Doubtless,
had they dared, two or three score of these men would have fought in
behalf of the gamblers and bootleggers, but far more than that number
would have rallied under Tom Reade's banner, for it is human nature to
flock to the banner of the leader who is resolute and unafraid. Besides,
there were the foremen, all of them good, hard hitting men.
"Oh, well," sneered Hawkins, "let it go at that, Reade. We'll have our
day in court tomorrow, and then. I guess we'll find our innings."
"Yes," chuckled Tom, "and when you get your innings you'll be wild to swap
them for outings---for the innings will be in jail."
"Don't push my temper too far," cautioned Hawkins with a scowl.
"Let it go as far as you like, always being ready to take the
consequences," Tom smiled genially.
There followed a period of tense waiting. After nearly a half an hour of
this a 'bus arrived, with four police officers from Blixton in it. Tom
Reade preferred his charges against the gamblers and bootleggers. The
officers had no choice but to take them, so the late troublemakers, now
amid jeers and hoots from many of the workmen, were led outside and into
the 'bus.
"You'll hear from this!" hissed Hawkins, in the young chief engineer's ear.
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