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Page 15
Tom continued his harangue, becoming more and more intense, yet carrying
his talk along in all simplicity, and with a directness that made scores
of the workmen look sheepish.
"Whenever you find a man anywhere who professes to be working for your
good, or for your amusement, and who gets all the benefit in the end,
why don't you open your eyes to him?" Tom inquired presently. "Over in
Paloma there are saloon keepers who are cleaning up their dives and
opening new lots of liquor that they feel sure they're going to sell you
to-night. These dive keepers are ready to welcome you with open arms,
and they'll try to make you feel that you're royal good fellows and that
they are the best friends you have in the world. Yet, to-morrow
morning, how will the property be divided? The keepers of these saloons
and Jim Duff will have all your money and what will you have?"
Tom paused, whipping out a white handkerchief that he deftly bound
around his head, meanwhile looking miserable.
"That's what you men will have--and that's all that you'll have left,"
croaked the young chief engineer dismally. "Now, friends, is the game
worth a candle of that sort? How many of you have money in the bank?
Let every man here who has put up his hand. Not one of you? Who's
keeping your money in bank for you? Jim Duff and the sellers of
poisons? Will they ever hand your money back to you? Some of you men
have dear ones at home. If one of these dear ones sends a hurried,
frenzied appeal for money in time of sickness or death what will your
answer have to be? Just this: 'I have been working like a slave for a
year, but I can send you only my love. Jim Duff, who hasn't worked in
all his life, won't let me send you any money.' Friends, is that what
you're burning yourselves black on the desert for?"
While Tom Reade spoke Foreman Mendoza had marshaled his Mexicans and was
translating the young engineer's words into Spanish.
Nor was it long ere Tom's fine presentation of the matter caught the men
in the nobler part of their feelings.
"Don't blame Duff so much," Tom finally went on. "He may be a parasite,
a vulture, a feeder on blood, but you and men just like you have helped
to make the Duffs. You're not going to do so after this, are you, my
friends? You're not going to keep the breath of life in monsters who
drain you dry of life and manhood?"
"No!" came a thunderous shout, even though all of Reade's hearers did
not join in it.
Even the Mexicans, listening to Mendoza's translation, became
interested, despite their lesser degree of intelligence.
Tom continued to talk against time, though he wasted few words. All
that he said went home to many of the laborers. While he was still
talking the whistle of the pay train was heard.
Reade quickly sent his foremen and a few trusted workmen to head off any
"runners" who might attempt to come in from Paloma while the men were
being paid off.
As the train came to a stop Tom leaped upon a flat car behind the engine
and introduced one of the newcomers--the vice president of a savings
bank over in Tucson. This man, who knew the common people, talked for
fifteen minutes, after which a clerk appeared from the pay car with a
book in which to register the signatures of those who wished to open
bank accounts. Then the paymaster and his assistants worked rapidly in
paying off.
That railroad pay day proved a time of gloom to many in the town of
Paloma. The returning pay train carried the bank officials and twenty-
four thousand dollars that had been deposited as new accounts from the
men. Of the money that remained in camp much of it was carried in the
pockets of men who meant to keep it there until they received something
worth while it exchange.
True, this did not trouble the majority of people in Paloma, who were
sober, decent American citizens engaged in the proper walks of life.
But Jim Duff and a few others held an indignation meeting that night.
"We've been robbed!" complained one indignant saloon keeper.
"Gentlemen," observed Jim Duff, in his oiliest tones, though his face
was ghastly white, "you have a new enemy, who threatens your success in
business. How are you going to deal with him?"
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