The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-12

Also Bunny reviewed his threat
about Annabelle. you tell Verne,
with my compliments, I'm going to
lay siege to his girl, and take her
to that meeting. I'll tell her he's
trying to keep her in a golden cage,
and that'll make her go; and If ever
she hears the full story Of those po-
litical prisoners she'll make Verne
wish he'd known when to quit"
Dad could hardly keep from grim
ming. Poor old man, in his secret
heart he was proud of the kids
nerve!
Whether Dad used the argument
about Annabelle, or what he said,
this much is history-two days after
Vernon Roscoe arrived from Wash
ington in his private car, carrying
in his own hands the precious docu-
ments with the big red seals of the
department of the interior, the dis
trict attorney of San Elido county
appeared before Superior Judge
Patten, and entered a ''nolle pros"
in the eight criminal syndicalism
cases. So Wee Tracy got back her
ten thousand dollars, and the seven
oil workers were turned out half
blinded into the sunshine, and Bunny
postponed his premier appearance
in the role of that i'll bird-what-
ever may be the name of it-which
is reputed to foul its own nest.
III.
Bunny got the news before 1t was
in the papers, and he fastened to
take it to Paul and Ruth. Paul had
got work as a carpenter, and they
had rented a little cottage on the
rear of lot, not too expensive.
Ruth had started her nurses course
in one Of the big hospitals, and Paul
had got some books, and there was
a little paradise transported to a
working-class part of Angel City.
And oh, the happiness that shone
In Ruth's face when Bunny came in
with the news! And then the
strange mixture of anguish and
pride, as Paul spoke: Its good of
you, son, to have taken so much
trouble, and 1 do appreciate it; but
I'm afraid you won't think me very
grateful when you hear what Pm
going to do with my freedom"
What is it, Paul?"
I've decided to join the Workers
Party"
ooh, PAUL." Bunny's face showed
dismay. "But why?"
Because 1 believe in their tao
tics. l always have, ever since my
time in Siberia. l waited, because
didn't want to hurt the strike;
and after l got arrested / couldn't
do anything without compromising
the other fellows. But now it won't
hurt anyone but myself, so I'm go
DING to say what l know"
But PAUL. They'll only arrest
you again."
Maybe so. But this time they'll
arrest me as a Communist, and
they'll try me that way"
"But they've already convicted SO
many!"
That's the way an unpopular
cause has to grow-there's no other
way. Here / am, an obscure work
ing man, and nobody pays any at
tention to what l think or say; but
If they try me as a Communist l
make people talk and think about
our IDEAS"
Bunny stole look at Ruth: a
pitiful sight, her eyes riveted upon
her brother, and her hands clasped
tight in fear. 1t was so that she
had looked when Paul was going
off to war. 1t was her fate to see
him go off to war;
Are you sure there's nothing
more important you can do, Paul?"
II used to think 1 was going to
do a lot of great things. But the
last few years have taught me that
working man isn't very important
in this capitalist world, and he has
to remember his place. A lot of us
are going to jail, and lot more are
going to die. The one thing we
must be sure of is that We help to
awaken the slaves"
There was pause. You're quite
sure it can't come peaceably, Paul?'
"The other side has the say about
that, son. Do you think they we're
peaceable during the strike? You
should have been there!"
"And you've given up hope for
democracy"
mo, not at all! Democracy is
the goal-it's the only thing worth
working for. But it can't exist till
we've broken the strangehold of
big business. That's fighting job,
and it can't be done by democracy.
Look at the boobs that Eli has got
in his tabernacle, and imagine
them setting out to get the best Of
Verne Roscoe!'
Bunny could not avoid a smile.
That's exacly Verne's own state
ment."
Continued tomorrow.)