my man's jined, mum, a month ago; they wouldn't let him work till
he did. Won't ye come in an' set down? It's a poor place we have--we've
been so long without work, an' my girl's laid off with a cough. She's
been a-workin' at the box-factory. If the Union give notice again,
I don't know what'll become of us. Can't we do somethin'? Maybe Mrs.
Grogan might give up the work if she knew how it was wid us. She seems
like a dacent woman; she was in to look at me girl last week, hearin' as
how we were strangers an' she very bad."

"Oh, ye don't know her. Ye can save yer wind and shoe-leather. She's on
ter McGaw red hot; that's the worst of it. He better look out; she'll
down him yet," said Mrs. Todd.

As the two entered the stuffy, close room for further discussion, a
young girl left her seat by the window, and moved into the adjoining
apartment. She had that yellow, waxy skin, hollow, burning eyes, and
hectic flush which tell the fatal story so clearly.

While the women of the tenements were cursing or wringing their hands,
the men were devoting themselves to more vigorous measures. A meeting
was called for nine o'clock at Lion Hall.

It was held behind closed doors. Two walking delegates from Brooklyn
were present, having been summoned by telegram the night before, and who
were expected to coax or bully the weak-kneed, were the ultimatum sent
to Schwartz refused and an order for a sympathetic strike issued.

At the brewery all was quiet. Schwartz had read the notice left on
his desk by the committee the night before, and had already begun his
arrangements to supply the places of the men if a strike were ordered.
When pressed by Quigg for a reply, he said quietly:--

"The price for hauling will be Grogan's bid. If she wants it, it is
hers."

Tom talked the matter over with Pop, and had determined to buy another
horse and hire two extra carts. At her price there was a margin of at
least ten cents a ton profit, and as the work lasted through the year,
she could adjust the hauling of her other business without much extra
expense. She discussed the situation with no one outside her house. If
Schwartz wanted her to carry on the work, she would do it, Union or no
Union. Mr. Crane was on her bond. That in itself was a bracing factor.
Strong and self-reliant as she was, the helping hand which this man held
out to her was like an anchor in a storm.

That Sunday night they were all gathered round the kerosene lamp,--Pop
readin