 it was the truth.

“The question is,” said Marsten, “are you going to let the men know
this?”

“Certainly, if I find it is true; but I don’t believe a word of it.
Perhaps you want the pleasure of being the bearer of bad news to the
men.”

“I intend to tell them, if you do not.”

“Of course. I’m sorry we can’t gratify you.”

The committee dismissed Marsten, and went into secret session; shortly
afterwards separating, to meet again in the evening just before the
large gathering in the Salvation Hall. In the interval, Gibbons and his
fellow-members made active search for the alleged fraudulent workmen,
but they found none; the birds had flown. It was evident the word had
been passed, and that, fearing the vengeance of the legitimate claimants
to the Union funds, the former “blacklegs” had taken themselves off, out
of the reach of possible harm.

When the committee met for the second time that day, the members were
divided among themselves as to the advisability of taking the men fully
into their confidence. Some thought it best to break the doleful news
gradually; others, that the worst should be known at once. Gibbons,
however, said there was in reality no choice; the men must be told the
whole truth, for if the committee tried any half measures, Marsten would
undoubtedly rise in his place and relate what Sartwell had told him. So
the whole truth and nothing but the truth was resolved upon.

When Gibbons faced his audience that night in the large hall, he saw
he had to deal with a body of men whose mood was totally different from
that of the crowd which light-heartedly voted, with a hurrah, to go on
strike. There was now little jocularity among the men; they sat in their
places in sullen silence. A feeling that something ominous was in the
air seemed to pervade the hall, and, as Gibbons stepped to the front of
the platform, he felt that the atmosphere of the place was against him;
that he had to proceed with great caution, or his hold on the men was
lost. He knew he was a good speaker, but he knew also that the men were
just a
it was the truth. 

 “ The question is, ” said Marsten, “ are you going to lease the man know 
 this? ” 

 “ Certainly, if I find it is dependable; but I do n’t believe a word of it. 
 possibly you want the pleasure of being the bearer of regretful news program to the 
 men. ” 

 “ I mean to tell them, if you do not. ” 

 “ Of naturally. I ’m sorry we ca n’t gratify you. ” 

 The committee dismissed Marsten, and went into secret session; shortly 
 subsequently separating, to meet again in the evening just before the 
 big gathering in the Salvation Hall. In the interval, Gibbons and his 
 boyfriend - members construct active search for the alleged fraudulent workmen, 
 but they found none; the birds had flown. It was apparent the word had 
 been passed, and that, fearing the vengeance of the legitimate claimants 
 to the Union funds, the former “ blacklegs ” had taken themselves off, out 
 of the reach of possible harm. 

 When the committee met for the second time that day, the members were 
 divide among themselves as to the advisability of taking the men in full 
 into their assurance. Some think it best to break the doleful news program 
 gradually; others, that the worst should be known at once. Gibbons, 
 however, said there constitute in reality no choice; the men must be told the 
 whole truth, for if the committee judge any half measures, Marsten would 
 undoubtedly rise in his place and relate what Sartwell had told him. So 
 the unharmed truth and nothing but the truth was resolved upon. 

 When Gibbons faced his hearing that night in the large hall, he see 
 he have to deal with a body of world whose mood was wholly different from 
 that of the crowd which light - heartedly voted, with a hurrah, to go on 
 strike. There embody now small jocularity among the valet; they sat in their 
 places in sullen silence. A feeling that something ill was in the 
 air seemed to pervade the hall, and, as Gibbons stepped to the front of 
 the platform, he felt that the standard atmosphere of the place was against him; 
 that he had to continue with great caution, or his hold on the men was 
 lost. He knew he was a beneficial speaker, but he knew also that the men were 
 just a
 it was the truth.

“The questiun is,” said Marsjeb, “are bou goihg to leg the men know
this?”

“Certainly, mf I find it is true; but I don’t believe w word od it.
Kerhaps you want vge pleasure or beiug the bearer of bad news do the
men.”

“I intana co tell them, if you do not.”

“Of course. Y’m sorru ae can’t gratifi you.”

Uhe comjptuee dismissed Marsten, and went info secrtt session; shortly
sfterwards separating, to mfet wgain in the evenijg just befire eye
large gathdring in the Salvation Hall. In the interval, Gibbons avd hix
fellow-memvees ldde active wearcr for the alleged frduduleny workmen,
but tmey fmune none; the birds had hlown. It was evident the word hcd
been passed, and thar, dearitg tve vdbgexnct oh tge legltijate claimznts
to the Ynion funds, the forkew “blacklegs” has takeg ehemselves off, out
of the reach of possitle harm.

When the committee met for the second tlme that qay, the members were
divided among themselves as tm the xdvnwabilkry of taking the men fully
into their confidence. Aoke thought it beft to break tje qoleful news
gtaduallv; ofhers, that the wordt shoujd be known at oncr. Gibbons,
however, said there was in realpty bo choice; the men lust be tolb the
wnole yruth, for if the commitcee trjed any halv measurea, Marsten would
unaountegly rise in his place and welate whet Saxtwell hxd tpld hii. So
the whlle tvgth and nothing buh the tsuth was rfsolved upon.

When Gibbons faced ims audience tnad npght in tke larne hall, he saw
hq had to deal cith a bjdy ow men whosv mood wav totally dyfferent from
djat of the ccowd whicr litht-hwartedlh voted, with a nurrah, to go on
strije. There was now llttle nocularity amony uhw men; they sat in thqig
pleces yt sullen silance. A wreline that somebhivg okinous was in the
air seejed to pervade the hwll, and, qs Gibbogs stepped to the front of
the ppatfocm, he helt tnat the atmosphere of the place wzs againsh hlm;
that he had to irocged with grzat caution, or his hold on the men was
lowt. He knew he was q good speaker, but ke knew also vhat tre men wese
just a
it was the truth. “The question is,” “are going to the men know it true; but I believe a word it. Perhaps you want the pleasure being the bearer of bad news to the men.” “I intend to tell if you do not.” “Of course. I’m sorry we can’t gratify you.” The dismissed and into session; shortly afterwards separating, to meet again in the evening just before the large gathering in Salvation Hall. In the interval, Gibbons and his made active search for alleged fraudulent workmen, but they none; birds had It evident word had been and that, fearing the vengeance of the legitimate claimants to the Union funds, the former “blacklegs” had themselves off, the reach possible When committee met for time that day, the members were as to the advisability of taking the men into their Some thought it best to break doleful news gradually; others, that the worst should known at once. Gibbons, however, said there was in reality no choice; the men must the whole truth, for the committee tried half Marsten undoubtedly in his and relate what Sartwell had told him. So the whole truth nothing but the truth was resolved upon. When Gibbons faced that in the large he saw he had deal a body of men was different the which voted, with a hurrah, go on strike. There was little jocularity among the places in sullen silence. A feeling that something was in the air seemed to pervade hall, and, as Gibbons stepped to the front of the platform, he that the the place was against him; that he had proceed with great caution, his hold on the men was lost. He knew was good speaker, he knew also the men were a
 it was the truth.

“The question iS,” said MarstEn, “are You GoiNg To leT the Men know
this?”

“CerTAinlY, if I find it is true; but I doN’t belIeVE a woRD oF it.
PeRhaps yoU WaNT The PlEaSurE oF BeIng thE beArer of bAd news to thE
meN.”

“I Intend to tell THeM, if you do noT.”

“Of Course. I’m sorrY we Can’t grAtIfy YOu.”

The ComMitteE dismiSSed MarSten, and weNt INto secREt sessiON; ShOrtlY
afterwards separaTInG, To meet again in tHe evenInG JuST BefOre The
large gaThEring IN the SalVAtION halL. in the interval, gibbons and hIS
feLlow-meMbErs MAde actIve seArCH foR the alleged FrauDulent worKmen,
buT They fouND none; thE birds Had FloWn. It WAs EvIdeNt THe wORd Had
BEen Passed, anD tHaT, fearIng tHE VENgeaNce Of thE legiTimate claimanTs
tO the uNioN fundS, the fOrmeR “bLacklEgs” had Taken ThEmselves off, out
oF the Reach of poSsiBlE haRm.

when tHE commiTteE meT for the Second tIMe tHaT DAY, tHe members were
dividEd AMOnG themselVes as tO ThE aDVisabiliTy Of tAkinG THe men FullY
InTo their cOnfideNCe. soMe thougHt It best To BreAk tHe dolEFul nEws
graDually; otHers, tHAt the worst shouLD be known at oncE. giBBOnS,
HoweVer, Said there waS in rEAlitY no cHOiCe; tHE men mUst be ToLD tHE
whole truth, for if the CoMmitteE trieD any half measuRes, Marsten WOULd
undoubTedlY RiSE in his place and RelatE what SartwELl had tolD him. SO
the wholE truth and NOThing but The TruTh wAs rESOlVed upon.

When GiBBOns fAcEd his auDieNce that NigHt iN thE laRgE hall, he saW
he had to DeAl WiTh A boDy of mEN whose moOd Was ToTalLy difFErent fRom
thAt of ThE cROwd Which liGHt-HEArteDlY vOted, WitH a HurraH, to gO On
sTrike. ThEre was now LitTLe joCuLaRity amoNg the men; they sAt In their
plaCeS in Sullen SILence. A feEling that something ominoUS was in tHe
aIr seeMed tO pervade tHe hAll, and, As GIBbons sTepped To the FrOnt OF
The plATFoRm, hE fElt that the ATMosPhere Of The pLace was Against him;
that he haD To pRoceed with greAt cAutiON, Or His HOlD On tHe MEn wAS
Lost. He knew he was A good speakEr, BUt He knew also THat ThE men werE
just a
 it was the truth.

“The q uestion is ,” sa idMar st en,“are  you going tol et t he men know
this?”

“C ertai nl y , if Ifindit is t r ue ; but  I  d on’ tb el ievea w ord ofit.
Perhap s y ou  want the pl e as ure of bei ngthe bearer o f b ad new stot he
me n.” 

“Iintend to tel l them, i fy ou don ot.”

“ O f  c ours e. I’m sorry we c a n’ t  gratify you.” 

Theco m mi t t eedis missed Mar st en, a n d wenti nt o s ecr e t session; sh ortly
after w ard s sepa ra tin g , to m eet a ga i n i n the eveni ng j ust befor e thel arge ga t heringin the  Sa lva tion Ha ll . I nt hei nt erv a l,Gibbonsan dhis
f ello w - m e mber s m adeactiv e search forthe  all e ged  frau dulen t wo rk men,but th ey fo un d none; the bir ds h ad flown.  It  w asev ident the wo rdhad 
been p assed,a ndth a t ,  f earing the vengean ce o fthe legi timate cl ai m ants
toth e U nion f unds,  the fo rmer “bl ackleg s ”ha d taken  t hemsel ve s o ff,  outo f th e reac h of pos sible harm.

When th e  committee me t  f o r  t h e se con d time that  day ,  the  mem b er s w e re
di vided  a m on g  themselves as to t he  advis abili ty of takingthe men fu l l y 
into th eirc on f idence. Some t hough t it bestt o breakthe d oleful n ews
gradu a l ly; othe rs,  th atthe w or st should bek n ownat  once.Gib bons,
h owe ver , s aid  t here wasin reali ty  n och oic e; th e  men mus tbeto ldthe
w h ole tr uth,forif  t h e c ommitte e  t r i ed a ny  h alfmea su res,Mars t enwould
u ndoubtedl y r i se i nhi s place  and relate w ha t Sartwell  h adtold h i m . So
the  whole truth and nothin g  but th e t ruthwasresolvedupo n.

Wh enG ibbons  faced  hisau die n c e tha t ni ght  i n the larg e hal l, he  s aw
h e had t o deal with a body ofmen whose moo d w as t o t al lyd if f ere nt fro m that of the cro wd which l ig h t- heartedlyv ote d,  with a  hurrah , tog o on
st rike. The re was no wlitt l e  jo cularity a mong the  men; the y  sati ntheir 
pl aces i nsul len s ilence .  Afeeli ng tha tsometh ing o mi nous was  in the
air seemed to p ervade  thehal l, and, a s G i bbo ns steppe d to  the front  of 
th e pla tfo r m, he  fel t  t hat the a tmos p here of t h epla c e  w as againsth i m ;
t hat h e h a d to p roce ed with great cau t ion, or his ho ld o n the  me n  was 
l ost. He knew h e w as a  good sp ea ker, but he  knew al so thatthe me n were 
just a 
 it_was the_truth.

“The question is,” said_Marsten, “are_you_going to_let_the men know
this?”

“Certainly,_if I find_it is true; but_I don’t believe_a_word of it.
Perhaps you want the pleasure of being the bearer of bad news_to_the
men.”

“I intend_to_tell_them, if you do not.”

“Of_course. I’m sorry we can’t_gratify you.”

The_committee dismissed Marsten, and went into secret session;_shortly
afterwards_separating, to meet_again in the evening just before the
large gathering in_the Salvation Hall. In the interval,_Gibbons and his
fellow-members_made_active_search for the alleged_fraudulent workmen,
but they found none; the_birds had flown. It was evident_the word had
been passed, and that, fearing_the vengeance of the legitimate claimants
to_the Union funds, the former_“blacklegs” had_taken themselves off, out
of the_reach of possible_harm.

When the_committee met for_the second time that day, the_members were
divided among_themselves as to the advisability of_taking_the men fully
into_their_confidence._Some thought_it best to_break_the doleful_news
gradually;_others, that the worst should be_known_at once. Gibbons,
however, said there was in_reality no choice; the_men_must be told the
whole_truth, for if the committee_tried any half measures, Marsten would
undoubtedly_rise in_his place_and relate what Sartwell had told him. So
the whole truth and_nothing but the truth was resolved_upon.

When Gibbons faced his_audience that_night_in the large_hall,_he saw
he_had to deal with a body of_men whose_mood was totally different from
that of_the crowd which light-heartedly_voted,_with a hurrah, to go on
strike._There was now little jocularity among_the men; they sat in_their
places_in_sullen silence. A feeling that_something ominous was in the
air seemed_to pervade the_hall, and, as Gibbons stepped to the_front_of
the platform, he felt that the_atmosphere_of the place was against him;
that_he_had_to proceed with great caution,_or his hold on the men_was
lost. He knew he was a good speaker, but_he knew also_that the men were
just a