He could not understand his presence at that kind of a meeting.
"You know I am a Union man now," said Captain Jack, accurately reading his silence.

"Joined a couple of months ago." But McNish kept his face gravely non-committal, wondering how it was that this important bit of news had not reached him.

Then he remembered that he had not attended the last two monthly meetings of his Union, and also he knew that little gossip of the shops came his way.

None the less, he was intensely interested in Maitland's appearance.

He did Captain Jack the justice to acquit him of anything but the most honourable intentions, yet he could not make clear to his mind what end the son of his boss could serve by joining a Labour Union.