She smiled. "No. He is an organizer sent by the National Federation.
... They're going to try to unionize our plant."

"Unionize?"

"Bonbright Foote, Incorporated," she said, "is a non-union shop."

"I didn't know," said he, after a brief pause. "I'm afraid I don't
understand these things. ... I suppose one should know about them if
he is to own a plant like ours." Again he paused while he fumbled for
an idea that was taking shape. "I suppose one should understand about
his employees just as much as he does about his machinery."

She looked at him with a touch of awakened interest. "Do you class
men with machinery?" she asked, well knowing that was not his
meaning. He did not reply. Presently he said:

"Rangar told you you were to be my secretary?"

"Yes, sir," she said, using that respectful form for the first time.
The relation of employer and employee had been re-established by his
words. "Thank you for the promotion."

"You understand what this is all about," he said. "I shall want to
ask you about it. ... Perhaps you even know the man who is speaking?"

"He boards with my mother," said she. "That was natural," she added,
"my father being who he was."