to him that hath-第43节

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better　understanding。〃

〃We　know　that；　sir；〃　shouted　a　voice。　　〃Ye　done　yer　best。〃

〃But　so　far　I　and　those　labouring　with　me　have　failed。　　But　surely；
surely；　wise　and　reasonable　men　can　find　before　many　days　a
solution　for　these　problems。　　And　now　let　me　beg　your　leaders　to　be
patient　a　little　longer；　to　banish　angry　and　suspicious　feelings
and　to　be　willing　to　follow　the　light。　　I　see　that　many　of　you　are
soldiers。　　To　you　my　heart　goes　out　with　a　love　as　true　as　if　you
were　my　own　sons；　for　you　were　the　comrades　of　my　son。　　Let　me
appeal　to　you　to　preserve　unbroken　that　fine　spirit　of　comradeship
that　made　the　Canadian　Army　what　it　was。　　And　let　me　assure　you　all
that；　however　our　weak　and　erring　human　hearts　may　fail　and　come
short；　the　great　heart　of　the　Eternal　Father　is　unchanging　in　Its
love　and　pity　for　us　all。　　Meantime；　believe　me；　I　shall　never
cease　to　labour　and　pray　that　very　soon　peace　may　come　to　us
again。〃　　Then；　lifting　his　hands　over　them　while　the　men　uncovered；
he　said　a　brief　prayer；　closing　with　the　apostolic　blessing。

Startled　at　the　burst　of　cheering　which　followed　shortly　after　the
conclusion　of　the　prayer；　the　babe　broke　into　loud　crying。　　Vainly
the　weary　mother　sought　to　quiet　her　child；　she　herself　well…nigh
exhausted　with　her　march；　being　hardly　able　to　stand　erect。
Swiftly　Adrien　sprang　from　the　car　and　ran　out　to　her。

〃Let　me　carry　the　babe；〃　she　cried；　taking　the　child　in　her　arms。
〃Come　into　the　car　with　me。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　woman　fiercely。　　〃I　will　go　through　with　it。〃　　But
even　as　she　spoke　she　swayed　upon　her　feet。

With　gentle　insistence；　however；　Adrien　caught　her　arm　and　forced
her　toward　the　car。

〃I　will　not　leave　them；〃　said　the　woman　stubbornly。

〃Speak　to　her；　Annette；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃She　cannot　walk。〃

〃Mrs。　Egan；〃　said　Annette；　coming　to　her；　〃it　will　be　quite　all
right　to　go　in　the　car。　　It　will　be　all　the　better。　　Think　of　the
fine　parade　it　will　make。〃

But；　still　protesting；　the　old　woman　hung　back；　crying；　〃Let　me　go！
I　will　go　through！〃

〃Sure　thing！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃We　will　take　you　along。　　Where's
Rupert？〃

But　Rupert；　furious　and　disgusted；　hung　back　in　the　shadow。

〃Here；　Vic！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃You　take　the　wheel！〃

〃Delighted；　I　am　sure！〃　cried　Vic；　climbing　into　the　seat。　　〃Get　in
here；　Patsy。　　All　set；　Colonel；〃　he　added；　saluting　to　the　officer
in　command　of　the　parade；　and　again　the　column　broke　into　cheering
as　they　moved　off　to　the　tap　of　the　drum；　Rupert's　elegant　Hudson
Six　taking　a　place　immediately　following　the　band。

〃All　my　life　I　have　longed　for　the　spotlight；〃　murmured　Vic　to　his
companion；　a　delighted　grin　on　his　face。　　〃But　one　can　have　too
much　of　a　good　thing。　　And；　with　Wellington；　I　am　praying　that
night　may　come　before　I　reach　the　haunts　of　my　comrades　in　arms。〃

〃Why；　Vic；　do　you　care？〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃Not　I！　　And　I　think　it
was　just　splendid　of　Adrien！〃

〃Oh；　topping！　　But　did　you　see　the　gentle　Rupert's　face？　　Oh；　it
was　simply　priceless！　　Fancy　this　sacred　car　leading　a　strikers'
parade。〃　　And　Vic's　body　shook　with　delighted　chuckles。

〃Don't　laugh；　Vic！〃　said　Patricia；　laying　her　hand　upon　his　arm。
〃The　lady　behind　will　see　you。〃

〃Steady　it　is；〃　said　Vic。　　〃But　I　feel　as　if　I　were　the　elephant　in
the　circus。　　I　say；　can　we　execute　a　flank　movement；　or　must　we　go
through　to　the　bitter　end？〃

〃Adrien；〃　said　Patricia；　〃do　you　think　this　night　air　is　good　for
the　baby？〃

〃We　shall　go　on　a　bit　yet；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃Mrs。　Egan　is　very　tired
and　I　am　sure　will　want　to　go　home　presently。〃

But　Mrs。　Egan　was　beginning　to　recover　her　strength　and；　indeed；
to　enjoy　the　new　distinction　of　riding　in　a　car；　and　in　this　high
company。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　must　go　through。〃　　She　had　the　look　and　tone　of
a　martyr。　　〃They　chose　me；　you　see；　and　I　must　go　through！〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Adrien　cheerfully。　　〃We　shall　just　go　along；
Vic。〃

Through　the　main　streets　of　the　town　the　parade　marched　and
countermarched　till；　in　a　sudden；　they　found　themselves　in　front　of
the　McGinnis　foundry。　　Before　the　gate　in　the　high　board　fence
which　enclosed　the　property；　a　small　crowd　had　gathered；　which
greeted　the　marching　column　with　uproarious　cheers。　　From　the
company　at　the　gate　a　man　rushed　forward　and　spoke　eagerly　to　the
officer　in　command。

〃By　Jove；　there's　Tony！〃　said　Vic。　　〃And　that　chap　McDonough。　　What
does　this　mean？〃

After　a　brief　conversation　with　Tony；　who　apparently　was
passionately　pressing　his　opinion；　the　officer　shook　his　head　and
marched　steadily　forward。　　Suddenly　Tony；　climbing　upon　the　fence；
threw　up　his　hand　and；　pointing　toward　the　foundry；　shouted　forth
the　single　word；　〃Scabs！〃　　Instantly　the　column　halted。　　Again
Tony；　in　a　yell；　uttered　the　same　word；　〃Scabs！〃　　From　hundreds　of
throats　there　was　an　answering　roar；　savage；　bloodthirsty　as　from　a
pack　of　wild　beasts。　　Tony　waved　his　hand　for　silence。

〃Scabs！〃　he　cried　again。　　〃McGinnis　strike…breakers！　　They　came　to…
night。　　They　are　in　there！〃　　He　swung　his　arm　around　and　pointed　to
the　foundry。　　〃Shall　we　give　them　a　welcome？　　What　do　you　say；
boys？〃　　Again　and　more　fiercely　than　before；　more　terribly　cruel；
came　the　answering　roar。

〃Here；　this　is　no　place　for　you！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃Let's　get　out。〃　　At
his　touch　the　machine　leaped　forward；　clear　of　the　crowd。

〃Annette！〃　cried　Adrien；　her　hand　on　Vic's　shoulder。　　〃Go　and　get
her！〃

Halting　the　car；　Vic　leaped　from　the　wheel；　ran　to　where　the　girls'
squad　was　halted　and　caught　Annette　by　the　arm。

〃Annette；〃　he　said；　〃get　your　girls　away　from　here　quick！　　Come
with　us！〃

But　Annette　laughed　scornfully　at　him。

〃Go　with　you？　　Not　I！　　But；〃　she　added　in　a　breathless　undertone；
〃for　God's　sake；　get　your　ladies　and　the　baby　away。　　These　people
won't　know　who　you　are。　　Move　quick！〃

〃Come　with　us；　Annette！〃　implored　Vic。　　〃If　you　come；　the　rest　will
follow。〃

〃Go！　　Go！〃　cried　Annette；　pushing　him。　　Already　the　crowd　were
tearing　the　fence　to　pieces　with　their　hands；　and　rocks　were
beginning　to　fly。

Failing　to　move　the　girl；　Vic　sprang　to　the　wheel　again。

〃I　will　get　you　away　from　this；　anyway；〃　he　said。

〃But　Annette！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃We　can't　leave　her！〃

But　Vic　made　no　reply；　and　at　his　touch　the　machine　leaped　forward；
and　none　too　soon；　for　already　men　were　crowding　about　the　car　on
every　side。

〃We　are　well　out　of　that！〃　said　Vic　coolly。　　〃And　now　I　will　take
you　all　home。　　Hello！　　They're　messing　up　McGinnis's　things　a　bit；〃
he　added；　as　the　sound　of　crashing　glass　came　to　their　ears。

Through　the　quiet　streets　the　car　flew　like　a　hunted　thing；　and　in
a　very　few　minutes　they　were　at　the　Rectory　door。

〃No　fuss；　now；　Patricia；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃we　must　not　alarm　Mamma。
All　steady。〃

〃Right　you　are！　　Steady　it　is！〃　said　Patricia　springing　from　the
car。　　Quietly　but　swiftly　they　got　the　woman　and　the　child　indoors。

〃Hugh！　　Rupert！〃　said　Adrien；　speaking　in　a　quiet　voice。　　〃Vic
needs　you　out　there。　　That　is　a　wild　car　of　yours；　Rupert；〃　she
added　with　a　laugh。　　〃It　fairly　flies。〃　　Gathering　in　her　hands　the
men's　hats　and　sticks；　she　hurried　them　out　of　the　door。

〃Cheerio！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃A　lovely　war　is　going　on　down　at　the
McGinnis　plant。　　Get　in　and　let　us　plan　a　campaign。　　First；　to
Police　Headquarters；　I　suppose。〃　　As　they　flew　through　the　streets
Vic　gave　them　in　a　few　words　a　picture　of　the　scenes　he　had　just
witnessed。

They　found　the　Chief　of　Police　in　his　office。　　At　their　first　word
he　was　on　the　move。

〃I　was　afraid　of　this　thing　when　that　fool　parade　started；〃　he
said。　　〃Sergeant；　send　out　the　general　alarm！〃

〃How　many　men　have　you；　Chief？〃　inquired　Hugh。

〃About　twenty…five；　all　told。　　But　they　are　all　over　the　town。　　How
many　men　are　down　there？〃

〃There　are　five　hundred；　at　least；　possibly　a　thousand；　raging　like
wild　bulls　of　Bashan。〃

As　he　spoke；　another　car　came　tearing　up　and　Jack　Maitland　sprang
from　the　wheel。

〃Are　you　in　need　of　help；　Chief？〃　he　asked　quietly。

〃All　the　good　men　we　can　get；〃　said　the　Chief　curtly。　　〃But　first
we　must　get　the　Mayor　here。　　Sergeant；　get　him　on　the　phone。〃

〃You　go　for　him；　Vic；〃　said　Jack。

〃Righto！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃But　count　me　in　on　this。〃

In　fifteen　minutes　Vic　was　back　with　the　Mayor；　helpless　with
nervous　excitement。

〃Get　your　men　out；　Chief！〃　he　shouted；　as　he　sprang　from　the　car。
〃Get　them　out　quick；　arrest　those　devils　and　lock　'em　up！　　We'll
show　them　a　thing　or　two！　　Hurry　up！　　What　are　you　waiting　for？〃

〃Mr。　Mayor；〃　Jack's　clear；　firm；　cool　voice　arrested　the　Mayor's
attention。　　〃May　I　suggest　that　you　swear　in　some　special
constables？　　The　Chief　will　need　help　and　some　of　us　here　would　be
glad　to　assist。〃

〃Yes！　　Yes！　　For　God's　sake；　hurry　up！　　Here's　the　clerk。　　How　do
you　swear　them　in；　clerk？〃

〃The　Chief　of　Police　has　all　the　necessary　authority。〃

〃All　right；　Chief。　　Swear　them！　　Swear　them！　　For　heaven's　sake；
swear　them！　　Here；　you；　Maitlandand　you；　Maynardand　Stillwell〃

With　cool；　swift　efficiency　born　of　his　experience　in　the　war；　the
Chief　went　on　with　his　arrangements。　　In　his　hands　the　process　of
swearing　in　a　number　of　special　constables　was　spe