Page:Hopkinson Smith--Tom Grogan.djvu/139

. That thief of a McGaw has stirred up the Union over the haulin' bid, and they've sent notice to Schwartz that I don't belong to the Union, an' if he don't throw me over an' give the job to McGaw they'll call out the men. If they do, there's a hundred women and three times that many children that'll go hungry. This woman here's got a girl herself that hasn't drawed a well breath for six months, an' her man's been idle all winter, an' only just now got a job at Schwartz's, tending gate. Now, what'll I do? Shall I chuck up the job or stick?”

The old man looked into the desolate, weary face of the woman and then at Tom. Then he said slowly:—

“Well, child, ye kin do widout it, an' maybe t' others can't.”

“Ye've got it straight,” said Tom; “that's just what I think meself.” Then, turning to the stranger:—

“Go home and tell yer man to go to bed. I'll touch nothin' that'll break the heart of any woman. The job's McGaw's. I'll throw up me bid.”