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their weekly meeting for almost fifteen years。 Instead； the paymaster pushed the envelope under the slotted steel bars quickly； his eyes averted and downcast。
Tom stared at him for a moment。 He glanced quickly at some of the faces on the line behind him。 They knew； too。 He could see it from the way they were looking at him。 An odd feeling of shame came over him。 This couldn't be happening to him。 Not after fifteen years。 His eyes fell and he walked away from the window； the envelope in his hand。
Nobody had to tell him times were bad。 This was 1931 and the evidence was all around him。 The families on relief； the bread lines； the endless gray； tired faces of the men who boarded his car every morning。
He was almost out of the barn now。 Suddenly； he couldn't wait any longer and he ducked into a dark corner to open the pay envelope。 He tore at it with trembling fingers。 The first thing that came to his hand was the dreaded green slip。
He stared at it unbelievingly。 It must be a mistake。 They couldn't mean him。 He wasn't a one…year or two…year man； not even a five…year man。 He had seniority。 Fifteen years。 They weren't laying off fifteen…year men。 Not yet。
But they were。 He squinted at the paper in the dim light。 Laid off。 What a bitter irony。 That was the reason given for all the pay cuts … to prevent layoffs。 Even the union had told them that。
He shoved the envelope into his pocket； trying to fight the sudden sick feeling of fear that crawled around in his stomach。 What was he to do now？ All he knew was the cars。 He'd forgotten all about everything else he'd ever done。 The only other thing he remembered was working as a hod…carrier when he was young。
He came out of the dark barn； blinking his eyes at the daylight。 A group of men were standing there on the sidewalk； their worn blue uniforms purplish in the light。 One of them called to him。 〃You got it； too； Denton？〃
Tom looked at him。 He nodded。 〃Yes。〃
〃We did； too；〃 another said。 〃They're letting out the senior men because we're getting a higher rate。 All the new men are being kept on。〃
〃Have you been to the union yet？〃 Tom asked。
〃We've been there and back。 The hall is closed。 The watchman there says e back on Monday。〃
〃Anybody call Riordan？〃
〃His phone home don't answer。〃
〃Somebody must know where Riordan is；〃 Tom said。 〃Let's go to the hall and make the watchman let us in。 After all； what do we pay dues for if we can't meet there？〃
〃That's a good idea； Tom。 We can't just let them replace us with fifty…five…centers； no matter what they say。〃
They began to walk to the union hall； about two blocks from the car barn。 Tom strode along silently。 In a way； he still couldn't believe it。 Ten cents an hour couldn't mean that much to the pany。 Why； he'd have taken even another cut if they'd asked him。 It wasn't right； the way they were doing it。 They had to find Riordan。 He'd know the answers。 He was the union man。
The union hall was dark when they got there and they banged on the door until the old night watchman opened it。 〃I tol' you fellers Riordan ain't here；〃 he said in an aged； irritated voice。
〃Where is Riordan？〃
〃I don't know；〃 the watchman answered； starting to close the door。 〃You fellers go home。〃
Tom put his foot in the door and pushed。 The old man went flying backward； stumbling； almost falling。 The men surged into the building behind Tom。
〃You fellers stay outa here；〃 the old man cried in his querulous voice。
They ignored him and pushed their way into the meeting hall； which was a large room at the end of the corridor。 By now； the crowd had swelled to close to thirty men。 Once they were in； they stood there uncertainly； not knowing what to do next。 They milled around； looking at each other。 〃Let's go into Riordan's office；〃 Tom suggested。 〃Maybe we can find out where he is in there。〃
Riordan's office was a glass…enclosed partition at the end of the meeting hall。 They pushed down there but only a few of them were able to squeeze into the tiny cubbyhole。 Tom looked down at the organizer's desk。 There was a calendar； a green blotter and some pencils on it。 He pulled open a drawer； then； one after another； all of them。 The only thing he could find were more pencils； and dues blanks and receipts。
The watchman appeared at the back of the hall。 〃If you fellers don't get outa here；〃 he shouted； 〃I'm gonna call the cops。〃
〃Go take a shit； old man；〃 a blue…coated conductor shouted back at him。
〃Yeah；〃 shouted another。 〃This is our union。 We pay the dues and the rent。 We can stay here if we want。〃
The watchman disappeared back into the corridor。 Some of the men looked at Tom。 〃What do we do now？〃
〃Maybe we better e back Monday；〃 one of them suggested。 〃We'll see what Riordan has to say then。〃
〃No；〃 Tom said sharply。 〃By Monday； nobody will be able to do nothing。 We got to get this settled today。〃
〃How？〃 the man asked。
Tom stood there for a moment； thinking。 〃The union's the only chance we got。 We got to make the union do something for us。〃
〃How can we if Riordan ain't here？〃
〃Riordan isn't the union；〃 Tom said。 〃We are。 If we can't find him； we got to do it without him。〃 He turned to one of the men。 〃Patrick； you're on the executive board。 What does Riordan usually do in a case like this？〃
Patrick took off his cap and scratched at his gray hair。 〃I dunno；〃 he said thoughtfully。 〃But I reckon the first thing he'd do would be to call a meetin'。〃
〃O。K。〃 Tom nodded。 〃You take a bunch of the men back to the barns and tell the day shift to e down here to a meeting right away。〃
The men moved around excitedly and after a few minutes； several of them left to go back to the car barns。 The others stood around； waiting。 〃If we're to have a meetin'；〃 someone said； 〃we gotta have an agenda。 They don't have no meetin's without they have an agenda。〃
〃The agenda is； can the pany lay us off like this；〃 Tom said。
They nodded agreement。 〃We got rights。〃
〃This meetin' business is givin' me a awful thirst；〃 another man said。 〃All this talkin' has dried out me throat somethin' terrible。〃
〃Let's send out for a barrel of beer；〃 a voice yelled from the back。
There was real enthusiasm in the shout of agreement and a collection was quickly taken up。 Two men were dispatched on the errand and when they returned； the keg was mounted on a table at the back of the room。
〃Now；〃 said one of them； waving his beer glass in front of him； 〃now we can get down to business！〃
The meeting hall was a bedlam of noise and confusion as more than a hundred men milled around； talking and shouting。 The first keg of beer had run out long ago。 Two new ones rested on the table； pouring forth their refreshment。
Tom pounded on the table with the gavel he'd found in Riordan's desk。 〃The meeting will now e to order！〃 he shouted； for the fifth time in as many minutes。 He kept pounding on the table until he caught the attention of a few men down at the front。
〃Quiet！〃 one of them bellowed。 〃Le's hear what good ol' Tom has to say。〃
The noise subsided to a murmur； then all the men were watching him。 Tom waited until it was as quiet as he thought it would get； then he cleared his throat nervously。 〃We called t