hr.thecarpetbaggers-第117节

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　He　stared　at　it　unbelievingly。　It　must　be　a　mistake。　They　couldn't　mean　him。　He　wasn't　a　one…year　or　two…year　man；　not　even　a　five…year　man。　He　had　seniority。　Fifteen　years。　They　weren't　laying　off　fifteen…year　men。　Not　yet。
　But　they　were。　He　squinted　at　the　paper　in　the　dim　light。　Laid　off。　What　a　bitter　irony。　That　was　the　reason　given　for　all　the　pay　cuts　…　to　prevent　layoffs。　Even　the　union　had　told　them　that。
　He　shoved　the　envelope　into　his　pocket；　trying　to　fight　the　sudden　sick　feeling　of　fear　that　crawled　around　in　his　stomach。　What　was　he　to　do　now？　All　he　knew　was　the　cars。　He'd　forgotten　all　about　everything　else　he'd　ever　done。　The　only　other　thing　he　remembered　was　working　as　a　hod…carrier　when　he　was　young。
　He　came　out　of　the　dark　barn；　blinking　his　eyes　at　the　daylight。　A　group　of　men　were　standing　there　on　the　sidewalk；　their　worn　blue　uniforms　purplish　in　the　light。　One　of　them　called　to　him。　〃You　got　it；　too；　Denton？〃
　Tom　looked　at　him。　He　nodded。　〃Yes。〃
　〃We　did；　too；〃　another　said。　〃They're　letting　out　the　senior　men　because　we're　getting　a　higher　rate。　All　the　new　men　are　being　kept　on。〃
　〃Have　you　been　to　the　union　yet？〃　Tom　asked。
　〃We've　been　there　and　back。　The　hall　is　closed。　The　watchman　there　says　e　back　on　Monday。〃
　〃Anybody　call　Riordan？〃
　〃His　phone　home　don't　answer。〃
　〃Somebody　must　know　where　Riordan　is；〃　Tom　said。　〃Let's　go　to　the　hall　and　make　the　watchman　let　us　in。　After　all；　what　do　we　pay　dues　for　if　we　can't　meet　there？〃
　〃That's　a　good　idea；　Tom。　We　can't　just　let　them　replace　us　with　fifty…five…centers；　no　matter　what　they　say。〃
　They　began　to　walk　to　the　union　hall；　about　two　blocks　from　the　car　barn。　Tom　strode　along　silently。　In　a　way；　he　still　couldn't　believe　it。　Ten　cents　an　hour　couldn't　mean　that　much　to　the　pany。　Why；　he'd　have　taken　even　another　cut　if　they'd　asked　him。　It　wasn't　right；　the　way　they　were　doing　it。　They　had　to　find　Riordan。　He'd　know　the　answers。　He　was　the　union　man。
　The　union　hall　was　dark　when　they　got　there　and　they　banged　on　the　door　until　the　old　night　watchman　opened　it。　〃I　tol'　you　fellers　Riordan　ain't　here；〃　he　said　in　an　aged；　irritated　voice。
　〃Where　is　Riordan？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　watchman　answered；　starting　to　close　the　door。　〃You　fellers　go　home。〃
　Tom　put　his　foot　in　the　door　and　pushed。　The　old　man　went　flying　backward；　stumbling；　almost　falling。　The　men　surged　into　the　building　behind　Tom。
　〃You　fellers　stay　outa　here；〃　the　old　man　cried　in　his　querulous　voice。
　They　ignored　him　and　pushed　their　way　into　the　meeting　hall；　which　was　a　large　room　at　the　end　of　the　corridor。　By　now；　the　crowd　had　swelled　to　close　to　thirty　men。　Once　they　were　in；　they　stood　there　uncertainly；　not　knowing　what　to　do　next。　They　milled　around；　looking　at　each　other。　〃Let's　go　into　Riordan's　office；〃　Tom　suggested。　〃Maybe　we　can　find　out　where　he　is　in　there。〃
　Riordan's　office　was　a　glass…enclosed　partition　at　the　end　of　the　meeting　hall。　They　pushed　down　there　but　only　a　few　of　them　were　able　to　squeeze　into　the　tiny　cubbyhole。　Tom　looked　down　at　the　organizer's　desk。　There　was　a　calendar；　a　green　blotter　and　some　pencils　on　it。　He　pulled　open　a　drawer；　then；　one　after　another；　all　of　them。　The　only　thing　he　could　find　were　more　pencils；　and　dues　blanks　and　receipts。
　The　watchman　appeared　at　the　back　of　the　hall。　〃If　you　fellers　don't　get　outa　here；〃　he　shouted；　〃I'm　gonna　call　the　cops。〃
　〃Go　take　a　shit；　old　man；〃　a　blue…coated　conductor　shouted　back　at　him。
　〃Yeah；〃　shouted　another。　〃This　is　our　union。　We　pay　the　dues　and　the　rent。　We　can　stay　here　if　we　want。〃
　The　watchman　disappeared　back　into　the　corridor。　Some　of　the　men　looked　at　Tom。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　〃Maybe　we　better　e　back　Monday；〃　one　of　them　suggested。　〃We'll　see　what　Riordan　has　to　say　then。〃
　〃No；〃　Tom　said　sharply。　〃By　Monday；　nobody　will　be　able　to　do　nothing。　We　got　to　get　this　settled　today。〃
　〃How？〃　the　man　asked。
　Tom　stood　there　for　a　moment；　thinking。　〃The　union's　the　only　chance　we　got。　We　got　to　make　the　union　do　something　for　us。〃
　〃How　can　we　if　Riordan　ain't　here？〃
　〃Riordan　isn't　the　union；〃　Tom　said。　〃We　are。　If　we　can't　find　him；　we　got　to　do　it　without　him。〃　He　turned　to　one　of　the　men。　〃Patrick；　you're　on　the　executive　board。　What　does　Riordan　usually　do　in　a　case　like　this？〃
　Patrick　took　off　his　cap　and　scratched　at　his　gray　hair。　〃I　dunno；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。　〃But　I　reckon　the　first　thing　he'd　do　would　be　to　call　a　meetin'。〃
　〃O。K。〃　Tom　nodded。　〃You　take　a　bunch　of　the　men　back　to　the　barns　and　tell　the　day　shift　to　e　down　here　to　a　meeting　right　away。〃
　The　men　moved　around　excitedly　and　after　a　few　minutes；　several　of　them　left　to　go　back　to　the　car　barns。　The　others　stood　around；　waiting。　〃If　we're　to　have　a　meetin'；〃　someone　said；　〃we　gotta　have　an　agenda。　They　don't　have　no　meetin's　without　they　have　an　agenda。〃
　〃The　agenda　is；　can　the　pany　lay　us　off　like　this；〃　Tom　said。
　They　nodded　agreement。　〃We　got　rights。〃
　〃This　meetin'　business　is　givin'　me　a　awful　thirst；〃　another　man　said。　〃All　this　talkin'　has　dried　out　me　throat　somethin'　terrible。〃
　〃Let's　send　out　for　a　barrel　of　beer；〃　a　voice　yelled　from　the　back。
　There　was　real　enthusiasm　in　the　shout　of　agreement　and　a　collection　was　quickly　taken　up。　Two　men　were　dispatched　on　the　errand　and　when　they　returned；　the　keg　was　mounted　on　a　table　at　the　back　of　the　room。
　〃Now；〃　said　one　of　them；　waving　his　beer　glass　in　front　of　him；　〃now　we　can　get　down　to　business！〃
　
　The　meeting　hall　was　a　bedlam　of　noise　and　confusion　as　more　than　a　hundred　men　milled　around；　talking　and　shouting。　The　first　keg　of　beer　had　run　out　long　ago。　Two　new　ones　rested　on　the　table；　pouring　forth　their　refreshment。
　Tom　pounded　on　the　table　with　the　gavel　he'd　found　in　Riordan's　desk。　〃The　meeting　will　now　e　to　order！〃　he　shouted；　for　the　fifth　time　in　as　many　minutes。　He　kept　pounding　on　the　table　until　he　caught　the　attention　of　a　few　men　down　at　the　front。
　〃Quiet！〃　one　of　them　bellowed。　〃Le's　hear　what　good　ol'　Tom　has　to　say。〃
　The　noise　subsided　to　a　murmur；　then　all　the　men　were　watching　him。　Tom　waited　until　it　was　as　quiet　as　he　thought　it　would　get；　then　he　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　〃We　called　this　meetin'　because　today　the　pany　laid　off　fifty　men　an'　we　couldn't　find　Riordan　to　tell　us　why。〃　He　fumbled　with　the　gavel　for　a　moment。　〃The　union；　which　is　supposed　to　give　us　protection　on　our　jobs；　has　now　got　to　act；　even　if　we　don't　know　where　Riordan　is。　The　men　that　were　laid　off　today　had　seniority　an'　there's　no　reason　why　the　pany　shouldn't　take　them　back。〃
　A　roar　burst　from　the　crowd。
　〃While　you　fellers　was　drinkin'　beer；〃　Tom　said；　〃I　looked　up　the　rules　in　the　bylaws　printed　in　my　union　book；　an'　it　says　that　a　meetin'　is　entitled　to　call　for　a　strike　vote　if　more　than　twenty…five　members　is　present。　There's　more　than　twenty…five　members　here　an'　I　say　we　should　vote　a　strike　by　Monday；　unless　the　pany　takes　us　back　right　away。〃
　〃Strike！　Strike！〃
　〃We've　all　been　faithful　employees　of　the　pany　for　many　years　an'　always　gave　them　an　honest　count　an'　they　got　no　right　to　kick　us　out　like　that。〃
　〃Y…aay！〃
　〃Don't　let　the　nickels　stick　to　your　fingers；　Tom；〃　a　man　in　the　back　shouted。　〃There　may　be　a　spotter　in　the　crowd。〃
　There　was　laughter。
　〃If　there　is　a　spotter；〃　Tom　said　grimly；　〃let　him　go　back　to　the　pany　an'　tell　'em　what　we're　doin'　here。　We'll　show　'em　they　can't　push　us　around。〃
　There　was　a　burst　of　applause。
　Tom　waved　his　hand。　〃Now　we'll　vote　on　a　strike；〃　he　said。　〃All　in　favor　say　aye。〃
　The　men　were　suddenly　quiet。　They　looked　at　each　other　nervously。　The　door　at　the　back　of　the　hall　had　opened　and　Riordan　was　standing　in　it。　〃What's　all　this　loose　talk　about　a　strike；　men？〃
　They　turned　in　surprise　and　stared　at　him。　The　ruddy…faced；　heavy…set　union　organizer　started　down　through　the　meeting　hall。　A　buzz　came　up　as　they　saw　him。　It　was　almost　a　sigh　of　relief。　Riordan　was　here。　He'd　tell　them　what　to　do。　He'd　straighten　everything　out。
　〃Hello；　Tom；〃　Riordan　said；　walking　around　the　table。　He　held　out　his　hand。　Tom　shook　hands　with　him。　It　was　the　first　time　he'd　done　so。
　〃We　came　down　here　because　we　thought　the　union　should　be　doin'　somethin'　for　us。〃
　Riordan　gave　him　a　shrewd　look。　〃Of　course；　Tom；〃　he　said　soothingly。　〃And　it's　the　right　thing　ye　did；　too。〃
　Tom　sighed　in　relief。　For　a　moment；　he　had　thought　Riordan　would　be　angry　at　the　way　they'd　e　in　and　taken　over　the　hall。　He　watched　as　Riordan　turned　toward　the　men　and　held　up　his　hand。　A　silence　came　over　the　hall。
　〃Men；〃　Riordan　said　in　his　deep　voice；　〃the　reason　you　couldn't　find　me　was　I　beat　it　up　to　the　pany　office　the　minute　I　learned　about　the　layoffs。　There　was　no　time　to　call　a　meeting　but　I　want　you　to　know　that　the　union　was　right　on　the　job。〃
　A　cheer　went　up　from　the　men。　They　looked　at　each　other　embarrassedly。
　〃And　I　want　to　express　my　appreciation　to　Brother　Tom　Denton　here　for　his　prompt　action　in　bringing　you　all　down　here　to　the　union　hall。　It　shows　that　Tom　Denton；　like　every　one　of　you；　knows　that　the　union　is　his　friend。〃
　Tom　blushed　as　the　men　cheered　again。　Riordan　turned　back　to　th