The Coolidge examiner., 1934-01-26
Hunn-m N.


the craft over and slipping one arm
through a strap of his pack looked
about. Several buildings lined the
shore and from the largest came
smear of light The shadows of
men moved against this and in the
silence the sound Of a voice, lifted
in sustained and rapid talk, could
be heard.
Drake walked forward. This was
a store building. Men lined one
wall and lounged against the rough
counter. They were rough men, in
the clothing of woods laborers. They
stood listening intently to the short,
stocky one who stood in the center
confronting another who with arms
folded chewed slowly, eyeing the
speaker with a harried look.
That's the story, McNally,' the
stocky man said as If summing up.
IT'S more money right away or
Wen hit the grade We put it up
to Thorpe and he stalled us. Then,
because he died, we hung on waitin'
for Young Jim to show up.
We'll, Young Jim amt showed.
You're the only one who has any
say around here. We got it from
Franz that the Mid-Western folks
are payin' another quarter a cord,
and If they are, Polaris can, or else
get along without this crew."
The one addressed as McNally,
on the mention of the name Franz,
turned an irate stare toward a tall,
strapping young man who sat on
the counter, one knee clasped in his
great hands.
IL got no authority, Wartin," Nc
Nally made answer, Ito do anything
excepten what I'm doin'. If you
boys quit, it puts Old Jim right in
a hole. 1t amt any secret that this
pulp operations all that's keepin'
his chin above water Should it
stop, he'll sink; be busted wide
open. A lot of you've worked for
him for years; you've found him
fair and square and willin' to do a
bit more n anybody else does in
the way Of pay.
"As for what Western pays"
glancing again at Franz in open
dislike-"seems to me it's funny
you'll take for truth what's said
about an outfit that's a hundred
miles away. Looks funny to mew
Franz let his lip twist into a
queer smile.
But that's all l can tell you: l
got no right TO give you more and
that l think it's a dam shame that
you'll threaten TO hit a man who's
down on his back in more ways than
oner'
But we've waited" Wartin pro-
tested, as II on the defensive.
We've waited for Young Jim to
come. Don't you see, Mac, that we've
done our part?"
He spread his hands as II In ap-
peal for understanding and at that
Franz swung himself TO the floor
and spoke. I'm only an outsider
in this DEAL" he said, looking hard
at McNally, "but since I've been
dragged into 1t might as well speak
my piece. What's been said about
Old Jim Flynn and its being too
bad he's smashed up is all true
enough. But there's another side
to this: the mems side. If Flynn
is broke. just so much more reason
for these men to be certain of jobs
at fair wage either here or some
where else If other companies are
paying more than Flynn is you can't
expect a working man to get soft
hearted and 90 on working for char
ity.
And, McNally, you keep stalling
and asking 'em to wait until Young
Jim shows up. Young Jim Flynn !"
with a sneer. ANY one of you
ever see him? mol Not one. Nei-
ther have /. Has he ever been in
the woods? Not on this job, any
how. I'll tell you the stories they
tell about him. He's a drunken
bum; worthless punk. son Of a
rich man, as unreliable as a pet
wolf, and that's the kind of a boss
you're asked to hang on and wait
for and work for less than's your
rightful due until he gets herew
Men nodded. Franz saw that he
was swinging them. He gestured
and went on.
HE may never show up and may
be that's just what his father fig
ures: that he isn't supposed to show
up herel Oh, there's a lot of bunk
spread about Old Jim Flynn I'm
here to tell you that the old devil
has traded on sympathy for years
At heart he's a id black skunk,
Old Jim Flynn is!''
In the doorway, a threatened
stir. Steve Drake felt the skin
along his spine commence to crawl.
He waited, though, watching the
faces of those men nearest him /;
this was no moment to go off half
cooked and if some other, known
to that gathering, could and would
turn the tide that would be better.
"Old linn EIvnn -, Franz cried