Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1916)

Pickles and Pearls 109 lie," answered Hankins. "Eight hours' work and more pay all around — except for Blivens, Jorkins, and Miss Rives. You are with us, of course?" Charlie was popular with the men employees, and lately he had stood pretty high in the esteem of the lady workers. If he did not join the strikers, he would incur the general dislike of the factory force. He wavered. "Charlie," said Mr. McTodd, lifting his face and directing an imploring glance at his former night watchman, "are you going to turn against me?" That question, spoken just in that way, would have melted a heart of stone. How was Charlie to escape from that snare, continue in the good graces of his employer, and yet keep the friendship of the employees? "Bill," said he, "we must talk this over. Mr. McTodd," he added, "a word in private with you." Charlie and the helpless proprietor stepped aside. "Why don't you cut down the hours and raise the pay, Mr. McTodd ?" Charlie inquired. "Because," was the dogged response, "the McTodds have always run their own business, and they have made it a point of honor never to allow themselves to be intimidated. Honor, with me, means more than life itself." "H'm !" mused Charlie. "This strike is the real thing? It has not been developed for — er — publicity purposes?" "How can you ask such a question?" "Pardon me. You are so remarkably skillful in running down press notices, that the question, I think, was excusable. By the way, I have recovered the tiara." "I expected that," was the calm answer, "but the tiara has nothing at all to do with this trouble. The men will not let me into my own workroom. Is it in your power to open the way ?" "I will try, sir." Charlie went back to the strikers and addressed himself to Hankins. "Bill," said he, "this is very unfortunate. You have a daughter — in the chow-chow department ?" "I have, as you know," Hankins answered. "Henrietta is with us in this strike, and she is just as determined as the rest of us. We are resolved to have justice, Charlie." "Bill," proceeded Charlie gently, "suppose, on the very day Henrietta was taken away from you, your job in the shipping room was taken away as well ?" "I — I don't exactly understand," mumbled Hankins. "This afternoon, according to plans, Mr. McTodd is to be robbed of his only child. The factory here is the source of the McTodd millions. Can you not picture to yourself the sad lot of your employer, beset, as he is, on this day of days ? His daughter is the apple of his eye, even as this factory is his pride and joy. Now — now " Charlie's emotions welled up in his throat and bothered him. "Bill, is our kindly employer to have his child stolen from him by a duke, at the same time his factory is closed against him by his employees? Is he to be bereft of the love and companionship of his devoted daughter, and of the right to operate the pickle works, in one dread afternoon? My friend, pause ere it be too late !" It was a most powerful appeal. The words were simple, but they were as direct as they were touching. Big Bill swallowed a lump in his throat, and winked away the furtive tears. The workers, too, showed signs of distress. It was clear that they, like their leader, were wavering. The ladies and gentlemen in the background struggled to conceal their feelings. Blivens smothered a sob, and Silas McTodd passed a handkerchief across his eyes. It was a tense moment, exceedingly