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Updated: May 20, 2025
Cartwright," said Edstrom, "we'd like your decision, so as to have the check-weighman start in the morning." "What? You're in such a hurry?" "There's no reason for delay, sir. We've selected our man, and we're ready to pay him." "Who are the men who are ready to pay him? Just you two" "I am not at liberty to name the other men, sir." "Oh! So it's a secret movement!" "In a way yes, sir."
"Somebody talk," said Mrs. David at last; and then, as the silence continued, she turned to Hal. "You're going to be the check-weighman. You talk." "I'm the youngest man here," said Hal, with a smile. "Some older fellow talk." But nobody else smiled. "Go on!" exclaimed old Mike; and so at last Hal stood up.
He entered into fluent conversation with Hal, explaining how much interested he was in the check-weighman plan; he wanted to know just what they were going to do, what chance of success they thought they had, who had started the movement and who was in it. Hal's replies took the form of little sermons on working-class solidarity.
But if I can find a few men who are willing to take the risk of making a demand for a check-weighman that won't hurt your work, will it?" "Sure not!" said the other. "Just the opposite it'll give me an object lesson to point to. There are men here who don't even know they've a legal right to a check-weighman.
Now when Hal had applied for the job of check-weighman, he had been expecting to be thrown out of the camp, and had intended to go, counting his education complete. But here, as he sat and gazed into the marshal's menacing eyes, he decided suddenly that he did not want to leave North Valley. He wanted to stay and take the measure of this gigantic "burglar," the General Fuel Company.
"Let them sprinkle them or I'm done with the whole business." "And let 'em give us our weights!" cried another. "We'll have a check-weighman, and we'll get what we earn!" So again came the cry, "Joe Smith! Give us a speech, Joe! Soak it to 'em! You're the boy!" Hal stood helpless, dismayed. He had counted his fight won and here was another beginning!
After a while Jerry asked what it was Hal and Olson had planned; and Hal explained that he wanted to make a test of the company's attitude toward the check-weighman law. Hal thought it a fine scheme; what did Jerry think? Jerry smiled sadly. "Yes, fine scheme for young feller no got family!" "That's all right," said Hal, "I'll take the job I'll be the check-weighman."
"What put that notion into your heads?" "Nothing, sir; only we thought we'd be better satisfied." "You think you're not getting your weight?" "Well, sir, you see some of the men we think it would be better if we had the check-weighman. We're willing to pay for him." "Who's this check-weighman to be?" "Joe Smith, here." Hal braced himself to meet the other's stare. "Oh! So it's you!"
"Well, what's this?" he inquired. "If you please," said Edstrom, "we'd like to speak to you. We've decided, sir, that we want to have a check-weighman." "What?" The word came like the snap of a whip. "We'd like to have a check-weighman, sir." There was a moment's silence. "Come in here." They filed into the inner office, and he shut the door. "Now. What's this?" Edstrom repeated his words again.
"And here's your check-weighman!" added Edstrom, pointing to Hal. Instantly the reporter was on his job again; he began to fire another series of questions. He would use that check-weighman story as a "follow-up" for the next day, to keep the subject of North Valley alive.
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