ay go," said Bennington to the girl.

The girl gathered up her notes and passed into the main office.

Again came the knock, more aggressive this time.

"Come in."

The committee, headed by Morrissy, entered with shuffling feet.
Morrissy saw the Englishman and scowled.

"Well, gentlemen?" said Bennington, sitting on his desk and resting a
foot on his chair.

"We have come to learn what you intend to do about this Britisher,"
began Morrissy.

"I don't recollect your face," replied Bennington thoughtfully. "How
long have you been in the shops?"

"I'm not in your shops," returned Morrissy blusteringly.

"In that case," said Bennington mildly, "there's the door. I do not
see how this matter concerns you."

"Well, it does concern me, as you'll find soon," cried Morrissy,
choking with sudden rage.

"I'll give you one minute to make the foot of the stairs. If you're
not there at the end of that time, I'll take you by the collar and
help you." Bennington drew out his watch.

"He's the head of our union, Mr. Bennington," interposed one of the
men, shifting his feet uneasily.

"Oh! Then he's the man who is really making all this trouble?"
Bennington nodded as if he had just arrived at a solution.

"I'm here to see that my men have their rights." Morrissy failed to
understand this mild young man. "And it'll take a bigger man than you
to throw me out of here. This Britisher either joins the union or he
goes."

"If he joins the union he'll be permitted to continue the perfecting
of his invention?"

"His invention is not necessary at present. The output as it is meets
the demand."

"Look here, Mr. Morrissy, I'll make you a proposition."

"What?"

"You and I will go down to the molding-room and have it out with our
fists. If you win, Chittenden goes; if I win, he stays and the men
return to work."

"This isn't no kid's play, Mr. Bennington. You've got a big strike
looking you in the face."

Bennington laughed. "I'm afraid you're a coward. So Mr. Chittenden
must join the union or go. It isn't a question of wage scale or hours;
it simply revolves around Mr. Chittenden. Supposing he joins the
union, what will you give him to do?" Bennington's voice was that of a
man who wishes to know all sides of the question.

"Well, he'll have to learn where they all started from."

"Mr. Chittenden is an expert machinist."

"Let him join the union, then, and there won't be any trouble here. I
want justice. This shop i