and gave her rough but affecuonate hug.
Then he grew suddenly sober
Say he ventured, I've got something awful in-
portant to tell you. We went on a strike today.
don't go TO work in the morning"
For moment, Hilda looked surprised. Then,
she calmly turned the pork chops in the skillet with
a fork she said: well, while 1t may be bit hard
on u.s. Pm glad you have struck. It's about time you
fellows did something"
Red beamed through crop Of frecles Say"
he exclaimed, you're a brick-posi-tively. Some
women wouldn't take 1t that way. Why Bill Stark
afraid to go home to his wife, for fear she'd
bawl him out and send him back to work again.
You're the right sort, you Almost glad mar
ried you, eh?"
Hilda gave the chops another turn. my father
a union man. know something about It. But
before you wash up for dinner I've got something
to tell you, too"
Shoot away said Red. asss
Hilda over pulled Reds head down to
level with her own, and whispered very mysteriousy
Red drew back, grabbed. her by both shoulders,
and looked down into her anxious face. Say" he
exclaimed, you amt kidding me? Honest is that
the straight goods? Well, I'll say that is just fine
Gee, but I'm proud and happy But worried, too,
when l come to think about you"
"You are really glad?" she asked.
Sure, I'm glad" he exclaimed
With difficulty Hda got Red to wash up and sit
down. For time the strike was forgotten and he
rambled on about the exciting news that Rflda had
impaired. But toward the end of the meal, he grew
serious again.
Say" he remarked they're going to have
meeting Of the strikers tonight at Mason's Hall.
Going to start some kind of union. OF course,
later we'll have regular organizer come but
gotta start something quick to show the boss We
mean business. They said we ought to bring
women to get them interested. l thought l would
ask you to CO. but of course now suppose you
can't"
why can't II" asked Hda.