'ome fires burning'--"

Yells of derisive laughter.

"--what profits came to them from these same 'ome fires. The people
will (h)ask for an (h)explanation of these bank accounts, of these new
factories, of these big stores, of these (h)autermobiles. The people
that went to the war and were (h)unfortoonate enough to return came back
to poverty, while many of these 'ere 'ome fire burners came (h)out with
fortunes." At this point brother Simmons cast a fierce and baleful eye
upon a group of the employers who sat silent and wrathful before him.
"And now, what I say," continued Brother Simmons--

At this point a quiet voice was heard.

"Mr. Mayor, I rise to a point of order."

Immediately Simmons took his seat.

"Mr. Farrington," said the mayor, recognising one of the largest
building contractors in the town.

"Mr. Mayor, I should like to ask what are we discussing this afternoon?
Are we discussing the war records of the citizens of Blackwater? If so,
that is not what I came for. It may be interesting to find out what each
man did in the war. I find that those who did most say least. I don't
know what Mr. Simmons did in the war. I suppose he was there."

With one spring Simmons was on his feet and in the aisle. He ripped
off coat and vest, pulled his shirt over his head and revealed a back
covered with the network of ghastly scars. "The gentleman (h)asks," he
panted, "what I done in the war. I don't know. I cannot say what I
done in the war, but that is what the war done to me." The effect was
positively overwhelming.

A deadly silence gripped the audience for a single moment. Then upon
every hand rose fierce yells, oaths and strange cries. Above the uproar
came Farrington's booming voice. Leaving his seat, which was near the
back of the hall, he came forward, crying out:

"Mr. Mayor! Mr. Mayor! I demand attention!" As he reached Simmons's
side, he paused and, facing about, he looked upon the array of faces
pale and tense with passion. "I want to apologise to this gentleman,"
he said in a voice breaking with emotion. "I should not have said what
I did. The man who bears these scars is a man I am proud to know." He
turned swiftly toward Simmons with outstretched hand. "I am proud to
know you, sir. I could not go to the war. I was past age. I sent my two
boys. They are over there still." As the two men shook hands, for
once in his life Simmons was speechless. His face was suffused with
uncontrollable feeling. On ev