In his capacity as delicatessen vender, Jokubas Szedvilas had many acquaintances. Among these was one of
the special policemen employed by Durham, whose duty it frequently was to pick out men for employment.
Jokubas had never tried it, but he expressed a certainty that he could get some of his friends a job through this
man. It was agreed, after consultation, that he should make the effort with old Antanas and with Jonas. Jurgis
was confident of his ability to get work for himself, unassisted by any one. As we have said before, he was not
mistaken in this. He had gone to Brown's and stood there not more than half an hour before one of the bosses
noticed his form towering above the rest, and signaled to him. The colloquy which followed was brief and to
the point:
"Speak English?"
"No; Lit-uanian." (Jurgis had studied this word carefully.)
"Job?"
"Je." (A nod.)
"Worked here before?"
"No 'stand."
(Signals and gesticulations on the part of the boss. Vigorous shakes of the head by Jurgis.)
"Shovel guts?"
"No 'stand." (More shakes of the head.)
"Zarnos. Pagaiksztis. Szluofa!" (Imitative motions.)
"Je."
"See door. Durys?" (Pointing.)
"Je."
"To-morrow, seven o'clock. Understand? Rytoj! Prieszpietys! Septyni!"
"Dekui, tamistai!" (Thank you, sir.) And that was all. Jurgis turned away, and then in a sudden rush the full
realization of his triumph swept over him, and he gave a yell and a jump, and started off on a run. He had a
job! He had a job! And he went all the way home as if upon wings, and burst into the house like a cyclone, to
the rage of the numerous lodgers who had just turned in for their daily sleep.
Meantime Jokubas had been to see his friend the policeman, and received encouragement, so it was a happy
party. There being no more to be done that day, the shop was left under the care of Lucija, and her husband
sallied forth to show his friends the sights of Packingtown. Jokubas did this with the air of a country