The Americans Part 22

Not this morning.

GEORGE EGERTON.

(_Takes a coin from his pocket and hands it to the chauffeur_)

You'll take care.

(_He goes out left, examining his face in a small mirror which he has taken out with the coin. The Second Sentry has come in right and stands reading a notice which is tacked on the fence_)

CHAUFFEUR.

By sun-down, don't it?

SECOND SENTRY.

Something of the sort.

CHAUFFEUR.

And the wind sharpening up across the plains.

They'll think twice, won't they, before they stay out?

SECOND SENTRY.

Who signed this name here?

CHAUFFEUR.

Eg--the boss himself.

SECOND SENTRY.

h.e.l.l of a hand he writes.

CHAUFFEUR.

Your partner there Knows about as much of the situation here As a sea-turtle knows of sa.s.safras.

Talks of a match. There's been no match at all.

The old man's never tried to start the mill.

But let a thing like that go up some day.

(_Buck Bentley with an empty nail keg in his hand comes from the mill-yard and sits down with his back to the farther gate-post and begins to fill his pipe_)

CHAUFFEUR.

If you've heard thunder, one of those loud claps That ends the winter, and if you'd lived here And knew the old man's power, then you'd know I'm shooting low when I say they'll be here, If they don't all fall dead upon the way.

They've got to make hay now. Days don't stand still When the old man is moving to and fro.

(_Goes about oiling the machine_)

FIRST SENTRY.

(_Coming forward_)

If Williams comes, I'll tell you what he'll do.

With the big force he'll have behind his back, He'll lock these gates and coop the old man up With Jergens and the Chief and all the rest.

Then say, 'Now take me home.' You know the way.

You'll take him to the big house on the hill.

(_The Chauffeur turns and looks at him half in anger, half in contempt_)

FIRST SENTRY.

You won't dare look at him that way.

SECOND SENTRY.

Dan's right.

You fellows, you that shove those things about, You have a way of knowing who's the lord.

FIRST SENTRY.

Exactly. And this man Williams up and down Is big as Egerton. And the old man's 'spike'

Will touch him where the tailors say it should.

And if it's lined with silk Williams won't care.

He'll steer the big blow-out this afternoon And they won't know the difference. It's the front And the big planet here that people see; And Williams is as broad as Egerton.

(_A militiaman comes hurrying from the mill-yard_)

MILITIAMAN.

Who's got a cigarette to trade for news?

You couldn't guess it in a thousand years.

SECOND SENTRY.

We're going home.

MILITIAMAN.

Guess high; guess something great.

FIRST SENTRY.

The boys have met the strikers at the station And we're all going into action.

MILITIAMAN.

Nope.