Black-eyed Devils Read Online Free PDF

air and ice on the ground.’ Tom put his cap on when he and Amy were in the street.
    â€˜As I told you, everyone in town is on edge.’
    â€˜And ready to take their tempers out on me.’ Tom shrugged. ‘That’s all right. My back is broad enough.’
    â€˜I won’t take your arm while we can be seen in the street,’ she said, when he offered it to her.
    â€˜I thought Irish mas and pas were strict with their daughters. Your Welsh mams and dads are ten times worse.’ They left the street and took a mountain path. Tom could just make out the Catholic Church in the distance.
    â€˜You can’t blame parents for looking after their children.’
    â€˜No, but I’d look after you just as well if not better.’ He drew closer to her.
    â€˜Please don’t start that again.’ She changed the subject. ‘How are you at peeling apples?’
    â€˜I’m better at chopping wood.’
    â€˜Then Father Kelly will put you on fuel duty.’
    â€˜He had me on cleaning duties first thing. Before I’d even had breakfast I had to sweep out the hall for him.’
    â€˜And he watched you?’ Amy knew that Father Kelly never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself.
    â€˜He went out with the rag and bone man on his cart to look for scrap wood to feed the range. They came back with a load of logs.’
    â€˜I wonder where he found them.’
    â€˜I asked him. He told me not to ask.’
    â€˜The miners working the drifts have offered to supply the kitchen with coal, but he won’t take it in case the police come in and see it. No one in Tonypandy has any stocks. The only way of getting coal is by breaking the law. Although I can’t understand why it’s illegal to dig up and take what’s sitting there.’
    â€˜That’s the gentry for you. They use crooked laws to lay claim to everything, even things they don’t want, just to keep the ordinary working man down.’
    â€˜You talk like my father. Are you a Marxist?’
    â€˜All I believe in is freedom and a man being paid a living wage. But freedom doesn’t exist in Ireland and a living wage an impossible dream for most people.’
    As they drew close to the church hall Amy saw a dozen boys playing football with a tin can. Behind them women and children had formed a queue, although the soup kitchen wasn’t due to start serving meals for another two hours.
    â€˜So many hungry people with nothing to do,’ Tom murmured as if he knew what Amy was thinking.
    â€˜Unlike them, we have plenty to do, if they are going to get their supper.’ Amy opened the back door of the hall, pushed the hood of her cloak down and called out, ‘Good afternoon, everyone.’
    Amy only noticed the silence after she’d hung her cloak on a peg and turned around. Two constables and Sergeant Martin were with Father Kelly. At a nod from Sergeant Martin the constables stepped forward and held Tom’s arms.
    â€˜What are you doing?’ Amy asked.
    â€˜Not that it’s of your business, Miss Watkins, but this man is coming with us,’ a constable replied.
    â€˜You can’t arrest him, he hasn’t done anything,’ she protested.
    â€˜We’re not arresting Mr Kelly, Miss Watkins.’ Sergeant Martin informed her.
    One of the constables holding Tom pushed his helmet back, away from his face and Amy recognized Constable Shipton.
    â€˜We’re here to remind Mr Kelly of his responsibilities, Miss Watkins.’
    â€˜What responsibilities?’ Amy looked to Tom, but he remained silent.
    â€˜We’ll continue this discussion in my study, in private.’ Father Kelly led the way, the sergeant and constables followed with Tom.
    Amy watched them leave before joining Anna and the ladies who had stopped work when she and Tom had arrived. ‘Why are the police taking Tom, Auntie Anna?’
    â€˜I’ve no idea, love. The