If she broached the subject to Tom Abbott, to Judge Lawton, even in a
roundabout way, they would suspect at once. Aileen and Janet and the other
girls did not know enough. They would suspect also. But her head would
burst if she didn't consult some one. She was too horribly alone. And
after all she was still very young. She had talked largely of her
responsibilities, but as a matter of fact until now she had never had one
worth the name.
Suddenly she thought of James Kirkpatrick.
II
The lessons in socialism had died a natural death long since. But Alexina
and Aileen and Janet had never quite let him go. Whenever there was a great
strike on, either in California or in any part of the nation, they invited
him to take tea with them at least once a week while it lasted and tell
them all the "ins." This he was nothing loath to do, and waived the
question of remuneration aside with a gesture. He was now a foreman, and
vice-president of his union, and it gave him a distinct satisfaction to
confer a favor upon these "lofty dames," whom, however, he liked better as
time went on. Alexina he had always worshiped and the only time he ceased
to be a socialist was when he ground his teeth and cursed fate for not
making him a gentleman and giving him a chance before she was corralled by
that sawdust dude.
He had also remained on friendly terms with Gora, who had cold-bloodedly
studied him and made him the hero of a grim strike story.
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