J. W. B.,
Salvation Army, nothing; contributions to relief funds of the Allies,
nothing. Time spent at drill, none; time spent in helping recruiting,
none. A clean sheet, and a sheet full of time spent in interfering
with other men's work, sneering at patriotism, saying the Kaiser is no
worse than the Allies, pretending that this is a war to please the
capitalists, and that a soldier is a fool.'

"In other words, Nuddle, you are doing the Germans' business, and I
don't intend to pay you American money any longer unless you do more
work with your hands and less with your jaw."

Nuddle was stupid enough to swagger.

"Just as you say, Davidge. You'll change your tune before long,
because us workin'-men, bein' the perdoocers, are goin' to take over
all these plants and run 'em to soot ourselves."

"Fine!" said Davidge. "And will you take over my loans at the banks to
meet the pay-rolls?"

"We'll take over the banks!" said Jake, majestically. "We'll take over
everything and let the workin'-men git their doos at last."

"What becomes of us wicked plutocrats?"

"We'll have you workin' for us."

"Then we'll be the workin'-men, and it will be our turn to take over
things and set you plutocrats to workin' for us, I suppose. And we'll
be just where we are now."

This was growing too seesawy for Nuddle, and he turned surly.

"Some of you won't be in no shape to take over nothin'."

Davidge laughed. "It's as bad as that, eh? Well, while I can, I'll
just take over your button."

"You mean I'm fired?"

"Exactly," said Davidge, holding out his hand for the badge that
served as a pass to the yards and the pay-roll. "Come with me, and
you'll get what money's coming to you."

This struck through Nuddle's thick wits. He cast a glance of dismay at
Mamise. If he were discharged, he could not help Easton with the grand
blow-up. He whined:

"Ain't you no regard for a family man? I got a wife and kids dependent
on me."

"Well, do what Karl Marx did--let them starve or live on their own
money while you prove that capital is as he said, 'a vampire of dead
labor sucking the life out of living labor.' Or feed them on the wind
you try to sell me."

"Aw, have a heart! I talk too much, but I'm all right," Jake pleaded.

Davidge relented a little. "If you'll promise to give your mouth a
holiday and your hands a little work I'll keep you to the end of the
month. And then, on your way!"

"All right, boss; much obliged," said Ja