When pressed by Quigg for a reply, he said
quietly:--
"The price for hauling will be Grogan's bid. If she wants it, it
is hers."
Tom talked the matter over with Pop, and had determined to buy
another horse and hire two extra carts. At her price there was a
margin of at least ten cents a ton profit, and as the work lasted
through the year, she could adjust the hauling of her other
business without much extra expense. She discussed the situation
with no one outside her house. If Schwartz wanted her to carry on
the work, she would do it, Union or no Union. Mr. Crane was on
her bond. That in itself was a bracing factor. Strong and
self-reliant as she was, the helping hand which this man held out
to her was like an anchor in a storm.
That Sunday night they were all gathered round the kerosene
lamp,--Pop reading, Cully and Patsy on the floor, Jennie listening
absent-mindedly, her thoughts far away,--when there came a knock
at the kitchen door. Jennie flew to open it.
Outside stood two women. One was Mrs. Todd, the other the
haggard, pinched, careworn woman who had spoken to her that
morning at her room-door in the tenement.
"They want to see you, mother," said Jennie, all the light gone
out of her eyes. What could be the matter with Carl, she thought.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95