declared； to aid in bringing about justice between labour and capital。
〃We'll get justice without the help of the state；〃 remarked Antonelli
curtly； while a murmur of approval ran through the back of the hall。
That was scarcely the attitude； said the Chairman； he had expected。 He
knew that such a strike as this had engendered bitterness； there had been
much suffering； sacrifice undoubtedly on both sides； but he was sure； if
Mr。 Antonelli and the Committee would accept their services here he was
interrupted。
Had the mill owners accepted their services？
The Chairman cleared his throat。
The fact was that the mill owners were more difficult to get together in
a body。 A meeting would be arranged
〃When you arrange a meeting； let me know；〃 said Antonelli。
A laugh went around the room。 It was undoubtedly very difficult to keep
one's temper under such treatment。 The Chairman looked it。
〃A meeting would be arranged；〃 he declared； with a longsuffering
expression。 He even smiled a little。 〃In the meantime〃
〃What can your committee do？〃 demanded one of the strike leaders；
passionatelyit was Findley。 〃If you find one party wrong； can your
state force it to do right？ Can you legislators be impartial when you
have not lived the bitter life of the workers？ Would you arbitrate a
question of life and death？ And are the worst wages paid in these mills
anything short of death？ Do you investigate because conditions are bad？
or because the workers broke loose and struck？ Why did you not come
before the strike？〃
This drew more approval from the rear。 Why； indeed？ The Chairman was
adroit； he had pulled himself out of many tight places in the Assembly
Chamber； but now he began to perspire； to fumble in his coat tails for a
handkerchief。 The Legislature； he maintained； could not undertake to
investigate such matters until called to its attention。。。。
Later on a tall gentleman； whom heaven had not blessed with tact； saw fit
to deplore the violence that had occurred； he had no doubt the leaders of
the strike regretted it as much as he； he was confident it would be
stopped； when public opinion would be wholly and unreservedly on the side
of the strikers。
〃Public opinion！〃 savagely cried Lindtzki； who spoke English with only a
slight accent。 〃If your little boy； if your little girl come to you and
ask for shoes； for bread； and you say； ‘I have no shoes； I have no bread；
but public opinion is with us；' would that satisfy you？〃
This drew so much applause that the tall law…maker sat down again with a
look of disgust on his face。。。。 The Committee withdrew； and for many
weeks thereafter the state they represented continued to pay some four
thousand dollars daily to keep its soldiers on the streets of Hampton。。。。
In the meanwhile Janet saw much of Rolfe。 Owing to his facile command of
language he was peculiarly fitted to draft those proclamations；
bombastically worded in the French style； issued and circulated by the
Strike Committeeappeals to the polyglot army to withstand the pangs of
hunger； to hold out for the terms laid down； assurances that victory was
at hand。 Walking up and down the bibliottheque； his hands behind his
back； his red lips gleaming as he spoke； he dictated these documents to
Janet。 In the ecstasy of this composition he had a way of shaking his
head slowly from side to side； and when she looked up she saw his eyes
burning； down at her。 A dozen times a day； while she was at her other
work； he would come in and talk to her。 He excited her； she was divided
between attraction and fear of him； and often she resented his easy
assumption that a tie existed between themthe more so because this
seemed to be taken for granted among certain of his associates。 In their
eyes； apparently； she was Rolfe's recruit in more senses than one。 It
was indeed a strange society in which she found herself； and Rolfe
typified it。 He lived on the plane of the impulses and intellect；
discarded as inhibiting factors what are called moral standards； decried
individual discipline and restraint。 And while she had never considered
these things； the spectacle of a philosophyembodied in himthat
frankly and cynically threw them overboard was disconcerting。 He
regarded her as his proselyte； he called her a Puritan； and he seemed
more concerned that she should shed these relics of an ancestral code
than acquire the doctrines of Sorel and Pouget。 And yet association with
him presented the allurement of a dangerous adventure。 Intellectually he
fascinated her； and still another motivewhich she partially disguised
from herselfprevented her from repelling him。 That motive had to do
with Ditmar。 She tried to put Ditmar from her mind； she sought in
desperation； not only to keep busy； but to steep and lose herself in this
fierce creed as an antidote to the insistent； throbbing pain that lay
ambushed against her moments of idleness。 The second evening of her
installation at Headquarters she had worked beyond the supper hour；
helping Sanders with his accounts。 She was loath to go home。 And when
at last she put on her hat and coat and entered the hall Rolfe； who had
been talking to Jastro； immediately approached her。 His liquid eyes
regarded her solicitously。
〃You must be hungry；〃 he said。 〃Come out with me and have some supper。〃
But she was not hungry； what she needed was air。 Then he would walk a
little way with herhe wanted to talk to her。 She hesitated； and then
consented。 A fierce hope had again taken possession of her； and when
they came to Warren Street she turned into it。
〃Where are you going？〃 Rolfe demanded。
〃For a walk；〃 she said。 〃Aren't you coming？〃
〃Will you have supper afterwards？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
He followed her； puzzled； yet piqued and excited by her manner； as with
rapid steps she hurried along the pavement。 He tried to tell her what
her friendship meant to him； they were； he declared； kindred spirits
from the first time he had seen her； on the Common； he had known this。
She scarcely heard him； she was thinking of Ditmar； and this was why she
had led Rolfe into Warren Street they might meet Ditmar！ It was possible
that he would be going to the mill at this time； after his dinner！ She
scrutinized every distant figure； and when they reached the block in
which he lived she walked more slowly。 From within the house came to
her； faintly； the notes of a pianohis daughter Amy was practising。 It
was the music； a hackneyed theme of Schubert's played heavily； that
seemed to arouse the composite emotion of anger and hatred； yet of
sustained attraction and wild regret she had felt before； but never so
poignantly as now。 And she lingered； perversely resolved to steep
herself in the agony。
〃Who lives here〃 Rolfe asked。
〃Mr。 Ditmar；〃 she answered。
〃The agent of the Chippering Mill？〃
She nodded。
〃He's the worst of the lot；〃 Rolfe said angrily。 〃If it weren't for him；
we'd have this strike won to…day。 He owns this town； he's run it to suit
himself； He stiffens up the owners and holds the other mills in line。
He's a type； a driver； the kind of man we must get rid of。 Look at him
he lives in luxury while his people are starving。〃
〃Get rid of！〃 repeated Janet； in an odd voice。
〃Oh； I don't mean to shoot him；〃 Rolfe declared。 〃But he may get shot；
for all I know； by some of these slaves he's made desperate。〃
〃They wouldn't dare shoot him；〃 Janet said。 〃And whatever he is； he
isn't a coward。 He's stronger than the others； he's more of a man。〃
Rolfe looked at her curiously。
〃What do you know about him？〃 he asked。
〃II know all about him。 I was his stenographer。〃
〃You！ His stenographer！ Then why are you herewith us？〃
〃Because I hate him！〃 she cried vehemently。 〃Because I've learned that
it's truewhat you say about the mastersthey only think of themselves
and their kind； and not of us。 They use us。〃
〃He tried to use you！ You loved him！〃
〃How dare you say that！〃
He fell back before her anger。
〃I didn't mean to offend you；〃 he exclaimed。 〃I was jealousI'm jealous
of every man you've known。 I want you。 I've never met a woman like
you。〃
They were the very words Ditmar had used！ She did not answer； and for a
while they walked along in silence； leaving Warren Street and cutting
across the city until they canoe in sight of the Common。 Rolfe drew
nearer to her。
〃Forgive me！〃 he pleaded。 〃You know I would not offend you。 Come； we'll
have supper together； and I will teach you more of what you have to
know。〃
〃Where？〃 she asked。
〃At the Hamptonit is a little cafe where we all go。 Perhaps you've
been there。〃
〃No；〃 said Janet。
〃It doesn't compare with the cafes of Europeor of New York。 Perhaps we
shall go to them sometime； together。 But it is cosy； and warm； and all
the leaders will be there。 You'll comeyes？〃
〃Yes； I'll come；〃 she said。。。。
The Hampton was one of the city's second…class hotels； but sufficiently
pretentious to have； in its basement； a 〃cafe〃 furnished in the 〃mission〃
style of brass tacks and dull red leather。 In the warm； food…scented air
fantastic wisps of smoke hung over the groups； among them Janet made out
several of the itinerant leaders of Syndicalism； loose…tied； debonnair；
giving a tremendous impression of freedom as they laughed and chatted
with the women。 For there were women； ranging from the redoubtable
Nellie Bond herself down to those who may be designated as campfollowers。
Rolfe； as he led Janet to a table in a corner of the room； greeted his
associates with easy camaraderie。 From Miss Bond he received an
illuminating smile。 Janet wondered at her striking good looks； at the
boldness and abandon with which she talked to Jastro or exchanged sallies
across the room。 The atmosphere of this tawdry resort； formerly
frequented by shop girls and travelling salesmen； was magically
transformed by the presence of this company； made bohemian； cosmopolitan；
exhilarating。 And Janet； her face flushed； sat gazing at the scene；
while Rolfe consulted the bill of fare and chose a beefsteak and French
fried potatoes。 The apathetic waiter in the soiled linen jacket he
addressed as 〃comrade。〃 Janet