。, Hurstwood had been reading of this thing, and wonderingconcerning the huge tie-up which would follow. A day or twobefore this trouble with Carrie, it came. On a cold afternoon,when everything was grey and it threatened to snow, the papersannounced that the men had been called out on all the lines.Being so utterly idle, and his mind filled with the numerouspredictions which had been made concerning the scarcity of labourthis winter and the panicky state of the financial market,Hurstwood read this with interest. He noted the claims of thestriking motormen and conductors, who said that they had beenwont to receive two dollars a day in times past, but that for ayear or more "trippers" had been introduced, which cut down theirchance of livelihood one-half, and increased their hours ofservitude from ten to twelve, and even fourteen. These"trippers" were men put on during the busy and rush hours, totake a car out for one trip. The compensation paid for such atrip was only twenty-five cents. When the rush or busy hourswere over, they were laid off. Worst of all, no man might knowwhen he was going to get a car. He must come to the barns in themorning and wait around in fair and foul weather until such timeas he was needed. Two trips were an average reward for so muchwaiting--a little over three hours' work for fifty cents. Thework of waiting was not counted.
Still, in the morning, when her household duties would infringeupon her and Hurstwood sat there, a perfect load to contemplate,her fate seemed dismal and unrelieved. It did not take so verymuch to feed them under Hurstwood's close-measured buying, andthere would possibly be enough for rent, but it left nothingelse. Carrie bought the shoes and some other things, whichcomplicated the rent problem very seriously. Suddenly, a weekfrom the fatal day, Carrie realised that they were going to runshort.。, "Who is that fourth girl there on the right--the one coming roundat the end now?"
She looked in her purse to leave it.。, "Did you hear any more from the brewery?" she asked at the end ofthe week, hoping by the question to stir him on to action.
Carrie had really discovered her neglect, but only at a quarterafter five, and the open carriage was now far up Seventh Avenue,near the Harlem River.。,
"The offices are up those steps," said the bluecoat. His facewas a very neutral thing to contemplate. In his heart of hearts,he sympathised with the strikers and hated this "scab." In hisheart of hearts, also, he felt the dignity and use of the policeforce, which commanded order. Of its true social significance,he never once dreamed. His was not the mind for that. The twofeelings blended in him--neutralised one another and him. Hewould have fought for this man as determinedly as for himself,and yet only so far as commanded. Strip him of his uniform, andhe would have soon picked his side.。, "Do you want to hire any men?" inquired Hurstwood.