Black-eyed Devils Read Online Free PDF Page B

officers walked in ten minutes ago asking for Father Kelly’s nephew. When he told them that he wasn’t here, they said they’d wait. That’s all I know. Come on, ladies,’ Anna commanded briskly. ‘Start working we’ve a queue of hungry people waiting out in the rain.’
    The women turned back to the tables and carried on preparing vegetables and scraping the last vestiges of mutton from bones.
    â€˜What do you want to do, Amy? Peel apples, or clean vegetables.’ Betty Morgan, a strike leader’s wife, handed her a paring knife.
    â€˜She’ll do the apples with me, Betty.’ Anna made room for Amy to join her.
    Betty went to the cupboard and opened the door. ‘There’s enough flour and sugar to make a couple of tarts. If we have apple left over we’ll serve it stewed with the last of tins of condensed milk.’
    â€˜Soup and afters,’ Anna declared. ‘Our customers will think it’s Christmas.’
    The women laughed. Amy took her apron from her basket and tied it over her dress. She picked up an apple and started peeling, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Tom Kelly. And wondering why the police had come to “fetch him.”
    â€˜When I signed up to work in the Glamorgan Colliery in Ireland, no one said anything to me about a strike, Sergeant Martin.’ Tom remained calm and polite for his uncle’s sake.
    â€˜Did you sign a legal document agreeing to work in the colliery for as long as your labour was needed?’ Sergeant Martin asked.
    â€˜Yes, but no one said anything about the workers in the colliery striking,’ Tom repeated.
    â€˜And, as payment for signing the document you were given a ship’s ticket from Ireland to Wales?’
    â€˜I was,’ Tom agreed.
    â€˜If you refuse to honour the contract, Mr Craggs has the right to demand immediate repayment of your passage money plus £50 inconvenience money to hire someone to take your place.’
    â€˜So, instead of upholding the law, Sergeant Martin, you and the constables are working for Mr Craggs and colliery management now,’ Father Kelly observed.
    â€˜We’re enforcing the law, Father.’ Sergeant Martin replied. ‘Your nephew has admitted that he entered a legally binding contract, which it appears he wants to break.’
    â€˜I can’t pay anyone fifty farthings let alone pounds,’ Tom’s voice rose sharply. ‘No working man has that kind of money and you know it. My passage from Ireland was three pounds.’
    â€˜And your train ticket to Tonypandy from Cardiff docks another pound,’ Constable Shipton took a piece of paper from his pocket and read it. ‘Mr Craggs wants you and your labour, or fifty-four pounds in compensation. And he wants it now.’
    â€˜If my nephew can’t pay what he owes, Mr Craggs can send round the Bailiffs.’ Father Kelly sat behind his desk. Like Tom, he was finding it difficult to control his temper.
    â€˜If Mr Kelly has fifty-four pounds in goods, or you’re prepared to pay his debt for him, Father, we’ll collect now,’ the sergeant offered.
    â€˜You heard my nephew. He hasn’t fifty farthings. And I own nothing except my clothes. Everything you see around you belongs to the church.’
    â€˜Then there would be no point in Mr Craggs hiring bailiffs. And even if he did, by the time they arrived here, your nephew will have long gone,’ Constable Shipton prophesied.
    Tom didn’t deny it. ‘I saw what’s happening in Tonypandy this morning. And I’ll not take another man’s job.’
    â€˜That’s your last word on the subject?’ Constable Shipton questioned.
    â€˜I’ll deal with this, Constable.’ Sergeant Martin looked at Tom.
    â€˜I’ve said all I’m going to.’ Tom folded his arms across his chest.
    â€˜Then you leave me no choice but to arrest you for fraud.’
    â€˜Go