Dwelling Place of Light, the — Volume 3 by Winston Churchill
page 71 of 170 (41%)
page 71 of 170 (41%)
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her, despite the uniform, that the souls of many of these men were
divided also, that their voices and actions, when she saw them threatening with their bayonets, were often inspired by that inner desperation characteristic of men who find themselves unexpectedly in false situations. Once she heard a woman shriek as the sharp knife grazed her skirt: at another time a man whose steps had been considerably hurried turned, at a safe distance, and shouted defiantly: "Say, who are you working for? Me or the Wool Trust?" "Aw, get along," retorted the soldier, "or I'll give you yours." The man caught sight of Janet's button as she overtook him. He was walking backward. "That feller has a job in a machine shop over in Barrington, I seen him there when I was in the mills. And here he is tryin' to put us out --ain't that the limit?" The thud of horses' feet in the snow prevented her reply. The silhouettes of the approaching squad of cavalry were seen down the street, and the man fled precipitately into an alleyway.... There were ludicrous incidents, too, though never lacking in a certain pathos. The wife of a Russian striker had her husband arrested because he had burned her clothes in order to prevent her returning to the mill. From the police station he sent a compatriot with a message to Headquarters. "Oye, he fix her! She no get her jawb now--she gotta stay in bed!" this one cried triumphantly. |
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