CHAPTER X
JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE OWNER
I
It was late at night when Jimmie left the Socialist local, and took
the trolley out into the country. He had to walk nearly two miles
from where he got off, and a thunder-storm had come up; he got out
and started to trudge through the darkness and the floods of rain.
Several times he slipped off the road into the ditch, and once he
fell prone, and got up and washed the mud from his eyes and nose
with the stream of fresh water pouring about his head. While he was
thus occupied he heard the sound of a horn, and saw a glare of light
rushing up. He jumped into the ditch again, and a big automobile
went by at a fast pace, spattering showers of mud all over him. He
plodded on, swearing to himself. Some of them munition-
millionaires, no doubt--tearing over the country at night honking
their horns like they owned the roads, and covering poor walking
people with their splashings!
And so on, until Jimmie came round a turn of the road and saw the
white glare of light again, this time standing still. It seemed to
be pointing up into the trees; and when he got nearer he made out
the reason--it had run off the road into the ditch, and then up the
other slope, and there rolled over on to its side.
"Hello!" said a voice, as Jimmie came slopping up.
"Hello!" he answered.
"How far is it to the nearest house?"
"Maybe half a mile."
"Who lives there?"
"I do."
"Have you got a horse and buggy?"
"There's one at the big house, just a piece beyond."
"Do you suppose we could get enough men to turn this car over?"
"I dunno; there ain't many about here."
"Damn!" muttered the man to himself. Then, after a moment, "Well,
there's no use staying here." This to his companion, whom Jimmie
made out to be a woman. She was standing still, with the cold rain
pouring over her. The man put his arm about her, and said to Jimmie,
"Lead the way, please." So Jimmie set out, slopping through the mud
as before.
Nothing more was said until they reached the "tenant-house" where
the Jimmies lived. But meantime the little Socialist's mind was
busy; it seemed to him that the man's voice was familiar, and he was
trying to recall where and how he had heard it before. They came to
the house, which was dark, and the couple stood on the porch while
Jimmie went in and groped for a match and lighted the single smoky
oil-lamp on which the household depended. Carrying it in his hand,
he went to the door and invited the couple in. They came; and so
Jimmie got a glimpse of the face of the man, and almost dropped the
lamp right there where he stood. It was Lacey Granitch!
