When Paul answered, his voice was hard again. “Your father is helping to keep these blackguards in the field, I understand.”
“He’s paying assessments, if that’s what you mean. He’s under contract with the Federation—when he joined—”
“No contract is valid that requires breaking the law! And don’t you know these fellows are breaking a hundred laws a day?”
“I know, Paul; but Dad is tied up with the other operators; you don’t understand—he’s really having trouble financially, because his wells are shut down; and he’s doing that entirely for the men.”
“I know it, and we appreciate it. But now he says he’s got to give up, and bring in scabs like the rest. They’re driving us beyond endurance; they’re making a dirty fight, and your father knows it—and yet he goes along with them!”
There was a
