THE CORDS TIGHTEN
On Wolf's urgent advice Norman determined to use the autocratic power
invested in him by the deed of gift to establish a complete code of
law and enforce it without fear or favour. As the cords tightened,
scores who became dissatisfied with their lot offered their
resignations and asked to return to their old homes.
In answer to their clamour Norman posted this notice on the bulletin
board:
"Every member of the army of the Brotherhood of Man enlisted for
five years' service. Resignations will not be considered and
deserters will be tried by court-martial. I am going to use my
power for the best interests of the Brotherhood. I ask the
cooperation of all the loyal members of the colony. Of traitors
I ask no quarter, and I expect to give none.
"NORMAN WORTH,
"_Trustee and General Manager_."
The effects of the proclamation were instantaneous. The helplessness
of any attempt to resist authority firmly established under such
daring leadership was at once apparent to the most stupid mind.
Loafing, drinking, stealing, carousing, and disorder of all kind were
reduced at once to a minimum.
One act, however, of the executive council under Norman's direction
precipitated a storm in an unexpected quarter.
The council removed Blanche and a group of wayward girls with whom she
associated to a cottage outside the lawn.
The women of the Brotherhood were practically unanimous in their
demands that the whole group be immediately expelled from the colony.
A committee of three aggressive women presented their demand to Norman
in no uncertain language.
His reply was equally emphatic:
"Comrades," he said, firmly, "I shall do nothing of the kind. We are
going to work out this experiment in human society without compromise.
We have successfully cut communication with the outside world. The
crew of our ship are no longer allowed to land and only picked men
unload her cargo. We are not going to play the baby act and dump these
girls back on the old civilization which we have denounced. They may
be wayward but they are our sisters."
"They are not mine," shouted one of the committee. "The brazen
creatures! And we do not propose to have our sons and daughters
corrupted by association with them."
"Then we must find some other solution than that of transportation,"
Norman insisted.
"Send them to the penal colony, then," demanded the committee.
"And back in a circle we immediately travel to the crimes of
civilization from which we fled. I prefer to send the boys who
associate with them. They are the real offenders."
"I deny that assertion," firmly declared the leader of the committee.
"My boy is one of the unfortunate victims of these brazen wretches.
Before we came to this island he never gave me a word of impudence.
From the night he met Blanche at our first ball he was beyond my
advice or control. These girls are the enemies of society and this
colony cannot exist if they remain within its life."
"I refuse to believe it," Norman cried, with scorn. "It is your duty
to reform these girls and restore them to mental and physical sanity,
and as the leader of this colony I direct you to take up this divine
work."
"And I, for one," spoke, for the first time, the silent gray-haired
member of the committee, "refuse to smirch my hands with the task."
Norman, looked into the calm face of this white-haired, motherly
looking woman with amazement.
"I can't understand you, comrade mother!" he exclaimed, with
bitterness.
"That's because you're young, handsome, inexperienced, and, above all,
because you are a man," was the quick reply. "I have spent a busy life
since my own children grew out of the home nest in New York City in
trying to help other people's children less fortunate than my own.
I've helped scores of boys and never had one to disappoint me yet.
I've tried to help scores of girls of the type we are discussing. I've
always regretted it. I found them shallow, false, lazy, stupid,
worthless. I have never looked at one of them except to blush that I
am a woman. I speak from the saddest and most hopeless experiences of
my life."
Norman cut the argument short with a gesture of angry impatience.
"This discussion is a waste of breath. As long as I am in command of
this colony no such insane act of injustice shall be committed against
these girls."
"Then it's time you gave place to a man of greater wisdom and less
sentimental mush in his brain," replied the calm, gray-haired woman.
"Thank you," the young leader replied, with chilling politeness, "you
may be right--but in the meantime I accept the responsibility. Good
day."
He had made three enemies whose power he was soon to feel. As they
passed through the doorway Catherine greeted them politely and soothed
their ruffled spirits with gentle words.