Jimmie Higgins | Page 8

of honour! It doesn't make any
difference what happens after this, Comrade--the movement had
vindicated itself! All the future will be changed because of this event!"
He began to walk down the street, talking more to himself than to
Jimmie. He was borne away on the wings of his vision; and his
companion was so thrilled that he honestly did not know where he was.
Afterwards, when he looked back upon this scene, it remained the most
wonderful event of his life; he told the story, sooner or later, to every
Socialist he met.
Presently the Candidate stopped. "Comrade," he said, "I must go to the
hotel. I want to write some telegrams. You explain to the
Committee--I'd rather not see anyone till time for the meeting. I'll find
the way myself."
CHAPTER II
JIMMIE HIGGINS HEARS A SPEECH
I

In the Opera-house were gathered Comrade Mabel Smith and Comrade

Meissner and Comrade Goldstein, the secretary of the Ypsels, and the
three members of the Reception Committee--Comrade Norwood, the
rising young lawyer, Comrade Dr. Service, and Comrade Schultze of
the Carpet-weavers' Union. To them rushed the breathless Jimmie.
"Have you heard the news?"
"What is it?".
"A hundred Socialist leaders shot in Germany!"
"Herr Gott!" cried Comrade Schultze, in horror; and everyone turned
instinctively, for they knew how this came home to him--he had a
brother who was a Socialist editor in Leipzig, and who was liable for
the mobilization.
"Where did you see it?" cried Schultze; and Jimmie told what he knew.
And then the clamour broke forth! Others were called from the back
part of the hall, and came running, and there were questions and cries
of dismay. Here, too, it was as if the crime had been committed against
Local Leesville--so completely did they feel themselves one with the
victims. In a town where there was a brewery, needless to say there
were German workers a-plenty; but even had this not been so, the
feeling would have been the same, for the Socialists of the world were
one, the soul of the movement was its internationalism. The Candidate
discovering that Jimmie was a Socialist had asked and received no
further introduction, but had been instantly his friend; and so it would
have been with a comrade from Germany, Japan, or the heart of
Africa--he might not have known another word of English, the word
"Socialist" would have sufficed.
It was a long time before they thought of any other matter; but finally
someone referred to the trouble which had fallen upon the local--the
Candidate had not showed up. And Jimmie exclaimed, "Why, he's
here!" And instantly all turned upon him. Where? When? How?
"He came this morning."
"And why didn't you let us know?" It was Comrade Dr. Service of the

Reception Committee who spoke, and with a decided sharpness in his
tone.
"He didn't want anybody to know," said Jimmie.
"Did he want us to go to the train and think he had failed us?"
Sure enough, it was after train-time! Jimmie had entirely forgotten both
the train and the committee, and now he had not the grace to hide his
offence. All he could do was to tell his story--how he had spent the
afternoon walking in the country with the Candidate, and how they had
gone swimming, and how they had got the news from the bulletin
board, and how the Candidate had acted and what he had said. Poor
Jimmie never doubted but that his own thrill was shared by all the
others; and at the next regular meeting of the local, when Comrade Dr.
Service sat down on some proposition which Jimmie had ventured to
make, the little machinist had not the faintest idea what he had done to
deserve the snub. He was lacking in worldly sense, he did not
understand that a prosperous physician, who comes into the movement
out of pure humanitarianism, contributing his prestige and his wealth to
the certain detriment of his social and business interests, is entitled to a
certain deference from the Jimmie Higginses, and even from a
Candidate.

II

You might have thought that Jimmie would be tired; but this was a day
on which the flesh had no claims. First he helped Comrade Mabel in
depositing upon every seat a leaflet containing a letter from the local
candidate for Congress; then he rushed away to catch a street-car, and
spent his last nickel to get to his home and keep his engagement with
Lizzie. He would not make with her the mistake he had made with the
Committee, you bet!
He found that Lizzie had faithfully carried out her part of the bargain.

The three babies were done up in bright-coloured calico dresses; she
had spent the morning in washing and ironing these