the ragged trousered philanthropists-第109节
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vent it from hurting the skin。 He was to get his mother to rub it in for him if he were too tired to do it himself。 Bert promised to observe these directions； and； drying his tears； took his dinner basket and limped off to catch the tram。
It was a few days after this that Hunter met with an accident。 He was tearing off on his bicycle to one of the jobs about five minutes to twelve to see if he could catch anyone leaving off for dinner before before the proper time； and while going down a rather steep hill the front brake broke … the rubbers of the rear one were worn out and failed to act … so Misery to save himself from being smashed against the railings of the houses at the bottom of the hill； threw himself off the machine； with the result that his head and face and hands were terribly cut and bruised。 He was so badly knocked about that he had to remain at home for nearly three weeks； much to the delight of the men and the annoyance … one might even say the indignation … of Mr Rushton； who did not know enough about the work to make out estimates without assistance。 There were several large jobs to be tendered for at the same time； so Rushton sent the specifications round to Hunter's house for him to figure out the prices； and nearly all the time that Misery was at home he was sitting up in bed； swathed in bandages； trying to calculate the probable cost of these jobs。 Rushton did not come to see him； but he sent Bert nearly every day； either with some specifications； or some accounts； or something of that sort； or with a note inquiring when Hunter thought he would be able to return to work。
All sorts of rumours became prevalent amongst the men concerning Hunter's condition。 He had ‘broken his spiral column'； he had ‘conjunction of the brain'； or he had injured his ‘innards' and would probably never be able to ‘do no more slave…drivin''。 Crass … who had helped Mr Rushton to ‘price up' several small jobs … began to think it might not be altogether a bad thing for himself if something were to happen to Hunter； and he began to put on side and to assume airs of authority。 He got one of the light…weights to assist him in his work of colourman and made him do all the hard work； while he spent part of his own time visiting the different jobs to see how the work progressed。
Crass's appearance did him justice。 He was wearing a pair of sporting trousers the pattern of which consisted of large black and white squares。 The previous owner of these trousers was taller and slighter than Crass； so although the legs were about a couple of inches too long； they fitted him rather tightly； so much so that it was fortunate that he had his present job of colourman； for if he had had to do any climbing up and down ladders or steps； the trousers would have burst。 His jacket was also two or three sizes too small； and the sleeves were so short that the cuffs of his flanelette shirt were visible。 This coat was made of serge； and its colour had presumably once been blue； but it was now a sort of heliotrope and violet： the greater part being of the former tint； and the parts under the sleeves of the latter。 This jacket fitted very tightly across the shoulders and back and being much too short left his tightly clad posteriors exposed to view。
He however seemed quite unconscious of anything peculiar in his appearance and was so bumptious and offensive that most of the men were almost glad when Nimrod came back。 They said that if Crass ever got the job he would be a dam' sight worse than Hunter。 As for the latter； for a little while after his return to work it was said that his illness had improved his character： he had had time to think things over； and in short； he was ever so much better than before： but it was not long before this story began to be told the other way round。 He was worse than ever！ and a thing that happened about a fortnight after his return caused more ill feeling and resentment against him and Rushton than had ever existed previously。 What led up to it was something that was done by Bundy's mate； Ted Dawson。
This poor wretch was scarcely ever seen without a load of some sort or other： carrying a sack of cement or plaster； a heavy ladder； a big bucket of mortar； or dragging a load of scaffolding on a cart。 He must have been nearly as strong as a horse； because after working in this manner for Rushton & Co。 from six in the morning till half past five at night； he usually went to work in his garden for two or three hours after tea； and frequently went there for an hour or so in the morning before going to work。 The poor devil needed the produce of his garden to supplement his wages； for he had a wife and three children to provide for and he earned only … or rather； to be correct； he was paid only … fourpence an hour。
There was an old house to which they were making some alterations and repairs； and there was a lot of old wood taken out of it： old； decayed floorboards and stuff of that kind； wood that was of no use whatever except to burn。
Bundy and his mate were working there； and one night； Misery came a few minutes before half past five and caught Dawson in the act of tying up a small bundle of this wood。 When Hunter asked him what he was going to do with it he made no attempt at prevarication or concealment： he said he was going to take it home for fire…wood； because it was of no other use。 Misery kicked up a devil of a row and ordered him to leave the wood where it was： it had to be taken to the yard； and it was nothing to do with Dawson or anyone else whether it was any use or not！ If he caught anyone taking wood away he would sack them on the spot。 Hunter shouted very loud so that all the others might hear； and as they were all listening attentively in the next room； where they were taking their aprons off preparatory to going home； they got the full benefit of his remarks。
The following Saturday when the hands went to the office for their money they were each presented with a printed card bearing the following legend：
Under no circumstances is any article or material； however trifling； to be taken away by workmen for their private use； whether waste material or not； from any workshop or place where work is being done。 Foremen are hereby instructed to see that this order is obeyed and to report any such act coming to their knowledge。 Any man breaking this rule will be either dismissed without notice or given into custody。 Rushton & Co。
Most of the men took these cards with the envelopes containing their wages and walked away without making any comment … in fact； most of them were some distance away before they realized exactly what the card was about。 Two or three of them stood a few steps away from the pay window in full view of Rushton and Misery and ostentatiously tore the thing into pieces and threw them into the street。 One man remained at the pay window while he read the card … and then flung it with an obscene curse into Rushton's face； and demanded his back day； which they gave him without any remark or delay； the other men who were not yet paid having to wait while he made out his time…sheet for that morning。
The story of this card spread all over the place in a very short time。 It became the talk of every shop in the town。 Whenever any of Rushton's men encountered the employees of another firm； the latter used to shout after them … ‘However trifling！' … or ‘Look out； chaps！ 'Ere comes some of Rushton's pickpockets。'
Amongst Rushton's men themselves it became a standing joke or form of greeting to say when one met another … ‘Remember！ However trifling！'
If one of their number was seen going home with an unusual amount of paint or whitewash on his hands or clothes； the others would threaten to report him for stealing the material。 They used to say that however trifling the quantity； it was against orders to take it away。
Harlow drew up a list of rules which he said Mr Rushton had instructed him to communicate to the men。 One of these rules provided that everybody was to be weighed upon arrival at the job in the morning and again at leaving…off time： any man found to have increased in weight was to be discharged。
There was also much cursing and covert resentment about it； the men used to say that such a thing as that looked well coming from the likes of Rushton and Hunter； and they used to remind each other of the affair of the marble…topped console table； the barometer； the venetian blinds and all the other robberies。
None of them ever said anything to either Misery or Rushton about the cards； but one morning when the latter was reading his letters at the breakfast table； on opening one of them he found that it contained one of the notices； smeared with human excrement。 He did not eat any more breakfast that morning。
It was not to be much wondered at that none of them had the courage to openly resent the conditions under which they had to work； for although it was summer； there were many men out of employment； and it was much easier to get the sack than it was to get another job。
None of the men were ever caught stealing anything； however trifling； but all the same during
