East　Side。　　But　even　before　I　left　London　I　had　read　a　book　on
  Syndicalism　by　one　of　the　great　Frenchmen；　and　after　a　while　I　began　to
  realize　that　the　proletariat　would　never　get　anywhere　through　socialism。〃
  〃The　proletariat？〃　　The　word　was　new　to　Janet's　ear。
  〃The　great　mass　of　the　workers；　the　oppressed；　the　people　you　saw　here
  to…day。　　Socialism　is　not　for　them。　　Socialismpolitical　socialism
  betrays　them　into　the　hands　of　the　master　class。　　Direct　action　is　the
  thing；　the　general　strike；　war；the　new　creed；　the　new　religion　that
  will　bring　salvation。　　I　joined　the　Industrial　Workers　of　the　World　that
  is　the　American　organization　of　Syndicalism。　　I　went　west；　to　Colorado
  and　California　and　Oregon；　I　preached　to　the　workers　wherever　there　was
  an　uprising；　I　met　the　leaders；　Ritter　and　Borkum　and　Antonelli　and
  Jastro　and　Nellie　Bond；　I　was　useful　to　them；　I　understand　Syndicalism　as
  they　do　not。　　And　now　we　are　here；　to　sow　the　seed　in　the　East。　　Come；〃
  he　said；　slipping　his　arm　through　hers；　〃I　will　take　you　to　Headquarters；
  I　will　enlist　you；　you　shall　be　my　recruit。　　I　will　give　you　the　cause；
  the　religion　you　need。〃
  She　longed　to　go；　and　yet　she　drew　back；　puzzled。　　The　man　fired　and
  fascinated　her；　but　there　were　reservations；　apprehensions　concerning
  him；　felt　rather　than　reasoned。　　Because　of　her　state　of　rebellion；　of
  her　intense　desire　to　satisfy　in　action　the　emotion　aroused　by　a　sense　of
  wrong；　his　creed　had　made　a　violent　appeal；　but　in　his　voice；　in　his
  eyes；　in　his　manner　she　had　been　quick　to　detect　a　personal；　sexual　note
  that　disturbed　and　alarmed　her；　that　implied　in　him　a　lack　of　unity。
  〃I　can't；　to…night；〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　go　homemy　mother　is　all　alone。
  But　I　want　to　help；　I　want　to　do　something。〃
  They　were　standing　on　a　corner；　under　a　street　lamp。　　And　she　averted　her
  eyes　from　his　glance。
  〃Then　come　to…morrow；〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃You　know　where　Headquarters　is；
  in　the　Franco…Belgian　Hall？〃
  〃What　could　I　do？〃　　she　asked。
  〃You？　　You　could　help　in　many　waysamong　the　women。　　Do　you　know　what
  picketing　is？〃
  〃You　mean　keeping　the　operatives　out　of　the　mills？〃
  〃Yes；　in　the　morning；　when　they　go　to　work。　　And　out　of　the　Chippering
  Mill；　especially。　　Ditmar；　the　agent　of　that　mill；　is　the　ablest　of　the
  lot；　I'm　told。　　He's　the　man　we　want　to　cripple。〃
  〃Cripple！〃　exclaimed　Janet。
  〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　to　harm　him　personally。〃　　Rolfe　did　not　seem　to　notice
  her　tone。　　〃But　he　intends　to　crush　the　strike；　and　I　understand　he's
  importing　scabs　here　to　finish　out　an　ordera　big　order。　　If　it　weren't
  for　him；　we'd　have　an　easier　fight；　he　stiffens　up　the　others。　　There's
  always　one　man　like　that；　in　every　place。　　And　what　we　want　to　do　is　to
  make　him　shut　down；　especially。〃
  〃I　see；〃　said　Janet。
  〃You'll　come　to　Headquarters？〃　Rolfe　repeated。
  〃Yes；　I'll　come；　to…morrow；〃　she　promised。
  After　she　had　left　him　she　walked　rapidly　through　several　streets；　not
  heeding　her　directionsuch　was　the　driving　power　of　the　new　ideas　he　had
  given　her。　　Certain　words　and　phrases　he　had　spoken　rang　in　her　head；　and
  like　martial　music　kept　pace　with　her　steps。　　She　strove　to　remember　all
  that　he　had　said；　to　grasp　its　purport；　and　because　it　seemed　recondite；
  cosmic；　it　appealed　to　her　and　excited　her　the　more。　　And　he；　the　man
  himself；　had　exerted　a　kind　of　hypnotic　force　that　partially　had
  paralyzed　her　faculties　and　aroused　her　fears　while　still　in　his
  presence：　her　first　feeling　in　escaping　had　been　one　of　reliefand　then
  she　began　to　regret　not　having　gone　to　Headquarters。　　Hadn't　she　been
  foolish？　　In　the　retrospect；　the　elements　in　him　that　had　disturbed　her
  were　less　disquieting；　his　intellectual　fascination　was　enhanced：　and　in
  that　very　emancipation　from　cant　and　convention；　characteristic　of　the
  Order　to　which　he　belonged；　had　lain　much　of　his　charm。　　She　had
  attracted　him　as　a　woman；　there　was　no　denying　that。　　He；　who　had　studied
  and　travelled　and　known　life　in　many　lands；　had　discerned　in　her；　Janet
  Bumpus；　some　quality　to　make　him　desire　her；　acknowledge　her　as　a
  comrade！　　Tremblingly　she　exulted　in　the　possession　of　that　quality
  whatever　it　might　be。　　Ditmar；　too；　had　perceived　it！　　He　had　not　known
  how　to　value　it。　　With　this　thought　came　a　flaming　suggestionDitmar
  should　see　her　with　this　man　Rolfe；　she　would　make　him　scorch　with　the
  fires　of　jealousy。　　Ditmar　should　know　that　she　had　joined　his　enemies；
  the　Industrial　Workers　of　the　World。　　Of　the　world！　　Her　shackles　had
  been　cast　off　at　last！。。。　　And　then；　suddenly；　she　felt　tired。　　The
  prospect　of　returning　to　Fillmore　Street；　to　the　silent　flatmade　the
  more　silent　by　her　mother's　tragic　presenceoverwhelmed　her。　　The　ache
  in　her　heart　began　to　throb　again。　　How　could　she　wait　until　the　dawn　of
  another　day？。。。
  In　the　black　hours　of　the　morning；　with　the　siren　dinning　in　her　ears　a
  hoarse　call　to　war；　Janet　leaped　from　her　bed　and　began　to　dress。　　There
  is　a　degree　of　cold　so　sharp　that　it　seems　actually　to　smell；　and　as　she
  stole　down　the　stairs　and　out　of　the　door　she　shivered；　assailed　by　a
  sense　of　loneliness　and　fear。　　Yet　an　insistent　voice　urged　her　on；
  whispering　that　to　remain　at　home；　inactive；　was　to　go　mad；　salvation　and
  relief　lay　in　plunging　into　the　struggle；　in　contributing　her　share
  toward　retribution　and　victory。　　Victory！　　In　Faber　Street　the　light　of
  the　electric　arcs　tinged　the　snow　with　blue；　and　the　flamboyant
  advertisements　of　breakfast　foods；　cigarettes　and　ales　seemed　but　the
  mockery　of　an　activity　now　unrealizable。　　The　groups　and　figures
  scattered　here　and　there　farther　down　the　street　served　only　to
  exaggerate　its　wide　emptiness。　　What　could　these　do；　what　could　she
  accomplish　against　the　mighty　power　of　the　mills？　　Gradually；　as　she
  stood　gazing；　she　became　aware　of　a　beating　of　feet　upon　the　snow；　over
  her　shoulder　she　caught　the　gleam　of　steel。　　A　squad　of　soldiers　muffled
  in　heavy　capes　and　woolen　caps　was　marching　along　the　car…tracks。　　She
  followed　them。　　At　the　corner　of　West　Street；　in　obedience　to　a　sharp
  command　she　saw　them　halt；　turn；　and　advance　toward　a　small　crowd
  gathered　there。　　It　scattered；　only　to　collect　again　when　the　soldiers
  had　passed　on。　　Janet　joined　them。　　She　heard　men　cursing　the　soldiers。
  The　women　stood　a　little　aside；　some　were　stamping　to　keep　warm；　and　one；
  with　a　bundle　in　her　arms　which　Janet　presently　perceived　to　be　a　child；
  sank　down　on　a　stone　step　and　remained　there；　crouching；　resigned。
  〃We　gotta　right　to　stay　here；　in　the　street。　　We　gotta　right　to　live；　I
  guess。〃　　The　girl's　teeth　were　chattering；　but　she　spoke　with　such
  vehemence　and　spirit　as　to　attract　Janet's　attention。　　〃You　worked　in　the
  Chippering；　like　meyes？〃　she　asked。
  Janet　nodded。　　The　faded；　lemon…coloured　shawl　the　girl　had　wrapped　about
  her　head　emphasized　the　dark　beauty　of　her　oval　face。　　She　smiled；　and
  her　white　teeth　were　fairly　dazzling。　　Impulsively　she　thrust　her　arm
  through　Janet's。
  〃You　Americanyou　comrade；　you　come　to　help？〃　she　asked。
  〃I've　never　done　any　picketing。〃
  〃I　showa　you。〃
  The　dawn　had　begun　to　break；　revealing　little　by　little　the　outlines　of
  cruel；　ugly　buildings；　the　great　mill　looming　darkly　at　the　end　of　the
  street；　and　Janet　found　it　scarcely　believable　that　only　a　little　while
  ago　she　had　hurried　thither　in　the　mornings　with　anticipation　and　joy　in
  her　heart；　eager　to　see　Ditmar；　to　be　near　him！　　The　sight　of　two
  policemen　hurrying　toward　them　from　the　direction　of　the　canal　aroused
  her。　　With　sullen　murmurs　the　group　started　to　disperse；　but　the　woman
  with　the　baby；　numb　with　cold；　was　slow　in　rising；　and　one　of　the
  policemen　thrust　out　his　club　threateningly。
  〃Move　on；　you　can't　sit　here；〃　he　said。
  With　a　lithe　movement　like　the　spring　of　a　cat　the　Italian　girl　flung
  herself　between　thema　remarkable　exhibition　of　spontaneous
  inflammability；　her　eyes　glittered　like　the　points　of　daggers；　and；　as
  though　they　had　been　dagger　points；　the　policeman　recoiled　a　little。　　The
  act；　which　was　absolutely　natural；　superb；　electrified　Janet；　restored　in
  an　instant　her　own　fierceness　of　spirit。　　The　girl　said　something
  swiftly；　in　Italian；　and　helped　the　woman　to　rise；　paying　no　more
  attention　to　the　policeman。　　Janet　walked　on；　but　she　had　not　covered
  half　the　block　before　she　was　overtaken　by　the　girl；　her　anger　had　come
  and　gone　in　a　flash；　her　vivacity　had　returned；　her　vitality　again　found
  expression　in　an　abundant　good　nature　and　good　will。　　She　asked　Janet's
  name；　volunteering　the　information　that　her　own　was　Gemma；　that　she　was　a
  〃fine　speeder〃　in　the　Chippering　Mill；　where　she　had　received　nearly
  seven　dollars　a　week。　　She　had　been　among　the　first　to　walk　out。
  〃Why　did　you　walk　out？〃　asked　Janet　curiously。
  〃Why？　　I　get　mad　when　I　know　that　my　wages　is　cut。　　I　want　the　moneyI
  get　married。〃
  〃Is　that　why　you　are　striking？〃　asked　Janet　curiously。
  〃That　is　whyof　course。〃
  〃Then　you　haven't　heard　any　of　the　speakers？　　They　say　it　is　for　a　cause…
  …the　workers　are　striking　for　freedom；　some　day　they　will　own　the　mills。
  I　heard　a　man　named　Rolfe　yesterday〃
  The　girl　gave　her　a　radiant　smile。
  〃Rolfe！　　It　is　beautiful；　what　Rolfe　said。