The immediate result of the visit was that Clayton became a member of a
protective league which undertook, with his cooperation, to police
and guard the mill. But Mr. Dunbar's last words left him thinking
profoundly.
"We're going to be in it, that's sure. And soon. And Germany's army
is here. It's not only Germans either. It's the I.W.W., for one thing.
We've got a list through the British post-office censor, of a lot
of those fellows who are taking German money to-day. They're against
everything. Not only work. They're against law and order. And they're
likely to raise hell."
He rose to leave.
"How do your Germans like making shells for the Allies?" he asked.
"We haven't a great many. We've had no trouble. One man resigned--a boss
roller. That's all."
"Watch him. He's got a grievance."
"He's been here a long time. I haven't an idea he'd do us any harm. It
was a matter of principle with him."
"Oh, it's a matter of principle with all of them. They can justify
themselves seven ways to the ace. Keep an eye on him, or let us do it
for you."
Clayton sat for some time after Dunbar had gone. Was it possible that
Klein, or men like Klein, old employees and faithful for years, could be
reached by the insidious wickedness of Germany? It was incredible. But
then the whole situation was incredible; that a peaceful and home-loving
people, to all appearances, should suddenly shed the sheep skin of years
of dissimulation, and appear as the wolves of the world.
One of his men had died on the Lusitania, a quiet little chap, with a
family in the suburbs and a mania for raising dahlias. He had been in
the habit of bringing in his best specimens, and putting them in water
on Clayton's desk. His pressed glass vase was still there, empty.
Then his mind went back to Herman Klein. He had a daughter in the mill.
She was earning the livelihood for the family now, temporarily. And the
Germans were thrifty. If for no other reason he thought Klein would not
imperil either his daughter's safety or her salary.
There was a good bit of talk about German hate, but surely there was no
hate in Klein.
Something else Dunbar had said stuck in his mind.
"We've got to get wise, and soon. It's too big a job for the regular
departments to handle. Every city in the country and every town ought
to have a civilian organization to watch and to fight it if it has to.
They're hiding among us everywhere, and every citizen has got to be a
sleuth, if we're to counter their moves. Every man his own detective!"