"What way are you breakin' my rate?" he asked, when Walker told him of
the reduction.
"Oh, it's no' me," replied Walker. "It's Rundell. He thinks it can be
worked for less than it's takin', and, of course, I've just to do as I
am tell'd."
"Weel, I don't ken," said Geordie. "But I've thocht for a lang while
back that you had a hand in it. Have I done anything to ye, for I don't
ken o' it?"
"Ye've never done me any harm, Geordie," replied Walker with a show of
sincerity. "What mak's ye think that?"
"Weel, for a lang time noo', I've ay been kept in hard places, or places
wi' nae air, or where there was water to contend wi'. There's ay been
something, an' I ha'e come to the conclusion that there's mair design
than accident in it."
"I dinna think so," was the reply. "But maybe it's because you're ay
agitatin' to have a union started."
"An' what about it," enquired Geordie, getting a bit heated. "If I ha'e
been advocatin' the startin' o' a union? It seems to me to be muckle
needed."
"Oh, I've nothing to say aboot it," replied Walker. "It's the boss, an'
I was merely givin' ye a hint for yer ain guid."
"It's a' richt," exclaimed Geordie, getting still more heated.
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