so
PARTISAN REVIEW
dead of night our own tobacco from the cooperative warehouse.
This is hell compared to that."
Hub spat out bitterly, "We're in the backend of the world
here. But I ain't aletting that old man straddle me much longer.
'Hub, do thisaway, Hub thataway.' Git into tantrums. The
women'd keep me from lashing back. Democrats, Republicans,
hell of a lot of difference."
Gordon grunted, his throbbing head not altogether cleared
of that long-haired girl in the other room and the hard corn
whiskey. "They play out one tit or the other. It's the same and
gets you into the old hole.''
Hub snorted sure.
Curley said eagerly, "We can't take no time starting things.
We need a young fellow full of piss and morning glory.''
Gordon fumbled his watch. He was going to see a fellow
soon who eould start things humming. Lanky who led the corned
beef and cabbage strike at college. Lanky at the Honeybrook
fix:ehouse meeting exposing the local banker, the vigilantes, win–
ning the farmers over to his side. Lanky, beaten up in the mill–
town, teeth knocked and mouth bloody, having enough presence
of mind to vomit over the police blotter to use it as evidence
of police brutality. Lanky always with the workers and farmers
in his mouth like a double bit. Lanky. And as Gordon finished,
the eyes of the two men flashed. He heard himself whispering,
"You bastard, you bastard, oh you long drink of water.''
Curley reached out a hand. "You sold him to us. But he
ain't here.
If
he's your pal and your gang, you got his morning
glory too."
. "Mel Hell, hide and booze, and I'm done for.''
"You ain't no different from us, boy. We likes them too.
We can set you up, and give you hell's plenty of work.'' Curley
slapped him on the knee. Hub's hard face quivered.
He got up laughing. ·Hub took his squirrel. Curley cried,
"We don't take no, fellow."
They went out and plunged into wind and snow. Neither
said a single word their way back.
The long dark kitchen was full of children crying. The tall
broad-hipped Nettie was at the stove. Mrs. Hone with the baby
saddled on her belly, said, "Hub, pa-.''
Hub strode into the next room. Gordon followed. The
old man lay stiff as a crowbar, the chin out like the belly of a
small burrowing animal.
