"They're right in a sense," he answered. "But the men will be employed at
other things, which won't represent waste and capital overlapping.
Overlapping capital hits everybody in the end. But who says all that? Who
raises the cry of 'wolf' in Manitou?"
"A good many people say it now," she answered, "but I think Felix
Marchand said it first. He is against you, and he is dangerous."
He shrugged a shoulder. "Oh, if any fool said it, it would be the same!"
he answered. "That's a fire easily lighted; though it sometimes burns
long and hard." He frowned, and a fighting look came into his face.
"Then you know all that is working against you in Manitou--working harder
than ever before?"
"I think I do, but I probably don't know all. Have you any special news
about it?"
"Felix Marchand is spending money among the men. They are going on strike
on your railways and in the mills."
"What mills--in Manitou?" he asked abruptly. "In both towns."
He laughed harshly. "That's a tall order," he said sharply. "Both
towns--I don't think so, not yet."
"A sympathetic strike is what he calls it," she rejoined.
"Yes, a row over some imagined grievance on the railway, and all the men
in all the factories to strike--that's the new game of the modern labour
agitator! Marchand has been travelling in France," he added disdainfully,
"but he has brought his goods to the wrong shop.
Pages:
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102