Page:The unhallowed harvest (1917).djvu/318

Rh "Bricky, you're a fool. The men can't hold out for ten days. They're starving. It's March. They'll break away from us one by one. They'll tumble over each other looking for their jobs. You won't smash Dick Malleson, but you'll smash the union."

"I say we'll smash Dick Malleson, and I know what I'm talkin' about. I know the men. I know what they'll stan' for, and I know what they won't stan' for. Ten days turns the trick."

"Bricky, I said you were a fool. I say, now, you're a damned fool! The thing can't be done. It's impossible!"

Bricky did not grow angry at the denunciation. He smiled strangely and raised his voice but slightly as he replied:

"Look here, Steve. You made a fool of me once. That was when you got me into this thing. And old man Malleson made a fool of me once. That was yiste'day, when I went beggin' to him as you told me to. They can't neither of ye make a fool o' me twice. I'm through with both o' ye. I'm goin' to smash Malleson now on me own account, for the things he said to me yiste'day. And as for you, Steve, you can go plumb to hell."

Lamar started up from his chair.

"Bricky," he shouted, "you're crazy!"

Bricky never moved nor changed the tone of his voice.

"Maybe I am," he replied. "But I ain't crazy enough to start five hunderd men on the road to perdition jest because a black-eyed, smooth-tongued woman puts me up to it. And I ain't crazy enough nor yellow-hearted enough to sell them men out jest because the same shaller-minded woman gits cold feet an' purrs it into me ears to do it, an' pays me my price fer it. Oh, I know the game! You can't put nothin' over on me!"

"Bricky, you damned, black-hearted scoundrel, get out o' here!"

And Bricky got out.