The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-08-24
CAN YOU
HEAR THEIR
; s;;::;;;;.:s VOICES?

Many Oh them passed the D3n4
windows, never suspecting what wal
going on within. Purcell saw then
as he leaped to his feet in the fln5
of Wrangling with his son-in-law
the cashier, and old DR.. Jeperson
the president, and walked to tn
front window of the Bank of Paris
"They's walking around tbs
streets with guns now, and yol
talk about closing the bank! knew
you do this" he screamed, shaking
his fist at his son-in- law, the heavJ
Jaws turkey red. ct knew you'd d.
this, I knew you would! You ana
your damn fool farm mortgages
And now the bank will crash, ana
so will you and SO will the Doc
But I won't! took care OF thatI"
my BABY'S
DYING
The main road entered ParN
after turning a right angle, AROUND
an Usage hedge, and crossing 4
creek, dried up in the drought, on
wooden bridge. 1t passed TIN
double row of storefronts, and re-
turned to the prairie on the otheJ
side. Two tracks led south and
north to scattered farms. T11s
latter had once been busy wten
Purcell worked his ground-level
mines in the hills, twenty miles I'd
the north. They had been closed
down for years.
Wardell and Davis found abore
thirty armed men on the main
street.
ST don't know what to do" said
little man named Shays, "my
baby's dying. He's dying all right
dying. And we haven't got milkf
Neither have wei"
1--WE haven't had any for tHd
days. My baby's dying"
"We got some but my creditE
gone. We can't even get any food
But milk comes first"
There's only one place you cam
get milk around here" said Wars
dell
where's that?"
cat Purcelps."
eve know thatl Where are vic
going to get the money! He's n0e
giving it away, and he don't truse
now"
did you say your kid was dying,
Dan?" WardeIl asked Shays.
Eyes, he'll die if don't get him
milk"
I'm glad you got your rifle with
you Will you come with me to
PurcelFs and make them give you
milk?"
The little man blenched. "Take it
from Purcell, you mean?"
That's what I mean. VIII any,
one else come with us? VIII YOU
Doscher?"
"No, I won't. know your So
cialist ideasl What do you think
am, theft"
will YOU lend me your gum
Doscher?" asked Davis. IT'D like to
60 with Jim and Shays. You know,
our farms are too near together,
and I can't stand listening to
your baby scream itself to death
itself to death, even if you can"
"Ill go!"
'Tl1 gol''
"I'll go!"
In the end, Doscher went, too.
They tramped out the western
side of the town, fighting their way
through the snow, and, IN half an
hour, were at Purce1l's.
Wardell led them to the back
door.
Lillian" he said, some Of these
men have babies, and all of us have
children. None of us have any
money. If those babies don't get
their milk tonight, some of them
will die They'll all die in a week
or two. Will you give us milk?"
Give it to you? How can give
it to you, Jim Wardell? You're
crazyp
you've got to give it to u.s."
How can give it to you? To
all of your"
you've got to give it 10 us. We.
know how to milk COWS just as well
as you do. If you don't give it to
us, we'll go down to the barn and
take it,"
She screamed, IT won't"
"In other words, you want us to
take it. All right, we'll take it?"
"Wait, wait minute, wait!" She
flew into the house.
| All three men sat stiff and terri
fled as the phone rang in the bank.
"Wcll, then, I'll answer it," said
Purcell
"They want you to give 1t to
them?" he shouted. Guns? Oh,
see," he said. "Wardell! I see.
Well, give it to them! Give it to
them! Give it to them!" He missed
the hook as he slammed the re-
ceiver against the case.
There's only enough here to last
two days at most" said Wardell as
they broke up.
"WeIl make it last FIVE" they
said, laughing.
The night the bank failed Franks
baby died.
He had not been out Of the house
for three days. He knew nothing
of the milk seizure at Purcell. The
WdiiiiiS VI t1iC Udpy anu LIS OWlI
hunger kept him awake, but at last
exhaustion stretched him out. He
awoke with a start to SEQ Hilda
bending over the draw where they
kept the child in some dirty blan-
kets. 1t seemed to him as if sorne-
one had screamed.
what is it, Hip" She had .
blanket in her hand.
II think baby's dead"
mo" He leaped up. He looked
at 1t and listened for breathing.