_--Naturally, it is understood that under no circumstance will your
leader--Jacob Izon--the cause of this trouble between us--be
re-employed. Such men are a disgrace to the world.

Izon's cheeks flushed hot. He looked up.

"Shall I write to him that we will not consider his offer, and tell him
we refuse to compromise?"

There was a silence a little while, and then one of the older men
shuffled to his feet.

"Tell you what we do--we get up a collection for Izon. Then everything
will be all right!"

Izon's eyes blazed.

"Charity? Not for me! I don't want you to think of me! I want you to
think of what this strike means!"

Then some one muttered:

"We've listened long enough to Izon."

And another: "I'm going to work!"

"So am I! So am I!"

They began to rise, to shamefacedly shamble toward the door. Izon rose
to his feet, tried to intercept them, stretched out his arms to them.

"For God's sake," he cried, "leave me out, but get something. Don't go
back like this! Get something! Don't you see that Marrin is ready to
give in? Are you going back like weak slaves?"

They did not heed him; but one old man paused and put a hand on his
shoulder.

"This will teach you not to be so rash next time. You will learn yet."

And they were gone. Izon was dazed, heart-broken. He hurried home to his
wife and wept upon her shoulder.

Late that afternoon Joe and Sally were again alone in the office, their
lights lit, their pens scratching, working in a sweet unspoken sympathy
in the quiet, shadowy place. There was a turning of the knob, and Izon
came in. Joe and Sally arose and faced him. He came slowly, his face
drawn and haggard.

"Joe! Joe!"

"What is it?" Joe drew the boy near.

"They've gone back--the men have gone back!"

"Gone back?" cried Joe.

"Read this letter!"

Joe read it, and spoke angrily.

"Then I'll do something!"

Izon pleaded with him.

"Be careful, Joe--don't do anything foolish for my sake. I'll get
along--"

"But your wife! How does she take it?"

Izon's face brightened.

"Oh, she's a Comrade! That's why I married her!"

"Good!" said Joe. "Then I'll go ahead. I'll speak my mind!"

"Not for me, though," cried Izon. "I'll get something else."

"Are you _sure_ of that?" asked Joe.

"Why not?"

"Are you sure," Joe went on, "that you won't be blacklisted?"

Izon stared at him.

"Well--I suppose--I will."

"You'll have to leave the city, Jacob."

"I can't. I'm right in