place
immediately following the band.

"All my life I have longed for the spotlight," murmured Vic to his
companion, a delighted grin on his face. "But one can have too much of
a good thing. And, with Wellington, I am praying that night may come
before I reach the haunts of my comrades in arms."

"Why, Vic, do you care?" cried Patricia. "Not I! And I think it was just
splendid of Adrien!"

"Oh, topping! But did you see the gentle Rupert's face? Oh, it was
simply priceless! Fancy this sacred car leading a strikers' parade." And
Vic's body shook with delighted chuckles.

"Don't laugh, Vic!" said Patricia, laying her hand upon his arm. "The
lady behind will see you."

"Steady it is," said Vic. "But I feel as if I were the elephant in the
circus. I say, can we execute a flank movement, or must we go through to
the bitter end?"

"Adrien," said Patricia, "do you think this night air is good for the
baby?"

"We shall go on a bit yet," said Adrien. "Mrs. Egan is very tired and I
am sure will want to go home presently."

But Mrs. Egan was beginning to recover her strength and, indeed, to
enjoy the new distinction of riding in a car, and in this high company.

"No," she said, "I must go through." She had the look and tone of a
martyr. "They chose me, you see, and I must go through!"

"Oh, very well," said Adrien cheerfully. "We shall just go along, Vic."

Through the main streets of the town the parade marched and
countermarched till, in a sudden, they found themselves in front of the
McGinnis foundry. Before the gate in the high board fence which enclosed
the property, a small crowd had gathered, which greeted the marching
column with uproarious cheers. From the company at the gate a man rushed
forward and spoke eagerly to the officer in command.

"By Jove, there's Tony!" said Vic. "And that chap McDonough. What does
this mean?"

After a brief conversation with Tony, who apparently was passionately
pressing his opinion, the officer shook his head and marched steadily
forward. Suddenly Tony, climbing upon the fence, threw up his hand and,
pointing toward the foundry, shouted forth the single word, "Scabs!"
Instantly the column halted. Again Tony, in a yell, uttered the same
word, "Scabs!" From hundreds of throats there was an answering roar,
savage, bloodthirsty as from a pack of wild beasts. Tony waved his hand
for silence.

"Scabs!" he cried again. "McGinnis strike-breakers! They came to-night.
They are in t