Evening star., 1938-12-29
BY H. G. WELLS.
CHAPTER XIX.
"Rud. Inst R.ud -

Rud had fired his shot. He stood
without an idea In the world about
the next step to take. Left to him
self he would probably have got
down from the platform and gone
home.
I'VE can march back on this" said
Bodisham suddenly at his elbow.
March back?"
ITO headquarters. While we're
on the crest"
But where-?"
ITO headquarters" cried Steen-
hold, gleefully grasping the idea.
"Oh. great"
"Headquarters!" said breed. "of
course!"
Your meetings. laundering sue
cess" said Irwell to the tall young
man. "Now's the time for the tri-
umphant exit. :. No. They don't
want to hear you"
Rud had got it in an instant.
He was already gesticulating to the
crowd. He had made Bodisham's S
inspiration his own. Mastery re-
turned to him. OF course! Now was
the moment to strike. He shouted.
Nov that I've explained things
to you, perhaps you'll fall in with
us. March with us to the Purple
House! We don't mind q red ban
ner or two. Facts not flags, is our
motto. Put down your names with
us. Never mind your party or your
party wire-pullers. Never mind your
leaders! Or ours for that matter.
Come and give q cheer for the COM
nonsense man, the good old COM
mon man, who's the real backbone
OF all OF us. Net's get . move on,
Bodisham0"
Newspapermen Make Notes.
The reformation of the home
ward march was q thing of routine.
Rud saw two manifest newspaper
men making notes. THE short
hand reporter" he said to Chiffan.
%. X" said Chi1an. II looked
after that"
where's the band? Where's the
other banners?" said Bodisham, tax
ing complete control of the tall young
man.
There's one banner about the
Jews" said Rud in a quick under
tone over his shoulder. Turl that.
We don't want that stun today
anyhow. Furl all the banners.
Well alter those rotten inscriptions
later"
Hustle around, boys" said the
tall young man to his posse of stall
warts.
Keep together" said Rogers, close
behind him. 80.
And how was the official observer
in the air above to know that the
Popular Socialist procession, that
was reforming itself and making a
departure so much more spirited
and substantial than its arrival, was
really a captured procession? All
that he remarked was that it seemed
to be exercising a. .suctorial influence
on the accumulating crowd round
about 1t. 1t seemed to be taking
three-quarters of the Communist
crowd with it. That was odd. There
might be some sort Of trouble pres
emily. So the radio got to work and
the police drifted toward the purple
banners to see that law and order
kept pace with the swelling crowd.
Preoccupied Manner.
Rud was borne along with his par
ticular adherents in the midst of the
column. He carried himself now in
a grave and preoccupied manner.
At moments he felt like a mighty
commander with everything obedi-
ent to his hand; at moments he felt
like cork in q stream. But his
prevailing feeling was confidence
and exaltation. Everything was 60
ing easily. There had been no
fighting. The crowd was driving
along in a state of indeterminate
appreciation. Some one had started
shouts Of "Common-se party.
Not too soon." And Common sense
at last" One voice even cried,
Good old Horny" and another tried
the old slogan, I'VE want Bohun." "
But no one took that up. The
Popular Socialist band, of two kettle
drums and half a dozen fifes, sus-
tanned the Popular Socialist march,
ing tune:
"One,tw one, two, three,
Horny Bohun is the man for me-"
But a number of men and lads
and one or two young women were
pressing in on the central group to
get a nearer view of Rud. whats
your name, mate? What's his name,
mister?"
"Rud," said Rogers.
'Rud wlat?"