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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 this meetin' because today the pany laid off fifty men an' we couldn't find Riordan to tell us why。〃 He fumbled with the gavel for a moment。 〃The union； which is supposed to give us protection on our jobs； has now got to act； even if we don't know where Riordan is。 The men that were laid off today had seniority an' there's no reason why the pany shouldn't take them back。〃
A roar burst from the crowd。
〃While you fellers was drinkin' beer；〃 Tom said； 〃I looked up the rules in the bylaws printed in my union book； an' it says that a meetin' is entitled to call for a strike vote if more than twenty…five members is present。 There's more than twenty…five members here an' I say we should vote a strike by Monday； unless the pany takes us back right away。〃
〃Strike！ Strike！〃
〃We've all been faithful employees of the pany for many years an' always gave them an honest count an' they got no right to kick us out like that。〃
〃Y…aay！〃
〃Don't let the nickels stick to your fingers； Tom；〃 a man in the back shouted。 〃There may be a spotter in the crowd。〃
There was laughter。
〃If there is a spotter；〃 Tom said grimly； 〃let him go back to the pany an' tell 'em what we're doin' here。 We'll show 'em they can't push us around。〃
There was a burst of applause。
Tom waved his hand。 〃Now we'll vote on a strike；〃 he said。 〃All in favor say aye。〃
The men were suddenly quiet。 They looked at each other nervously。 The door at the back of the hall had opened and Riordan was standing in it。 〃What's all this loose talk about a strike； men？〃
They turned in surprise and stared at him。 The ruddy…faced； heavy…set union organizer started down through the meeting hall。 A buzz came up as they saw him。 It was almost a sigh of relief。 Riordan was here。 He'd tell them what to do。 He'd straighten everything out。
〃Hello； Tom；〃 Riordan said； walking around the table。 He held out his hand。 Tom shook hands with him。 It was the first time he'd done so。
〃We came down here because we thought the union should be doin' somethin' for us。〃
Riordan gave him a shrewd look。 〃Of course； Tom；〃 he said soothingly。 〃And it's the right thing ye did； too。〃
Tom sighed in relief。 For a moment； he had thought Riordan would be angry at the way they'd e in and taken over the hall。 He watched as Riordan turned toward the men and held up his hand。 A silence came over the hall。
〃Men；〃 Riordan said in his deep voice； 〃the reason you couldn't find me was I beat it up to the pany office the minute I learned about the layoffs。 There was no time to call a meeting but I want you to know that the union was right on the job。〃
A cheer went up from the men。 They looked at each other embarrassedly。
〃And I want to express my appreciation to Brother Tom Denton here for his prompt action in bringing you all down here to the union hall。 It shows that Tom Denton； like every one of you； knows that the union is his friend。〃
Tom blushed as the men cheered again。 Riordan turned back to the crowd。 〃I've been working all afternoon； fighting with the management； and finally I got them to back down a little。〃
A loud cheer shook the ceiling。
Riordan raised his hand； smiling。 〃Don't cheer yet； boys。 Like I say； I only got them to back down a little bit； but it's a start。 They promised to have more meetings with me next month。〃
〃Are they takin' us back？〃 Tom asked。
Riordan looked at him； then turned back to the men。 〃The management agreed to take back ten of the men who were laid off this week。 They also agreed to take back ten more men next month。〃
A strange silence came over the room。 The men eyed each other nervously。 〃But more than fifty of us were laid off；〃 Tom said loudly。 〃What's ten men out of that many？〃
〃It's a start； Tom；〃 he said。 〃You can't do it all at once。〃
〃Why not？〃 Tom demanded hotly。 〃They laid us all off at once。〃
〃That's different；〃 Riordan said。 〃The pany has the right to lay off if business is bad。〃
〃We know that。 What we're sore about is the way they did it。 They paid no attention to the seniority they agreed to in the union agreement。 They laid off all the sixty…five…cent men and kept the fifty…five…centers。〃
〃I know；〃 Riordan said。 A harsh edge had e into his voice。 〃But their taking back ten men is a start。 It's better than having all fifty of ye out on the street。〃 He turned back to the men。 〃Ten of you will go back to work。 Maybe next month； ten more will go back。 That's better than nothing。 The pany doesn't care if you go on strike。 They claim they'll save money by not running。〃
〃I say we take it；〃 one of the men shouted。 〃Ten of us workin' is better than none workin'； like Riordan says。〃
〃No；〃 Tom said angrily； getting to his feet。 〃The pany should take us all back。 Each of us has as much right to work as the next one。 If all us sixty…five…cent men would accept a cut to fifty…five cents； the pany could keep us all on。〃
Riordan laughed hoarsely。 〃You hear that； men？〃 he shouted。 〃Would you like to take another pay cut？〃
There was a murmur from the crowd。 They shifted uneasily。 〃I'd rather take a pay cut than have us all laid off；〃 Tom said。
Riordan glared at him。 There was no friendliness in his eyes now。 He had been angry ever since he got a call from the pany personnel manager； advising him he'd better get down to the union hall。 The call had caught him at a very embarrassing time。 He got out of bed； cursing as he struggled into his clothing。 〃What is it； honey？〃
〃Some jerky conductor has taken over the hall and is talking strike to the boys。〃
〃But he can't do that；〃 his paramour answered in a shocked voice。 〃You promised the pany they'd have no trouble。〃
〃They won't；〃 he said harshly。 〃Nobody can make Riordan break his word！〃
By the time he'd driven down to the union hall； he'd simmered down。 But now he was getting angry again。 He had a hard enough job explaining to his wife where he was spending his Saturday nights； without having it loused up by a bunch of stupid trolley men。
He turned back to the crowd。 〃I propose we settle this here and now；〃 he shouted。 〃You have a choice。 Ten men go back to work or you strike。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 Tom protested。
〃The men already turned your proposal down；〃 Riordan snapped。 He raised his right hand。 〃All in favor of returning to work raise your right hand。〃
About ninety men raised their hands。
〃Nays？〃
There were only a few raised hands besides Tom's。
〃The ayes have it。 Now you men go home to your wives。 I'll let you know on Monday which of you go back to work。〃
Slowly the men began to file out of the room。 Tom looked at Riordan but the man didn't meet his eyes。 Instead； he went back into his little glass cubbyhole and picked up the telephone。
Tom walked wearily toward the door。 Some of the men looked at him； then quickly hurried by； as if they were ashamed to meet his gaze。 At the doorway； he turned and looked back。 Riordan was still using the telephone。
The night was clear and bright and a warm breeze came in from the bay。 He walked along thoug