I meant you -- how differently you would have behaved --
about Ona."

Jurgis was silent; he had never thought of that aspect
of it.

"When people are starving," the other continued, "and
they have anything with a price, they ought to sell it, I
say. I guess you realize it now when it's too late. Ona
could have taken care of us all, in the beginning." Marija
spoke without emotion, as one who had come to regard
things from the business point of view.

"I -- yes, I guess so," Jurgis answered hesitatingly.
He did not add that he had paid three hundred dollars, and
a foreman's job, for the satisfaction of knocking down
"Phil" Connor a second time.

The policeman came to the door again just then. "Come
on, now," he said. "Lively!"

"All right," said Marija, reaching for her hat, which was
big enough to be a drum-major's, and full of ostrich feathers.
She went out into the hall and Jurgis followed, the police~
man remaining to look under the bed and behind the door.

"What's going to come of this?" Jurgis asked, as they
started down the steps.

"The raid, you mean? Oh, nothing -- it happens to us
every now and then. The madame's having some sort of
time with the police; I don't know what it is, but maybe
they'll come to terms before morning. Anyhow, they
won't do anything to you. They always let the men off."

"Maybe so," he responded, "but not me -- I'm afraid
I'm in for it."

"How do you mean?"

"I'm wanted by the police," he said, lowering his voice,
though of course their conversation was in Lithuanian.
"They'll send me up for a year or two, I'm afraid."

"Hell!" said Marija. "That's too bad. I'll see if I
can't get you off."

Downstairs, where the greater part of the prisoners were
now massed, she sought out the stout personage with the
diamond earrings, and had a few whispered words with her.
The latter then approached the police sergeant who was in

[[348]]

p347 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p348w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p349

v?