to[Page 78] appeal to him not to enforce the proposed reduction, as they were already working for less than other factories were paying. [Page 78] When she began to speak a strange look of relief passed over his face and with a peculiar, nervous laugh, he sat down again. “Get out of this,” said he roughly. “If you don’t like my prices leave them for those who do.” Turning his back to the girls he coolly began arranging the papers on his desk. When Dido began to plead for justice he calmly ordered foreman Flint to “remove these young persons.” “If you do dare touch me, I’ll kill you!” exclaimed Dido in a rage, as Flint made a movement to obey orders. He cowered, stepped back and stammered an excuse to his employer. He felt the scorch in Dido’s blazing midnight eyes and he respected her warning and his own person. [Page 79] [Page 79] Mr. Bike moved quietly to the door and holding it open, said: “My beauty, you be careful, or that fine spirit of yours will get you into trouble some of these days.” Dido gave him a scornful glance as she and Maggie walked out, and the door was closed behind them. She related her failure to the waiting girls, and they all went home after promising to be there Monday morning to prevent others taking their places. They seemed to feel the consequence of their own act less than Dido and rather welcomed an extra holiday. That evening Dido pawned all her furniture and extra clothes, and the money she received for them, added to her savings, went towards saving the body of Mrs. Williams from the Potter’s Field. There was not quite enough to pay the undertaker, so Dido was forced to borrow the remainder from Blind[Page 80] Gilbert, the beggar, who occupied the room in the rear of that occupied by the Williamses. [Page 80] Monday morning the girls all gathered around the entrance to the factory and urged the new girls, who came in answer to an advertisement, not to apply for work and thereby injure their chances of
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