“Yes, Brother Morris.  It has been bought by the State & Merton County Railroad Company.”

“And who bought the mines of Todman and of Lee that came into the market in the same way last year?”

“The same company, Brother Morris.”

“And who bought the ironworks of Manson and of Shuman and of Van Deher and of Atwood, which have all been given up of late?”

“They were all bought by the West Gilmerton General Mining Company.”

“I don’t see, Brother Morris,” said the chairman, “that it matters to us who buys them, since they can’t carry them out of the district.”

“With all respect to you, Eminent Bodymaster, I think it may matter very much to us.  This process has been going on now for ten long years.  We are gradually driving all the small men out of trade.  What is the result?  We find in their places great companies like the Railroad or the General Iron, who have their directors in New York or Philadelphia, and care nothing for our threats.  We can take it out of their local bosses; but it only means that others will be sent in their stead.  And we are making it dangerous for ourselves.  The small men could not harm us.  They had not the money nor the power.  So long as we did not squeeze them too dry, they would stay on under our power.  But if these big companies find that we stand between them and their profits, they will spare no pains and no expense to hunt us down and bring us to court.”

There was a hush at these ominous words, and every face darkened as gloomy looks were exchanged.  So omnipotent and unchallenged had they been that the very thought that there was possible retribution in the background had been banished from their minds.  And yet the idea struck a chill to the most reckless of them.

“It is my advice,” the speaker continued, “that we go easier upon the small men.  On the day that they have all been driven out the power of this society will have been broken.”

Unwelcome truths are not popular.  There were angry cries as the speaker resumed his seat.  McGinty rose with gloom upon his brow.

“Brother Morris,” said he, “you were always a croaker.  So long as the members of this lodge stand together there is no power in the United States that can touch them.  Sure, have we not tried it often enough in the lawcourts?  I expect the big companies will find it easier to pay than to fight, same as the little companies do.  And now, Brethren,” McGinty took off his black velvet cap and his stole as he spoke, “this lodge has finished its business for the evening, save for one small matter which may be mentioned when we are parting.  The time has now come for fraternal refreshment and for harmony.”

Strange indeed is human nature.  Here were these men, to whom murder was familiar, who again and again had struck down the father of the family, some man against whom they had no personal feeling, without one thought of compunction or of compassion for his weeping wife or helpless children, and yet the tender or pathetic in music could move them to tears.  McMurdo had a fine tenor voice, and if he had failed to gain the good will of the lodge before, it could no longer have been withheld after he had thrilled them with “I’m Sitting on the Stile, Mary,” and “On the Banks of Allan Water.”