The Cold Millions

On his way back to the union hall, Rye is picked up by Willard, who brings him to Lem’s house. Rye finds Lem eating at the servants’ table as he realizes that Lem had ordered the hit on them in Taft. Lem passes Rye a file on Early Reston, once a Pinkerton—the employee of a detective agency that specializes in strike-breaking—who has since taken on many aliases. Lem reveals that he had ordered an investigation on Early after Westbury’s murder and discovered that Early had become a committed anarchist. He speculates on Early’s motivations, suggesting he may be a thief or someone who works for the thrill of it.

Lem has reason to believe that something has happened to Del and wonders if Rye knows anything about it. Instead, Rye angrily quits as an informant, handing Lem one of the glove boxes he had bought. Lem threatens him with blackmail unless he can deliver the remainder of Early’s salary to him. He means for the payment to serve as a peace offering, admitting that what happened in Taft was an attempt to strike at both Early and the union in one move. When Rye refuses to do Lem’s work, Lem reasserts his promise to have Gig released in two days. Rye indicates that he must return to the union hall in time for Gurley’s speech, which leads Lem to reveal that a raid has been ordered on the union.

Gurley narrates her experience of the raid on the Spokane IWW hall, which happens shortly before she is scheduled to speak. Clegg and Sullivan arrive to arrest her for conspiracy. As Gurley is carried out, she yells to call attention to police brutality. Gurley is brought to a women’s cell in the prison, which she shares with two other women. One of the women, Katya, implies that they had been arrested after their bartender had failed to pay off the police.

Sullivan and the city prosecutor interrogate Gurley, but she refuses to cooperate. She is stung, however, when Sullivan reminds her that Jack has not come to help her in her fight. Gurley is returned to her cell, where the other women defend her from jailers who try to take advantage of her. Katya asks Gurley about her pregnancy and suggests naming her baby Oleksander. Gurley learns as much as she can about the women’s poor prison conditions during this time.

Moore arranges for Gurley’s bail. During her arraignment, the judge orders her to refrain from public speaking until her trial. She is pleased to learn, however, that the raid has revived interest in the union’s dispute with the city. Leaving the court, Moore informs her that the IWW has been banned from Spokane. Gurley asks after Rye, finding it suspicious that he had left the hall in such a hurry before the raid.

Rye returns to Mrs. Ricci’s boardinghouse and meets her son, Marco. Marco endorses Rye for a job but tells him that it will not be possible to sell the orchard at the rate Mrs. Ricci had promised him. Rye begins working as a stock boy at a machine shop.

Rye learns about Gurley’s arrest and arraignment, as well as the IWW ban. Rye goes to Moore, who tells him that Gig has been approved for release that afternoon. Moore leaves Rye at a café while he goes to retrieve Gig. Rye thinks about everything that has happened since he last saw his brother, and is demoralized by the sense of powerlessness he feels against the wealthy. When Rye and Gig reunite, they weep with each other.

Rye’s machine shop work becomes a full-time job, which he comes to enjoy. He befriends the machinist, Dom, who regularly shares his lunch with Rye. Gig, meanwhile, remains at Mrs. Ricci’s house to recover from the trauma of his imprisonment. This makes Rye hesitant to share what he knows about Early and Lem.

Rye goes to the new library in town and checks out a new translation of War and Peace for Gig to read. Gig’s spirit is too broken to enjoy the book, however. Rye sees Willard, who asks him for an update on Early. Rye has nothing to share.

Gig is missing when Rye comes home. Later that night, he returns home drunk and is belligerent when Rye tries to help him. Gig disappears again, leaving the gloves Rye bought him and the library book on Rye’s cot.

Rye goes to search for Gig but makes little progress. He then goes to see Gurley, telling her about Gig’s behavior. They talk about union affairs and Jack’s continued absence from Spokane. Gurley admits that the answers to their fight with the city and the police seem unclear. Rye suggests, “Maybe after a while you don’t fight it” (243). Then, after mentioning the possibility that an informant is working against them, she asks Rye about his whereabouts on the night of the raid. Rye tells her about the gloves, but she seems to understand everything he wants to tell her about Lem. She asks Rye for a favor.

Gurley’s police guard searches Rye as he leaves her house and finds nothing. Rye returns to Mrs. Ricci’s house and pulls a $50 bill from the envelope meant for Early. He leaves an IOU and a note promising Gig that he will return.

Rye travels to Seattle to visit Olen Parr’s newspaper office. He gives the staff the article he’d smuggled for Gurley about the horrible treatment of women in the Spokane prison. The newspaper staff decide to print the article as a front-page story and republish it in Seattle’s IWW newspaper. Rye returns to Spokane to resume his search for Gig.

Gig leaves Mrs. Ricci’s house, frustrated with Rye’s pity. He goes to drink and dull his feelings. He narrates his disillusionment with the workers’ cause after his imprisonment, as well as his life in Spokane. During his drinking spree, he goes to the Comique and finds Ursula, telling her of his intention to leave Rye behind. She sends Gig to the hotel she bought from Lem, The Phoenix, to sober him up under the care of its manager, Edith.

Gig refuses to settle, drinking in the hotel’s saloon for three days. Ursula comes on the third day and cleans him up, shaving, washing, and dressing him. Afterward, she tells him everything she can about her life.