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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10059 ***
+
+        AUNT JANE'S NIECES
+           ON VACATION
+
+                BY
+
+          EDITH VAN DYNE
+
+               1912
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER
+
+I     THE HOBO AT CHAZY JUNCTION
+II    THE INVASION OF MILLVILLE
+III   THE DAWN OF A GREAT ENTERPRISE
+IV    THE WAY INTO PRINT
+V     DIVIDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES
+VI    MR. SKEELTY OF THE MILL
+VII   THE SKETCH ARTIST
+VIII  THE _Millville Daily Tribune_
+IX    TROUBLE
+X     THURSDAY SMITH
+XI    THE HONER'BLE OJOY BOGLIN
+XII   MOLLY SIZER'S PARTY
+XIII  BOB WEST INTERFERES
+XIV   THE DANCER SIGNAL
+XV    A CLEVER IDEA
+XVI   LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS
+XVII  THE PENALTIES OF JOURNALISM
+XVIII OPEN WARFARE
+XIX   A MERE MATTER OF REVENGE
+XX    DEFENDING THE PRESS
+XXI   THE COMING OF FOGERTY
+XXII  UNMASKED
+XXIII THE JOURNALISTS ABDICATE
+XXIV  A CHEERFUL BLUNDER
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE HOBO AT CHAZY JUNCTION
+
+
+Mr. Judkins, the station agent at Chazy Junction, came out of his little
+house at daybreak, shivered a bit in the chill morning air and gave an
+involuntary start as he saw a private car on the sidetrack. There were
+two private cars, to be exact--a sleeper and a baggage car--and Mr.
+Judkins knew the three o'clock train must have left them as it passed
+through.
+
+"Ah," said he aloud; "the nabobs hev arrove."
+
+"Who are the nabobs?" asked a quiet voice beside him.
+
+Again Mr. Judkins started; he even stepped back a pace to get a better
+view of the stranger, who had approached so stealthily through the dim
+light that the agent was unaware of his existence until he spoke.
+
+"Who be you?" he demanded, eyeing the man suspiciously.
+
+"Never mind who I am," retorted the other in a grumpy tone; "the
+original question is 'who are the nabobs?'"
+
+"See here, young feller; this ain't no place fer tramps," observed Mr.
+Judkins, frowning with evident displeasure; "Chazy Junction's got all it
+kin do to support its reg'lar inhabitants. You'll hev to move on."
+
+The stranger sat down on a baggage truck and eyed the private car
+reflectively. He wore a rough gray suit, baggy and threadbare, a flannel
+shirt with an old black tie carelessly knotted at the collar, a brown
+felt hat with several holes in the crown, and coarse cowhide shoes that
+had arrived at the last stages of usefulness. You would judge him to be
+from twenty-five to thirty years of age; you would note that his face
+was browned from exposure, that it was rather set and expressionless but
+in no way repulsive. His eyes, dark and retrospective, were his most
+redeeming feature, yet betrayed little of their owner's character. Mr.
+Judkins could make nothing of the fellow, beyond the fact that he was
+doubtless a "tramp" and on that account most unwelcome in this retired
+neighborhood.
+
+Even tramps were unusual at Chazy Junction. The foothills were sparsely
+settled and the inhabitants too humble to be attractive to gentlemen of
+the road, while the rocky highways, tortuous and uneven, offered no
+invitation to the professional pedestrian.
+
+"You'll hev to move on!" repeated the agent, more sternly.
+
+"I can't," replied the other with a smile. "The car I was--er--attached
+to has come to a halt. The engine has left us, and--here we are, I and
+the nabobs."
+
+"Be'n ridin' the trucks, eh?"
+
+"No; rear platform. Very comfortable it was, and no interruptions. The
+crazy old train stopped so many times during the night that I scarcely
+woke up when they sidetracked us here, and the first thing I knew I was
+abandoned in this wilderness. As it grew light I began to examine my
+surroundings, and discovered you. Glad to meet you, sir."
+
+"You needn't be."
+
+"Don't begrudge me the pleasure, I implore you. I can't blame you for
+being gruff and unsociable; were you otherwise you wouldn't reside
+at--at--" he turned his head to read the half legible sign on the
+station house, "at Chazy Junction. I'm familiar with most parts of the
+United States, but Chazy Junction gets my flutters. Why, oh, why in the
+world did it happen?"
+
+Mr. Judkins scowled but made no answer. He was wise enough to understand
+he was no match in conversation for this irresponsible outcast who knew
+the great world as perfectly as the agent knew his junction. He turned
+away and stared hard at the silent sleeper, the appearance of which was
+not wholly unexpected.
+
+"You haven't informed me who the nabobs are, nor why they choose to be
+sidetracked in this forsaken stone-quarry," remarked the stranger,
+eyeing the bleak hills around him in the growing light of dawn.
+
+The agent hesitated. His first gruff resentment had been in a manner
+disarmed and he dearly loved to talk, especially on so interesting a
+subject as "the nabobs." He knew he could astonish the tramp, and the
+temptation to do so was too strong to resist.
+
+"It's the great John Merrick, who's got millions to burn but don't light
+many bonfires," he began, not very graciously at first. "Two years ago
+he bought the Cap'n Wegg farm, over by Millville, an'--"
+
+"Where's Millville?" inquired the man.
+
+"Seven mile back in the hills. The farm ain't nuthin' but cobblestone
+an' pine woods, but--"
+
+"How big is Millville?"
+
+"Quite a town. Eleven stores an' houses, 'sides the mill an' a big
+settlement buildin' up at Royal, where the new paper mill is jest
+started. Royal's four mile up the Little Bill Hill."
+
+"But about the nabob--Mr. Merrick, I think you called him?"
+
+"Yes; John Merrick. He bought the Cap'n Wegg place an' spent summer
+'fore last on it--him an' his three gals as is his nieces."
+
+"Oh; three girls."
+
+"Yes. Clever gals, too. Stirred things up some at Millville, I kin tell
+you, stranger. Lib'ral an' good-natured, but able to hold their own with
+the natives. We missed 'em, last year; but t'other day I seen ol' Hucks,
+that keeps their house for 'em--he 'n' his wife--an' Hucks said they was
+cumin' to spend this summer at the farm an' he was lookin' fer 'em any
+day. The way they togged up thet farmhouse is somethin' won'erful, I'm
+told. Hain't seen it, myself, but a whole carload o' furnitoor--an' then
+some more--was shipped here from New York, an' Peggy McNutt, over t'
+Millville, says it must 'a' cost a for-tun'."
+
+The tramp nodded, somewhat listlessly.
+
+"I feel quite respectable this morning, having passed the night as the
+guest of a millionaire," he observed. "Mr. Merrick didn't know it, of
+course, or he would have invited me inside."
+
+"Like enough," answered the agent seriously. "The nabob's thet reckless
+an' unaccountable, he's likely to do worse ner that. That's what makes
+him an' his gals interestin'; nobody in quarries. How about breakfast,
+friend Judkins?"
+
+"That's my business an' not yourn. My missus never feeds tramps."
+
+"Rather ungracious to travelers, eh?"
+
+"Ef you're a traveler, go to the hoe-tel yonder an' buy your breakfas'
+like a man."
+
+"Thank you; I may follow your advice."
+
+The agent walked up the track and put out the semaphore lights, for the
+sun was beginning to rise over the hills. By the time he came back a
+colored porter stood on the platform of the private car and nodded to
+him.
+
+"Folks up yit?" asked Judkins.
+
+"Dressing, seh."
+
+"Goin' ter feed 'em in there?"
+
+"Not dis mohnin'. Dey'll breakfas' at de hotel. Carriage here yit?"
+
+"Not yit. I s'pose ol' Hucks'll drive over for 'em," said the agent.
+
+"Dey's 'spectin' some one, seh. As fer me, I gotta live heah all day,
+an' it makes me sick teh think of it."
+
+"Heh!" retorted the agent, scornfully; "you won't git sick. You're too
+well paid fer that."
+
+The porter grinned, and just then a little old gentleman with a rosy,
+cheery face pushed him aside and trotted down the steps.
+
+"Mornin', Judkins!" he cried, and shook the agent's hand. "What a
+glorious sunrise, and what crisp, delicious air! Ah, but it's good to be
+in old Chazy County again!"
+
+The agent straightened up, his face wreathed with smiles, and cast an "I
+told you so!" glance toward the man on the truck. But the stranger had
+disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE INVASION OF MILLVILLE
+
+
+Over the brow of the little hill appeared a three-seated wagon, drawn by
+a pair of handsome sorrels, and in a moment the equipage halted beside
+the sleeper.
+
+"Oh, Thomas Hucks--you dear, dear Thomas!" cried a clear, eager voice,
+and out from the car rushed Miss Patricia Doyle, to throw her arms about
+the neck of the old, stoop-shouldered and white-haired driver, whose
+face was illumined by a joyous smile.
+
+"Glad to see ye, Miss Patsy; right glad 'ndeed, child," returned the old
+man. But others were waiting to greet him; pretty Beth De Graf and
+dainty Louise Merrick--not Louise "Merrick" any longer, though, but
+bearing a new name she had recently acquired--and demure Mary, Patsy's
+little maid and an old friend of Thomas Hucks', and Uncle John with his
+merry laugh and cordial handshake and, finally, a tall and rather
+dandified young man who remained an interested spectator in the
+background until Mr. Merrick seized and dragged him forward.
+
+"Here's another for you to know, Thomas," said the little millionaire.
+"This is the other half of our Louise--Mr. Arthur Weldon--and by and by
+you can judge whether he's the better half or not."
+
+The aged servant, hat in hand, made a respectful bow to Mr. Weldon. His
+frank eyes swept the young man from head to foot but his smile was the
+same as before.
+
+"Miss Louise is wiser ner I be," said the old fellow simply; "I'm safe
+to trust to her jedgment, I guess."
+
+There was a general laugh, at this, and they began to clamber aboard the
+wagon and to stow away beneath the seats the luggage the colored porter
+was bringing out.
+
+"Stop at the Junction House, Thomas," said Mr. Merrick as they moved
+away.
+
+"Nora has the breakfast all ready at home, sir," replied Thomas.
+
+"Good for Nora! But we can't fast until we reach home--eight good miles
+of jolting--so we'll stop at the Junction House for a glass of Mrs.
+Todd's famous milk."
+
+"Very good, sir."
+
+"Is anyone coming for our trunks and freight? There's half a car of
+truck to be carted over."
+
+"Ned's on the way, sir; and he'll get the liveryman to help if he can't
+carry it all."
+
+The Junction House was hidden from the station by the tiny hill, as were
+the half dozen other buildings tributary to Chazy Junction. As the wagon
+drew up before the long piazza which extended along the front of the
+little frame inn they saw a man in shabby gray seated at a small table
+with some bread and a glass of milk before him. It was their
+unrecognized guest of the night--the uninvited lodger on the rear
+platform--but he did not raise his eyes or appear to notice the new
+arrivals.
+
+"Mrs. Todd! Hey, Mrs. Todd!" called Uncle John. "Anybody milked the cow
+yet?"
+
+A frowsy looking woman came out, all smiles, and nodded pleasantly at
+the expectant group in the wagon. Behind her loomed the tall, lean form
+of Lucky Todd, the "proprietor," who was serious as a goat, which animal
+he closely resembled in feature.
+
+"Breakfas' all 'round, Mr. Merrick?" asked the woman.
+
+"Not this time, Mrs. Todd. Nora has our breakfast waiting for us. But we
+want some of your delicious milk to last us to the farm."
+
+"Las' night's milkin's half cream by this time," she rejoined, as she
+briskly reentered the house.
+
+The man at the table held out his empty glass.
+
+"Here; fill this up," he said to Lucky Todd.
+
+The somber-faced proprietor turned his gaze from the Merrick group to
+the stranger, eyed him pensively a moment and then faced the wagon
+again. The man in gray got up, placed the empty glass in Todd's hand,
+whirled him around facing the door and said sternly:
+
+"More milk!"
+
+The landlord walked in like an automaton, and a suppressed giggle came
+from the girls in the wagon. Uncle John was likewise amused, and despite
+the unknown's frazzled apparel the little millionaire addressed him in
+the same tone he would have used toward an equal.
+
+"Don't blame you, sir. Nobody ever tasted better milk than they have at
+the Junction House."
+
+The man, who had resumed his seat, stood up, took off his hat and bowed.
+But he made no reply.
+
+Out came Mrs. Todd, accompanied by another frowsy woman. Between them
+they bore a huge jug of milk, a number of thick glasses and a plate of
+crackers.
+
+"The crackers come extry, Mr. Merrick," said the landlady, "but seein'
+as milk's cheap I thought you might like 'em."
+
+The landlord now came out and placed the stranger's glass, about half
+filled with milk, on the table before him. The man looked at it,
+frowned, and tossed off the milk in one gulp.
+
+"More!" he said, holding out the glass.
+
+Todd shook his head.
+
+"Ain't no more," he declared.
+
+His wife overheard him and pausing in her task of refilling the glasses
+for the rich man's party she looked over her shoulder and said:
+
+"Give him what he wants, Lucky."
+
+The landlord pondered.
+
+"Not fer ten cents, Nancy," he protested. "The feller said he wanted ten
+cents wuth o' breakfas', an' by Joe he's had it."
+
+"Milk's cheap," remarked Mrs. Todd. "It's crackers as is expensive these
+days. Fill up his glass, Lucky."
+
+"Why is your husband called 'Lucky,' Mrs. Todd?" inquired Patsy, who was
+enjoying the cool, creamy milk.
+
+"'Cause he got me to manage him, I guess," was the laughing reply. "Todd
+ain't much 'count 'nless I'm on the spot to order him 'round."
+
+The landlord came out with the glass of milk but paused before he set it
+down.
+
+"Let's see your money," he said suspiciously.
+
+It seemed to the girls, who were curiously watching the scene, that the
+tramp flushed under his bronzed skin; but without reply he searched in
+a pocket and drew out four copper cents, which he laid upon the table.
+After further exploration he abstracted a nickel from another pocket and
+pushed the coins toward the landlord.
+
+"'Nother cent," said Todd.
+
+Continued search seemed for a time hopeless, but at last, in quite an
+unexpected way, the man produced the final cent and on receiving it Todd
+set down the milk.
+
+"Anything more, yer honor?" he asked sarcastically.
+
+"Yes; you might bring me the morning paper," was the reply.
+
+Everyone except Todd laughed frankly at this retort. Uncle John put two
+silver dollars in Mrs. Todd's chubby hand and told Thomas to drive on.
+
+"I dunno," remarked old Hucks, when they were out of earshot, "whether
+that feller's jest a common tramp or a workman goin' over to the paper
+mill at Royal. Jedgin' from the fact as he had money I guess he's a
+workman."
+
+"Wrong, Thomas, quite wrong," said Beth, seated just behind him. "Did
+you notice his hands?"
+
+"No, Miss Beth."
+
+"They were not rough and the fingers were slender and delicate."
+
+"That's the mark of a cracksman," said Arthur Weldon, with a laugh. "If
+there are any safes out here that are worth cracking, I'd say look out
+for the gentleman."
+
+"His face isn't bad at all," remarked Patsy, reflectively. "Isn't there
+any grade between a workman and a thief?"
+
+"Of course," asserted Mr. Merrick, in his brisk way. "This fellow,
+shabby as he looked, might be anything--from a strolling artist to a
+gentleman down on his luck. But what's the news, Thomas? How are Ethel
+and Joe?"
+
+"Mr. an' Mrs. Wegg is quite comf't'ble, sir, thank you," replied old
+Hucks, with a show of eagerness. "Miss Ethel's gran'ther, ol' Will
+Thompson, he's dead, you know, an' the young folks hev fixed up the
+Thompson house like a palace. Guess ye'd better speak to 'em about
+spendin' so much money, Mr. Merrick; I'm 'fraid they may need it some
+day."
+
+"Don't worry. They've a fine income for life, Thomas, and there will be
+plenty to leave to their children--if they have any. But tell me about
+the mill at Royal. Where _is_ Royal, anyhow?"
+
+"Four mile up the Little Bill Creek, sir, where the Royal Waterfall is.
+A feller come an' looked the place over las' year an' said the pine
+forest would grind up inter paper an' the waterfall would do the
+grindin'. So he bought a mile o' forest an' built a mill, an' they do
+say things is hummin' up to the new settlement. There's more'n two
+hundred hands a-workin' there, a'ready."
+
+"Goodness me!" cried Patsy; "this thing must have livened up sleepy old
+Millville considerably."
+
+"Not yet," said Hucks, shaking his head. "The comp'ny what owns the mill
+keeps a store there for the workmen, an' none of 'em come much to
+Millville. Our storekeepers is madder'n blazes about it; but fer my part
+I'm glad the two places is separated."
+
+"Why?" asked Louise.
+
+"They're a kinder tough lot, I guess. Turnin' pine trees inter paper
+mus' be a job thet takes more muscle than brains. I don't see how it's
+done, at all."
+
+"It's simple enough," said Mr. Merrick. "First the wood is ground into
+pulp, and then the pulp is run through hot rollers, coming out paper.
+It's a mighty interesting process, so some day we will all go to Royal
+and see the paper made."
+
+"But not just yet, Uncle," remarked Patsy. "Let's have time to settle
+down on the farm and enjoy it. Oh, how glad I am to be back in this
+restful, sleepy, jumping-off-place of the world again! Isn't it
+delightful, Arthur Weldon? Did you ever breathe such ozony, delicious
+mountain air? And do you get the fragrance of the pine forests, and
+the--the--"
+
+"The bumps?" asked Arthur, as the wagon gave a jolt a bit more emphatic
+than usual; "yes, Patsy dear, I get them all; but I won't pass judgment
+on Millville and Uncle John's farm just yet. Are we 'most there?"
+
+"We're to have four whole months of it," sighed Beth. "That ought to
+enable us to renew our youth, after the strenuous winter."
+
+"Rubbish!" said Uncle John. "You haven't known a strenuous moment, my
+dears, and you're all too young to need renewals, anyhow. But if you can
+find happiness here, my girls, our old farm will become a paradise."
+
+These three nieces of Mr. Merrick were well worth looking at. Louise,
+the eldest, was now twenty--entirely too young to be a bride; but having
+decided to marry Arthur Weldon, the girl would brook no interference
+and, having a will of her own, overcame all opposition. Her tall,
+slender form was exceedingly graceful and willowy, her personality
+dainty and refined, her temperament under ordinary conditions
+essentially sweet and agreeable. In crises Louise developed considerable
+character, in strong contrast with her usual assumption of well-bred
+composure. That the girl was insincere in little things and cultivated a
+polished manner to conceal her real feelings, is undeniable; but in
+spite of this she might be relied upon to prove loyal and true in
+emergencies.
+
+Patricia Doyle was more than two years the junior of her cousin Louise
+and very unlike her. Patsy's old father, Major Gregory Doyle, said "she
+wore her heart on her sleeve," and the girl was frank and outspoken to a
+fault. Patsy had no "figure" to speak of, being somewhat dumpy in build,
+nor were her piquant features at all beautiful. Her nose tipped at the
+end, her mouth was broad and full-lipped and her complexion badly
+freckled. But Patsy's hair was of that indescribable shade that hovers
+between burnished gold and sunset carmine. "Fiery red" she was wont to
+describe it, and most people considered it, very justly, one of her two
+claims to distinction. Her other admirable feature was a pair of
+magnificent deep blue eyes--merry, mischievous and scintillating as
+diamonds. Few could resist those eyes, and certain it is that Patsy
+Doyle was a universal favorite and won friends without a particle of
+effort.
+
+The younger of the three nieces, Elizabeth De Graf, was as beautiful a
+girl as you will often discover, one of those rarely perfect creations
+that excite our wonder and compel admiration--as a beautiful picture or
+a bit of statuary will. Dreamy and reserved in disposition, she lacked
+the graciousness of Louise and Patsy's compelling good humor; yet you
+must not think her stupid or disagreeable. Her reserve was really
+diffidence; her dreamy, expressionless gaze the result of a serious
+nature and a thoughtful temperament. Beth was quite practical and
+matter-of-fact, the reverse of Patsy's imaginative instincts or Louise's
+affected indifference. Those who knew Beth De Graf best loved her
+dearly, but strangers found her hard to approach and were often repulsed
+by her unresponsive manner. Underneath all, the girl was a real girl,
+with many splendid qualities, and Uncle John relied upon Beth's
+stability more than on that of his other two nieces. Her early life had
+been a stormy and unhappy one, so she was but now developing her real
+nature beneath the warmth of her uncle's protecting love.
+
+Topping the brow of a little hill the wagon came to a smooth downward
+grade where the road met the quaint old bridge that spanned Little Bill
+Creek, beside which stood the antiquated flour and feed mill that had
+given Millville its name. The horses were able to maintain their brisk
+trot across the bridge and through the main street of the town, which
+was merely a cluster of unimposing frame buildings, that lined either
+side of the highway for the space of an ordinary city block. Then they
+were in the wilds again and rattling over another cobblestone trail.
+
+"This 'ere country's nuth'n' but pine woods 'n' cobblestones," sighed
+old Hucks, as the horses subsided to a walk. "Lor' knows what would 'a'
+happened to us without the trees! They saves our grace, so's to speak."
+
+"I think the scenery is beautiful," observed Patsy. "It's so different
+from other country places."
+
+"Not much farming around here, I imagine," said Arthur Weldon.
+
+"More than you'd think, sir," replied Thomas. "There's certain crops as
+thrives in stony land, an' a few miles north o' here, towards
+Huntingdon, the soil's mighty rich 'n' productive. Things ain't never as
+bad as they seem in this world, sir," he added, turning his persistently
+smiling face toward the young man.
+
+Mr. Merrick sat beside the driver on the front seat. The middle seat was
+occupied by Patsy and Beth, between whom squeezed little Mary, the
+maid. Louise and Arthur had the back seat.
+
+A quarter of a mile beyond the town they came to a sort of lane running
+at right angles with the turnpike, and down this lane old Hucks turned
+his team. It seemed like a forbidding prospect, for ahead of them loomed
+only a group of tall pines marking the edge of the forest, yet as they
+came nearer and made a little bend in the road the Wegg farm suddenly
+appeared in view. The house seemed so cozy and homelike, set upon its
+green lawn with the tall pines for a background, that the girls, who
+knew the place well, exclaimed with delight, and Arthur, who now saw it
+for the first time, nodded his head approvingly.
+
+Uncle John was all excitement over the arrival at his country home. An
+old fashioned stile was set in a rail fence which separated the grounds
+from the lane, and Hucks drew up the wagon so his passengers could all
+alight upon the step of the stile. Patsy was out at a bound. Louise
+followed more deliberately, assisted by her boy husband, and Beth came
+more sedately yet. But Uncle John rode around to the barn with Thomas,
+being eager to see the cows and pigs and poultry with which the
+establishment was liberally stocked.
+
+The house was of two stories, the lower being built of cobblestones and
+the upper of pine slabs; but it had been artistically done and the
+effect was delightful. It was a big, rambling dwelling, and Mr. Merrick
+had furnished the old place in a lavish manner, so that his nieces would
+lack no modern comfort when they came there to spend a summer.
+
+On the porch stood an old woman clothed in a neat gingham dress and
+wearing a white apron and cap. Her pleasant face was wreathed in smiles
+as she turned it toward the laughing, chattering group that came up the
+path. Patsy spied her and rushed up to give old Nora a hug and kiss, and
+the other two girls saluted the blind woman with equal cordiality, for
+long ago she had won the love and devotion of all three. Arthur, who had
+heard of Nora, pressed her hand and told her she must accept him as
+another of her children, and then she asked for Mr. Merrick and ran in
+to get the breakfast served. For, although blind, old Nora was far from
+being helpless, and the breakfast she had prepared in anticipation of
+their arrival was as deliciously cooked as if she had been able to use
+her eyes as others did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE DAWN OF A GREAT ENTERPRISE
+
+
+The great enterprise was sprung on Mr. Merrick the very morning
+following his arrival at the farm. Breakfast was over and a group had
+formed upon the shady front lawn, where chairs, benches and hammocks
+were scattered in profusion.
+
+"Well, Uncle, how do you like it?" asked Louise. "Are you perfectly
+comfortable and happy, now we've escaped so far from the city that its
+humming life is a mere memory?"
+
+"Happy as a clam," responded Uncle John, leaning back in his chair with
+his feet on a foot rest. "If I only had the morning paper there would be
+nothing else to wish for."
+
+"The paper? That's what that queer tramp at the Junction House asked
+for," remarked Beth. "The first thought of even a hobo was for a
+morning paper. I wonder why men are such slaves to those gossipy
+things."
+
+"Phoo!" cried Patsy; "we're all slaves to them. Show me a person who
+doesn't read the daily journals and keep abreast of the times and I'll
+show you a dummy."
+
+"Patsy's right," remarked Arthur Weldon. "The general intelligence and
+cosmopolitan knowledge of the people are best cultivated by the
+newspapers. The superiority of our newspapers has been a factor in
+making us the greatest nation on earth, for we are the best informed."
+
+"My, what big words!" exclaimed Louise.
+
+"It is quite true," said Uncle John soberly, "that I shall miss our
+daily paper during our four months' retirement in these fascinating
+wilds. It's the one luxury we can't enjoy in our country retreat."
+
+"Why not?" asked Patsy, with startling abruptness, while a queer
+expression--as of an inspiration--stole over her bright face.
+
+"Chump!" said Beth, drily; "you know very well why not, Patsy Doyle.
+Mooley cows and the fourth estate don't intermingle, so to speak."
+
+"They can be made to, though," declared Patsy. "Why hasn't some one
+thought of it before? Uncle John--girls!--I propose we start a daily
+paper."
+
+Louise laughed softly, Beth's lip curled and Arthur Weldon cast an
+amused glance at the girl; but Uncle John stared seriously into Patsy's
+questioning blue eyes.
+
+"How?" he asked in a puzzled tone. If anything could interest this
+eccentric little millionaire more than the usual trend of events it was
+an original proposition of this sort. He loved to do things that other
+people had not attempted, nor even thought of. He hated conversational
+platitudes and established conventions, and his nieces had endeared
+themselves to him more by their native originality and frank disregard
+of ordinary feminine limitations than in any other way. It was generally
+conceded that Patsy was his favorite because she could advance more odd
+suggestions than the other girls, and this niece had a practical
+aptitude for carrying out her whimsical ideas that had long since won
+her uncle's respect. Not that she could outdo Mr. Merrick in
+eccentricity: that was admitted to be his special province, in which he
+had no rival; but the girl was so clever a confederate that she gave her
+erratic uncle much happiness of the sort he most appreciated.
+
+Therefore, this seemingly preposterous proposition to establish a daily
+paper on a retired country farm did not strike the old gentleman as
+utterly impossible, and anything within the bounds of possibility was
+sure to meet his earnest consideration, especially when it was proposed
+by one of his favorite nieces.
+
+"How?" responded Patsy; "why, it's easy enough, Uncle. We'll buy a
+press, hire a printer, and Beth and Louise will help me edit the paper.
+I'm sure I can exhibit literary talents of a high order, once they are
+encouraged to sprout. Louise writes lovely poetry and 'stories of human
+interest,' and Beth--"
+
+"I can't write even a good letter," asserted that young lady; "but I'd
+dearly love to edit a newspaper."
+
+"Of course," agreed Louise; "we all would. And I think we could turn
+out a very creditable paper--for Millville. But wouldn't it cost a lot
+of money?"
+
+"That isn't the present question," replied Uncle John. "The main thing
+is, do you girls want to be tied down to such a task? Every day in the
+week, all during our summer holiday--"
+
+"Why, you've made our whole lives a holiday, Uncle John," interrupted
+Patsy, "and we've been so coddled and swamped with luxuries that we are
+just now in serious danger of being spoiled! You don't want three
+spoiled nieces on your hands, do you? And please make allowance for our
+natural impetuosity and eagerness to be up and doing. We love the farm,
+but our happiness here would be doubled if we had some occupation to
+keep us busy, and this philanthropic undertaking would furnish us with
+no end of fun, even while we were benefiting our fellow man."
+
+"All jabber, dear," exclaimed Beth. "I admit the fun, but where does the
+philanthropy come in?"
+
+"Don't you see?" asked Patsy. "Both Uncle John and that tramp we
+encountered have met on common ground to bewail the lack of a daily
+newspaper 'in our midst'--to speak in journalistic parlance. At the
+paper mill at Royal are over two hundred workmen moaning in despair
+while they lose all track of the world's progress. At Huntingdon, not
+five miles distant, are four or five hundred people lacking all the
+educational advantages of an up-to-date--or is 'down-to-date'
+proper?--press. And Millville--good gracious! What would sleepy
+Millville folks think of having a bright, newsy, metropolitan newspaper
+left on their doorsteps every morning, or evening, as the case may be?"
+
+"H-m," said Uncle John; "I scent a social revolution in the wilds of
+Chazy County."
+
+"Let's start it right away!" cried Patsy. "The 'Millville Tribune.' What
+do you say, girls?"
+
+"Why 'Tribune?'" asked Louise.
+
+"Because we three will run it, and we're a triumvirate--the future
+tribunal of the people in this district."
+
+"Very good!" said Uncle John, nodding approval. "A clever idea, Patsy."
+
+"But it's all nonsense, sir," observed Arthur Weldon, in astonishment.
+"Have you any idea of the details of this thing you are proposing?"
+
+"None whatever," said the little millionaire. "That's the beauty of the
+scheme, Arthur; it may lead us into a reg'lar complicated mix-up, and
+the joy of getting untangled ought to repay us for all our bother."
+
+"Perhaps so--if you ever untangle," said the young man, smiling at the
+whimsical speech. Then he turned to his young bride. "Do you want to go
+into this thing, Louise?" he asked.
+
+"Of course I do," she promptly replied. "It's the biggest thing in the
+way of a sensation that Patsy's crazy brain has ever evolved, and I'll
+stand by the _Millville Tribune_ to the last. You mustn't forget,
+Arthur, that I shall be able to publish all my verses and stories, which
+the Century and Harpers' so heartlessly turned down."
+
+"And Beth?"
+
+"Oh, I'm in it too," declared Beth. "There's something so delightfully
+mysterious and bewildering in the idea of our editing and printing a
+daily paper here in Millville that I can hardly wait to begin the
+experiment."
+
+"It's no experiment whatever," asserted Patsy boldly. "The daily
+newspaper is an established factor in civilization, and 'whatever man
+has done, man can do'--an adage that applies equally to girls."
+
+"Have you any notion of the cost of an outfit such as is required to
+print a modern daily?" asked Arthur.
+
+"Oh, two or three hundred, perhaps, but--"
+
+"You're crazy, child! That wouldn't buy the type."
+
+"Nevertheless," began Patsy, argumentatively, but her uncle stopped her.
+
+"You needn't figure on that," he said hastily. "The outfit shall be my
+contribution to the enterprise. If you girls say you're anxious and
+willing to run a newspaper, I'll agree to give you a proper start."
+
+"Oh, thank you, Uncle!"
+
+"Of course we're willing!"
+
+"It is all absolutely settled, so far as we are concerned," said Patsy,
+firmly. "How long will it take to get the things here, Uncle?"
+
+Mr. Merrick considered a moment.
+
+"There's a long-distance telephone over at Cotting's General Store, in
+town," he said. "I'll drive over and get Major Doyle on the wire and
+have him order the stuff sent out at once."
+
+"Oh, no!" protested Patsy; "don't tell daddy of this plan, please. He'd
+think we were all fit subjects for the lunatic asylum."
+
+"Major Doyle wouldn't be far wrong in that conclusion," suggested
+Arthur.
+
+"I'd like to surprise him by sending him the first copy of the
+_Millville Tribune_," added the major's daughter.
+
+"Then," said Mr. Merrick, "I'll call up Marvin, my banker. He'll perhaps
+attend to the matter more understandingly and more promptly than the
+major would. Tell Hucks to harness Joe to the buggy, Patsy, and I'll go
+at once."
+
+"We'll all go!" exclaimed Beth.
+
+"Of course," added Louise; "we are all equally interested in this
+venture."
+
+So Patsy had old Hucks hitch Joe to the surrey, and the three girls
+accompanied their uncle in his drive to town, leaving Arthur Weldon
+shaking his head in a deprecating way but fully realizing that no
+protest of his would avail to prevent this amazing undertaking.
+
+"That old man is as much a child as Beth or Patsy," he reflected. "It
+puzzles me to explain how he made all those millions with so little
+worldly wisdom."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE WAY INTO PRINT
+
+
+Sam Cotting's General Store at Millville divided importance with Bob
+West's hardware store but was a more popular loafing place for the
+sparse population of the tiny town. The post office was located in one
+corner and the telephone booth in another, and this latter institution
+was regarded with much awe by the simple natives. Once in awhile some
+one would telephone over to the Junction on some trivial business, but
+the long-distance call was never employed except by the "nabobs"--the
+local name for John Merrick and his nieces--or by the manager of the new
+mill at Royal, who had extended the line to his own office in the heart
+of the pine forest.
+
+So, when Uncle John and the girls entered Cotting's store and the little
+gentleman shut himself up in the telephone booth, a ripple of
+excitement spread throughout the neighborhood. Skim Clark, the youthful
+hope of the Widow Clark, who "run the Emporium," happened to be in the
+store and he rushed out to spread the news that "the nabob's talkin' to
+New Yoruk!"
+
+This information demanded immediate attention. Marshall McMahon McNutt,
+familiarly known as "Peggy" McNutt--because he had once lost a foot in a
+mowing machine--and who was alleged to be a real estate agent, horse
+doctor, fancy poultry breeder and palmist, and who also dabbled in the
+sale of subscription books, life insurance, liniment and watermelons,
+quickly slid off his front porch across the way and sauntered into
+Cotting's to participate in the excitement. Seth Davis, the blacksmith,
+dropped his tools and hurried to the store, and the druggist three doors
+away--a dapper gentleman known as Nib Corkins--hurriedly locked his door
+and attended the meeting. Presently the curious group was enlarged by
+the addition of Nick Thome the liveryman, Lon Taft, a carpenter and
+general man-of-all-work, and Silas Caldwell the miller, the latter a
+serious individual who had "jest happened to come acrost from the mill
+in the nick o' time."
+
+Sam Cotting, being himself of great local importance, had never regarded
+with favor the rivalry of the nabob, but he placed stools near the
+telephone booth for the three girls, who accepted the courtesy with a
+graciousness that ought to have disarmed the surly storekeeper. They
+could not fail to be amused at the interest they excited, and as they
+personally knew every one of the town people they pleasantly nodded to
+each arrival and inquired after their health and the welfare of their
+families. The replies were monosyllables. Millville folks were diffident
+in the presence of these city visitors and while they favored the girls
+with rather embarrassing stares, their chief interest was centered on
+the little man in the telephone booth, who could plainly be seen through
+the glass door but might not be heard, however loudly he shouted.
+
+"Talkin' to New Yoruk" was yet a marvelous thing to them, and much
+speculation was exchanged in low tones as to the probable cost of such
+a conversation as Mr. Merrick was now indulging in.
+
+"Costs a dollar to connect, ye know," remarked Peggy McNutt to Ned Long.
+"Bet a cookie he's runnin' the blame bill up to two dollars, with all
+this chinnin'. Why can't th' ol' nabob write a letter, like common
+folks, an' give his extry cash to the poor?"
+
+"Meanin' you, Peggy?" asked Nib Corkins, with a chuckle.
+
+"He might do wuss ner that," retorted Peggy. "Lor' knows I'm poor
+enough. You don't ketch _me_ a-talkin' to New York at a dollar a throw,
+Nib, do ye?"
+
+Meantime Mr. Merrick had succeeded in getting Mr. Marvin, of the banking
+house of Isham, Marvin & Co., on the wire.
+
+"Do me a favor, Marvin," he said. "Hunt up the best supply house and
+have them send me a complete outfit to print a daily newspaper.
+Everything must be modern, you know, and don't let them leave out
+anything that might come handy. Then go to Corrigan, the superintendent
+of the railroad, and have him send the freight up here to Chazy
+Junction by a special engine, for I don't want a moment's delay and the
+regular freight takes a week or so. Charge everything to my account and
+impress upon the dealer the need of haste. Understand all that, Marvin?"
+
+"I think I do, sir," was the reply; "but that's a pretty big order, Mr.
+Merrick. The outfit for a modern daily will cost a small fortune."
+
+"Never mind; send it along."
+
+"Very well. But you'd better give me some details. How big a newspaper
+do you want to print?"
+
+"Hold the wire and I'll find out," said Uncle John. Then he opened the
+door of the booth and said: "Patsy, how big a thing do you want to
+print?"
+
+"How big? Oh, let me see. Four pages will do, won't it, Louise?"
+
+"Plenty, I should say, for this place," answered Louise.
+
+"And how many columns to a page?" asked Uncle John.
+
+"Oh, six or seven. That's regular, I guess."
+
+"Make it six," proposed Beth. "That will keep us busy enough."
+
+"All right," said Uncle John, and closed the door again.
+
+This conversation was of the most startling nature to the assembled
+villagers, who were all trying to look unconcerned and as if "they'd
+jest dropped in," but were unable to dissemble their curiosity
+successfully. Of course much of this interchange of words between the
+man in the booth and the girls outside was Greek to them all, but "to
+print" and "columns" and "pages" could apply only to one idea, which,
+while not fully grasped, was tremendously startling in its suggestion.
+The Merrick party was noted for doing astonishing things in the past and
+evidently, in the words of Peggy McNutt, they were "up to some blame
+foolishness that'll either kill this neighborhood or make it talked
+about."
+
+"It's too dead a'ready to kill," responded Nick Thorne gloomily. "Even
+the paper mill, four mile away, ain't managed to make Millville wiggle
+its big toe. Don't you worry over what the nabob'll do, Peggy; he
+couldn't hurt nuthin' if he tried."
+
+The door opened again and Mr. Merrick protruded a puzzled countenance.
+
+"He wants to know about a stereotype plant, Patsy. What'll I tell him?"
+
+Patsy stared. Louise and Beth shook their heads.
+
+"If it belongs to the--the thing we want, Uncle, have 'em send it
+along," said Patsy in desperation.
+
+"All right."
+
+A few minutes later the little man again appealed to them.
+
+"How'll we run the thing, girls; steam or electricity?"
+
+Patsy's face was a blank. Beth giggled and Louise frowned.
+
+"Of course it'll have to be run," suggested Mr. Merrick; "but how?
+That's the question."
+
+"I--I hadn't given that matter thought," admitted Patsy. "What do you
+think, Uncle?"
+
+He considered, holding open the door while he thoughtfully regarded the
+silent but interested group of villagers that eagerly hung upon every
+word that passed.
+
+"Cotting," called Mr. Merrick, "how do they run the paper mill at
+Royal?"
+
+"'Lectricity! 'Lectricity, sir!" answered half a dozen at once.
+
+"They develops the power from the Royal Waterfall of the Little Bill,"
+explained Cotting, with slow and pompous deliberation. "Mr. Skeelty he
+tol' me they had enough 'lectric'ty to light up the whole dum country
+fer ten mile in all directions, 'sides a-runnin' of the mill."
+
+"Who's Skeelty?"
+
+"Manager o' the mill, sir, an' part owner, he says."
+
+"Has he a telephone?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Merrick."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Mr. Merrick shut the door and called up Skeelty. Five minutes of
+bargaining settled the question and he then connected with Mr. Marvin
+again and directed him to have the presses and machinery equipped to run
+by electricity. Thinking he had now given the banker all the commissions
+he could attend to with celerity, Uncle John next called up Major Doyle
+and instructed his brother-in-law to send four miles of electric cable,
+with fittings and transformers, and a crew of men to do the work, and
+not to waste a moment's time in getting them to Millville.
+
+"What in blazes are ye up to now, John?" inquired the major, on
+receiving this order.
+
+"None of your business, Gregory. Obey orders."
+
+"Going to light the farm and turn night into day?" persisted the major.
+
+"This is Patsy's secret, and I'm not going to give it away," said Mr.
+Merrick. "Attend to this matter promptly, Major, and you'll see the
+result when you come to us in July for your vacation."
+
+Having attended to all the requirements of the projected _Millville
+Tribune_, as he thought, Mr. Merrick called the operator for the amount
+of his bill and paid it to Sam Cotting--three dollars and eighty cents.
+The sum fairly made the onlookers gasp, and as the Merrick party passed
+out, Silas, the miller, said solemnly:
+
+"Don't anybody tell me talk is cheap, arter this. John Merrick may be a
+millionaire, but ef he keeps this thing up long he'll be a pauper.
+Thet's _my_ prophe-sigh."
+
+"Yer off yer base, Si," said McNutt "Joe Wegg tol' me once thet the
+nabob's earnin's on his money were more'n he could spend ef he lays
+awake nights a-doin' it. Joe says it keeps pilin' up on him, till
+sometimes it drives him nigh desp'rit. I hed an idee I'd ask him to
+shuck off some of it onter me. _I_ could stan' the strain all right, an'
+get plenty o' sleep too."
+
+"Ye won't hev no call to stan' it, Peggy," pre-dcted Lon Tait.
+"Milyunhairs may spend money foolish, but they don't never give none
+away. I've done sev'ral odd jobs fer Mr. Merrick, but he's never give me
+more'n jest wages."
+
+"Well," said McNutt with a sigh, "while he's in easy reach there orter
+be _some_ sort o' pickings fer us, an' it's our duty to git all we can
+out'n him--short o' actoo-al robbery. What do ye s'pose this new deal
+means, boys? Sounds like printin' somethin', don't it?"
+
+"P'raps it's some letterheads fer the Wegg Farm," suggested Nib
+Corkins. "These Merricks do everything on a big scale."
+
+"Four pages, an' six columns to a page?" asked Cotting scornfully.
+"Sounds to me more like a newspaper, folks!"
+
+There was a moment's silence, during which they all stared at the
+speaker fearfully. Then said Skim Clark, in his drawling, halting way:
+
+"Ef thet's the case, an' there's goin' ter be a newspaper here in
+Millville, we may as well give up the struggle, fer the town'll be
+ruined!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+DIVIDING THE RESPONSIBILITY
+
+
+The rest of that day and a good share of the night was devoted to an
+earnest consultation concerning the proper methods of launching the
+_Millville Daily Tribune_.
+
+"We must divide the work," said Patsy, "so that all will have an equal
+share of responsibility. Louise is to be the literary editor and the
+society editor. That sounds like a good combination."
+
+"There is no society here," objected Louise.
+
+"Not as we understand the term, perhaps," replied Miss Doyle; "but every
+community, however small, believes it is a social center; and so it
+is--to itself. If there is a dance or a prayer meeting or a christening
+or illness, it must be recorded in our local columns. If Bob West sells
+a plow we've got to mention the name of the farmer who bought it; if
+there's a wedding, we'll make a double-header of it; if a baby is born,
+we will--will--"
+
+"Print its picture in the paper. Eh, Uncle John?" This from Beth.
+
+"Of course," said Mr. Merrick. "You must print all the home news, as
+well as the news of the world."
+
+"How are you going to get the news of the world?" asked Arthur.
+
+"How? How?"
+
+"That was my question."
+
+"Private wire from New York," said Mr. Merrick, as the girls hesitated
+how to meet this problem. "I'll arrange with the telegraph company
+to-morrow to have an extension of the wire run over from Chazy Junction.
+Then we'll hire an operator--a girl, of course--to receive the news in
+the office of the paper."
+
+"But who will send us the news?" asked Beth.
+
+"The Associated Press, I suppose, or some news agency in New York. I'll
+telegraph to-morrow to Marvin to arrange it."
+
+Arthur whistled softly.
+
+"This newspaper is going to cost something," he murmured. Uncle John
+looked at him with a half quizzical, half amused expression.
+
+"That's what Marvin warned me yesterday, when I ordered the equipment,"
+said he. "He told me that before I got through with this deal it would
+run up into the thousands. And he added that Millville wasn't worth it."
+
+"And what did you say to that, Uncle John?" asked Beth.
+
+"In that case, I said, I would be sure to get some pleasure and
+satisfaction out of your journalistic enterprise. My last financial
+statement showed a frightful condition of affairs. In spite of Major
+Doyle's reckless investments of my money, and--and the little we manage
+to give to deserving charities, I'm getting richer every day. When a
+small leak like this newspaper project occurs, it seems that Fortune is
+patting me on the back. I've no idea what a respectable newspaper will
+cost, but I hope it will cost a lot, for every dollar it devours makes
+my mind just that much easier."
+
+Arthur Weldon laughed.
+
+"In that case, sir," said he, "I can make no further protest. But I
+predict you will find the bills--eh--eh--entirely satisfactory."
+
+"You mentioned an office, just now, Uncle," observed Louise. "Must we
+have a business office?"
+
+"To be sure," Mr. Merrick replied. "We must find a proper location,
+where we can install the presses and all the type and machinery that go
+to making up a newspaper. I hadn't thought of this before, but it is a
+serious matter, my dears. We may have to build a place."
+
+"Oh, that would take too long, entirely," said Patsy. "Can't we put it
+in the barn, Uncle?"
+
+"What would happen to the horses and cows? No; we'll take a look over
+Millville and see what we can find there."
+
+"You won't find much," predicted Beth. "I can't think of a single
+unoccupied building in the town."
+
+"Then we'll put it in a tent," declared Patsy.
+
+"Don't borrow trouble," advised Uncle John. "Wait till we've gone over
+the ground together. Our truck will require a pretty big place, for
+Marvin said one freight car wouldn't hold all the outfit. He's going to
+send two cars, anyhow."
+
+"Have him fill up the second with print paper," proposed Arthur.
+
+"Ah; that's another thing I hadn't thought of," said Mr. Merrick. "How
+big a daily edition will you print, Patsy?"
+
+"Let's see," pondered the girl. "There are about two hundred at Royal,
+say four hundred at Huntingdon, at Millville about--about--"
+
+"Say fifteen," said Uncle John; "that's six hundred and fifteen, and--"
+
+"And the farmers, of course. There must be at least a hundred and fifty
+of 'em in the county, so that makes seven hundred and seventy-five
+copies a day."
+
+"Wait a moment!" cried Arthur, somewhat bewildered by this figuring. "Do
+you suppose every inhabitant--man, woman and child--will subscribe for
+your paper?"
+
+Patsy blushed.
+
+"Why, no, of course not," she acknowledged frankly. "How many do you
+think _will_ subscribe, Arthur? Remember, it's to be a great
+newspaper."
+
+"Four pages of six columns each. Plenty big enough for Millville," he
+said, thoughtfully. "My advice, girls, is to print a first edition of
+about four hundred copies and distribute the papers free in every house
+within a radius of five or six miles from Millville. These will be
+samples, and after the people have had a chance to read them you can ask
+them to subscribe. By the way, what will you charge for subscription?"
+
+"How much, Uncle?" asked Patsy, appealingly.
+
+"A penny paper is the most popular," he said, regarding her with merry,
+twinkling eyes. "Say thirty cents a month, or three-fifty a year. That's
+as much as these poor people can stand."
+
+"I think so too," replied the girl, seriously.
+
+"But it seems to me a penny paper isn't dignified," pouted Louise. "I
+had intended to print all my poems in it, and I'm sure that ought to
+make it worth at least five cents a copy."
+
+"That will make it worth more, my dear," commented Uncle John; "but
+frequently one must sell property for less than it's actually worth.
+You must remember these people have not been used to spending much money
+on literature, and I imagine you'll have to coax them to spend thirty
+cents a month. Many of the big New York papers are sold for a penny, and
+without any loss of dignity, either."
+
+"Do you think we can make it pay on that basis, Uncle?" asked Beth.
+
+Uncle John coughed to gain time while he thought of a suitable reply.
+"That, my dear," he informed his niece, "will depend upon how many
+subscribers you can get. Subscribers and advertisers are necessary to
+make any paper pay."
+
+"Advertisers!"
+
+"Of course," said practical Beth. "Every merchant in Millville and
+Huntingdon will naturally advertise in our paper, and we'll make the
+major get us a lot from New York."
+
+"Oh," said Patsy; "I see. So _that_ difficulty is settled."
+
+Arthur smiled, but held his peace. Uncle John's round face was growing
+merrier every minute.
+
+"Patsy, do you think we shall make any money from this venture?" asked
+Louise.
+
+"We ought to, if we put our hearts and souls into the thing," was the
+reply. "But before we divide any profits we must pay back to Uncle John
+the original investment."
+
+"We don't especially care to make any profit, do we?" inquired Beth.
+"It's fun for us, you know, and a--a--great educational experience,
+and--and--a fine philanthropy--and all that. We don't need the money, so
+if the paper pays a profit at a cent a copy we'd better cut down the
+price."
+
+"Don't do that yet," advised Uncle John, soberly. "There will be
+expenses that as yet you don't suspect, and a penny for a paper is about
+as low as you can go."
+
+"What's to be my position on the staff, Patsy?" asked Beth, turning to
+her cousin.
+
+"You're a good mathematician, Beth, so I propose you act as secretary
+and treasurer, and keep the books."
+
+"No; that's too mechanical; no bookkeeping for me. I want something
+literary."
+
+"Then you can be sporting editor."
+
+"Goodness, Patsy! There will be no sporting news in Millville."
+
+"There will be a ball game occasionally, and I saw some of the men
+pitching quoits yesterday. But this is to be a newspaper reflecting the
+excitement of the entire world, Beth, and all the telegraphic news of a
+sporting character you must edit and arrange for our reading columns.
+Oh, yes; and you'll take care of the religious items too. We must have a
+Sunday Sermon, by some famous preacher, Uncle. We'll print that every
+Saturday, so those who can't go to church may get as good a talk as if
+they did--and perhaps a better one."
+
+"That will be fine," he agreed. "How about murders, crimes and
+divorces?"
+
+"All barred. Nothing that sends a cold chill down your back will be
+allowed in our paper. These people are delightfully simple; we don't
+want to spoil them."
+
+"Cut out the cold chills and you'll spoil your newspaper," suggested
+Arthur. "People like to read of other folks' horrors, for it makes them
+more contented with their own lot in life."
+
+"False philosophy, sir!" cried Fatsy firmly. "You can't educate people
+by retailing crimes and scandals, and the _Millville Tribune_ is going
+to be as clean as a prayer book, if I'm to be managing editor."
+
+"Is that to be your office, dear?" asked Louise.
+
+"I think so. I've a heap of executive ability, and I'm running over with
+literary--eh--eh--literary discrimination. In addition to running the
+thing, I'll be the general news editor, because I'm better posted on
+newspaper business than the other girls."
+
+"How does that happen?" inquired Louise, wonderingly.
+
+"Why, I--I _read_ the papers more than you or Beth. And I've set myself
+to master every detail of the business. No more crocheting or fancy
+work--no novel reading--no gossipy letter writing. From this day on we
+must attend strictly to business. If we're to become journalist, girls,
+we must be good ones--better than the ordinary--so that Uncle John may
+point to us with pride, and the columns of the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+will be quoted by the New York and Chicago press. Only in that way can
+we become famous throughout the world!"
+
+"Pass me the bonbons, dear," sighed Louise. "It's a high ambition, isn't
+it?"
+
+"A very laudable ambition," added Uncle John approvingly. "I hope my
+clever nieces will be able to accomplish it."
+
+"How about pictures?" asked Beth. "Modern newspapers are illustrated,
+and have cartoons of the leading events of the day."
+
+"Can't we buy those things somewhere?" asked Patsy, appealing to Uncle
+John again. "There isn't an artist among us, of any account; and we
+shall be too busy to draw pictures."
+
+"We must hire an artist," said Mr. Merrick, adding the item to his
+memoranda. "I'll speak to Marvin about it."
+
+All these details were beginning to bewilder the embryo journalists. It
+is quite possible that had not Uncle John placed his order for presses
+and type so promptly the girls might have withdrawn from the
+proposition, but the die was now cast and they were too brave--perhaps
+too stubborn--to "back down" at this juncture.
+
+"I realize," said Patsy, slowly and with a shake of her flaming head,
+"that we have undertaken an important venture. Our new enterprise is a
+most serious one, girls, for there is nothing greater or grander in our
+advanced age than the daily newspaper; no power so tremendous as the
+Power of the Press."
+
+"Yes, the press must be powerful or it wouldn't print clearly," remarked
+Beth.
+
+"We are to become public mentors to the simple natives of Chazy County,"
+continued Patsy, warming up to her subject and speaking oratorically.
+"We shall be the guiding star of the--er--er--the benighted citizens of
+Millville and Huntingdon. We must lead them in politics, counsel them in
+the management of their farms and educate them to the great World
+Movements that are constantly occurring."
+
+"Let's put all that rot in our prospectus," said Louise, looking at her
+cousin admiringly. "Can you remember it, Patsy, or had I better write it
+down now? I like that about teaching the farmers how to run their
+farms; it's so practical."
+
+"You wait," said Patsy unflinchingly. "I'll write 'em an editorial that
+will make their eyes roll. But it won't do a bit of harm for you and
+Beth to jot down all the brilliant thoughts you run across, for the
+benefit of our subscribers."
+
+"We haven't any subscribers yet," remarked Beth, placidly.
+
+"I'll overcome that defect," said Uncle John. "I want to subscribe right
+now for ten copies, to be mailed to friends of mine in the city who--who
+need educating. I'll pay in advance and collect of my friends when I see
+'em."
+
+This was certainly encouraging and Patsy smiled benignantly.
+
+"I'll take five more yearly subscriptions," said Arthur.
+
+"Oh, but you're going to be on the staff!" cried Patsy.
+
+"Am I?"
+
+"Certainly. I've been thinking over our organization and while it is
+quite proper for three girls to run paper, there ought to be a man to
+pose as the editor in chief. That'll be you, Arthur."
+
+"But you won't print my name?"
+
+"Oh, yes we shall. Don't groan, sir; it's no disgrace. Wait till you see
+the _Millville Tribune_. Also we shall print our own names, in that case
+giving credit to whom credit is due. The announcement will run something
+like this: 'Arthur Weldon, General Manager and Editor in Chief; P.
+Doyle, General News Editor; L. Merrick Weldon, Society and Literary
+Editor; E. DeGraf, Sporting Editor, Secretary and Treasurer.' You see,
+by using our initials only, no one will ever suspect we are girls."
+
+"The Millville people may," said Arthur, slyly, "and perhaps the
+disguise will be penetrated by outsiders. That will depend on the
+paper."
+
+"I don't like that combination of sporting editor and secretary and
+treasurer," objected Beth. "It isn't the usual thing in journalism, I'm
+sure. Suppose you call me Editor of Special Features, and let it go at
+that?"
+
+"Have we any special features?" asked Louise.
+
+"Oh, yes," said Arthur; "there's Beth's eyebrows, Patsy's nose, and--"
+
+"Do be sensible!" cried Patsy. "This isn't a joking matter, sir. Our
+newspaper will have plenty of special features, and Beth's suggestion is
+a good one. It sounds impressive. You see, Arthur, we've got to use you
+as a figurehead, but so you won't loaf on your job I've decided to
+appoint you Solicitor of Advertising and Subscriptions."
+
+"Thank you, my dear," he said, grinning in an amused way.
+
+"You and Louise, who still like to be together, can drive all over the
+county getting subscriptions, and you can write letters on our new
+stationery to all the big manufacturers of soaps and breakfast foods and
+beauty powders and to all the correspondence schools and get their
+advertisements for the _Tribune_. If you get a good many, we may have to
+enlarge the paper."
+
+"Don't worry, Miss Doyle; I'll try to keep within bounds."
+
+And so they went on, laying plans and discussing details in such an
+earnest way that Uncle John became as enthusiastic as any of them and
+declared in no uncertain tone that the _Millville Daily Tribune_ was
+bound to be a "howling success."
+
+After the girls had retired for the night and the men sat smoking
+together in Uncle John's own room, Arthur said:
+
+"Tell me, sir, why you have encouraged this mad project."
+
+The little millionaire puffed his pipe in silence a moment. Then he
+replied:
+
+"I'm educating my girls to be energetic and self-reliant. I want to
+bring out and develop every spark of latent ability there is in them.
+Whether the _Millville Tribune_ succeeds or fails is not important; it
+will at least keep them busy for a time, along new lines, and tax their
+best resources of intellect and business ability. In other words, this
+experience is bound to do 'em good, and in that way I figure it will be
+worth all it costs--and more. I like the originality of the idea; I'm
+pleased with the difficulties I see looming ahead; I'm quite sure my
+girls will rise to every occasion and prove their grit." He paused to
+knock the ashes from his pipe. "I'm worth a lot of money, Arthur," he
+continued, meekly, "and some day these three girls will inherit immense
+fortunes. It is my duty to train them in all practical business ways to
+take care of their property."
+
+"I follow your line of reasoning, sir," observed Arthur Weldon; "but
+this absurd journalistic venture is bound to result in heavy financial
+loss."
+
+"I know it, my boy. I'm sure of it. But can't you see that the lesson
+they will learn will render them more cautious in making future
+investments? I'm going to supply a complete newspaper outfit--to the
+last detail--and give 'em a good running start. Then I shall sit back
+and watch results. If they lose money on running expenses, as they
+surely will, they'll first take it out of their allowances, then sell
+their jewelry, and finally come to me for help. See? The lesson will be
+worth while, Arthur, and aside from that--think of the fun they'll
+have!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+MR. SKEELTY OF THE MILL
+
+
+The next morning they drove to town again, passing slowly up the street
+of the little village to examine each building that might be a possible
+location for a newspaper office. Here is a map that Patsy drew of
+Millville, which gives a fair idea of its arrangement:
+
+[Illustration: Village Street]
+
+Counting the dwellings there were exactly twelve buildings, and they all
+seemed occupied.
+
+When they reached the hardware store, opposite Cotting's, Mr. West, the
+proprietor, was standing on the broad platform in front of it. In many
+respects Bob West was the most important citizen of Millville. Tall and
+gaunt, with great horn spectacles covering a pair of cold gray eyes, he
+was usually as reserved and silent as his neighbors were confiding and
+talkative. A widower of long standing, without children or near
+relatives, he occupied a suite of well-appointed rooms over the hardware
+store and took his meals at the hotel. Before Mr. Merrick appeared on
+the scene West had been considered a very wealthy man, as it was known
+he had many interests outside of his store; but compared with the
+multi-millionaire old Bob had come to be regarded more modestly,
+although still admitted to be the village's "warmest" citizen. He was an
+authority in the town, too, and a man of real importance.
+
+Mr. Merrick stopped his horse to speak with the hardware man, an old
+acquaintance.
+
+"West," said he, "my girls are going to start a newspaper in Millville."
+
+The merchant bowed gravely, perhaps to cover the trace of a smile he
+was unable to repress.
+
+"It's to be a daily paper, you know," continued Mr. Merrick, "and it
+seems there's a lot of machinery in the outfit. It'll need quite a bit
+of room, in other words, and we're looking for a place to install it."
+
+West glanced along the street--up one side and down the other--and then
+shook his head negatively.
+
+"Plenty of land, but no buildings," said he. "You might buy the old mill
+and turn it into a newspaper office. Caldwell isn't making much of a
+living and would be glad to sell out."
+
+"It's too dusty and floury," said Patsy. "We'd never get it clean, I'm
+sure."
+
+"What's in that shed of yours?" asked Uncle John, pointing to a long,
+low building' that adjoined the hardware store.
+
+West turned and looked at the shed reflectively.
+
+"That is where I store my stock of farm machinery," he said. "There's
+very little in there now, for it's a poor season and I didn't lay in
+much of a supply. In fact, I'm pretty well cleaned out of all surplus
+stock. But next spring I shall need the place again."
+
+"Good!" cried Mr. Merrick. "That solves our problem. Has it a floor?"
+
+"Yes; an excellent one; but only one small window."
+
+"We can remedy that," declared Uncle John. "Here's the proposition,
+West: Let us have the shed for six months, at the end of which time we
+will know whether the _Millville Tribune_ is a success or not. If it is,
+we'll build a fine new building for it; if it don't seem to prosper,
+we'll give you back the shed. What do you say?"
+
+West thought it over.
+
+"There is room on the rear platform, for all the farm machinery I now
+have on hand. All right, Mr. Merrick; I'll move the truck out and give
+you possession. It won't make a bad newspaper office. But of course you
+are to fit up the place at your own expense."
+
+"Thank you very much, sir!" exclaimed Uncle John. "I'll set Lon Taft at
+work at once. Where can he be found?"
+
+"Playing billiards at the hotel, usually. I suppose he is there now."
+
+"Very good; I'll hunt him up. What do you think of our newspaper scheme,
+West?"
+
+The old merchant hesitated. Then he said slowly:
+
+"Whatever your charming and energetic nieces undertake, sir, will
+doubtless be well accomplished. The typical country newspaper groans
+under a load of debt and seldom gets a fair show to succeed; but in this
+case there will be no lack of money, and--why, that settles the
+question, I think. Money is the keystone to success."
+
+"Mr. West," said Louise, with dignity, "we are depending chiefly on the
+literary merit of our newspaper to win recognition."
+
+"Of course; of course!" said he hastily. "Put me down as a subscriber,
+please, and rely upon my support at all times. It is possible, young
+ladies--nay, quite probable, I should say--that your originality and
+genius will yet make Millville famous."
+
+That speech pleased Uncle John, and as the hardware merchant bowed and
+turned away, Mr. Merrick said in his cheeriest tones: "He's quite right,
+my dears, and we're lucky to have found such a fine, roomy place for our
+establishment. Before we go after the carpenter to fix it up I must
+telephone to Marvin about the things we still need."
+
+Over the long-distance telephone Mr. Marvin reported that he had bought
+the required outfit and it was even then being loaded on the freight
+cars.
+
+"I've arranged for a special engine," he added, "and if all goes well
+the freight will be on the sidetrack at Chazy Junction on Monday
+morning. The dealer will send down three men to set up the presses and
+get everything in running order. But he asks if you have arranged for
+your workmen. How about it, Mr. Merrick? have you plenty of competent
+printers and pressmen at Millville?"
+
+"There are none at all," was the reply. "Better inquire how many we will
+need, Marvin, and send them down here. And, by the way, hire women or
+girls for every position they are competent to fill. This is going to
+be a girls' newspaper, so we'll have as few men around as possible."
+
+"I understand, sir."
+
+Uncle John ordered everything he could think of and told his agent to
+add whatever the supply man thought might be needed. This business being
+accomplished, he found Lon Taft at the hotel and instructed the
+carpenter to put rows of windows on both sides of the shed and to build
+partitions for an editorial office and a business office at the front.
+
+This was the beginning of a busy period, especially for poor Uncle John,
+who had many details to attend to personally. The next morning the
+electricians arrived and began stringing the power cables from the paper
+mill to the newspaper office. This rendered it necessary for Mr. Merrick
+to make a trip to Royal, to complete his arrangement with Mr. Skeelty,
+the manager. He drove over with Arthur Weldon, in the buggy--four miles
+of hill climbing, over rough cobble-stones, into the pine forest.
+
+Arriving there, the visitors were astonished at the extent of the plant
+so recently established in this practically unknown district. The great
+mill, where the wood pulp was made, was a building constructed from pine
+slabs and cobblestones, material gathered from the clearing in which it
+stood, but it was quite substantial and roomy. Adjoining the mill was
+the factory building where the pulp was rolled into print paper.
+Surrounding these huge buildings were some sixty small dwellings of the
+bungalow type, for the use of the workmen, built of rough boards, but
+neat and uniform in appearance. Almost in the center of this group stood
+the extensive storehouse from which all necessary supplies were
+furnished the mill hands, the cost being deducted from their wages. The
+electric power plant was a building at the edge of Royal Waterfall, the
+low and persistent roar of which was scarcely drowned by the rumble of
+machinery. Finally, at the edge of the clearing nearest the mills, stood
+the business office, and to this place Mr. Merrick and Arthur at once
+proceeded.
+
+They found the office a busy place. Three or four typewriters were
+clicking away, operated by sallow-faced girls, and behind a tall desk
+were two bookkeepers, in one of whom Uncle John recognized--with mild
+surprise--the tramp he had encountered at Chazy Junction on the morning
+of his arrival. The young fellow had improved in appearance, having
+discarded his frayed gray suit for one of plain brown khaki, such as
+many of the workmen wore, a supply being carried by the company's store.
+He was clean-shaven and trim, and a gentlemanly bearing had replaced the
+careless, half defiant attitude of the former hobo. It was evident he
+remembered meeting Mr. Merrick, for he smiled and returned the "nabob's"
+nod.
+
+Mr. Skeelty had a private enclosed office in a corner of the room. Being
+admitted to this sanctum, the visitors found the manager to be a small,
+puffy individual about forty-five years of age, with shrewd, beadlike
+black eyes and an insolent assumption of super-importance. Skeelty
+interrupted his task of running up columns of impressive figures to ask
+his callers to be seated, and opened the interview with characteristic
+abruptness.
+
+"You're Merrick, eh? I remember. You want to buy power, and we have it
+to sell. How much will you contract to take?"
+
+"I don't know just how much we need," answered Uncle John. "We want
+enough to run a newspaper plant at Millville, and will pay for whatever
+we use. I've ordered a meter, as you asked me to do, and my men are now
+stringing the cables to make the connection."
+
+"Pah! a newspaper. How absurd," said Mr. Skeelty with scornful emphasis.
+"Your name, Merrick, is not unknown to me. It stands for financial
+success, I understand; but I'll bet you never made your money doing such
+fool things as establishing newspapers in graveyards."
+
+Uncle John looked at the man attentively.
+
+"I shall refrain from criticising your conduct of this mill, Mr.
+Skeelty," he quietly observed, "nor shall I dictate what you may do with
+your money--provided you succeed in making any."
+
+The manager smiled broadly, as if the retort pleased him.
+
+"Give an' take, sir; that's my motto," he said.
+
+"But you prefer to take?"
+
+"I do," was the cheerful reply. "I'll take your paper, for instance--if
+it isn't too high priced."
+
+"In case it is, we will present you with a subscription," said Uncle
+John. "But that reminds me: as a part of our bargain I want you to allow
+my nieces, or any representative of the _Millville Tribune_, to take
+subscriptions among your workmen."
+
+Mr. Skeelty stared at him a moment. Then he laughed.
+
+"They're mostly foreigners, Mr. Merrick, who haven't yet fully mastered
+the English language. But," he added, thoughtfully, "a few among them
+might subscribe, if your country sheet contains any news of interest at
+all. This is rather a lonely place for my men and they get dissatisfied
+at times. All workmen seem chronically dissatisfied, and their women
+constantly urge them to rebellion. Already there are grumblings, and
+they claim they're buried alive in this forlorn forest. Don't appreciate
+the advantages of country life, you see, and I've an idea they'll begin
+to desert, pretty soon. Really, a live newspaper might do them
+good--especially if you print a little socialistic drivel now and then."
+Again he devoted a moment to thought, and then continued: "Tell you what
+I'll do, sir; I'll solicit the subscriptions myself, and deduct the
+price from the men's wages, as I do the cost of their other supplies.
+But the Company gets a commission for that, of course."
+
+"It's a penny paper," said Uncle John. "The subscription is only thirty
+cents a month."
+
+"Delivered?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"Well, I'll pay you twenty cents, and keep the balance for commission.
+That's fair enough."
+
+"Very well, Mr. Skeelty. We're after subscriptions more than money, just
+now. Get all you can, at that rate."
+
+After signing a contract for the supply of electrical power, whereby he
+was outrageously robbed but the supply was guaranteed, Mr. Merrick and
+Arthur returned to the farm.
+
+"That man," said Louise's young husband, referring to the manager of the
+paper mill, "is an unmitigated scoundrel, sir."
+
+"I won't deny it," replied Mr. Merrick. "It occurs to me he is hiring
+those poor workmen at low wages and making a profit on all their living
+necessities, which he reserves the right of supplying from his own
+store. No wonder the poor fellows get dissatisfied."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE SKETCH ARTIST
+
+
+During the next three days so many things happened at Millville that the
+natives were in a panic of excitement. Not only was electricity brought
+from the paper mill, but a telegraph wire was run from Chazy Junction to
+Bob West's former storage shed and a telephone gang came along and
+placed a private wire, with long-distance connections, in the new
+newspaper office. The office itself became transformed--"as full o'
+winders as a hothouse!" exclaimed Peggy McNutt, with bulging eyes--and
+neat partitions were placed for the offices. There was no longer any
+secret as to the plans of the "nabobs"; it was generally understood that
+those terribly aggressive girls were going to inflict a daily paper on
+the community. Some were glad, and some rebelled, but all were excited.
+A perpetual meeting was held at Cotting's store to discuss developments,
+for something startling occurred every few minutes.
+
+"It's a outrage, this thing," commented young Skim Clark despondently.
+"They're tryin' to run mother out o' business--an' she a widder with me
+to look after! Most o' the business at the Emporium is done in
+newspapers an' magazines an' sich; so these gals thought they'd cut
+under an' take the business away from her."
+
+"Can't the Widder Clark sell the new paper, then?" asked the blacksmith.
+
+"I dunno. Hadn't thought o' that," said Skim. "But the price is to be
+jus' one cent, an' we've ben gittin' five cents fer all the outside
+papers. Where's the profit comin' from, on one cent, I'd like to know?
+Why, we make two or three cents on all the five cent papers."
+
+"As fer that," remarked the druggist, "we'll get a cheap paper--if it's
+any good--an' that's somethin' to be thankful for."
+
+"'Twon't be any good," asserted Skim. "Ma says so."
+
+But no one except McNutt was prepared to agree with this prediction.
+The extensive plans in preparation seemed to indicate that the new paper
+would be fully equal to the requirements of the populace.
+
+On Monday, when the news spread that two big freight cars had arrived at
+the Junction, and Nick Thorne began working three teams to haul the
+outfit to Millville, the rest of the town abandoned all business other
+than watching the arrival of the drays. Workmen and machinists arrived
+from the city and began unpacking and setting up the presses, type cases
+and all other paraphernalia, every motion being watched by eager faces
+that lined the windows. These workmen were lodged at the hotel, which
+had never entertained so many guests at one time in all its past
+history. The three girls, even more excited and full of awe than the
+townspeople, were at the office early and late, taking note of
+everything installed and getting by degrees a fair idea of the extent of
+their new plaything.
+
+"It almost takes my breath away, Uncle," said Patsy. "You've given the
+_Tribune_ such a splendid start that we must hustle to make good and
+prove we are worthy your generosity."
+
+"I sat up last night and wrote a poem for the first page of the first
+number," announced Louise earnestly.
+
+"Poems don't go on the first page," observed Patsy; "but they're needed
+to fill in with. What's it about, dear?"
+
+"It's called 'Ode to a Mignonette,'" answered Louise. "It begins this
+way:
+
+    "Wee brown blossom, humble and sweet,
+      Content on my bosom lying,
+     Who would guess from your quiet dress
+      The beauty there is lying
+          Under the rust?"
+
+"Hm," said Patsy, "I don't see as there's any beauty under the rust, at
+all. There's no beauty about a mignonette, anyhow, suspected or
+unsuspected."
+
+"She means 'fragrance,'" suggested Beth. "Change it to: 'The fragrance
+there is lying under the rust.' That'll fix it all right, Louise."
+
+"It doesn't seem right, even then," remarked Uncle John. "If the
+fragrance lies under the rust, it can't be smelt, can it?"
+
+"I did not anticipate all this criticism," said Louise, with an air of
+injured dignity. "None of the big publishing houses that returned my
+poems ever said anything mean about them; they merely said they were
+'not available.' However, as this poem has not made a hit with the
+managing editor, I'll tear it up and write another."
+
+"Don't do that," begged Patsy. "Save it for emergencies. We've got to
+fill twenty-four columns every day, remember!"
+
+By Wednesday night the equipment was fully installed and the workmen
+departed, leaving only Jim McGaffey, an experienced pressman, and
+Lawrence Doane--familiarly called Larry--who was to attend to the
+electrotyping and "make-up." The press was of the best modern
+construction, and folded, cut and counted the papers automatically, with
+a capacity for printing three thousand copies an hour.
+
+"And at that rate," observed Patsy, "It will run off our regular edition
+in eight minutes."
+
+Aside from the newspaper press there were two "job" presses and an
+assortment of type for printing anything that might be required, from a
+calling card to a circus poster. A third man, who came from the city
+Thursday morning, was to take charge of the job printing and assist in
+the newspaper work. Three girls also arrived, pale-faced, sad-eyed
+creatures, who were expert typesetters. Uncle John arranged with Mrs.
+Kebble, the landlady at the hotel, to board all the "help" at moderate
+charge.
+
+It had been decided, after much consultation, to make the _Tribune_ a
+morning paper. At first it was feared this would result in keeping the
+girls up nights, but it was finally arranged that all the copy they
+furnished would be turned in by nine o'clock, and Miss Briggs, the
+telegraph editor, would attend to anything further that came in over the
+wires. The advantages of a morning edition were obvious.
+
+"You'll have all day to distribute a morning paper," Arthur pointed out,
+"whereas an evening paper couldn't get to your scattered subscribers
+until the next morning."
+
+Miss Briggs, upon whom they were to rely so greatly, proved to be a
+woman of tremendous energy and undoubted ability. She was thirty-five
+years of age and had been engaged in newspaper work ever since she was
+eighteen. Bright and cheerful, of even temper and shrewd comprehension,
+Miss Briggs listened to the eager explanations of the three girls who
+had undertaken this queer venture, and assured them she would assist in
+making a newspaper that would be a credit to them all. She understood
+clearly the conditions; that inexperience was backed by ample capital
+and unpractical ideas by unlimited enthusiasm.
+
+"This job may not last long," she told herself, "but while it does it
+will be mighty amusing. I shall enjoy these weeks in a quiet country
+town after the bustle of the big city."
+
+So here were seven regular employees of the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+already secured and the eighth was shortly to appear. Preparations were
+well under way for a first edition on the Fourth of July and the office
+was beginning to hum with work, when one afternoon a girl strolled in
+and asked in a tired voice for the managing editor.
+
+She was admitted to Patsy's private room, where Beth and Louise were
+also sitting, and they looked upon their visitor in undisguised
+astonishment.
+
+She was young: perhaps not over twenty years of age. Her face bore marks
+of considerable dissipation and there was a broad scar underneath her
+right eye. Her hair was thin, straggling and tow-colored; her eyes
+large, deep-set and of a faded blue. The girl's dress was as queer and
+untidy as her personal appearance, for she wore a brown tailored coat, a
+short skirt and long, buttoned leggings. A round cap of the same
+material as her dress was set jauntily on the back of her head, and over
+her shoulder was slung a fiat satchel of worn leather. There was little
+that was feminine and less that was attractive about the young woman,
+and Patsy eyed her with distinct disfavor.
+
+"Tommy sent me here," said the newcomer, sinking wearily into a chair.
+"I'm hired for a month, on good behavior, with a chance to stay on if I
+conduct myself in a ladylike manner. I've been working on the _Herald_,
+you know; but there was no end of a row last week, and they fired me
+bodily. Any booze for sale in this town?"
+
+"It is a temperance community," answered Patsy, stiffly.
+
+"Hooray for me. There's a chance I'll keep sober. In that case you've
+acquired the best sketch artist in America."
+
+"Oh! Are you the artist, then?" asked Patsy, with doubtful intonation.
+
+"I don't like the word. I'm not a real artist--just a cartoonist and
+newspaper hack. Say, it's funny to see me in this jungle, isn't it? What
+joy I'll have in astonishing the natives! I s'pose a picture's a
+picture, to them, and Art an impenetrable mystery. What sort of stuff do
+you want me to turn out?"
+
+"I--I'm not sure you'll do," said Miss Doyle, desperately. "I--we--that
+is--we are three quite respectable young women who have under-taken to
+edit the _Millville Daily Tribune_, and the people we have secured to
+assist us are all--all quite desirable, in their way. So--; ahem!--so--"
+
+"That's all right," remarked the artist composedly. "I don't know that
+I blame you. I can see very well the atmosphere is not my atmosphere.
+When is the next train back to New York?"
+
+"At four o'clock, I believe."
+
+"I'll engage a nice upholstered seat in the smoking car. But I've
+several hours to loaf, and loafing is my best stunt. Isn't this a queer
+start for girls like you?" looking around the "den" critically. "I
+wonder how you got the bug, and what'll come of it. It's so funny to see
+a newspaper office where everything is brand new, and--eminently
+respectable. Do you mind my lighting a cigarette? This sort of a deal is
+quite interesting to an old-timer like me; but perhaps I owe you an
+apology for intruding. I had a letter from Tommy and one from a big
+banker--Marvin, I guess his name is."
+
+She drew two letters from her satchel and tossed them on the desk before
+Patsy.
+
+"They're no good to me now," she added. "Where's your waste basket?"
+
+The managing editor, feeling embarrassed by the presence of the artist,
+opened the letters. The first was from Mr. Marvin, Uncle John's banker,
+saying:
+
+"After much negotiation I have secured for you the best newspaper
+illustrator in New York, and a girl, too, which is an added
+satisfaction. For months I have admired the cartoons signed 'Het' in the
+New York papers, for they were essentially clever and droll. Miss Hewitt
+is highly recommended but like most successful artists is not always to
+be relied upon. I'm told if you can manage to win her confidence she
+will be very loyal to you."
+
+The other letter was from the editor of a great New York journal. "In
+giving you Hetty," he said, "I am parting with one of our strongest
+attractions, but in this big city the poor girl is rapidly drifting to
+perdition and I want to save her, if possible, before it is too late.
+She has a sweet, lovable nature, a generous heart and a keen intellect,
+but these have been so degraded by drink and dissipation that you may
+not readily discover them. My idea is that in a country town, away from
+all disreputable companionship, the child may find herself, and come to
+her own again. Be patient with her and help her all you can. Her
+wonderful talent will well repay you, even if you are not interested in
+saving one of God's creatures."
+
+Silently Patsy passed the letters to Beth and Louise. After reading them
+there was a new expression on the faces they turned toward Hetty Hewitt.
+
+"Forgive me," said Patsy, abruptly. "I--I think I misjudged you. I was
+wrong in saying what I did."
+
+"No; you were quite right." She sat with downcast eyes a moment, musing
+deeply. Then she looked up with a smile that quite glorified her wan
+face. "I'd like to stay, you know," she said humbly. "I'm facing a
+crisis, just now, and on the whole I'd rather straighten up. If you feel
+like giving me a chance I--I'd like to see if I've any reserve force or
+whether the decency in me has all evaporated."
+
+"We'll try you; and I'm sure you have lots of reserve force, Hetty,"
+cried Patsy, jumping up impulsively to take the artist's soiled, thin
+hand in her own. "Come with me to the hotel and I'll get you a room.
+Where is your baggage?"
+
+"Didn't bring it. I wasn't sure I'd like the country, or that you'd care
+to trust me. In New York they know me for what I'm worth, and I get lots
+of work and good advice--mixed with curses."
+
+"We'll send for your trunk," said Patsy, leading the girl up the street.
+
+"No; it's in hock. But I won't need it. With no booze to buy I can
+invest my earnings in wearing apparel. What a picturesque place this is!
+Way back in the primitive; no hint of those namby-pamby green meadows
+and set rows of shade trees that make most country towns detestable;
+rocks and boulders--boulders and rocks--and the scraggly pines for
+background. The wee brook has gone crazy. What do you call it?"
+
+"Little Bill Creek."
+
+"I'm going to stab it with my pencil. Where it bumps the rocks it's
+obstinate and pig-headed; where it leaps the little shelves of slate
+it's merry and playful; where it sweeps silently between the curving
+banks it is sulky and resentful. The Little Bill has moods, bless its
+heart! Moods betoken character."
+
+Patsy secured for Hetty a pleasant room facing the creek.
+
+"Where will you work, at the office or here?" she asked.
+
+"In the open, I guess. I'll run over the telegraph news to get a subject
+for the day's cartoon, and then take to the woods. Let me know what
+other pictures you want and I'll do 'em on the run. I'm a beast to
+work."
+
+Arthur Weldon, in his capacity as advertising manager, wrote to all the
+national advertisers asking their patronage for the _Millville Daily
+Tribune_. The letters were typewritten by the office stenographer on
+newly printed letterheads that Fitzgerald, the job printer, had
+prepared. Some of the advertisers were interested enough in Arthur's
+novel proposition to reply with questions as to the circulation of the
+new paper, where it was distributed, and the advertising rates. The
+voting man answered frankly that they had 27 subscribers already and
+were going to distribute 400 free copies every day, for a time, as
+samples, with the hope of increasing the subscription list. "I am not
+sure you will derive any benefit at all from advertising in our paper,"
+he added; "but we would like to have you try it, and you can pay us
+whatever you consider the results warrant."
+
+To his astonishment the advertisements arrived, a great many from very
+prominent firms, who accepted his proposal with amusement at his
+originality and a desire to help the new venture along.
+
+"Our square statement of facts has given us a good start," he told the
+girls. "I'm really amazed at our success, and it's up to you to make a
+paper that will circulate and make trade for these trustful
+advertisers."
+
+With the local merchants the results were less satisfying. Bob West put
+in a card advertising his hardware business and Nib Corkins cautiously
+invested a half dollar to promote his drug store and stock of tarnished
+cheap jewelry; but Sam Cotting said everybody knew what he had for sale
+and advertising wouldn't help him any. Arthur drove to Huntingdon with
+Louise and while the society editor picked up items her husband
+interviewed the merchants. The Huntingdon people were more interested in
+the new paper than the Millville folk, and Arthur quoted such low prices
+that several advertisements were secured. Two bright boys of this
+thriving village were also employed to ride over to Millville each
+morning, get a supply of _Tribunes_ and distribute a sample copy to
+every house in the neighborhood.
+
+"Fitz" set up the "ads" in impressive type and the columns of the first
+edition began to fill up days before the Fourth of July arrived. Louise
+had a story and two poems set in type and read over the proofs dozens of
+times with much pride and satisfaction, while Beth prepared an article
+on the history of baseball and the probable future of our national game.
+
+They did not see much of their artist during the first days following
+her arrival, but one afternoon she brought Patsy a sketch and asked:
+
+"Who is this?"
+
+Patsy glanced at it and laughed gleefully. It was Peggy McNutt, the
+fish-eyed pooh-bah of Millville, who was represented sitting on his
+front porch engaged in painting his wooden foot. This was one of
+McNutt's recognized amusements. He kept a supply of paints of many
+colors, and every few days appeared with his rudely carved wooden foot
+glistening with a new coat of paint and elaborately striped. Sometimes
+it would be blue with yellow stripes, then green with red stripes, and
+anon a lovely pink decorated with purple. One drawback to Peggy's
+delight in these transformations was the fact that it took the paint a
+night and a day to dry thoroughly, and during this period of waiting he
+would sit upon his porch with the wooden foot tenderly resting upon the
+rail--a helpless prisoner.
+
+"Some folks," he would say, "likes pretty neckties; an' some wears fancy
+socks; but fer my part I'd ruther show a han'some foot ner anything. It
+don't cost as much as wearin' socks an' neckties, an' it's more artistic
+like."
+
+Hetty had caught the village character in the act of striping the wooden
+foot, and his expression of intense interest in the operation was so
+original, and the likeness so perfect, from the string suspenders and
+flannel shirt to the antiquated straw hat and faded and patched
+overalls, that no one would be likely to mistake the subject. The sketch
+was entitled "The Village Artist," and Patsy declared they would run it
+on an inside page, just to make the Millville people aware of the "power
+of the press." Larry made an etching of it and mounted the plate for a
+double column picture. The original sketch Patsy decided to have framed
+and to hang it in her office.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE MILLVILLE DAILY TRIBUNE
+
+
+The first edition of the _Millville Daily Tribune_ certainly proved it
+to be a wonderful newspaper. The telegraphic news of the world's doings,
+received and edited by the skillful Miss Briggs, was equal to that of
+any metropolitan journal; the first page cartoon, referring to the
+outbreak of a rebellion in China, was clever and humorous enough to
+delight anyone; but the local news and "literary page" were woefully
+amateurish and smacked of the schoolgirl editors who had prepared them.
+Perhaps the Chazy County people did not recognize these deficiencies,
+for the new paper certainly created a vast amount of excitement and won
+the praise of nearly all who read it.
+
+On the eventful night of the _Tribune's_ "first run" our girls were too
+eager to go home and await its appearance, so they remained at the
+office to see the birth of their enterprise, and as it was the night
+preceding the Fourth of July Uncle John gave an exhibition of fireworks
+in front of the newspaper office, to the delight of the entire
+population.
+
+The girl journalists, however, were not so greatly interested in
+fireworks as in the birth of their fascinating enterprise. Wearing long
+gingham aprons they hovered over the big table where the forms were
+being locked up, and watched anxiously every movement of the workmen. It
+was exceedingly interesting to note how a column of the first page was
+left open until the last, so that copy "hot from the wire" of the very
+latest news might be added before going to press. Finally, at exactly
+two o'clock, the forms were locked, placed upon the bed of the press,
+and McGaffey, a sour-faced individual whose chief recommendation was his
+ability as a pressman, began to make ready for the "run."
+
+Outside the brilliantly lighted windows, which were left open for air,
+congregated a wondering group of the Millville people, many of whom had
+never been up so late before in all their lives. But the event was too
+important to miss. The huge, complicated press had already inspired
+their awe, and they were eager to "see it work" as it printed the new
+paper.
+
+The girls tolerated this native curiosity with indulgent good humor and
+at midnight even passed out sandwiches to the crowd, a supply having
+been secured for the workmen. These were accepted silently, and as they
+munched the food all kept their eyes fixed upon the magicians within.
+
+There was a hitch somewhere; McGaffey muttered naughty words under his
+breath and plied wrenches and screwdrivers in a way that brought a
+thrill of anxiety, approaching fear, to every heart. The press started
+half a dozen times, only to be shut down abruptly before it had printed
+a single impression. McGaffey counseled with Larry, who shook his head.
+Fitzgerald, the job printer, examined the machinery carefully and again
+McGaffey screwed nuts and regulated the press. Then he turned on the
+power; the big cylinder revolved; the white paper reeled out like a long
+ribbon and with a rattle and thump the first copy of the _Millville
+Daily Tribune_ was deposited, cut and folded, upon the table placed to
+receive it. Patsy made a rush for it, but before she could reach the
+table half a dozen more papers had been piled above it, and gathering
+speed the great press hummed busily and the pile of _Tribunes_ grew as
+if by magic.
+
+Patsy grabbed the first dozen and handed them to Beth, for they were to
+be reserved as souvenirs. Then, running back to the table, she seized a
+bunch and began distributing them to the watchers outside the window.
+The natives accepted them eagerly enough, but could not withdraw their
+eyes from the marvelous press, which seemed to possess intelligence
+almost human.
+
+Each of the three girl journalists now had a copy in hand, scanning it
+with boundless pride and satisfaction. It realized completely their
+fondest hopes and they had good cause to rejoice.
+
+Then Uncle John, who ought to have been in bed and sound asleep at this
+uncanny hour of night, came bouncing in, accompanied by Arthur Weldon.
+Each made a dive for a paper and each face wore an expression of genuine
+delight. The roar of the press made conversation difficult, but Mr.
+Merrick caught his nieces in his arms, by turn, and gave each one an
+ecstatic hug and kiss.
+
+Suddenly the press stopped.
+
+"What's wrong, McGaffey?" demanded Patsy, anxiously.
+
+"Nothing, miss. Edition off, that's all."
+
+"What! the entire four hundred are printed?"
+
+"Four twenty-five. I run a few extrys."
+
+And now a shriek of laughter came from the windows as the villagers,
+slowly opening the papers they held, came upon the caricature of Peggy
+McNutt. The subject of the cartoon had, with his usual aggressiveness,
+secured the best "standing room" available, and his contemplative,
+protruding eyes were yet fixed upon the interior of the workroom. But
+now, his curiosity aroused, he looked at the paper to see what his
+neighbors were laughing at, and his expression of wonder slowly changed
+to a broad grin. He straightened up, looked triumphantly around the
+circle and exclaimed:
+
+"By gum, folks, this 'ere paper's going to be a go! I didn't take no
+stock in it till now, but them fool gals seem to know their business,
+an' I'll back 'em to the last ditch!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+TROUBLE
+
+
+Of course the girls exhausted their store of "effusions" on the first
+two or three papers. A daily eats up "copy" very fast and the need to
+supply so much material began to bewilder the budding journalists. There
+was not sufficient local news to keep them going, but fortunately the
+New York news service supplied more general news than they could
+possibly use, and, besides, Mr. Marvin, foreseeing this dilemma, had
+sent on several long, stout boxes filled with "plate matter," which
+meant that a variety of stories, poems, special articles and paragraphs
+of every sort had been made into stereotyped plates of column width
+which could be placed anywhere in the paper where a space needed to be
+filled. This material, having been prepared by skilled writers, was of
+excellent character, so that the paper gained in its class of contents
+as the girlish contributions began to be replaced by "plates." The
+nieces did not abandon writing, however, and all three worked sedulously
+to prepare copy so that at least one column of the Tribune each day was
+filled with notes from their pens.
+
+Subscriptions came in freely during those first days, for farmers and
+villagers alike were proud of their local daily and the price was so low
+that no one begrudged the investment. But Uncle John well knew that if
+every individual in the county subscribed, and the advertising patronage
+doubled, the income would fall far short of running expenses.
+
+Saturday night, when the pay roll had to be met, the girls consulted
+together seriously. In spite of the new subscriptions received, a
+deficiency must be supplied, and they quietly advanced the money from
+their private purses. This was no great hardship, for each had an ample
+allowance from Uncle John, as well as an income from property owned in
+her own name.
+
+"It's only about thirty dollars apiece," said Patsy. "I guess we can
+stand that until--until more money begins coming in."
+
+On Saturday evening there was an invasion of workmen from Royal, many of
+whom we're rough foreigners who came to Millville in search of
+excitement, as a relief from their week's confinement at the pine woods
+settlement at the mill. Skeelty, who thought he knew how to manage these
+people, allowed every man, at the close of work on Saturday, to purchase
+a pint of whiskey from the company store, charging an exorbitant price
+that netted a huge profit. There was no strong drink to be had at
+Millville, so the workmen brought their bottles to town, carousing on
+the way, and thought it amusing to frighten the simple inhabitants of
+the village by their rude shouts and ribald songs.
+
+This annoyance had occurred several times since the establishment of the
+mill, and Bob West had protested vigorously to Mr. Skeelty for giving
+his men whiskey and turning them loose in a respectable community; but
+the manager merely grinned and said he must keep "the boys" satisfied at
+all hazards, and it was the business of the Millville people to protect
+themselves if the workmen became too boisterous.
+
+On this Saturday evening the girls were standing on the sidewalk outside
+the printing office, awaiting the arrival of Arthur with the surrey,
+when a group of the Royal workmen appeared in the dim light, swaggering
+three abreast and indulging in offensive language. Uncle John's nieces
+withdrew to the protection of the doorway, but a big bearded fellow in a
+red shirt discovered them, and, lurching forward, pushed his evil
+countenance in Patsy's face, calling to his fellows in harsh tones that
+he had "found a partner for a dance."
+
+An instant later he received a swinging blow above the ear that sent him
+sprawling at full length upon the sidewalk, and a quiet voice said:
+
+"Pardon me, ladies; it seemed necessary."
+
+All three at once recognized the supposed tramp whom they had seen the
+morning of their arrival, but whom Uncle John had reported to be one of
+the bookkeepers at the paper mill. The young fellow had no time to say
+more, for the downfall of their comrade brought a shout of rage from
+the group of workmen, numbering nearly a dozen, and with one accord they
+rushed upon the man who had dared champion the defenseless girls.
+
+Beth managed to open the door of the office, through which Patsy and
+Louise slipped instantly, but the younger girl, always cool in
+emergencies, held the door ajar while she cried to the young man:
+
+"Quick, sir--come inside!"
+
+Really, he had no time to obey, just then. With his back to the door he
+drove his fists at his assailants in a dogged, persistent way that
+felled three more of them before the others drew away from his stalwart
+bows. By that time Larry and Fitzgerald, who had been summoned by
+Louise, rushed from the office armed with iron bars caught up at random,
+both eager for a fight. The workmen, seeing the reinforcements, beat a
+retreat, carrying their sadly pommeled comrades with them, but their
+insulting language was not restricted until they had passed out of
+hearing.
+
+Then the young man turned, bowed gravely to the girls, who had now
+ventured forth again, and without waiting to receive their thanks
+marched calmly down the street.
+
+When Arthur reached home with the girls, Mr. Merrick was very indignant
+at his report of the adventure. He denounced Skeelty in unmeasured terms
+and declared he would find a way to protect Millville from further
+invasion by these rough and drunken workmen.
+
+There was no Sunday paper, so the girlish editors found the morrow a
+veritable day of rest. They all drove to Hooker's Falls to church and
+returned to find that old Nora had prepared a fine chicken dinner for
+them. Patsy had invited Hetty Hewitt, in whom she was now greatly
+interested, to dine with them, and to the astonishment of all the artist
+walked over to the farm arrayed in a new gown, having discarded the
+disreputable costume in which she had formerly appeared. The new dress
+was not in the best of taste and its loud checks made dainty Louise
+shudder, but somehow Hetty seemed far more feminine than before, and she
+had, moreover, washed herself carefully and tried to arrange her
+rebellious hair.
+
+"This place is doing me good," she confided to her girl employers,
+after dinner, when they were seated in a group upon the lawn. "I'm
+getting over my nervousness, and although I haven't drank a drop
+stronger than water since I arrived. I feel a new sort of energy
+coursing through my veins. Also I eat like a trooper--not at night, as I
+used to, but at regular mealtime. And I'm behaving quite like a lady. Do
+you know, I wouldn't be surprised to find it just as amusing to be
+respectable as to--to be--the other thing?"
+
+"You will find it far more satisfactory, I'm sure," replied Patsy
+encouragingly. "What most surprises me is that with your talent and
+education you ever got into such bad ways."
+
+"Environment," said Hetty. "That's what did it. When I first went to New
+York I was very young. A newspaper man took me out to dinner and asked
+me to have a cocktail. I looked around the tables and saw other girls
+drinking cocktails, so I took one. That was where I turned into the
+rocky road. People get careless around the newspaper offices. They work
+under a constant nervous strain and find that drink steadies them--for
+a time. By and by they disappear; others take their places, and they are
+never heard of again except in the police courts. I knew a girl, society
+editor of a big paper, who drew her five thousand a year, at one time.
+She got the cocktail habit and a week or so ago I paid her fine for
+getting pinched while intoxicated. She was in rags and hadn't a red
+cent. That set me thinking, and when Tommy fired me from his paper and
+said the best he could do was to get me a job in the country, it seemed
+as if my chance to turn over a new leaf had arrived. I've turned it,"
+she added, with a pathetic sigh; "but whether it'll stay turned, or not,
+is a question for the puzzle page."
+
+"Haven't you a family to look after you--or for you to look after?"
+asked Beth.
+
+"No. Brother and I were left orphans in a Connecticut town, and he went
+out West, to Chicago, and promised to send for me. Must have forgot that
+promise, I guess, for I've never heard of Dan since. I could draw
+pictures, so I went to New York and found a job. Guess that's my
+biography, and it isn't as interesting as one of Hearst's editorials,
+either."
+
+Hetty seemed pleased and grateful to note the frank friendliness of her
+girlish employers, in whom she recognized the admirable qualities she
+had personally sacrificed for a life of dissipation. In the privacy of
+her room at the hotel she had read the first copy of the Millville
+Tribune and shrieked with laughter at the ingenuous editorials and
+schoolgirl essays. Then she grew sober and thoughtful, envying in her
+heart the sweetness and simplicity so apparent in every line. Here were
+girls who possessed something infinitely higher than journalistic
+acumen; they were true women, with genuine womanly qualities and natures
+that betrayed their worth at a glance, as do ingots of refined gold.
+What would not this waif from the grim underworld of New York have given
+for such clear eyes, pure mind and unsullied heart? "I don't know as I
+can ever swim in their pond," Hetty reflected, with honest regret, "but
+there's a chance I can look folks square in the eye again--and that
+wouldn't be so bad."
+
+Monday morning, when Patsy, Louise and Beth drove to their office, Miss
+Briggs said nonchalantly:
+
+"McGaffey's gone."
+
+"Gone! Gone where?" asked Patsy.
+
+"Back to New York. Caught a freight from the Junction Saturday night."
+
+"Isn't he coming back?" inquired Beth.
+
+"Here's a letter he left," said Miss Briggs.
+
+They read it together. It was very brief; "Climate don't suit me. No
+excitement. I've quit. McGaffey."
+
+"I suppose," said Patsy, with indignation, "he intended to go, all the
+while, and only waited for his Saturday pay."
+
+Miss Briggs nodded. She was at the telegraph instrument.
+
+"What shall we do?" asked Louise. "Can anyone else work the press?"
+
+"I'll find out," said Patsy, marching into the workroom.
+
+Neither Fitz nor Larry would undertake to run the press. They said the
+machine was so complicated it required an expert, and unless an
+experienced pressman could be secured the paper must suspend
+publication.
+
+Here was an unexpected dilemma; one that for a time dazed them.
+
+"These things always happen in the newspaper business," remarked Miss
+Briggs, when appealed to. "Can't you telegraph to New York for another
+pressman?"
+
+"Yes; but he can't get here in time," said Patsy. "There's no Monday
+train to Chazy Junction, at all, and it would be Wednesday morning
+before a man could possibly arrive. To shut down the paper would ruin
+it, for everyone would think we had failed in our attempt and it might
+take us weeks to regain public confidence."
+
+"I know," said Miss Briggs, composedly. "A paper never stops. Somehow or
+other it always keeps going--even if the world turns somersaults and
+stands on its head. You'll find a way, I'm sure."
+
+But the bewildered girls had no such confidence. They drove back to the
+farm to consult with Uncle John and Arthur.
+
+"Let's take a look at that press, my dears," said Mr. Merrick. "I'm
+something of a mechanic myself, or was in my young days, and I may be
+able to work this thing until we can get a new pressman."
+
+"I'll help you," said Arthur. "Anyone who can run an automobile ought to
+be able to manage a printing press."
+
+So they went to the office, took off their coats and examined the press;
+but the big machine defied their combined intelligence. Uncle John
+turned on the power. The cylinder groaned, swung half around, and then
+the huge wooden "nippers" came down upon the table with a force that
+shattered them to kindlings. At the crash Mr. Merrick involuntarily shut
+down the machine, and then they all stood around and looked gloomily at
+the smash-up and wondered if the damage was irreparable.
+
+"Couldn't we print the paper on the job press?" asked the little
+millionaire, turning to Fitzgerald.
+
+"In sections, sir," replied Fitz, grinning. "Half a page at a time is
+all we can manage, but we might be able to match margins so the thing
+could be read."
+
+"We'll try it," said Uncle John. "Do your best, my man, and if you can
+help us out of this bog you shall be amply rewarded."
+
+Fitz looked grave.
+
+"Never knew of such a thing being done, sir," he remarked; "but that's
+no reason it's impossible."
+
+"'Twill be a horror of a make-up," added Larry, who did not relish his
+part in the experiment.
+
+Uncle John put on his coat and went into the front office, followed by
+Arthur and the girls in dismal procession.
+
+"A man to see the manager," announced Miss Briggs, nodding toward a
+quiet figure seated on the "waiting bench."
+
+The man stood up and bowed. It was the young bookkeeper from the paper
+mill, who had so bravely defended the girls on Saturday night. Uncle
+John regarded him with a frown.
+
+"I suppose Skeelty has sent you to apologize," he said.
+
+"No, sir; Skeelty is not in an apologetic mood," replied the man,
+smiling. "He has fired me."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Interfering with his workmen. The boys didn't like what I did the other
+night and threatened to strike unless I was put in the discard."
+
+"And now? asked Uncle John, looking curiously at the man.
+
+"I'm out of work and would like a job, sir."
+
+"What can you do?"
+
+"Anything."
+
+"That means nothing at all."
+
+"I beg your pardon. Let me say that I'm not afraid to tackle anything."
+
+"Can you run a power printing press?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ever had any experience?"
+
+The young man hesitated.
+
+"I'm not sure," he replied slowly; "but I think I have."
+
+This statement would not have been encouraging under ordinary
+circumstances, but in this emergency Uncle John accepted it.
+
+"What is your name?" he asked.
+
+Another moment's hesitation.
+
+"Call me Smith, please."
+
+"First name?"
+
+The man smiled.
+
+"Thursday," he said.
+
+All his hearers seemed astonished at this peculiar name, but Mr. Merrick
+said abruptly: "Follow me, Thursday Smith."
+
+The man obeyed, and the girls and Arthur trotted after them back to the
+pressroom.
+
+"Our pressman has deserted us without warning," explained Mr. Merrick.
+"None of our other employees is able to run the thing. If you can master
+it so as to run off the paper tonight, the job is yours."
+
+Thursday Smith took off his jacket--a cheap khaki affair--and rolled up
+his sleeves. Then he carefully looked over the press and found the
+damaged nippers. Without a word he picked up a wrench, released the stub
+ends of the broken fingers, gathered the pieces in his hand and asked:
+"Where is there a carpenter shop?"
+
+"Can you operate this press?" asked Mr. Merrick.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"The carpenter shop is a little shanty back of the hotel. You'll find
+Lon Taft there."
+
+Smith walked away, and Mr. Merrick drew a long breath of relief.
+
+"That's good luck," he said. "You may quit worrying, now, my dears."
+
+"Are you sure he's a good pressman, Uncle?"
+
+"No; but _he_ is sure. I've an idea he wouldn't attempt the thing,
+otherwise."
+
+Mr. Merrick returned to the farm, while Arthur drove Louise over to
+Huntingdon to gather items for the paper, and Patsy and Beth sat in the
+office arranging copy.
+
+In an hour Smith came back with new nippers, which he fitted to the
+steel frame. Then he oiled the press, started it going a few
+revolutions, to test its condition, and handled the machinery so
+dexterously and with such evident confidence that Larry nodded to Fitz
+and muttered, "He'll do."
+
+McGaffey, knowing he was about to decamp, had not kept the press very
+clean; but Thursday Smith put in the afternoon and evening removing
+grease, polishing and rubbing, until the huge machine shone resplendent.
+The girls went home at dinner time, but they sent Arthur to the office
+at midnight to see if the new pressman was proving capable. The Tuesday
+morning _Tribune_ greeted them at the breakfast table, and the presswork
+was remarkably clean and distinct.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THURSDAY SMITH
+
+
+In a day or so Mr. Merrick received a letter from Mr. Skeelty, the
+manager of the paper mill. He said: "I understand you have employed one
+of my discharged workmen, who is named Thursday Smith. My men don't want
+him in this neighborhood, and have made a strong protest. I therefore
+desire you to discharge the fellow at once, and in case you refuse to
+accede to this reasonable demand I shall shut off your power."
+
+Mr. Merrick replied: "Shut off the power and I'll sue you for damages.
+My contract with you fully protects me. Permit me a request in turn:
+that you mind your own business. The _Millville Tribune_ will employ
+whomsoever it chooses."
+
+Uncle John said nothing to the girls concerning this correspondence,
+nor did he mention it to the new pressman.
+
+On Wednesday Larry and Fitz sent in their "resignations," to take effect
+Saturday night. They told Patsy, who promptly interviewed them, that the
+town was altogether too slow for men accustomed to the city, but to
+Smith they admitted they feared trouble from the men at the mill.
+
+"I talked with one of the mill hands last night," said Larry, "and
+they're up to mischief. If you stay here, my boy, you'd better watch
+out, for it's you they're after, in the first place, and Skeelty has
+told 'em he wouldn't be annoyed if they wiped out the whole newspaper
+plant at the same time."
+
+Thursday nodded but said nothing. He began watching the work of the two
+men with comprehensive care. When Mr. Merrick came down to the office
+during the forenoon to consult with his nieces about replacing the two
+men who had resigned, Smith asked him for a private interview.
+
+"Come into the office," said Uncle John.
+
+When the man found the three girl journalists present he hesitated, but
+Mr. Merrick declared they were the ones most interested in anything an
+employee of the paper might have to say to his principals.
+
+"I am told, sir," Thursday began, "that the people at the mill have
+boycotted this paper."
+
+"They've cancelled all their subscriptions," replied Beth; "but as they
+had not paid for them it won't hurt us any."
+
+"It seems the trouble started through your employing me," resumed the
+young man; "so it will be best for you to let me go."
+
+"Never!" cried Mr. Merrick, firmly. "Do you suppose I'll allow that
+rascal Skeelty to dictate to us for a single minute? Not by a jug full!
+And the reason the men dislike you is because you pounded some of them
+unmercifully when they annoyed my girls. Where did you learn to use your
+fists so cleverly, Smith?"
+
+"I don't know, sir."
+
+"Well, you have earned our gratitude, and we're going to stand by you. I
+don't mind a bit of a row, when I'm on the right side of an argument. Do
+you?"
+
+"Not at all, sir; but the young ladies--"
+
+"They're pretty good fighters, too; so don't worry."
+
+Thursday was silent a moment. Then he said:
+
+"Fitzgerald and Doane tell me they're going to quit, Saturday."
+
+"It is true," replied Patsy. "I'm sorry, for they seem good men and we
+may have trouble replacing them."
+
+"They are not needed here, Miss Doyle," said Smith. "There isn't a great
+deal of electrotyping to do, or much job printing. More than half the
+time the two men are idle. It's the same way with my own job. Three
+hours a day will take care of the press and make the regular run. If you
+will permit me, I am sure I can attend to all the work, unaided."
+
+They looked at one another in amazement.
+
+"How about the make-up?" asked Uncle John.
+
+"I can manage that easily, sir. I've been watching the operation and
+understand it perfectly."
+
+"And you believe you can do the work of three men?"
+
+"Three men were unnecessary in a small plant like this, sir. Whoever
+sent them to you did not understand very well your requirements. I've
+been watching the compositors, too, and your three girls are one too
+many. Two are sisters, and can set all the type very easily. I recommend
+that you send the other back to New York."
+
+They considered this advice seriously.
+
+"I think Mr. Smith is right," observed Patsy. "The girls have not seemed
+busy, at all, and spend most of their time laughing and talking
+together."
+
+"It will cut down expenses a lot," said Beth, "and I'm sure we ought to
+be able to run this paper more economically than we have been doing."
+
+Uncle John looked at the man thoughtfully.
+
+"Where did you learn the printing business?" he asked.
+
+"I--I don't know, sir."
+
+"What offices have you worked in?"
+
+"I cannot tell you that, sir."
+
+"You seem to answer all my questions with the statement that you 'don't
+know,'" asserted Mr. Merrick, with an annoyed frown. "Is there any
+reason you should refuse to tell us of your former life?"
+
+"None whatever, sir."
+
+"Who are you, Smith?"
+
+"I--I don't know, sir."
+
+Mr. Merrick was getting provoked.
+
+"This obstinacy is not likely to win our confidence," he said. "Under
+the circumstances I think we ought to know something more about you,
+before we allow you to undertake so much responsibility. You seem a
+bright, able young man, and I've no doubt you understand the work you're
+about to undertake, but if we have no knowledge of your antecedents you
+may cause us considerable future trouble."
+
+Smith bowed his head and his cheeks flamed red.
+
+"I have no knowledge of my antecedents to confide to you, sir," he said
+in a low voice.
+
+Uncle John sighed regretfully and turned away, but Patsy looked at the
+man with new interest.
+
+"Won't you please explain that a little more fully?" she gently
+inquired.
+
+"I am quite willing to tell all I know," said he; "but that is very
+little, I assure you. Two years ago last May, on the morning of
+Thursday, the twenty-second, I awoke to find myself lying in a ditch
+beside a road. Of my life previous to that time I have no knowledge
+whatever."
+
+The three girls regarded him with startled eyes. Uncle John turned from
+the window to examine the young man with new interest.
+
+"Were you injured?" he asked.
+
+"My right ankle was sprained and I had a cut under my left eye--you can
+see the scar still."
+
+"You have no idea how you came there?"
+
+"Not the slightest. I did not recognize the surrounding country; I had
+no clear impression as to who I was. There was a farmhouse a quarter of
+a mile away; I limped to it and they gave me some breakfast. I found I
+was fifty-six miles from New York. The farmer had heard of no accident;
+there was no railway nearer than six miles; the highway was little
+used. I told the good people my story and they suspected me of being
+drunk or crazy, but did not credit a single word I said."
+
+"That was but natural," said Uncle John.
+
+"After breakfast I took stock of myself. In my pockets I found a
+twenty-dollar bill and some silver. I wore a watch and chain and a ring
+set with a good-sized diamond. My clothing seemed good, but the ditch
+had soiled it. I had no hat, nor could the farmer find one when I sent
+him back to look for it. My mind was not wholly a blank; I seemed to
+have a fair knowledge of life, and when the farmer mentioned New York
+the city seemed familiar to me. But in regard to myself, my past
+history--even my name--I was totally ignorant. All personal
+consciousness dated from the moment I woke up in the ditch."
+
+"How wonderful!" exclaimed Louise.
+
+"And you haven't solved the mystery yet, after two years?" asked Patsy.
+
+"No, Miss Doyle. I hired the farmer to drive me to the railway station,
+where I took the train to New York. I seemed to know the city, but no
+recollection guided me to home or friends. I went to a small hotel,
+took a room, and began to read all the newspapers, seeking to discover
+if anyone was reported missing. The sight of automobiles led me to
+conceive the theory that I had been riding in one of those machines
+along a country road when something threw me out. My head might have
+struck a stump or stone and the blow rendered me insensible. Something
+in the nature of the thing, or in my physical condition, deprived me of
+all knowledge of the past. Since then I have read of several similar
+cases. The curious thing about my own experience was that I could find
+no reference to my disappearance, in any way, nor could I learn of any
+automobile accident that might account for it. I walked the streets day
+after day, hoping some acquaintance would accost me. I waited patiently
+for some impulse to direct me to my former haunts. I searched the
+newspapers persistently for a clue; but nothing rewarded me.
+
+"After spending all my money and the proceeds of my watch and diamond, I
+began to seek employment; but no one would employ a man without
+recommendations or antecedents. I did not know what work I was capable
+of doing. So finally I left the city and for more than two years I have
+been wandering from one part of the country to another, hoping that some
+day I would recognize a familiar spot. I have done odd jobs, at times,
+but my fortunes went from bad to worse until of late I have become no
+better than the typical tramp."
+
+"How did you secure employment as a book-keeper for Skeelty?" asked
+Uncle John.
+
+"I heard a new mill had started at Royal and walked up there to inquire
+for work. The manager asked if I could keep books, and I said yes."
+
+"Have you ever kept books before?"
+
+"Not that I know of; but I did it very well. I seemed to comprehend the
+work at once, and needed no instruction. Often during these two years I
+have encountered similar curious conditions. I sold goods in a store and
+seemed to know the stocks; I worked two weeks in a telegraph office and
+discovered I knew the code perfectly; I've shod horses for a country
+blacksmith, wired a house for electric lights and compounded
+prescriptions in a drug store. Whatever I have undertaken to do I seem
+able to accomplish, and so it is hard for me to guess what profession I
+followed before my memory deserted me."
+
+"You did not retain any position for long, it seems," remarked Uncle
+John.
+
+"No; I was always impatient to move on, always hoping to arrive at some
+place so familiar that my lost memory would return to me. The work I
+have mentioned was nearly all secured during the first year. After I
+became seedy and disreputable in appearance people were more apt to
+suspect me and work was harder to obtain."
+
+"Why did you come to Millville?" asked Louise.
+
+"You brought me here," he answered, with a smile. "I caught a ride on
+your private car, when it left New York, not caring much where it might
+take me. When I woke up the next morning the car was sidetracked at
+Chazy Junction, and as this is a section I have never before explored I
+decided to stay here for a time. That is all of my story, I believe."
+
+"Quite remarkable!" declared Mr. Merrick, emphatically. The girls, too,
+had been intensely interested in the strange recital.
+
+"You seem educated," said Patsy thoughtfully; "therefore you must have
+come from a good family."
+
+"That does not seem conclusive," replied Thursday Smith, deprecatingly,
+"although I naturally hope my family was respectable. I have been
+inclined to resent the fact that none of my friends or relatives has
+ever inquired what became of me."
+
+"Are you sure they have not?"
+
+"I have watched the papers carefully. In two years I have followed
+several clues. A bricklayer disappeared, but his drowned body was
+finally found; a college professor was missing, but he was sixty years
+of age; a young man in New York embezzled a large sum and hid himself. I
+followed that trail, although regretfully, but the real embezzler was
+caught the day I presented myself in his place. Perhaps the most curious
+experience was in the case of a young husband who deserted his wife and
+infant child. She advertised for him; he had disappeared about the time
+I had found myself; so I went to see her."
+
+"What was the result?" asked Beth.
+
+"She said I was not her husband, but if he failed to come back I might
+take his place, provided I would guarantee to support her."
+
+During the laugh that followed, Thursday Smith went back to his work and
+an animated discussion concerning his strange story followed.
+
+"He seems honest," said Louise, "but I blame a man of his ability for
+becoming a mere tramp. He ought to have asserted himself and maintained
+the position in which he first found himself."
+
+"How?" inquired Patsy.
+
+"At that time he was well dressed and had a watch and diamond ring. If
+he had gone to some one and frankly told his story he could surely have
+obtained a position to correspond with his personality. But instead of
+this he wasted his time and the little capital he possessed in doing
+nothing that was sensible."
+
+"It is easy for us to criticise the man," remarked Beth, "and he may be
+sorry, now, that he did not act differently. But I think, in his place,
+I should have made the same attempt he did to unravel the mystery of his
+lost identity. So much depended upon that."
+
+"It's all very odd and incomprehensible," said Uncle John. "I wonder who
+he can be."
+
+"I suppose he calls himself Thursday because that was the day he first
+found himself," observed Patsy.
+
+"Yes; and Smith was the commonest name he could think of to go with it.
+The most surprising thing," added their uncle, "is the fact that a man
+of his standing was not missed or sought for."
+
+"Perhaps," suggested Louise, "he had been insane and escaped from some
+asylum."
+
+"Then how did he come to be lying in a ditch?" questioned Patsy; "and
+wouldn't an escaped maniac be promptly hunted down and captured?"
+
+"I think so," agreed Mr. Merrick. "For my part, I'm inclined to accept
+the man's theory that it was an automobile accident."
+
+"Then what became of the car, or of the others in it?"
+
+"It's no use," said Beth, shaking her head gravely. "If Thursday Smith,
+who is an intelligent young man, couldn't solve the mystery himself, it
+isn't likely we can do so."
+
+"We know as much as he does, as far as that is concerned," said Patsy,
+"and our combined intelligence ought at least to equal his. I'm sorry
+for the poor man, and wish we might help him to come to his own again."
+
+They all agreed to this sentiment and while the girls attended to their
+editorial duties they had the amazing story of Thursday Smith uppermost
+in their minds. When the last copy had been placed in the hands of Miss
+Briggs and they were driving to the farm--at a little after six
+o'clock--they renewed the interesting discussion.
+
+Just before reaching the farm Hetty Hewitt came out of the wood just in
+front of them. She was clothed in her short skirt and leggings and bore
+a fishing rod and a creel.
+
+"What luck?" asked Patsy, stopping the horse.
+
+"Seven trout," answered the artist. "I might have caught more, but the
+poor little creatures squirmed and struggled so desperately that I
+hadn't the heart to destroy any more of them. Won't you take them home
+for Mr. Merrick's breakfast?"
+
+Patsy looked at the girl musingly.
+
+"Jump in, Hetty," she said; "I'm going to take you with us for the
+night. The day's fishing has tired you; there are deep circles under
+your eyes; and that stuffy old hotel isn't home-like. Jump in."
+
+Hetty flushed with pleasure, but hesitated to accept the invitation.
+
+"I--I'm not dressed for--"
+
+"You're all right," said Beth, supporting her cousin's proposition.
+"We'll lend you anything you need."
+
+"Do come, Miss Hewitt," added Louise.
+
+Hetty sighed, then smiled and finally climbed into the surrey.
+
+"In New York," she said, as they started on, "I've sometimes hobnobbed
+with editors; but this is somewhat different."
+
+"In what way?" asked Patsy casually.
+
+"You're not real journalists, you know, and--"
+
+"Why aren't we journalists?" asked Louise.
+
+For a moment Hetty was puzzled how to reply.
+
+"You are doing very good editorial work," she said mendaciously, "but,
+after all, you are only playing at journalism. The real journalist--as I
+know him--is a Bohemian; a font of cleverness running to waste; a
+reckless, tender-hearted, jolly, careless ne'er-do-well who works like a
+Trojan and plays like a child. He is very sophisticated at his desk and
+very artless when he dives into the underworld for rest and recreation.
+He lives at high tension, scintillates, burns his red fire without
+discrimination and is shortly extinguished. You are not like that. You
+can't even sympathize with that sort of person. But I can, for I'm cut
+from a remnant of the same cloth."
+
+"Scintillate all you want to, Hetty," cried Patsy with a laugh; "but
+you're not going to be extinguished. For we, the imitation journalists,
+have taken you under our wings. There's no underworld at Millville, and
+the only excitement we can furnish just now is a night with us at the
+old farm."
+
+"That," replied Hetty, "is indeed a real excitement. You can't quite
+understand it, perhaps; but it's so--so very different from what I'm
+accustomed to."
+
+Uncle John welcomed the girl artist cordially and under his hospitable
+roof the waif soon felt at ease. At dinner the conversation turned upon
+Thursday Smith and his peculiar experience. Beth asked Hetty if she knew
+the man.
+
+"Yes," replied the girl; "I've seen him at the office and we've
+exchanged a word or two. But he boards with Thorne, the liveryman, and
+not at the hotel."
+
+"You have never seen him before you met him here?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"I wonder," said Louise musingly, "if he is quite right in his mind. All
+this story may be an hallucination, you know."
+
+"He's a very clever fellow," asserted Hetty, "and such a loss of memory
+is by no means so uncommon as you think. Our brains are queer
+things--mine is, I know--and it doesn't take much to throw their
+machinery out of gear. Once I knew a reporter who was worried and
+over-worked. He came to the office one morning and said he was George
+Washington, the Commander of the Continental Army. In all other ways he
+was sane enough, and we humored him and called him 'General.' At the end
+of three months the idea quit him as suddenly as it had come on, and he
+was not only normal but greatly restored in strength of intellect
+through the experience. Perhaps some of the overworked brain cells had
+taken a rest and renewed their energy. It would not surprise me if some
+day Thursday Smith suddenly remembered who he was."
+
+[Footnote: This anecdote is true.--_Author._]
+
+"In the meantime," said Uncle John, "I'm going to make an effort to
+discover his identity."
+
+"In what way, Uncle?" asked Patsy.
+
+"I'll set Fogerty, who is a clever detective, at work. No man can
+disappear from his customary haunts without leaving some sort of a
+record behind him, and Fogerty may be able to uncover the mystery in a
+short time."
+
+"Then we'll lose our pressman," declared Beth; "for I'm positive that
+Thursday Smith was a person of some importance in his past life."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE HONER'BLE OJOY BOGLIN
+
+
+One morning while Patsy was alone in her office, busied over her work,
+the door softly opened and a curious looking individual stood before
+her.
+
+He was thin in form, leathery skinned and somewhat past the middle age
+of life. His clothing consisted of a rusty black Prince Albert coat,
+rusty trousers to match, which were carefully creased, cowhide shoes
+brilliant with stove polish, a tall silk hat of antiquated design, and a
+frayed winged collar decorated with a black tie on which sparkled a
+large diamond attached to a chain. He had chin whiskers of a sandy gray
+color and small gray eyes that were both shrewd and suspicious in
+expression.
+
+He stood in the doorway a moment, attentively eyeing the girl, while
+she in turn examined him with an amusement she could not quite suppress.
+Then he said, speaking in a low, diffident voice:
+
+"I'm lookin' for the editor."
+
+"I am the editor," asserted Patsy.
+
+"Really?"
+
+"It is quite true."
+
+He seemed disconcerted a moment, striving to regain his assurance. Then
+he took out a well-worn pocketbook and from its depths abstracted a
+soiled card which, leaning forward, he placed carefully upon the table
+before Patsy. She glanced at it and read: "Hon. Ojoy Boglin, Hooker's
+Falls, Chazy County."
+
+"Oh," said she, rather surprised; "are you Mr. Boglin?"
+
+"I am the Honer'ble Ojoy Boglin, miss," he replied, dwelling lovingly
+upon the "Honer'ble."
+
+"I have not had the honor of your acquaintance," said she, deciding she
+did not like her visitor. "What is your business, please?"
+
+The Hon. Ojoy coughed. Then he suddenly remembered he was in the
+presence of a lady and took off his hat. Next he slid slowly into the
+vacant chair at the end of the table.
+
+"First," he began, "I want to compliment you on your new paper. It's a
+good thing, and I like it. It's what's been needed in these 'ere parts a
+long time, and it's talked about all over Chazy County."
+
+"Thank you," said the editor briefly, for the praise was given in a
+perfunctory way that irritated her.
+
+"The only other papers in this senatorial deestric', which covers three
+counties," continued the visitor, in impressive tones, "air weeklies,
+run by political mud-slingers that's bought up by the Kleppish gang."
+
+"What is the Kleppish gang?" she asked, wonderingly.
+
+"The supporters o' that rascal, Colonel Kleppish, who has been
+occupyin' my berth for goin' on eight years," he said with fierce
+indignation.
+
+"I fear I do not understand," remarked Patsy, really bewildered. "What
+was your berth, which Colonel Kleppish has--has usurped?"
+
+"See that 'Honer'ble' on the card?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"That means I were senator--state senator--which makes any common man
+honer'ble, accordin' to law, which it's useless to dispute. I were
+elected fer this deestric', which covers three counties," he said
+proudly, "an' I served my country in that capacity."
+
+"Oh, I see. But you're not state senator now?"
+
+"No; Kleppish beat me for the nomination, after I'd served only one
+term."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Eh? Why did he git the nomination? 'Cause he bought up the
+newspapers--the country weeklies--and set them to yellin' 'graft.' He
+made 'em say I went into office poor, and in two years made a fortune."
+
+"Did you?" asked the girl.
+
+He shuffled in his seat.
+
+"I ain't used to talkin' politics with a girl," he admitted; "but seein'
+as you're the editor of this paper--a daily, by Jupe!--you've probably
+got a head on you and understand that a man don't get into office for
+his health. There's a lot of bother in servin' your country, and a man
+oughter be well paid for it. I did jest like the others do--like
+Kleppish is doin' right now--but the reg'lar voters don't understand
+politics, and when the howl went up about graft, backed by Kleppish's
+bought-up newspapers, they turned me down cold. I've been eight years
+watchin' for a chance to get in again, an' now I've got it."
+
+"This is very interesting, I'm sure," remarked Patsy; "but our paper
+doesn't go much into local politics, Mr. Boglin, and I'm very busy
+to-day."
+
+"Honer'ble Ojoy Boglin," he said, correcting her; but he did not take
+the hint to leave.
+
+Patsy picked up her pencil as if to resume her work, while he eyed her
+with a countenance baffled and uncertain. Presently he asked:
+
+"Has Kleppish got this paper too?"
+
+"No," she coldly replied.
+
+"I thought I'd likely head him off, you being so new. See here,
+Editor--"
+
+"I am Miss Doyle, sir."
+
+"Glad to know you, Miss Doyle. What I was about to remark is this: The
+election for senator comes up agin in September and I want this paper to
+pull for me. Bein' as it's a daily it's got more power than all of
+Kleppish's weeklies put together, and if you work the campaign proper
+I'll win the nomination hands down. This is a strong Republican
+deestric', and to git nominated on the Republican ticket is the same as
+an election. So what I want is the nomination. What do you say?"
+
+Patsy glared at him and decided that as far as appearances went he was
+not a fit candidate for any office, however humble. But she answered
+diplomatically:
+
+"I will inquire into the condition of politics in this district, Mr.
+Boglin, and try to determine which candidate is the most deserving.
+Having reached a decision, the _Millville Tribune_ will espouse the
+cause of the best man--if it mentions local politics at all."
+
+The Hon. Ojoy gave a dissatisfied grunt.
+
+"That means, in plain words," he suggested, "that you'll give Kleppish a
+chance to bid against me. But I need this paper, and I'm willin' to pay
+a big price for it. Let Kleppish go, and we'll make our dicker right
+now, on a lib'ral basis. It's the only way you can make your paper pay.
+I've got money, Miss Doyle. I own six farms near Hooker's Falls, which
+is in this county, and six hundred acres of good pine forest, and I'm
+director in the Bank of Huntingdon, with plenty of money out on
+interest. Also I own half the stock in the new paper mill at Royal--"
+
+"You do?" she exclaimed. "I thought Mr. Skeelty--"
+
+"Skeelty's the head man, of course," he said. "He came to me about the
+mill proposition and I went in with him. I own all the forest around
+Royal. Bein' manager, and knowin' the business, Skeelty stood out for
+fifty-one shares of stock, which is the controllin' interest; but I own
+all the rest, and the mill's makin' good money. People don't know I'm in
+that deal, and of course this is all confidential and not to be talked
+about."
+
+"Very well, sir. But I fear you have mistaken the character of our
+paper," said Patsy quietly. "We are quite independent, Mr. Boglin, and
+intend to remain so--even if we can't make the paper pay. In other
+words, the _Millville Daily Tribune_ can't be bought."
+
+He stared in amazement; then scratched his ear with a puzzled air.
+
+"Such talk as that means somethin'," he asserted, gropingly, "but what
+it means, blamed if I know! Newspapers never turn money down unless
+they're a'ready bought, or have got a grouch of their own.... Say!" he
+suddenly cried, as an inspiration struck him, "you ain't got anything
+agin the mill at Royal, or agin Skeelty, have you?"
+
+"I have, sir!" declared Patsy, raising her head to frown discouragingly
+upon the Honer'ble Ojoy. "Mr. Skeelty is acting in a very disagreeable
+manner. He has not only boycotted our paper and refused to pay for the
+subscriptions he engaged, but I understand he is encouraging his workmen
+to annoy the Millville people, and especially this printing office."
+
+"Well--durn--Skeelty!" ejaculated Mr. Boglin, greatly discomposed by
+this statement. "But I'll fix all that, Miss Doyle," he added, eagerly.
+"Skeelty's my partner and he's got to do what I say or I'll make trouble
+for him. You dicker with me for the support of your paper and I'll
+guarantee a hundred subscriptions from Royal and get you an apology from
+Skeelty and a promise he'll behave an' keep his men to home. And all
+that's outside the price I'll agree to pay."
+
+Patsy's eyes were full of scorn.
+
+"I won't dicker with you an instant," she firmly declared. "I don't know
+Colonel Kleppish, or what his character is, but I'm very sure he's the
+better man and that the people have made no mistake in electing him in
+your place. No respectable candidate for office would attempt to buy the
+support of a newspaper, and I advise you to change the wording on your
+card. Instead of 'Honorable' it should read 'Dishonorable' Ojoy Boglin.
+Good day, sir!"
+
+Mr. Boglin's face turned white with rage. He half rose from his seat,
+but sat down again with a vicious snarl.
+
+"I've coaxed, so far, young woman," he said grimly, "but I guess it's
+time I showed my hand. You'll either run this paper in my interest or
+I'll push Skeelty on to make the town too hot to hold you. I've got
+power in this county, even if I ain't senator, and you'll feel that
+power if you dare oppose me. Take your choice, girl--either to make good
+money out o' this campaign, or be run out of town, neck an' crop! It's
+up to you to decide."
+
+"In thirty seconds," said Patsy, her face as white as was Boglin's, "I
+shall ring this bell to summon my men to throw you out."
+
+The Honer'ble Ojoy slowly rose and put on his hat.
+
+"Look out!" he said warningly.
+
+"I will," snapped Patsy.
+
+"This ain't the end of it, girl!"
+
+"There are ten seconds left," she said.
+
+He picked up his card, turned his back and walked out, leaving his
+opponent trembling betwixt agitation and righteous indignation. A few
+moments later Bob West came in and looked at the girl editor curiously.
+
+"Ojoy Boglin has been here," he said.
+
+"The Honer'ble Ojoy, if you please," answered Patsy, with a laugh that
+bordered on hysteria.
+
+The hardware man nodded, his eyes reading her face.
+
+"You were quite right to turn him down," he asserted.
+
+"It was the only thing to do," responded the girl, wondering how he
+knew.
+
+"But Boglin is a dangerous man," resumed West. "Look out for him. Miss
+Doyle."
+
+"Yes; he told me to do that, and I will," said she, more quietly. "He is
+Skeelty's partner."
+
+"And you're not afraid of him?"
+
+"Why should I be, Mr. West?"
+
+He smiled.
+
+"I'm justice of the peace here. If there's a hint of trouble from Boglin
+or Skeelty, come directly to me."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. West. I will."
+
+With this he nodded cheerfully and went away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+MOLLY SIZER'S PARTY
+
+
+The people of Chazy County were very proud of the _Millville Tribune_,
+the only daily paper in that section of the state. It was really a very
+good newspaper, if small in size, and related the news of the day as
+promptly as the great New York journals did.
+
+Arthur Weldon had not been very enthusiastic about the paper at any
+time, although he humored the girls by attending in a good-natured way
+to the advertising, hiring some of the country folk to get
+subscriptions, and keeping the books. He was a young man of considerable
+education who had inherited a large fortune, safely invested, and
+therefore had no need, through financial necessity, to interest himself
+in business of any sort. He allowed the girls to print his name as
+editor in chief, but he did no editorial work at all, amusing himself
+these delightful summer days by wandering in the woods, where he
+collected botanical specimens, or sitting with Uncle John on the lawn,
+where they read together or played chess. Both the men were glad the
+girls were happy in their work and enthusiastic over the success of
+their audacious venture. Beth was developing decided talent as a writer
+of editorials and her articles were even more thoughtful and dignified
+than were those of Patsy. The two girls found plenty to occupy them at
+the office, while Louise did the reportorial work and flitted through
+Millville and down to Huntingdon each day in search of small items of
+local interest. She grew fond of this work, for it brought her close to
+the people and enabled her to study their characters and peculiarities.
+Her manner of approaching the simple country folk was so gracious and
+winning that they freely gave her any information they possessed, and
+chatted with her unreservedly.
+
+Sometimes Louise would make her rounds alone, but often Arthur would
+join her for an afternoon drive to Huntingdon, and it greatly amused
+him to listen to his girl-wife's adroit manner of "pumping the natives."
+
+About halfway to Huntingdon was the Sizer Farm, the largest and most
+important in that vicinity. Old Zeke Sizer had a large family--five boys
+and three girls--and they were noted as quite the most aggressive and
+disturbing element in the neighborhood. Old Zeke was rude and coarse and
+swore like a trooper, so his sons could not be expected to excel him in
+refinement. Bill Sizer, the eldest, was a hard drinker, and people who
+knew him asserted that he "never drew a sober breath." The other sons
+were all quarrelsome in disposition and many a free fight was indulged
+in among them whenever disputes arose. They were industrious farmers,
+though, and the three girls and their mother worked from morning till
+night, so the farm prospered and the Sizers were reputed to be
+"well-off."
+
+Molly, the eldest girl, had attracted Louise, who declared she was
+pretty enough to arrest attention in any place. Indeed, this girl was a
+"raving beauty" in her buxom, countrified way, and her good looks were
+the pride of the Sizer family and the admiration of the neighbors. The
+other two were bouncing, merry girls, rather coarse in manner, as might
+be expected from their environment; but Molly, perhaps fully conscious
+of her prettiness, assumed certain airs and graces and a regal
+deportment that brought even her big, brutal brothers to her feet in
+adoration.
+
+The Sizers were among the first subscribers to the _Millville Tribune_
+and whenever Louise stopped at the farmhouse for news the family would
+crowd around her, ignoring all duties, and volunteer whatever
+information they possessed. For when they read their own gossip in the
+local column it gave them a sort of proprietary interest in the paper,
+and Bill had once thrashed a young clerk at Huntingdon for questioning
+the truth of an item the Sizers had contributed.
+
+One day when Louise and Arthur stopped at the farm, Mollie ran out with
+an eager face to say that Friday was her birthday and the Sizers were to
+give a grand party to celebrate it.
+
+"We want you to come over an' write it up, Mrs. Weldon," said the girl.
+"They're comin' from twenty mile around, fer the dance, an' we've got
+the orchestry from Malvern to play for us. Pop's goin' to spend a lot of
+money on refreshments an' it'll be the biggest blow-out Chazy County
+ever seen!"
+
+"I think I can write up the party without being present, Mollie,"
+suggested Louise.
+
+"No; you come over. I read once, in a novel, how an editor come to a
+swell party an' writ about all the dresses an' things--said what
+everybody wore, you know. I'm goin' to have a new dress, an' if
+ever'thing's described right well we'll buy a lot of papers to send to
+folks we know in Connecticut."
+
+"Well," said Louise, with a sigh, "I'll try to drive over for a little
+while. It is to be Saturday, you say?"
+
+"Yes; the birthday's Friday and the dance Saturday night, rain or shine.
+An' you might bring the chief editor, your husband, an' try a dance with
+us. It wouldn't hurt our reputation any to have you folks mingle with us
+on this festive occasion," she added airily.
+
+They had a good laugh over this invitation when it was reported at Mr.
+Merrick's dinner table, and Patsy insisted that Louise must write up
+the party.
+
+"It will be fun to give it a 'double head' and a big send-off," she
+said. "Write it up as if it were a real society event, dear, and exhaust
+your vocabulary on the gowns. You'll have to invent some Frenchy names
+to describe those, I guess, for they'll be wonders; and we'll wind up
+with a list of 'those present.'"
+
+So on Saturday evening Arthur drove his wife over to the Sizer farm, and
+long before they reached there they heard the scraping of fiddles,
+mingled with shouts and boisterous laughter. It was a prohibition
+district, to be sure, but old Sizer had imported from somewhere outside
+the "dry zone" a quantity of liquors more remarkable for strength than
+quality, and with these the guests had been plied from the moment of
+their arrival. Most of them were wholly unused to such libations, so by
+the time Arthur and Louise arrived, the big living room of the farmhouse
+presented an appearance of wild revelry that was quite deplorable.
+
+Molly welcomed them with wild enthusiasm and big Bill, her adoring
+brother, demanded in a loud voice if Arthur did not consider her the
+"Belle of Chazy County."
+
+"They ain't a stunner in the state as kin hold a candle to our Molly,"
+he added, and then with uncertain gait he left the "reporters" with the
+promise to "bring 'em a drink."
+
+"Come, Louise," said Arthur, quietly, "let's get out of here."
+
+He drew her to the door and as a dance was just starting they managed to
+escape without notice.
+
+"What a disgraceful scene!" cried Louise, when they were on their way
+home; "and to think of such a shocking carousal being held in good old
+Chazy County, where morals are usually irreproachable! I shall not
+mention the affair in the _Tribune_ at all."
+
+But Patsy, who had a managing editor's respect for news of any sort,
+combatted this determination and begged Louise to write up Molly Sizer's
+party without referring to its deplorable features.
+
+"It isn't policy to offend the Sizers," she said, "for although they
+are coarse and common they have shown a friendly spirit toward the
+paper. Moreover, the enmity of such people--which would surely result
+from our ignoring the birthday party--would keep us in hot water."
+
+So Louise, though reluctantly, wrote up the party and the manuscript was
+sent over to Miss Briggs Sunday afternoon, so it would get a place in
+Monday morning's _Tribune_.
+
+Uncle John had the paper at breakfast on Monday, and he gave an amused
+laugh as his eye caught the report of the Sizer party.
+
+"This is a good one on you, Louise," he exclaimed. "You say that Miss
+Molly, 'looking more lovely than ever in her handsome new gown, greeted
+her guests with a roughish smile.'"
+
+"A what?" demanded Louise, horrified.
+
+"A 'roughish' smile."
+
+"Oh; that's a mistake," she said, glancing at the item. "What I said was
+a 'roguish' smile; but there's been a typographical error which Miss
+Briggs must have overlooked in reading the proof."
+
+"Nevertheless," remarked Arthur, "the statement isn't far wrong.
+Everything was rough, including the smiles, as far as I noted that
+remarkable gathering."
+
+"But--see here!" cried Patsy; "that's a dreadful mistake. That spoils
+all the nice things you said about the girl, Louise. I hope the Sizers
+won't notice it."
+
+But the Sizers did, and were frantic with rage over what they deemed was
+a deliberate insult to Molly. Several young men who had come from
+distances to attend the birthday party had stayed over Sunday at the
+farmhouse, where the revelry still continued in a fitful way, due to
+vain attempts to relieve racking headaches by further libations. Monday
+morning found the dissipated crew still the guests of the Sizers, and
+when big Bill slowly spelled out the assertion made by the _Tribune_
+that his sister had "a roughish smile" loud cries of indignation arose.
+Molly first cried and then had hysterics and screamed vigorously; Bill
+swore vengeance on the _Millville Tribune_ and all connected with it,
+while the guests gravely asserted it was "a low-down, measly trick"
+which the Sizers ought to resent. They all began drinking again, to
+calm their feelings, and after the midday dinner Bill Sizer grabbed a
+huge cowhide whip and started to Millville to "lick the editor to a
+standstill." A wagonload of his guests accompanied him, and Molly
+pleaded with her brother not to hurt Mrs. Weldon.
+
+"I won't; but I'll cowhide that fresh husband of hers," declared Bill.
+"He's the editor--the paper says so--and he's the one I'm after!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+BOB WEST INTERFERES
+
+
+It was unfortunate that at that time Thursday Smith had gone up the
+electric line toward Royal, to inspect it. In the office were Patsy,
+Hetty Hewitt--who was making a drawing--Arthur Weldon, engaged upon his
+books, and finally, seated in an easy-chair from which he silently
+watched them work, old Bob West, the hardware man. Louise and Beth had
+driven over to the Junction to write up an accident, one of the trainmen
+having caught his hand in a coupling, between two freight cars.
+
+Bob West often dropped into the office, which was next door to his own
+place of business, but he was a silent man and had little to say on
+these visits. In his early days he had wandered pretty much over the
+whole world, and he could relate some interesting personal adventures
+if he chose. In this retired village West was the one inhabitant
+distinguished above his fellows for his knowledge of the world. In his
+rooms over the store, where few were ever invited, he had a fine library
+of unusual books and a rare collection of curios gathered from foreign
+lands. It was natural that such a man would be interested in so unique
+an experiment as the _Millville Tribune_, and he watched its conduct
+with curiosity but a constantly growing respect for the three girl
+journalists. No one ever minded when he came into the office, nodded and
+sat down. Sometimes he would converse with much freedom; at other times
+the old gentleman remained an hour without offering a remark, and went
+away with a brief parting nod.
+
+It was West who first saw, through the window, the wagonload of men from
+the Sizer farm come dashing up the street at a gallop. Instinctively,
+perhaps, he knew trouble was brewing, but he never altered his
+expression or his attitude, even when the wagon stopped at the printing
+office and the passengers leaped out.
+
+In marched Bill Sizer at the head of his following, cowhide in hand.
+Patsy, her face flushing scarlet, stood up and faced the intruders.
+
+"Stand back, girl!" cried Sizer in a fierce tone; "it's that coward
+editor I'm after," pointing his whip with trembling hand at Arthur. "My
+sister Molly may be rough, an' hev a rough smile, but I'll be dinged ef
+I don't skin the man thet prints it in a paper!"
+
+"Good fer you, Bill!" murmured his friends, approvingly.
+
+Arthur leaned back and regarded his accuser in wonder. The big table,
+littered with papers, was between them.
+
+"Come out o' there, ye measly city chap, an' take yer medicine," roared
+Bill, swinging his whip. "I'll larn ye to come inter a decent
+neighborhood an' slander its women. Come outer there!"
+
+West had sat quietly observing the scene. Now he inquired, in composed
+tones:
+
+"What's the trouble, Bill?"
+
+"Trouble? Trouble, West? Why, this lyin' scroundrel said in his paper
+thet our Molly had a rough smile. That's the trouble!"
+
+"Did he really say that?" asked West.
+
+"'Course he did. Printed it in the paper, for all to read. That's why
+I've come to cowhide the critter within an inch o' his life!"
+
+"Good fer you, Bill!" cried his friends, encouragingly.
+
+"But--wait a moment!" commanded West, as the maddened, half drunken
+young farmer was about to leap over the table to grasp his victim;
+"you're not going at this thing right, Bill Sizer."
+
+"Why ain't I, Bob West?"
+
+"Because," answered West, in calm, even tones, "this insult is too great
+to be avenged by a mere cowhiding. Nothing but blood will wipe away the
+dreadful stain on your sister's character."
+
+"Oh, Mr. West!" cried Patsy, horrified by such a statement.
+
+"Eh? Blood?" said Bill, stupefied by the suggestion.
+
+"Of course," returned West. "You mustn't thrash Mr. Weldon; you must
+kill him."
+
+A delighted chorus of approval came from Sizer's supporters.
+
+"All right, then," said the bully, glaring around, "I--I'll kill the
+scandler!"
+
+"Hold on!" counselled West, seizing his arm. "This affair must be
+conducted properly--otherwise the law might cause us trouble. No murder,
+mind you. You must kill Weldon in a duel."
+
+"A--a what? A duel!" gasped Sizer.
+
+"To be sure. That's the way to be revenged. Hetty," he added, turning to
+the artist, who alone of the observers had smiled instead of groaned at
+the old gentleman's startling suggestion, "will you kindly run up to my
+rooms and get a red leather case that lies under the shell cabinet?
+Thank you, my dear."
+
+Hetty was off like a flash. During her absence an intense silence
+pervaded the office, broken only by an occasional hiccough from one of
+Mr. Sizer's guests. Patsy was paralyzed with horror and had fallen back
+into her chair to glare alternately at Bob West and the big bully who
+threatened her cousin's husband. Arthur was pale and stern as he fixed a
+reproachful gaze on the hardware merchant. From Miss Briggs' little
+room could be heard the steady click-click of the telegraph instrument.
+
+But the furious arrival of the Sizer party had aroused every inhabitant
+of Millville and with one accord they dropped work and rushed to the
+printing office. By this time the windows were dark with groups of eager
+faces that peered wonderingly through the screens--the sashes being
+up--and listened to the conversation within.
+
+While Hetty was gone not a word was spoken, but the artist was absent
+only a brief time. Presently she reentered and laid the red leather case
+on the table before Bob West. The hardware man at once opened it,
+displaying a pair of old-fashioned dueling pistols, with long barrels
+and pearl handles. There was a small can of powder, some bullets and
+wadding in the case, and as West took up one of the pistols and
+proceeded to load it he said in an unconcerned voice:
+
+"I once got these from an officer in Vienna, and they have been used in
+more than a score of duels, I was told. One of the pistols--I can't
+tell which it is--has killed a dozen men, so you are going to fight
+with famous weapons."
+
+Both Arthur and Bill Sizer, as well as the groups at the window, watched
+the loading of the pistols with fascinated gaze.
+
+"Bob's a queer ol' feller," whispered Peggy McNutt to the blacksmith,
+who stood beside him. "This dool is just one o' his odd fancies. Much he
+keers ef they kills each other er not!"
+
+"Mr. West," cried Patsy, suddenly rousing from her apathy, "I'll not
+allow this shameful thing! A duel is no better than murder, and I'm sure
+there is a law against it."
+
+"True," returned West, ramming the bullet into the second pistol; "it is
+quite irregular and--er--illegal, I believe. Perhaps I shall go to jail
+with whichever of the duelists survives; but you see it is a point of
+honor with us all. Molly Sizer has seemingly been grossly maligned in
+your paper, and the editor is responsible. Are you a good shot, Bill?"
+
+"I--I guess so," stammered Sizer.
+
+"That's good. Weldon, I hear, is an expert with the pistol."
+
+Arthur did not contradict this statement, although he was positive he
+could not hit a barn at twenty yards.
+
+"Now, then, are we ready?" staid West, rising. "Come with me,
+gentlemen."
+
+"What ye goin' to do, Bob?" asked Sizer, anxiously.
+
+"I'll explain," replied the hardware man, leading the way to the street.
+Everyone followed him and the crowd at the windows joined the group
+outside. "Of course you mustn't shoot in the main street, for you might
+hit some one, or break windows; but back of this row of buildings is a
+lane that is perfectly clear. You will stand back to back in the center
+of the block and then, at my word, you will each march to the end of the
+block and pass around the buildings to the lane. As soon as you come in
+sight of one another you are privileged to fire, and I suppose Bill
+Sizer will try to kill you, Mr. Weldon, on the spot, and therefore you
+will try to kill him first."
+
+"But--look a-here, Bob!" cried Sizer; "it ain't right fer him to take a
+shot at me. You said fer me to kill him, but ye didn't say nuth'n about
+_his_ shootin' at _me_."
+
+"That's all right, Bill," returned West. "You're in the right, and the
+right ought to win. But you must give the man a chance for his life, you
+know."
+
+"That weren't in the bargain."
+
+"It is now, by the laws of dueling."
+
+"He--he might shoot me," urged Bill.
+
+"It isn't likely. Although he's a dead shot, you have right on your
+side, and you must be sure to fire as soon as you get within good range.
+It won't be considered murder; it will only be a duel, and the law will
+deal lightly with you."
+
+"That's right, Bill," asserted one of Sizer's friends. "Bob West's a
+justice o' the peace himself, an' he orter know."
+
+"I do know," declared West gravely.
+
+He placed Arthur Weldon and Bill Sizer back to back in the middle of the
+street and handed each a pistol.
+
+"Now, then," said he, "you both understand the rules, which I have
+explained, and the spectators will bear witness that, whatever happens,
+this affair has been conducted in a regular manner, with no favor shown
+to either. You are both brave men, and this duel will vindicate your
+honor. If you are fortunate enough to survive, you will be heroes, and
+all your differences will be wiped off the slate. But as one or both may
+fall, we, the citizens of Millville, hereby bid you a solemn and sad
+farewell."
+
+Impressed by this speech, Sizer's friends began to shake hands with him.
+
+"All ready!" called West. "One--two--three----go!"
+
+At the word the two, back to back, started for the opposite ends of the
+little street, and at once the crowd made a rush between the buildings
+to gain the rear, where they might witness the shooting in the lane when
+the duelists met. Arthur had been thinking seriously during these
+proceedings and had made up his mind it was in no degree his duty to be
+bored full of holes by a drunken countryman like Bill Sizer, just
+because there had been a typographical error in the _Millville Tribune_.
+So, when he got to the end of the street, instead of turning into the
+lane he made for the farm, holding the long dueling pistol gingerly in
+his hand and trotting at a good pace for home.
+
+Footsteps followed him. In sudden panic he increased his run; but the
+other was faster. A heavy hand grasped his shoulder and swung him
+around, while old Bob West, panting for Breath, exclaimed:
+
+"Stop, you fool--stop! The other one is running."
+
+"The other one!" echoed Arthur, wonderingly.
+
+"Of course. Bill Sizer was sure to run; he's a coward, as all bullies
+are. Quick, Weldon, save the day and your reputation or I'll never stand
+your friend again."
+
+Arthur understood now. He turned and ran back faster than he had come,
+swung into the lane where the crowd was cautiously peering from the
+shelter of the buildings, and waving his pistol in a reckless way that
+made Bob West shudder, he cried out:
+
+"Where is he? Where's Sizer? Why don't he show up and be shot, like a
+man?"
+
+No Sizer appeared. He was even then headed cross-lots for home, leaving
+his friends to bemoan his cowardice. As for Arthur, the crowd gave him a
+cheer and condemned his opponent's conduct in no measured terms. They
+were terribly disappointed by Big Bill's defection, for while not
+especially bloodthirsty they hated to see the impending tragedy turn out
+a farce.
+
+In the printing office Patsy was laughing hysterically as her horror
+dissolved and allowed her to discover the comic phase of the duel. She
+literally fell on Arthur's neck as he entered, but the next moment
+pushed him away to face the hardware merchant.
+
+"I beg your pardon, Mr. West," said she with twinkling eyes. "I
+suspected you of being a cold-blooded ruffian, when you proposed this
+duel; but I now see that you understand human nature better than the
+whole caboodle of us put together! Arthur, thank Mr. West for saving you
+from a flogging."
+
+"I do, indeed!" said Arthur fervently.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE DANGER SIGNAL
+
+
+By this time the _Tribune_ had become the pride of all Millville, yet
+the villagers could not quite overcome their awe and wonder at it. Also
+the newspaper was the pride of the three girl journalists, who under the
+tutelage of Miss Briggs were learning to understand the complicated
+system of a daily journal. Their amateurish efforts were gradually
+giving way to more dignified and readable articles; Beth could write an
+editorial that interested even Uncle John, her severest critic; Louise
+showed exceptional talent for picking up local happenings and making
+news notes of them, while Patsy grabbed everything that came to her
+net--locals, editorials, telegraphic and telephone reports from all
+parts of the world--and skillfully sorted, edited and arranged them for
+the various departments of the paper. It was mighty interesting to them
+all, and they were so eager each morning to get to work that they could
+scarcely devote the proper time to old Nora's famous breakfasts.
+
+"We made a mistake. Uncle," said Patsy to Mr. Merrick, "in starting the
+_Tribune_ in the wrong place. In a few weeks we must leave it and go
+back to the city, whereas, had we established our paper in New York--"
+
+"Then it never would have been heard of," interrupted practical Beth.
+"In New York, Patsy dear, we would become the laughing stock of the
+town. I shudder when I think what a countrified paper we turned out that
+first issue."
+
+"But we are fast becoming educated," declared Patsy. "I'm not ashamed of
+the _Tribune_ now, even in comparison with the best New York dailies."
+
+Beth laughed, but Uncle John said judicially:
+
+"For Millville, it's certainly a marvel. I get the world news more
+concisely and more pleasantly from its four pages than when I wade
+through twenty or thirty of the big pages of a metropolitan newspaper.
+You are doing famously, my dears. I congratulate you."
+
+"But we are running behind dreadfully," suggested Arthur, the
+bookkeeper, "even since Thursday Smith enabled us to cut down expenses
+so greatly. The money that comes in never equals what we pay out. How
+long can you keep this up, girls?"
+
+They made no reply, nor did Uncle John discuss the financial condition
+of the newspaper. He was himself paying some heavy expenses that did not
+appear on the books, such as the Associated Press franchise, the
+telegraph bills and the electric power; but he was quite delighted to
+take care of these items and regretted he had not assumed more of the
+paper's obligations. He knew the expenses were eating big holes in the
+incomes of his three nieces, yet they never complained nor allowed their
+enthusiasm to flag.
+
+Mr. Merrick, who had tested these girls in more ways than one, was
+watching them carefully, and fully approved their spirit and courage
+under such trying conditions. Major Doyle, Patsy's father, when the
+first copy of the _Millville Tribune_ was laid on his desk in the city,
+was astounded at the audacity of this rash venture. When he could
+command his temper to write calmly he sent a letter to Mr. Merrick which
+read: "Taken altogether, John, you're the craziest bunch of
+irresponsibles outside an asylum. No wonder you kept this folly a secret
+from me until you had accomplished your nefarious designs. The
+_Millville Daily Tribune_ is a corker and no mistake, for our Patsy's at
+the head of your lunatic gang. I'll go farther, and say the paper's a
+wonder. I believe it is the first daily newspaper published in a town of
+six inhabitants, that has ever carried the Associated Press dispatches,
+But, allow me to ask, why? The lonely inhabitants of the desert of Chazy
+County don't need a daily--or a weekly--or a monthly. A semi-annual
+would about hit their gait, and be more than they deserve. So I've
+decided it's merely a silly way to spend money--and an easy way, too,
+I'll be bound. Oblige me by explaining this incomprehensible
+eccentricity."
+
+To this, a mild protest for the major, Uncle John replied: "Dear Major
+Doyle: Yours received. Have you no business of your own to attend to?
+Affectionately yours, John Merrick."
+
+The major took the hint. He made no further complaint but read the paper
+religiously every day, gloating over Patsy's name as managing editor and
+preserving the files with great care. He really enjoyed, the _Millville
+Tribune_, and as his summer vacation was shortly due he anticipated with
+pleasure a visit to the farm and a peep at the workings of "our Patsy's"
+famous newspaper. The other girls he ignored. If Patsy was connected
+with the thing, her adoring parent was quite sure she was responsible
+for all the good there was in it.
+
+The paper printed no mention of the famous duel. But Hetty made a
+cartoon of it, showing the lane, with its fringe of spectators, Arthur
+Weldon standing manfully to await his antagonist and big Bill Sizer, in
+the distance, sprinting across the fields in the direction of home. This
+cartoon was highly prized by those who had witnessed the adventure and
+Peggy McNutt pinned it on the wall of his real estate office beside the
+one Hetty had made of himself. Bill Sizer promptly "stopped the paper,"
+that being the only vengeance at hand, and when Bob West sent a boy to
+him demanding the return of the pistol, Bill dispatched with the weapon
+the following characteristic note, which he had penned with much labor:
+
+"Bob west sir you Beet me out uv my Reeveng and Made me look like a bag
+uv Beens. but I will skware this Thing sum da and yu and that edyter hed
+better Watch out. i don't stand fer no Throwdown like that Wm. Sizer."
+
+However, the bully received scant sympathy, even from his most intimate
+friends, and his prestige in the community was henceforth destroyed.
+Arthur did not crow, for his part. He told the girls frankly of his
+attempt to run away and evade the meeting, which sensible intention was
+only frustrated by Bob West's interference, and they all agreed he was
+thoroughly justified. The young man had proved to them his courage years
+before and none of the girls was disposed to accuse him of cowardice for
+not wishing to shoot or be shot by such a person as Bill Sizer.
+
+A few days following the duel another incident occurred which was of a
+nature so startling that it drove the Sizer comedy from all minds. This
+time Thursday Smith was the hero.
+
+Hetty Hewitt, it seems, was having a desperate struggle to quell the
+longings of her heart for the allurements of the great city. She had
+been for years a thorough Bohemienne, frequenting cafes, theatres and
+dance halls, smoking and drinking with men and women of her class and,
+by degrees, losing every womanly quality with which nature had
+generously endowed her. But the girl was not really bad. She was
+essentially nervous and craved excitement, so she had drifted into this
+sort of life because no counteracting influence of good had been
+injected into her pliable disposition. None, that is, until the friendly
+editor for whom she worked, anticipating her final downfall, had sought
+to save her by sending her to a country newspaper. He talked to the girl
+artist very frankly before she left for Millville, and Hetty knew he was
+right, and was truly grateful for the opportunity to redeem herself. The
+sweet girl journalists with whom she was thrown in contact were so
+different from any young women she had heretofore known, and proved so
+kindly sympathetic, that Hetty speedily became ashamed of her wasted
+life and formed a brave resolution to merit the friendship so generously
+extended her.
+
+But it was hard work at first. She could get through the days easily
+enough by wandering in the woods and taking long walks along the rugged
+country roads; but in the evenings came the insistent call of the cafes,
+the cheap orchestras, vaudeville, midnight suppers and the like. She
+strenuously fought this yearning and found it was growing less and less
+powerful to influence her. But her nights were yet restless and her
+nerves throbbing from the effects of past dissipations. Often she would
+find herself unable to sleep and would go out into the moonlight when
+all others were in bed, and "prowl around with the cats," as she
+expressed it, until the wee hours of morning. Often she told Patsy she
+wished there was more work she could do. The drawings required by the
+paper never occupied her more than a couple of hours each day.
+Sometimes she made one of her cleverest cartoons in fifteen or twenty
+minutes.
+
+"Can't I do something else?" she begged. "Let me set type, or run the
+ticker--I can receive telegrams fairly well--or even write a column of
+local comment. I'm no journalist, so you'll not be envious."
+
+But Patsy shook her head.
+
+"Really, Hetty, there's nothing else you can do, and your pictures are
+very important to us. Rest and enjoy yourself, and get strong and well.
+You are improving wonderfully in health since you came here."
+
+Often at midnight Hetty would wander into the pressroom and watch
+Thursday Smith run off the edition on the wonderful press, which seemed
+to possess an intelligence of its own, so perfectly did it perform its
+functions. At such times she sat listlessly by and said little, for
+Thursday was no voluble talker, especially when busied over his press.
+But a certain spirit of comradeship grew up between these two, and it
+was not unusual for the pressmen, after his work was finished and the
+papers were neatly piled for distribution to the carriers at daybreak,
+to walk with Hetty to the hotel before proceeding to his own lodgings in
+the little wing of Nick Thorne's house, which stood quite at the end of
+the street. To be sure, the hotel adjoined the printing office, with
+only a vacant lot between, but Hetty seemed to appreciate this courtesy
+and would exchange a brief good night with Smith before going to her own
+room. Afterward she not infrequently stole out again, because sleep
+would not come to her, and then the moon watched her wanderings until it
+dipped behind the hills.
+
+On the night we speak of, Hetty had parted from Thursday Smith at one
+o'clock and crept into the hallway of the silent, barnlike hotel; but as
+soon as the man turned away she issued forth again and walked up the
+empty street like a shadow. Almost to Thompson's Crossing she strolled,
+deep in thought, and then turned and retraced her steps. But when she
+again reached the hotel she was wide-eyed as ever; so she passed the
+building, thinking she would go on to Little Bill Creek and sit by the
+old mill for a time.
+
+The girl was just opposite the printing office when her attention was
+attracted by a queer grating noise, as if one of the windows was being
+pried up. She stopped short, a moment, and then crept closer to the
+building. Two men were at a side window of the pressroom, which they had
+just succeeded in opening. As Hetty gained her point of observation one
+of the men slipped inside, but a moment later hastily reappeared and
+joined his fellow. At once both turned and stole along the side of the
+shed directly toward the place where the girl stood. Her first impulse
+was to run, but recollecting that she wore a dark gown and stood in deep
+shadow she merely flattened herself against the building and remained
+motionless. The men were chuckling as they passed her, and she
+recognized them as mill hands from Royal.
+
+"Guess that'll do the job," said one, in a low tone.
+
+"If it don't, nothin' will," was the reply.
+
+They were gone, then, stealing across the road and beating a hasty
+retreat under the shadows of the houses.
+
+Hetty stood motionless a moment, wondering what to do. Then with sudden
+resolve she ran to Thorne's house and rapped sharply at the window of
+the wing where she knew Thursday Smith slept. She heard him leap from
+bed and open the blind.
+
+"What is it?" he asked.
+
+"It's me, Thursday--Hetty," she said. "Two men have just broken into the
+pressroom, through a window. They were men from Royal, and they didn't
+steal anything, but ran away in great haste. I--I'm afraid something is
+wrong, Thursday!"
+
+Even while she spoke he was rapidly dressing.
+
+"Wait!" he called to her. In a few moments he opened the door and joined
+her.
+
+Without hesitation he began walking rapidly toward the office, and the
+girl kept step with him. He asked no questions whatever, but us soon as
+she had led him to the open window he leaped through it and switched on
+an electric light. An instant later he cried aloud, in a voice of fear:
+
+"Get out, Hetty! Run--for your life!"
+
+"Run yourself, Thursday, if there's danger," she coolly returned.
+
+But he shouted "Run--run--run!" in such thrilling, compelling tones
+that the girl shrank away and dashed across the vacant lot to the hotel
+before she turned again in time to see Smith leap from the window and
+make a dash toward the rear. He was carrying something--something
+extended at arms' length before him--and he crossed the lane and ran far
+into the field before stooping to set down his burden.
+
+Now he was racing back again, running as madly as if a troop of demons
+was after him. A flash cleft the darkness; a deep detonation thundered
+and echoed against the hills; the building against which Hetty leaned
+shook as if an earthquake had seized it, and Thursday Smith was thrown
+flat on his face and rolled almost to the terrified girl's feet, where
+he lay motionless. Only the building saved her from pitching headlong
+too, but as the reverberations died away, to be followed by frantic
+screams from the rudely wakened population of Millville, Hetty sank upon
+her knees and turned the man over, so that he lay face up.
+
+He opened his eyes and put up one hand. Then he struggled to his feet,
+trembling weakly, and his white face smiled into the girl's anxious one.
+
+"That was a close call, dear," he whispered; "but your timely discovery
+saved us from a terrible calamity. I--I don't believe there is much harm
+done, as it is."
+
+Hetty made no reply. She was thinking of the moments he had held that
+deadly Thing in his hands, while he strove to save lives and property
+from destruction.
+
+The inevitable crowd was gathering now, demanding in terrified tones
+what had happened. Men, women and children poured from the houses in
+scant attire, all unnerved and fearful, crying for an explanation of the
+explosion.
+
+"Keep mum, Hetty," said Smith, warningly. "It will do no good to tell
+them the truth."
+
+She nodded, realizing it was best the villagers did not suspect that an
+enemy of the newspaper had placed them all in dire peril.
+
+"Dynamite?" she asked in a whisper.
+
+"Yes; a bomb. But for heaven's sake don't mention it."
+
+Suddenly a man with a lantern discovered a great pit in the field
+behind the lane and the crowd quickly surrounded it. From their limited
+knowledge of the facts the explosion seemed unaccountable, but there was
+sufficient intelligence among them to determine that dynamite had caused
+it and dug this gaping hole in the stony soil. Bob West glanced at the
+printing office, which was directly in line with the explosion; then he
+cast a shrewd look into the white face of Thursday Smith; but the old
+hardware merchant merely muttered under his breath something about Ojoy
+Boglin and shook his head determinedly when questioned by his fellow
+villagers.
+
+Interest presently centered in the damage that had been done. Many
+window panes were shattered and the kitchen chimney of the hotel had
+toppled over; but no person had been injured and the damage could easily
+be repaired. While the excitement was at its height Thursday Smith
+returned to his room and went to bed; but long after the villagers had
+calmed down sufficiently to seek their homes Hetty Hewitt sat alone by
+the great pit, staring reflectively into its ragged depths. Quaint and
+curious were the thoughts that puzzled the solitary girl's weary brain,
+but prominent and ever-recurring was the sentence that had trembled upon
+Thursday Smith's lips: "It was a close call, _dear_!"
+
+The "close call" didn't worry Hetty a particle; it was the last word of
+the sentence that amazed her. That, and a new and wonderful respect for
+the manliness of Thursday Smith, filled her heart to overflowing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+A CLEVER IDEA
+
+
+Neither Thursday nor Hetty allowed a word to escape concerning the
+placing of the bomb in the _Tribune_ office, but the explosion was
+public knowledge and many were bothering their heads to explain its
+meaning.
+
+John Merrick, when he heard the news, looked very grave and glanced
+uneasily into the unconscious faces of his three beloved nieces. A man
+of much worldly experience, in spite of his simple, ingenuous nature,
+the little man began carefully piecing together parts of the puzzle.
+Thursday Smith's defense of the girl journalists, whereby he had
+severely pounded some of the workmen who had insulted them, had caused
+the man to be denounced by the colony at Royal. Mr. Skeelty, the
+manager, had demanded that Smith be discharged by Mr. Mirrick, and
+being refused, had threatened to shut off the power from the newspaper
+plant. Skeelty dared not carry out this threat, for fear of a lawsuit,
+but his men, who had urged the matter of Smith's discharge upon their
+manager, were of the class that seeks revenge at any cost. At this
+juncture Ojoy Boglin, Skeelty's partner and the owner of all the pine
+forest around Royal, had become the enemy of the newspaper and was aware
+of the feeling among the workmen. A word from Boglin, backed by
+Skeelty's tacit consent, would induce the men to go to any length in
+injuring the _Millville Tribune_ and all concerned in its welfare.
+
+Considering these facts, Mr. Merrick shrewdly suspected that the
+dynamite explosion had been the work of the mill hands, yet why it was
+harmlessly exploded in a field was a factor that puzzled him
+exceedingly. He concluded, from what information he possessed, that they
+had merely intended this as a warning, which if disregarded might be
+followed by a more serious catastrophe.
+
+The idea that such a danger threatened his nieces made the old
+gentleman distinctly nervous.
+
+There were ways to evade further molestation from the lawless element at
+the mill. The Hon. Ojoy could be conciliated; Thursday Smith discharged;
+or the girls could abandon their journalistic enterprise altogether.
+Such alternatives were mortifying to consider, but his girls must be
+protected from harm at any cost.
+
+While he was still considering the problem, the girls and Arthur having
+driven to the office, as usual, Joe Wegg rode over from Thompson's
+Crossing on his sorrel mare for a chat with his old friend and
+benefactor. It was this same young man--still a boy in years--who had
+once owned the Wegg Farm and disposed of it to Mr. Merrick.
+
+Joe was something of a mechanical genius and, when his father died,
+longed to make his way in the great world. But after many vicissitudes
+and failures he returned to Chazy County to marry Ethel Thompson, his
+boyhood sweetheart, and to find that one of his father's apparently
+foolish investments had made him rich.
+
+Ethel was the great-granddaughter of the pioneer settler of Chazy
+County--Little Bill Thompson--from whom the Little Bill Creek and Little
+Bill Mountain had been named. It was he who first established the mill
+at Millville; so, in marrying a descendant of Little Bill Thompson, Joe
+Wegg had become quite the most important resident of Chazy County, and
+the young man was popular and well liked by all who knew him.
+
+After the first interchange of greetings Joe questioned Mr. Merrick
+about the explosion of the night before, and Uncle John frankly stated
+his suspicions.
+
+"I'm sorry," said Joe, "they ever started that mill at Royal Falls. Most
+of the workmen are foreigners, and all of them rude and reckless. They
+have caused our quiet, law-abiding people no end of trouble and anxiety
+already. It is becoming a habit with them to haunt Millville on Saturday
+nights, when they are partly intoxicated, and they've even invaded some
+of the farmhouses and frightened the women and children. I've talked to
+Bob West about it and he has promised to swear in Lon Taft and Seth
+Davis as special constables, to preserve order; but he admits we are
+quite helpless to oppose such a gang of rowdies. I've also been to see
+Mr. Skeelty, to ask him to keep his men at home, but he answered gruffly
+that he had no authority over his employees except during working hours,
+and not much authority even then."
+
+"Skeelty doesn't seem the right man to handle those fellows," observed
+Mr. Merrick thoughtfully; "but as he owns the controlling interest in
+his company, and Boglin is fully as unreasonable, we cannot possibly
+oust him from control. If the men determined to blow up all Millville
+with dynamite I'm sure Skeelty would not lift a finger to prevent it."
+
+"No; he's deathly afraid of them, and that's a fact," said Joe.
+
+They sat in silence a while.
+
+"Your report of Skeelty's threat to cut off your electric power," said
+young Wegg, "reminds me of a plan I've had in mind for some time. I find
+I've too much time on my hands, Mr. Merrick, and I cannot be thoroughly
+happy unless I'm occupied. Ethel's farms are let on shares and I'm a
+drone in the world's busy hive. But we're anchored here at Millville, so
+I've been wondering what I could do to improve the place and keep myself
+busy. It has seemed to me that the same rush of water in Little Bill
+Creek that runs the dynamos at Royal is in evidence--to a lesser
+extent--at the old milldam. What would you think of my putting in an
+electric plant at the mill, and lighting both Millville and Huntingdon,
+as well as all the farmhouses?"
+
+"Not a bad idea, Joe," said Uncle John approvingly.
+
+"Electric lights have a civilizing influence," continued the young man.
+"I'm quite sure all the farmers between here and Huntingdon would use
+them, at a reasonable price. I can also run a line to Hooker's Falls,
+and one to Chazy Junction. Plenty of poles can be cut from our pine
+forests and the wires will be the chief expense. I may not make money,
+at first, but I'll play pretty nearly even and have something to do."
+
+"Do you think you could furnish enough power for our printing office?"
+asked Mr. Merrick.
+
+"Yes; and a dozen factories, besides. I've an idea the thing may bring
+factories to Millville."
+
+"Then get at it, Joe, and build it quick. I've a notion we shall have an
+open rupture with Skeelty before long."
+
+Joe Wegg smiled.
+
+"You're going to accuse me, sir, of asking advice after I've made up my
+mind," said he; "but the fact is, I have bought the mill of Silas
+Caldwell already. He's been wanting to dispose of the property for some
+time."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Uncle John.
+
+"Also I--I've ordered a dynamo and machinery. It all ought to be here in
+a few days."
+
+"Better yet!" cried Mr. Merrick. "You've relieved my mind of a great
+weight, Joe."
+
+"Now about Thursday Smith," said the young man. "Don't you think it
+would be policy for you to let him go, Mr. Merrick?"
+
+"No."
+
+"He's a clever fellow. I can use him at my lighting plant."
+
+"Thank you, Joe; but that wouldn't help any. As long as he's in
+Millville he will be an object of vengeance to those anarchistic mill
+hands. The only way to satisfy them in to drive Smith out of town,
+and--I'll be hanged if I'll do it! He hasn't done anything wrong, and
+I'm interested in the fellow's curious history. I've put his case in the
+hands of a famous New York detective--Fogerty--with instructions to
+discover who he is, and I can't let a lot of rowdies force me to abandon
+the man for no reasonable cause."
+
+"Don't blame you, sir," said Joe. "If it wasn't this Thursday Smith,
+some other would incur the hatred of the Royal workmen, and as they're
+disposed to terrorize us we may as well fight it out on this line as any
+other. The whole county will stand by you, sir."
+
+"The only thing I dread is possible danger to my girls."
+
+"Keep 'em away from the office evenings," advised Joe. "During the day
+they are perfectly safe. If anything happens, it will be at night, and
+while the newspaper office may some time go flying skyward the girls
+will run no personal danger whatever."
+
+"Maybe so, Joe. How queer it is that such a condition should exist in
+Millville--a little forgotten spot in the very heart of civilization and
+the last place where one might expect excitement of this sort. But I
+won't be cowed; I won't be driven or bullied by a pack of foreign
+hounds, I assure you! If Skeelty can't discipline his men, I will."
+
+In furtherance of which assertion, Mr. Merrick went to town and wired a
+message to the great Fogerty.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+LOCAL CONTRIBUTION
+
+
+We hear considerable of the "conventional people" of this world, but
+seldom meet with them; for, as soon as we begin to know a person, we
+discover peculiarities that quite remove him from the ranks of the
+conventional--if such ranks exist at all. The remark of the old Scotch
+divine to his good wife: "Everybody's queer but thee and me, Nancy, and
+sometimes I think _thee_ a little queer," sums up human nature
+admirably. We seldom recognize our own queerness, but are prone to mark
+the erratic temperaments of others, and this is rather more comfortable
+than to be annoyed by a consciousness of our personal deficits.
+
+The inhabitants of a country town are so limited in their experiences
+that we generally find their personal characteristics very amusing. No
+amount of scholastic learning could have rendered the Millville people
+sophisticated, for contact with the world and humanity is the only true
+educator; but, as a matter of fact, there was little scholastic learning
+among them, with one or two exceptions, and the villagers as a rule were
+of limited intelligence. Every one was really a "character," and Uncle
+John's nieces, who all possessed a keen sense of humor, enjoyed the
+oddities of the Millvillites immensely.
+
+A humorous situation occurred through a seemingly innocent editorial of
+Beth on authorship. In the course of her remarks she said: "A prominent
+author is stated to have accumulated a large fortune by writing short
+stories for the newspapers and magazines. He is said to receive ten
+cents a word, and this unusual price is warranted by the eager demand
+for his stories, of which the reading public is very fond. However, the
+unknown author does not fare so badly. The sum of from thirty to fifty
+dollars usually remitted for a short story pays the beginner a better
+recompense, for the actual time he is engaged upon the work, than any
+other occupation he might undertake."
+
+This was seriously considered the morning it appeared in the _Tribune_
+by Peggy McNutt and Skim Clark, as they sat in the sunshine on the
+former's little front porch. Peggy had read it aloud in his laborious,
+halting way, and Skim listened with growing amazement.
+
+"Thirty dollars!" he cried; "thirty to fifty fer a short story! Great
+Snakes, Peggy, I'm goin' into it."
+
+"Heh? Goin' into what?" asked Peggy, raising his eyes from the paper.
+
+"I kin write a story," declared Skim confidently.
+
+"Ye kin, Skim?"
+
+"It's a cinch, Peggy. Mother keeps all the magazines an' paper novils,
+an' we allus reads 'em afore we sells 'em. I've read the gol-durndest
+lot o' truck ye ever heard of, so I'm posted on stories in gen'ral. I'll
+write one an' sell it to the _Millville Tribune_. Do ye s'pose they'll
+give me the thirty, er the fifty, Peggy?"
+
+"Anywheres between, they says. But one feller gits ten cents a word.
+Whew!"
+
+"I know; but he's a big one, which I ain't--just now. I'll take even the
+thirty, if I hev to."
+
+"I would, Skim," advised Peggy, nodding approval. "But make 'em put yer
+photygraf in the paper, besides. Say, it'll be a big thing fer Millville
+to turn out a author. I didn't think it were in you, Skim."
+
+"Why, it hadn't struck me afore," replied the youth, modestly. "I've ben
+hankerin' to make money, without knowin' how to do it. I tell ye, Peggy,
+it pays to read the newspapers. This one's give me a hint how to carve
+out a future career, an' I'll write a story as'll make them girl edyturs
+set up an' take notice."
+
+"Make it someth'n' 'bout Injuns," suggested Peggy. "I ain't read a Injun
+story fer years."
+
+"No; they're out o' fashion," observed Skim loftily. "What folks want
+now is a detective story. Feller sees a hole in a fence an' says, 'Ha!
+there's ben a murder!' Somebody asks what makes him think so, an' the
+detective feller says, takin' out a magnifie-in' glass, 'Thet hole's a
+bullet-hole, an' the traces o' blood aroun' the edges shows the bullet
+went through a human body afore it went through the fence.' 'Then,' says
+some one, 'where's the body?' 'That,' says the detective, 'is what we
+mus' diskiver.' So the story goes on to show how the body were
+diskivered an' who did the murderin'."
+
+"By Jupe, thet's great!" cried Peggy admiringly. "Skim, ye're a wonder!"
+
+"Ma allus said I were good fer somethin', but she couldn't tell what."
+
+"It's story-writin'," declared Peggy "Say, Skim, I put ye onter this
+deal; don't I git a rake-off on thet fifty dollars?"
+
+"Not a cent!" said Skim indignantly. "Ye didn't tell me to write a
+story; I said myself as I could do it. An' I know where to use the
+money, Peggy, ev'ry dollar of it, whether it's thirty er fifty."
+
+Peggy sighed.
+
+"I writ a pome once," he said. "Wonder ef they'd pay fer a pome?"
+
+"What were it like?" asked Skim curiously.
+
+"It went someth'n' this way," said Peggy:
+
+        "I sigh
+        Ter fly
+        Up high
+        In the sky.
+        But my
+        Wings is shy,
+        So I mus' cry
+        Good-bye
+        Ter fly-
+            in'."
+
+"Shoo!" said Skim disdainfully. "Thet ain't no real pome, Peggy."
+
+"It makes rhymes, don't it? All but the las' line."
+
+"Mebbe it does," replied Skim, with assumption of superior wisdom; "but
+it don't mean nuth'n'."
+
+"It would ef I got paid fer it," observed Peggy.
+
+Skim went home to his mother's tiny "Emporium," took some note paper out
+of stock, opened a new bottle of ink and sat down at the sitting room
+table to write his story. The Widow Clark looked in and asked what he
+meant by "squanderin' profits that way."
+
+"Shet up, mar. Gi' me elbow room," said her dutiful son. "I'm writin' a
+fifty dollar story fer the _Tribune_."
+
+"Fifty dollars!"
+
+"Thirty, anyhow; mebbe fifty," replied Skim. "What's a good name fer a
+detective, mar?"
+
+The widow sat down and wiped her damp hands on her apron, looking upon
+her hopeful with an expression of mingled awe and pride.
+
+"Kin ye do it, Skim?" she asked softly.
+
+"I s'pose I kin turn out one a day, by hard work," he said confidently.
+"At thirty a day, the lowes' price, thet's a hunderd 'n' eighty a week,
+seven hunderd 'n' twenty a month, or over eight thousan' dollars a year.
+I got it all figgered out. It's lucky fer me the nabobs is rich, or they
+couldn't stan' the strain. Now, mar, ef ye want to see yer son a nabob
+hisself, some day, jes' think up a good name fer a detective."
+
+"Sherholmes Locke," she said after some reflection.
+
+"No; this 'ere story's got ter be original. I thought o' callin' him
+Suspectin' Algernon. Detectives is allus suspectin' something."
+
+"Algernon's high-toned," mused the widow. "Let it go at that, Skim."
+
+All that day and far into the evening he sat at his task, pausing now
+and then for inspiration, but most of the time diligently pushing his
+pen over the strongly lined note paper and hopelessly straying from the
+lines. Meantime, Mrs. Clark walked around on tiptoe, so as not to
+disturb him, and was reluctant even to call him to his meals in the
+kitchen. When Skim went to bed his story had got into an aggravating
+muddle, but during the next forenoon he managed to bring it to a
+triumphant ending.
+
+"When I git used to the thing, mar," he said, "I kin do one a day, easy.
+I had to be pertickler over this one, it bein' the first."
+
+The widow read the story carefully, guessing at the words that were
+hopelessly indistinct.
+
+"My! but it's a thriller, Skim," she said with maternal enthusiasm; "but
+ye don't say why he killed the girl."
+
+"That don't matter, so long's he did it."
+
+"The spellin' don't allus seem quite right," she added doubtfully.
+
+"I guess the spellin's as good as the readin'll be," he retorted, with
+evident irritation. "I bet I spell as well as any o' the folks thet
+takes the paper."
+
+"And some words I can't make out."
+
+"Oh, the edytur'll fix that. Say, air ye tryin' to queer my story, mar?
+Do ye set up to know more'n I do about story writin'?"
+
+"No," she said; "I ain't talented, Skim, an' you be."
+
+"What I orter hev," he continued, reflectively, "is a typewriter. When I
+git two er three hunderd ahead perhaps I'll buy one--secondhand."
+
+"Kin ye buy one thet'll spell, Skim?" she asked, as she made a neat roll
+of the manuscript and tied a pink hair ribbon around it.
+
+Skim put on a collar and necktie and took his story across to the
+newspaper office.
+
+"I got a conter-bution fer the paper," he said to Patsy, who asked him
+his business.
+
+"What, something original, Skim?" she asked in surprise.
+
+"Ye've hit it right, Miss Doyle; it's a story."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"A detective story."
+
+"Dear me! Then you'll have to see Mrs. Weldon, who is our literary
+editor."
+
+Louise, who was sitting close by, looked up and held out her hand for
+the beribboned roll.
+
+"I don't jes' know," remarked Skim, as he handed it across the table,
+"whether it's a thirty dollar deal, er a fifty."
+
+Having forgotten Beth's editorial, Louise did not understand this
+remark, but she calmly unrolled Skim's manuscript and glanced at the
+scrawled heading with an amused smile.
+
+"'Suspecting Algernon,'" she read aloud.
+
+"'It were a dark and teedjus night in the erly springtime while the snow
+were falling soft over the moon litt lanskape.' Why, Skim, how came you
+to write this?"
+
+"It were the money," he said boldly. "I kin do one a day like this, at
+thirty dollers apiece, an' never feel the wear an' tear."
+
+Patsy giggled, but Louise stared with a wondering, puzzled expression at
+the crabbed writing, the misspelled words and dreadful grammar. Indeed,
+she was a little embarrassed how to handle so delicate a situation.
+
+"I'm afraid we cannot use your story, Mr. Clark," she said gently, and
+remembering the formula that usually accompanied her own rejected
+manuscripts she added: "This does not necessarily imply a lack of merit
+in your contribution, but is due to the fact that it is at present
+unavailable for our use."
+
+Skim stared at her in utter dismay.
+
+"Ye mean ye won't take it?" he asked with trembling lips.
+
+"We have so much material on hand, just now, that we cannot possibly
+purchase more," she said firmly, but feeling intensely sorry for the
+boy. "It may be a good story--"
+
+"It's the bes' story I ever heard of!" declared Skim.
+
+"But we have no place for it in the _Millville Tribune,_" she added,
+handing him back the roll.
+
+Skim was terribly disappointed. Never, for a single moment, had he
+expected "sech a throwdown as this."
+
+"Seems to me like a bunco game," he muttered savagely. "First ye say in
+yer blamed ol' paper a story's wuth thirty to fifty dollars, an' then
+when I bring ye a story ye won't pay a red cent fer it!"
+
+"Stories," suggested Louise, "are of various qualities, depending on the
+experience and talent of the author. An excellent story is often refused
+because the periodical to which it is offered is overstocked with
+similar material. Such conditions are often trying, Skim; I've had a
+good many manuscripts rejected myself."
+
+But the boy would not be conciliated.
+
+"I'll send it to Munsey's, thet's what I'll do; an' then you'll be durn
+sorry," he said, almost ready to cry.
+
+"Do," urged Louise sweetly. "And if they print it, Mr. Clark, I'll agree
+to purchase your next story for fifty dollars."
+
+"All right; the fifty's mine. I got witnesses, mind ye!" and he flounced
+out of the room like an angry schoolboy.
+
+"Oh, Louise," exclaimed Patsy, reproachfully, "why didn't you let me
+see the thing? It would have been better than a circus."
+
+"Poor boy!" said the literary editor, with a sigh. "I didn't want to
+humiliate him more than I could help. I wonder if he really will have
+the audacity to send it to Munsey's?"
+
+And now the door opened to admit Peggy McNutt, who had been watching his
+chance to stump across to the printing office as soon as Skim left
+there. For Peggy had reasoned, not unjustly, that if Skim Clark could
+make a fortune as an author he, Marshall McMahon McNutt, had a show to
+corral a few dollars in literature himself. After lying awake half the
+night thinking it over, he arose this morning with the firm intention of
+competing with Skim for the village laurels. He well knew he could not
+write a shuddery detective story, such as Skim had outlined, but that
+early poem of his, which the boy had seemed to regard so disdainfully,
+was considered by Peggy a rather clever production. He repeated it over
+and over to himself, dwelling joyously on its perfect rhyme, until he
+was convinced it was a good poem and that Skim had enviously slandered
+it. So he wrote it out in big letters on a sheet of foolscap and
+determined to offer it to "them newspaper gals."
+
+"I got a pome, Miss Patsy," he said, with unusual diffidence, for he was
+by no means sure the "gals" would not agree with Skim's criticism.
+
+"What! Another contributor?" she exclaimed playfully. "Has the whole
+town suddenly turned literary, Peggy?"
+
+"No; jest me 'n' Skim. Skim says my pome's no good; but I sort o' like
+it, myself."
+
+"Let me see it," said Patsy, ignoring this time the literary editor, who
+was glad to be relieved of the responsibility of disappointing another
+budding author.
+
+Peggy handed over the foolscap, and Patsy eagerly read the "pome."
+
+"Listen, Louise! Listen, Beth!" she called, delightedly. "Here is
+certainly a real 'pome,' and on aviation--the latest fad:
+
+               "'SKY HIGH
+        BY MARSHALL MCMAHON MCNUTT
+               of Millville
+  dealer in Real Estate Spring Chickens &c.
+
+               1.
+        I sigh
+        Too fly
+        Up high
+        In the sky.
+
+               2.
+        But my
+        Wings air shy
+        And so I cry
+        A sad goodby
+        Too fly-
+            Ing.'"
+
+A chorus of hilarious laughter followed the reading, and then Patsy
+wiped her eyes and exclaimed:
+
+"Peggy, you are not only a poet but a humorist. This is one of the best
+short poems I ever read."
+
+"It's short 'cause I run out o' rhymes," admitted Peggy.
+
+"But it's a gem, what there is of it."
+
+"Don't, dear," remonstrated Louise; "don't poke fun at the poor man."
+
+"Poke fun? Why, I'm going to print that poem in the _Tribune_, as sure
+as my name's Patricia Doyle! It's too good for oblivion."
+
+"I dunno," remarked Peggy, uncertainly, "whether it's wuth fifty
+dollars, er about--"
+
+"About forty-nine less," said Patsy. "A poem of that length brings about
+fifty cents in open market, but I'll be liberal. You shall have a whole
+dollar--and there it is, solid cash."
+
+"Thank ye," returned Peggy, pocketing the silver. "It ain't what I
+expected, but--"
+
+"But what, sir?"
+
+"But it's like findin' it, for I didn't expect nuth'n'. I wish I could
+do more of 'em at the same price; but I did thet pome when I were young
+an' hed more ambition. I couldn't think of another like it to save my
+neck."
+
+"I am glad of that, Peggy. One of this kind is all a paper dare print.
+We mustn't get too popular, you know."
+
+"I s'pose you'll print my name as the one what did it?" he inquired
+anxiously.
+
+"I shall print it just as it's written, advertisement and all."
+
+She did, and Peggy bought two extra copies, at a cent apiece. He framed
+all three and hung one in his office, one in the sitting room and a
+third in his bedroom, where he could see it the first thing when he
+wakened each morning. His fellow villagers were very proud of him, in
+spite of the "knocking" of the Clarks. Skim was deeply mortified that
+Peggy's "bum pome" had been accepted and his own masterly composition
+"turned down cold." The widow backed her son and told all the neighbors
+that "Peggy never hed the brains to write thet pome, an' the chances air
+he stole it from the 'Malvern Weekly Journal.' Them gal edyturs wouldn't
+know," she added scornfully; "they's as ignerunt as Peggy is, mostly."
+
+A few days later McNutt entered the printing office with an air of great
+importance.
+
+"Goodness me! I hope you haven't done it again, Peggy," cried Patsy, in
+alarm.
+
+"No; I got fame enough. What I want is to hev the wordin' on my business
+cards changed," said he. "What'll it cost?"
+
+"What change do you wish made?" asked Patsy, examining the sample card.
+
+"Instead of 'Marshall McMahon McNutt, dealer in Real Estate an' Spring
+Chickens,' I want to make it read: 'dealer in Real Estate, Spring
+Chickens an' Poetry.' What'll it cost. Miss Patsy?"
+
+"Nothing," she said, her eyes dancing; "We'll do that job free of
+charge, Peggy!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE PENALTIES OF JOURNALISM
+
+
+Two strange men appeared in Millville--keen, intelligent looking
+fellows--and applied to Joe Wegg for jobs. Having received a hint from
+Mr. Merrick, Joe promptly employed the strangers to prepare the old mill
+for the reception of the machinery for the lighting plant, and both of
+them engaged board at the hold.
+
+"Thursday," said Hetty, as she watched the pressman that night, "there's
+a New York detective here--two of them, I think."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I recognized one of them, who used to prowl around the city looking for
+suspicious characters. They say they've come to work on the new electric
+plant, but I don't believe it."
+
+Thursday worked a while in silence.
+
+"Mr. Merrick must have sent for them," he suggested.
+
+"Yes. I think he suspects about the bomb."
+
+"He ought to discharge me," said Thursday.
+
+"No; he's man enough to stand by his guns. I like Mr. Merrick. He didn't
+become a millionaire without having cleverness to back him and I imagine
+he is clever enough to thwart Skeelty and all his gang."
+
+"Perhaps I ought to go of my own accord," said Thursday.
+
+"Don't do that. When you've found a friend like Mr. Merrick, stick to
+him. I imagine those detectives are here to protect you, as well as the
+printing plant. It won't be so easy to set a bomb the next time."
+
+Smith looked at her with a smile. There was a glint of admiration in his
+eyes.
+
+"You're not a bad sleuth yourself, Hetty," he remarked. "No detective
+could have acted more wisely and promptly than you did that night."
+
+"It was an accidental discovery, Thursday. Sometimes I sleep."
+
+That was a good deal of conversation for these two to indulge in. Hetty
+was talkative enough, at times, and so was Thursday Smith, when the
+humor seized him; but when they were together they said very little. The
+artist would stroll into the pressroom after the compositors had
+finished their tasks and watch the man make up the forms, lock them,
+place them on the press and run off the edition. Then he would glance
+over the paper while Thursday washed up and put on his coat, after which
+he accompanied her to the door of her hotel and with a simple "good
+night" proceeded up the street to his own lodging.
+
+There are surprises in the newspaper business, as our girl journalists
+were fast discovering. It was a real calamity when Miss Briggs, who had
+been primarily responsible for getting the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+into proper working order, suddenly resigned her position. They had
+depended a great deal on Miss Briggs, so when the telegraph editor
+informed them she was going back to New York, they were positively
+bewildered by her loss. Questions elicited the fact that the woman was
+nervous over the recent explosion and looked for further trouble from
+the mill hands. She also suspected the two recent arrivals to be
+detectives, and the town was so small and so absolutely without police
+protection that she would not risk her personal safety by remaining
+longer in it.
+
+"Perhaps I'm homesick," she added. "It's dreadfully lonely here when I'm
+not at work, and for that reason I've tried to keep busy most of the
+time. Really, I'm astonished to think I've stood this isolation so long;
+but now that my mind is made up, I'm going, and it is useless to ask me
+to remain."
+
+They offered her higher wages, and Mr. Merrick himself had a long talk
+with her, but all arguments were unavailing.
+
+"What shall we do, Thursday?" asked Patsy in despair. "None of us
+understands telegraphy."
+
+"Hetty Hewitt does," he suggested.
+
+"Hetty! I'm afraid if I asked her to assume this work she also would
+leave us."
+
+"No; she'll stay," he said positively.
+
+"But she can't edit the telegraph news. Suppose she took the messages,
+who would get the night news in shape for the compositors? My uncle
+would not like to have me remain here until midnight, but even if he
+would permit it I have not yet mastered the art of condensing the
+dispatches and selecting just such items as are suitable for the
+_Tribune_."
+
+"I'll do that, Miss Doyle," promised Smith.
+
+"I've been paying especial attention to the work of Miss Briggs, for I
+had an idea she was getting uneasy. And I can take all the day messages,
+too. If Hetty will look after the wires evenings I can do the rest of
+the telegraph editor's work, and my own, too."
+
+"Good gracious, Thursday!" exclaimed Patsy; "you'll be running the whole
+paper, presently."
+
+"No; I can't do the typesetting. But if the Dwyer girls stick to their
+job--and they seem quite contented here--I'll answer for the rest of the
+outfit."
+
+"I'm glad the Dwyer girls seem contented," she answered; "but I'm
+afraid to depend upon anyone now--except you."
+
+He liked that compliment, but said nothing further. After consulting
+with Louise and Beth, Patsy broached the subject to Hetty, and the
+artist jumped at the opportunity to do something to occupy her leisure
+time. The work brought her in contact with Thursday Smith more than
+ever, and when Miss Briggs departed bag and baggage for New York, the
+paper suffered little through her defection.
+
+"Newspaper folk," remarked Major Doyle, who was now at the farm enjoying
+his vacation and worshipping at the shrine of the managing editor in the
+person of his versatile daughter, "are the most unreliable of any class
+in the world. So I've often been told, and I believe it. They come and
+go, by fits and starts, and it's a wonder the erratic rascals never put
+a paper out of business. But they don't. You never heard of a newspaper
+that failed to appear just because the mechanical force deserted and
+left it in the lurch. By hook or crook the paper must be printed--and
+it always is. So don't worry, mavourneen; when your sallow-faced artist
+and your hobo jack-of-all-trades desert you, there'll still be a way to
+keep the _Millville Tribune_ going, and therefore the world will
+continue to whirl on its axis."
+
+"I don't believe Thursday will ever desert, and Hetty likes us too well
+to leave us in the lurch; but suppose those typesetters take a notion to
+flit?"
+
+"Then," said matter-of-fact Beth, "we'll fill the paper with ready-made
+plate stuff and telegraph for more compositors."
+
+"That's it," agreed the major, "Those people are always to be had. But
+don't worry till the time comes. As me grandfather, the commodore, once
+said: 'Never cross a bridge till ye come to it.'"
+
+"It wasn't your grandfather who originated that remark," said Uncle
+John.
+
+"It was, sir! I defy you to prove otherwise."
+
+"I'm not certain you ever had a grandfather; and he wasn't a commodore,
+anyhow."
+
+"Sir!" cried the major, glaring at his brother-in-law, "I have his
+commission, somewhere--laid away."
+
+"Never mind," said Patsy, cheerfully, for these fierce arguments between
+her father and uncle--who were devotedly attached to one another--never
+disturbed her in the least, "the _Tribune's_ running smoothly just now,
+and the work is keeping us delightfully busy. I think that never in my
+life have I enjoyed myself more than since I became a journalist."
+
+"Is the thing paying dividends?" inquired the major.
+
+Arthur laughed.
+
+"I've just been figuring up the last month's expenditures and receipts,"
+said he. "The first month didn't count, for we were getting started."
+
+"And what's the result?" asked the Major.
+
+"Every paper we send out--for one cent--costs us eighty-eight cents to
+manufacture."
+
+There was a painful silence for a time, broken by the major's suggestive
+cough.
+
+"I hope," said the old soldier, solemnly, "that the paper's circulation
+is very small."
+
+"The smallest of any daily paper in all the civilized word, sir,"
+declared the bookkeeper.
+
+"Of course," remarked Louise, with dignity; "that is what distinguishes
+it. We did not undertake this publication to make money, and it does not
+cost us more than we are willing to pay for the exceptional experiences
+we are gaining."
+
+The major raised his eyebrows; Arthur whistled softly; Uncle John
+smiled; but with one accord they dropped the disagreeable subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+OPEN WARFARE
+
+
+Joe Wegg's machinery and dynamos arrived promptly and the electric plant
+was speedily installed at the old mill. So energetically had the young
+man supervised his work that poles and wires were all in place as far up
+the road as Thompson's Crossing and a branch line run to the Wegg Farm,
+by the time the first test was made.
+
+All Millville celebrated that first night when its streets shone
+resplendent under the glare of electric lights. There was a public
+bonfire near the mill, speeches were made, and afterward Mr. Merrick
+served a free supper to the villagers, in the hall over Sam Cotting's
+General Store, where the girls assisted in waiting upon the guests, and
+everybody was happy and as hilarious as the fumes of good coffee could
+make them.
+
+More speeches were made in the hall, and one of these was by Peggy
+McNutt, who had painted his wooden foot blue with red stripes in honor
+of the occasion. He said, according to the report afterward printed in
+the Tribune:
+
+"Feller Citizens! This 'ere town's bloomin' like a new mown rose. I'll
+bet anybody anything there ain't another town in Ameriky what's gone
+ahead like we hev in the past few months that's jest past. (Applause.)
+If I do say it myself, we're the mos'--eh--the mos'--eh--progressioning
+community in--in--this community. Our community hes put out a daily
+paper what's a credit to--to--our community, especially the poetry;
+we've got a paper mill at Royal what makes paper fer New Yoruk; an' now,
+to cap the climate, our community hes lighted our community with
+'lectric lights fit fer Lundon, New Yoruk, Canada or--or--or--our
+community. (Laughter and cries of "Cut out the community, Peggy!") No!
+Never, feller citizens, will I cut out a community what's done so much
+fer our--our community. If I do say it myself, the eyes of the com--of
+the world is upon us, an' I'm proud of the things that's ben did by our
+feller citizens, with my full approval, in this 'ere--this
+'ere--er--community!" (Cheers and a sandwich, which last offering was
+received by Mr. McNutt in his back hair as he turned to descend from the
+rostrum.)
+
+Joe Wegg is reported to have said: "Neighbors, this electric plant is no
+plaything. It is going to give you all better light, at no more cost to
+you than kerosene. But it will do more than that: it will run machinery
+of all kinds better than steam will. You've seen electricity running the
+newspaper press, and the same current has operated the big paper mills
+at Royal. Here in this audience is a gentleman from Connecticut who has
+accepted my invitation to look over our village with a view to building
+a factory here, using the power I shall hereafter be able to furnish. I
+am in correspondence with two other manufacturers, whom I hope to induce
+to locate in Millville. (Enthusiastic cheers.) Job Fisher, who used to
+live at Malvern, is planning to start a lumber mill, to cut the pine
+just north of here; so you see we are about to arouse from our long
+sleep and have a great future before us if we keep wide awake. Another
+item of news merits your attention. Bartlett has sold sixty acres of his
+farm to Dr. Adam Matthews, for many years a prominent physician of
+Boston, who is going to build a good house on the land and become a
+citizen of Millville. We've always had to go to Huntingdon for a doctor,
+but now Dr. Matthews has promised to look after the health of the
+Millville people, although he has retired from city practice. More
+people will come here from time to time, attracted by our enterprise and
+the rugged beauty of our county; real estate will become more valuable,
+trade will prosper and every one of the old inhabitants will find
+opportunities to make money." (Great applause.)
+
+A general discussion followed concerning the "doin's of Joe Wegg" and
+the prophecies he had made. Opinion seemed divided as to whether the
+promised "boom" was desirable for Millville or not. Some of the good
+villagers were averse to personal activity and feared the new order of
+things might disturb their comfort; in others a mild ambition had been
+awakened. But while they feasted at Mr. Merrick's expense and gravely
+canvassed the situation, the newly installed electric lights suddenly
+failed. Darkness fell upon the assemblage and there was an awed hush
+until Sam Cotting lighted the old reliable kerosene lamps.
+
+Joe Wegg was as much astonished as anyone.
+
+"There has been an accident to the machinery," he said to Mr. Merrick.
+"I'll run over to the mill and see what has happened."
+
+"I will go with you," said Arthur Weldon, and Major Doyle also decided
+to accompany the young man.
+
+Uncle John and his three nieces remained in the hall, and Mr. Merrick
+took occasion to make a little speech in which he explained that a hitch
+in the working of the electric plant was liable to happen at first, but
+after a few days the dynamos could be fully depended upon.
+
+He had scarcely finished this explanation when Arthur came running back
+into the hall in much excitement. He approached Mr. Merrick and said in
+a low voice:
+
+"The machinery is all right, sir. Some one has cut the wires."
+
+"Cut the wires!"
+
+"Yes. Joe thinks it's the work of the mill hands. The wires are cut in
+all directions, and several of the men from Royal have been seen
+loitering around by Cox and Booth, the detectives."
+
+The girls overheard this assertion, and Patsy exclaimed:
+
+"I'm going to the office, to make sure our power hasn't been tampered
+with."
+
+The meeting broke up at once and the villagers trooped out to
+investigate. Mr. Merrick and Arthur walked with the girls to the
+printing office, where they found Thursday Smith and Hetty working by
+the light of tallow candles.
+
+"The power is off," said Smith quietly.
+
+"Then the wire from Royal has also been cut," said Patsy. "What shall we
+do? His paper must come out to-morrow morning, in spite of anything and
+everything!"
+
+"Do you know who cut the wires?" inquired Thursday.
+
+"We think the mill hands must have done it."
+
+"Not with Skeelty's consent, I'll be bound," said Mr. Merrick. "The
+manager is too fearful of a damage suit to play any tricks."
+
+"A cut wire may be repaired," suggested the pressman, and even as he
+spoke Joe Wegg came in, accompanied by the two detectives and the major.
+
+"Cox has interviewed one of the workmen from Royal," said Joe, "and the
+fellow says there's a strike at the mill and everything is closed down.
+Skeelty is barricaded in his office building, wild with fear, for the
+men have captured the company's store and helped themselves to the stock
+of liquors. The man Cox spoke with, who seems to be a well disposed
+fellow, predicts all kinds of trouble, and perhaps rioting, before this
+thing is ended."
+
+They listened to this report in amazement.
+
+"I conjecture," said the major, "that the rascally manager has given his
+men too much leeway. He's encouraged them in mischief until they've
+taken the bit between their teeth and turned against even their master.
+I have no personal acquaintance with the villain, but I imagine it
+serves him right."
+
+"But, dear me!" cried Patsy, wringing her hands; "what'll become of the
+paper? It's nearly ten o'clock now."
+
+Thursday turned to Joe Wegg.
+
+"Can't we connect our supply wire with your new plant, so as to use your
+power?" he asked.
+
+"Easily. An hour's work will serve to make the connection. But unless we
+watch the wire every minute those fellows will cut it again. The town's
+full of the rascals, and they're not exactly sober, either."
+
+"Watch the wire; that's the idea," said Uncle John. "It's only a short
+distance to the mill, and I'm sure the villagers will volunteer for this
+duty."
+
+"Of course," said Joe. "Major Doyle, will you mount guard over my men at
+the dynamos, to see they're not interfered with, while I look after the
+wire?"
+
+"Sure enough; it'll remind me of the old war times," said the major
+readily.
+
+"Where is Arthur?" asked Louise.
+
+"We left him at the mill."
+
+They left the office at once, Joe to get his line-men at work, and the
+major to join Weldon in guarding the dynamos. One of the detectives went
+with Mr. Wegg, but the other, whose name was Booth, remained to guard
+the printing office. Mr. Merrick now proposed that he take the girls
+home. Patsy and Beth refused to leave until the emergency was past, when
+the major and Arthur could drive them to the farm, but Louise was tired
+and went with Uncle John in his buggy, the surrey being left for the
+rest of the party to use. Arthur ran over for a moment to say everything
+was quiet at the mill and he did not think there would be any further
+trouble, and the report considerably reassured them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+A MERE MATTER OF REVENGE
+
+
+Hetty and Thursday continued to work on the paper.
+
+"We'll have everything ready by the time the line is connected," said
+the artist. "Then it will be but a few moments' work to run off the
+edition."
+
+Patsy and Beth held candles for them, for the electric lights had been
+cut off with the power; so, seeing them all busily engaged, Arthur
+Weldon decided to return to the mill to join the Major. Booth sat in the
+front office, near the door, and in the darkness Arthur nearly stumbled
+over him.
+
+"Going away, sir?" asked the man.
+
+"Yes; I'll see if I can be of any assistance at the mill."
+
+"Be careful. Those workmen have been drifting into town in squads, the
+last few minutes, and most of them are reckless with drink."
+
+"I'll watch out," said Arthur.
+
+In the middle of the road a group of mill hands conversed excitedly in
+some foreign tongue; but they paid no attention to Weldon as he passed
+them. Others joined them, presently, and one began a harangue in a loud
+voice, to which they listened eagerly. Then Bob West slipped across from
+the hardware store and ran against the detective in the doorway of the
+printing office.
+
+"Who's this?" he demanded, holding the man in a firm grip.
+
+"Booth, sir."
+
+"Good. I could not recognize you in this darkness. Are you armed?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you and I will defend this door. Who is inside?"
+
+"The pressman--Thursday Smith--and three of the girls."
+
+"The compositors?"
+
+"No; they've gone to the hotel. Miss Doyle, Miss DeGraf, and--Hetty
+Hewitt."
+
+West went into the hack room, which was faintly illumined by candles
+stuck here and there. The girls and Smith were all bending over the
+imposing stone, where the forms of the paper were being made up.
+
+"Here," said West, taking a revolver from his pocket and laying it on
+the table; "I'm afraid there may be an attack on this office in a few
+minutes, for I understand the language of those strikers and have been
+listening to them. If any of the mill hands attempt to break into this
+room don't be afraid to shoot."
+
+"Why should the men wish to attack us, sir?" asked Patsy wonderingly.
+
+"There are several reasons. They're after Smith, for one thing. They've
+an old grudge against him to settle. Aside from the mere matter of
+revenge I overheard one of them telling his friends to smash the press
+and keep the paper from coming out, and Mr. Boglin would pay them well
+for the job."
+
+Smith carelessly thrust the revolver into his hip pocket.
+
+"The paper will come out if Mr. Wegg gives us the power," he said.
+
+"Can you let me have a revolver, Mr. West?" asked Hetty.
+
+"Could you use it?"
+
+"I think so."
+
+He looked at her a moment and then took a second revolver from his
+pocket.
+
+"I've robbed my hardware stock," he said with a smile. "But I advise you
+girls to keep your hands off the thing unless a crisis arises. I don't
+imagine the gang will get past me and Booth at the entrance, but if any
+stragglers come your way Smith has authority to drive them back. I'm
+justice of the peace, and I hereby appoint you all special officers of
+the law."
+
+He said this lightly, fearing to alarm the girls unnecessarily, and then
+passed through the doorway and joined Booth at the front.
+
+The telephone rang and Patsy answered it.
+
+"How soon will the forms be ready?" asked Arthur's voice.
+
+"In ten minutes--perhaps five," she answered.
+
+"We'll have the power on in ten minutes more. Tell Smith not to lose an
+instant's time in running off the edition, for we don't know how long we
+can keep the line open. The strikers are threatening us, even now."
+
+"All right," called Patsy; "just give us the power for a few minutes,
+and we'll be through for to-night."
+
+She went back to Thursday and reported.
+
+"There may be a few typographical errors, and I'm afraid it's a bad
+make-up," he remarked; "but I'll have the thing on the press in five
+minutes."
+
+With mallet and shooting-stick he tightened the quoins, then lifted the
+heavy iron frames filled with type and slid them onto the bed of the
+press. They gave him all the light the flickering candles afforded as he
+adjusted the machinery, and all were bending over the press when a low,
+distant growl was heard, rising slowly to a frenzied shout. A revolver
+popped--another--followed by wild cries from the street.
+
+The girls grew a little pale, but Thursday Smith put his hand on the
+lever of the press and said:
+
+"All right. The moment they give us the current we're ready to run."
+
+Patsy straightened up with a sigh of relief, then gave a low cry as the
+screens of the two windows of the pressroom were smashed in and through
+the openings men began to tumble into the room. At once Hetty confronted
+them with leveled revolver and the sight caused them to hesitate.
+
+"Out o' the way, you women!" called a burly fellow who wore a green
+sweater and an oilskin hat; "we don't want to hurt you if we can help.
+There's the one we're after!" He pointed a finger at Thursday Smith.
+
+"You can't have him," retorted Beth, half shielded behind the militant
+Hetty. "This is private property, and you're trespassing. Unless you go
+away at once you will suffer the consequences."
+
+This defense seemed to surprise them, for they fell back a little toward
+the windows. At that moment, with a low rumble, the press started,
+moving slowly at first but gradually acquiring speed. The sight aroused
+the resentment of the invaders.
+
+"Stop that press!" yelled their spokesman excitedly. "Stop it, Smith, or
+we'll put both you and the machine out of business."
+
+Thursday paid no attention to anything but his press. The huge cylinder
+of white paper was unrolling, passing under the platen and emerging at
+the other end as neatly folded copies of the Millville Daily Tribune.
+
+With a roar of rage the big fellow leaped forward, but at the action a
+shot rang out and he fell headlong almost at the foot of the press.
+
+Beth and Patsy turned their heads an instant to glance at Hetty. The
+artist's face was white and set; her eyes sparkled brilliantly; she held
+the still smoking weapon in readiness for another shot.
+
+But the men were awed by the fall of their leader. They watched Beth
+leap to the platform beside Thursday Smith and draw his revolver from
+his pocket, where he had placed it. Hetty's courage had inspired her,
+and Beth had handled pistols before. The men read the determined eyes
+fixed upon them; they noted Smith's indifference to their threats. The
+defenders of the press and pressman were only girls, but they were girls
+evidently not afraid to shoot.
+
+No advance was made and the tableau was dramatic. Smith watched his
+press with undivided attention and it clattered away at full speed until
+the frail building shook with its powerful, steady motion. Then suddenly
+it began to slow down. The power was off, and the machine came to an
+abrupt stop.
+
+Thursday stepped from the platform and looked at the index of the
+counter.
+
+"Four hundred and sixty-three. Twenty-two short, Miss Doyle," he
+announced.
+
+"That'll do, Thursday."
+
+He came to her side, then, facing the sullen, glowering group of mill
+hands.
+
+"Boys," said he, "it won't do you any good to interfere with us
+to-night. The paper for to-morrow morning is already printed, and Ojoy
+Boglin isn't a big enough man to stop it, now or ever. Better go back
+to Royal and settle your troubles with Skeelty, for if you stay here the
+citizens of Millville are in the mood to shoot you down like dogs."
+
+They stood undecided a moment, but the argument had evidently struck
+home.
+
+"What's the matter with Harris?" asked one, pointing to the motionless
+form of the man in the green sweater. "Is he dead?"
+
+"I suppose so," answered Thursday coolly; but he stooped to examine
+Hetty's victim, rolling him over so that his face was upward. "No; he
+isn't hurt much, I'm sorry to say. The bullet glanced off his forehead
+and stunned him, that's all. Take the brute, if you want him, and go."
+
+They obeyed in silence. Several stepped forward and raised the
+unconscious Harris, bearing him to the window, where they passed him to
+those without. Then they also retreated through the windows and the room
+was cleared.
+
+Only then did Hetty and Beth venture to lower their weapons.
+
+"Oh, dear!" cried Patsy, in a low, agitated voice; "I'm so glad you
+didn't kill him, Hetty."
+
+"I'm not," returned the artist doggedly. "He deserved death, at the
+least, and by killing him I'd have cheated the gallows."
+
+Then she glanced around at the horrified faces of her friends and burst
+into tears.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+DEFENDING THE PRESS
+
+
+In the front room Bob West and the detective were having a busy time. At
+the first rush they each fired a shot over the heads of the mob, merely
+to let them know the place was guarded. In the darkness it was
+impossible for the strikers to tell how many armed men confronted them,
+so they fell back a little, but formed a cordon around the entire
+building. From the printing office to the old mill was a distance of
+only a few hundred feet, and every able-bodied inhabitant of Millville
+except Peggy McNutt and Sara Cotting--who had discreetly disappeared at
+the first sign of danger--was assisting Joe Wegg to protect the electric
+cable he was trying to connect. The men from Royal were scattered all
+along the line, peering through the dim light to discover a vulnerable
+point of attack but deterred from interfering by the determination of
+the stalwart defenders. Mobs are invariably cowardly, and this one,
+composed of the lowest strata of mixed American and foreign laborers,
+was no exception to the general rule. However, when word was finally
+passed along from the mill that the dynamo was running and supplying
+power to the printing press, a howl of rage went up and a sudden rush
+was made for the line, the attack concentrating at one point.
+
+The defenders promptly grouped themselves in front of the threatened
+pole and Seth Davis, the blacksmith, wielding a heavy sledge hammer, did
+valiant service, clearing a space around him with little difficulty. Joe
+Wegg, Arthur Weldon, Cox the detective, Lon Taft, Nick Thome and even
+little Skim Clark were all in the melee, fighting desperately for time
+to enable Thursday Smith to work his press, using whatever cudgels they
+had been able to pick up to keep the assailants from the pole. Slowly,
+however, they were forced back by superior numbers until finally one of
+the mill hands clambered up the pole and cut the wire.
+
+"Never mind," said Arthur to Joe, as they retreated fighting toward the
+printing office; "I think they've had time to run off the edition,
+provided Smith was ready with the forms."
+
+The mob was by this time in an ugly mood and the nearer Joe and Arthur
+edged toward the printing office the more numerous their enemies became.
+The Millville people were getting rather the worst of the scrimmage when
+out rushed Thursday Smith, swinging a stout iron bar he had taken from
+the press, and with this terrible weapon he struck out so vigorously
+that the diversion in their favor enabled the retreating villagers to
+gain the office, where Booth and Bob West fired several shots that
+effectually checked the mob.
+
+"Stand back, ye villains!" cried a loud voice, as Major Doyle marched
+calmly down the road from the mill; "how dare ye interfere with a
+gentleman?"
+
+One of the leaders confronted him menacingly. The major slapped his face
+with the flat of his hand and then kicked the fellow in the shins.
+
+"Didn't I say to get out o' my way?" he roared, and to the surprise of
+everyone--even the major, perhaps--they fell hack and allowed him to
+walk leisurely into the printing office.
+
+Having succeeded in their primary attempt to cut the wire, and finding
+the determined band of defenders more dangerous than they had thought,
+the workmen retreated in the direction of Royal, where there was more to
+be gained by rioting than in Millville.
+
+When at last the town was clear of them, Arthur, who was considerably
+battered and bruised but pleased with the triumphant ending of the
+adventure, drove the girls and the major to the farm. They urged Hetty
+to accompany them, but she declared she was not a bit nervous and
+preferred to sleep at the hotel.
+
+"I think the trouble is over for to-night," said West, and all agreed
+with him. Cox and Booth decided to sleep in the printing office, and
+after the girls had driven away with their escorts and the villagers had
+dispersed to their homes, Thursday put on his coat and walked to the
+hotel with Hetty.
+
+"All that row was about me," he remarked disconsolately.
+
+"But they didn't get you," said Hetty, triumph in her voice.
+
+"No."
+
+He did not mention her bravery, or the loyal support of Beth and Patsy,
+but after a moment he added: "I'm not worth defending."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Hetty. "It occurs to me, Mr. Smith, that you
+are as much a stranger to yourself as to us."
+
+"That is true."
+
+"And in emergencies you are not averse to defending others. Of course
+Miss DeGraf and her cousin wanted the paper printed, at all hazards. I
+don't blame them for that; but I--"
+
+She hesitated.
+
+"You simply stood by a comrade. Thank you, Hetty."
+
+"Good night, Thursday."
+
+"Will you be able to sleep to-night?"
+
+"I'm going straight to bed. The rumpus has quieted my nerves."
+
+"Good night, then."
+
+In the early morning Mr. Merrick was awakened by a red glare that
+flooded his bedroom. Going to the window he found the sky at the north
+full of flame. He threw on his bathrobe and went to the door of Arthur
+Weldon's room, arousing the young man with a rap on the panels.
+
+"The settlement at Royal is burning," he reported.
+
+Arthur came out, very weary and drowsy, for he had not been asleep long
+and the strenuous work of the night had tired him.
+
+"Let it burn," he said, glancing through a window at the lurid light of
+the conflagration. "We couldn't be of any use going over there and,
+after all, it isn't our affair to relieve Skeelty."
+
+Then he told Uncle John of the riot in the village, for the old
+gentleman had been sound asleep when the party returned to the farm.
+
+"The blaze is the work of those crazy strikers, I suppose," said Mr.
+Merrick. "It looks from here as if they had set fire to their own
+homes, as well as to the paper mills and office and store buildings. It
+will be fortunate if the forest does not also burn."
+
+"Don't worry, sir," advised Arthur. "We'll discover the extent of the
+fire by daylight. For my part, I'm going back to bed, and it will be
+well for you to follow my example."
+
+"Another item for the paper," whispered a soft voice, and there was
+Patsy beside them at the window.
+
+Mr. Merrick sighed.
+
+"I had no idea so much excitement could possibly happen at Millville,"
+said he. "If this keeps on we'll have to go back to New York for quiet.
+But let us get to bed, my dear, for to-morrow is likely to be a busy day
+for us all."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE COMING OF FOGERTY
+
+
+The homeless mill hands flocked to Chazy Junction next day, from whence
+a freight train distributed them over other parts of the country. The
+clearing at Royal Falls was now a heap of charred embers, for every one
+of the cheap, rough-board buildings had been consumed by the fire.
+
+Skeelty had watched the destruction of his plant with feelings of
+mingled glee and disgust. He was insured against loss, and his rash
+workmen, who had turned upon him so unexpectedly, had accidentally
+settled the strike and their own future by starting the fire during
+their drunken orgies. There being no longer a mill to employ them they
+went elsewhere for work, rather glad of the change and regretting
+nothing. As for the manager, he stood to lose temporary profits but was
+not wholly displeased by the catastrophe. Transportation of his
+manufactured products had been so irregular and undefendable that even
+while he watched the blaze he determined to rebuild his plant nearer the
+main line of a railway, for many such locations could be found where the
+pine was as plentiful as here.
+
+At dawn he entered the hotel at Millville with his arms full of books
+and papers which he had succeeded in saving from the fire, and securing
+a room went directly to bed. It was afternoon when he awoke and after
+obtaining a meal he strolled out into the village and entered the
+newspaper office.
+
+"Here's an item for your paper," he said to Patsy, who was busy at her
+desk. "The mills at Royal will never be rebuilt, and Millville has lost
+the only chance it ever had of becoming a manufacturing center. The
+whole settlement, which belonged to Boglin and myself, went up in smoke,
+and I'm willing to let it go at that. I shall collect the insurance,
+make myself good, and if anything's left over, that fool Boglin is
+welcome to it. I admit I made a mistake in ever allowing him to induce
+me to build at Royal. Boglin owned the land and I used his money, so I
+gave up to him; but I'm through with the _honer'ble_ ass now. Put it all
+in the paper; it'll make him feel good. You might add that I'm taking
+the evening train for New York, shaking the dust of your miserable
+village from my feet for good and all."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Patsy, brightly; "the Millville people will
+appreciate their good luck, I'm sure."
+
+Skeelty hung around the town for awhile, sneering at the new electric
+light plant and insolently railing at any of the natives who would
+converse with him. Then he hired Nick Thorne to drive him over to Chazy
+Junction, and that was the last Millville ever saw of him.
+
+During this day Joe Wegg's men succeeded in repairing all the wires
+which had been tampered with and in making a proper and permanent
+connection of the cable to the printing office. That evening the village
+was again brilliantly lighted and thereafter the big dynamos whirled
+peacefully and without interruption.
+
+The girls had a busy day, as Uncle John had predicted, for all the
+exciting incidents of the evening and night before had to be written up
+and the next day's paper teemed with "news" of a character to interest
+all its readers. Beth's editorial declared the neighborhood well rid of
+the paper mill, which had been of little advantage but had caused no end
+of annoyance because of the rough and mischievous character of the
+workmen employed. In this statement nearly everyone agreed with her.
+
+Several had been wounded in the riot of the eventful evening, but none
+seriously injured. The workmen took away their damaged comrades and Lon
+Taft drove over to Huntingdon and had his head sewed up by the doctor.
+Other villagers suffered mere bruises, but all who engaged in the fight
+posed as heroes and even Peggy McNutt, who figured as "not present,"
+told marvelous tales of how he had worsted seven mill hands in a
+stand-up fight, using only his invincible fists.
+
+The following forenoon the liveryman at the Junction brought to
+Millville a passenger who had arrived by the morning train--a quiet,
+boyish-looking man with a shock of brick-red hair and a thin, freckled
+face. He was driven directly to the Merrick farm, where Uncle John
+received him cordially, but with surprise, and at once favored the new
+arrival with a long interview in his private room.
+
+The girls, who had not yet gone to the office, awaited somewhat
+impatiently the result of this conference, for they already knew the
+red-headed youth to be the great Fogerty--admitted by even his would-be
+rivals, the king of New York detectives. Also they knew that Uncle John
+had employed him some time ago to ferret out the mystery of the identity
+of Thursday Smith, and the fact of Fogerty's presence indicated he had
+something to report.
+
+However, when Mr. Merrick came out of the private room his usually
+cheery countenance wore a troubled expression. Fogerty was invariably
+placid and inscrutable, so no explanation could be gleaned from his
+demeanor.
+
+"Ready for town, my dears?" asked Uncle John.
+
+"Yes; the surrey is waiting," answered Louise.
+
+"Then go along, and Fogerty and I will join you at the office presently.
+I want to confer with the major and Arthur before--before taking any
+steps to--"
+
+"What's the news, Uncle?" demanded Patsy, impatiently.
+
+"You shall know in good time."
+
+"Who is Thursday Smith?"
+
+"By and by, dear. Don't bother me now. But that reminds me; you are to
+say nothing to--to--Thursday about Mr. Fogerty's arrival. Treat
+him--Thursday, you know--just as you have always done, for the present,
+at least. Whatever we determine on in regard to this man, during our
+conference, we must not forget that he has acted most gallantly since he
+came to Millville. We really owe him a debt of gratitude."
+
+With this somewhat incomprehensible statement the girls were forced to
+content themselves. Feeling quite helpless, they drove to the office
+and left the men to settle the fate of Thursday Smith.
+
+The "pressman" was now the man-of-all-work about the modest but trim
+little publishing plant. He attended to whatever job printing came in,
+made the etchings from Hetty's drawings, cast the stereotypes, made up
+the forms and operated the press. But aside from this mechanical work
+Smith took the telegraphic news received by Hetty, edited and condensed
+it and wrote the black-letter headings over the various items. All this,
+with a general supervision over the girl compositors, kept the man busy
+from daybreak to midnight.
+
+In spite of this, the Tribune was essentially a "girls' paper," since
+Thursday Smith was the only man employed on it--not counting the "dummy"
+editor, Arthur Weldon, who did nothing but keep the books, and found
+this not an arduous task. Hetty, at Miss Briggs' desk, attended the
+telegraph instrument and long-distance telephone, receiving news over
+both wires, and still found time to draw her daily cartoons and
+additional humorous sketches which she "worked in" whenever the mood
+seized her. The typesetting was done by the Dwyer sisters--a colorless
+pair but quite reliable--while the reportorial and editorial work was
+divided between Louise, Beth and Patsy, none of whom shirked a single
+duty. Indeed, they had come to love this work dearly and were
+enthusiastic over the _Tribune_, which they fondly believed was being
+watched with envious admiration by all the journalistic world.
+
+This belief was not wholly due to egotism. Their "exchanges," both city
+and country, had shown considerable interest in the "Millville
+Experiment," as they called it, and only a few days before the leading
+journal of a good-sized city had commented at length on the "girls'
+newspaper" and, after indulging in some humorous remarks, concluded
+quite seriously with the statement that "its evident sincerity, clean
+contents and typographical neatness render the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+worthy a better setting than the somnolent country village whose census
+is too low to be officially recorded."
+
+"But that's all right," said Patsy, smiling at the praise; "we'd never
+have dared to start a newspaper anywhere else, because a journal that
+will do for Millville might not make a hit if it bumped against
+experienced competition."
+
+"We were woefully ignorant when we began, a few weeks ago," commented
+Beth, glancing with pride at her latest editorial, which she thought had
+caught the oracular tone of the big city newspapers.
+
+"And we're not expert journalists, even yet," added Louise, with a sigh.
+"We've improved, to be sure; but I imagine there is still lots of room
+for improvement."
+
+"One trouble," said Patsy, "is that every inhabitant of Millville wants
+to see his or her name in print every day, whether he or she has done
+anything worthy of publication or not. If the name isn't printed, we've
+made an enemy; and, if it is, the paper is sure to suffer more or less
+ridicule."
+
+"That is quite true, my dear," responded Louise, the reporter. "I've
+said everything, about every one of them, that has ever happened, or
+threatened to happen, since we started the paper, and it is driving me
+crazy to discover anything more about these stupid natives that will do
+to print."
+
+Hetty had overheard this conversation and now looked up with a smile.
+
+"Has your 'local happenings' column been prepared for to-morrow, Mrs.
+Weldon?" she inquired.
+
+"No; I'm about to start out to unearth some items," replied Louise,
+wearily.
+
+"Let me do it for you. I've an hour or so to spare and I won't need to
+leave my desk," suggested the artist.
+
+"It is my duty, you know, Hetty, and I've no right to evade it."
+
+"Evade it for to-day. Go home and rest. I'll do your column for
+to-morrow, and after the vacation you can tackle the thrilling
+situations with better courage."
+
+"Thank you, Hetty. But I won't go home. I'll wait here to see Fogerty."
+
+"Fogerty!" exclaimed the artist, with a start of surprise. "Do you mean
+the detective?"
+
+"Yes," said Louise, regretting she had inadvertently mentioned the
+name.
+
+"But what is there now to detect?" asked Hetty suspiciously. "Our
+troubles seem ended with the burning of the mill and the flitting of
+Skeelty and his workmen."
+
+Louise hardly knew how to reply; but Patsy, who trusted the queer girl
+artist, said quite frankly:
+
+"There remains the mystery of Thursday Smith to fathom, you know."
+
+Hetty flushed and an indignant look swept over her face.
+
+"What right has anyone to solve that mystery?" she asked defiantly.
+"Isn't that Thursday Smith's own business?"
+
+"Perhaps," returned Patsy, somewhat amused; "but Smith hasn't been able
+to discover who he is--or was, rather--and seems really anxious to
+know."
+
+Hetty bent over her desk for a time. Then she looked up and her thin
+features were white and drawn with anxiety.
+
+"When you discover who Thursday Smith is," said she, "the Millville
+Tribune will lose its right bower."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Before his accident, or whatever it was that made him lose his memory,
+he was an unusual man, a man of exceptional ability. You know that."
+
+"We are all inclined to admit it," answered Patsy. "But what then?"
+
+"Men of ability," declared Hetty slowly, "are of two classes: the very
+successful, who attain high and honorable positions, or the clever
+scoundrels who fasten themselves like leeches on humanity and bleed
+their victims with heartless unconcern. What will you gain if you unmask
+the past of Thursday Smith? You uncover a rogue or a man of affairs, and
+in either case you will lose your pressman. Better leave the curtain
+drawn, Miss Doyle, and accept Thursday Smith as he is."
+
+There was so much good sense in this reasoning that all three girls were
+impressed and began to regret that Uncle John had called Fogerty to
+untangle the skein. But it was now too late for such repentance and,
+after all, they were curious to discover who their remarkable employee
+really was.
+
+Even while the awkward silence that had fallen upon the group of girls
+continued, the door opened to admit Uncle John, Fogerty, Major Doyle and
+Arthur Weldon. Except for the detective they were stern-faced and
+uncompromising.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+UNMASKED
+
+
+Quintus Fogerty was as unlike the typical detective as one could
+imagine. Small in size, slight and boyish, his years could not readily
+be determined by the ordinary observer. His face was deeply furrowed and
+lined, yet a few paces away it seemed the face of a boy of eighteen. His
+cold gray eyes were persistently staring but conveyed no inkling of his
+thoughts. His brick-red hair was as unkempt as if it had never known a
+comb, yet the attire of the great detective was as fastidiously neat as
+if he had dressed for an important social function. Taken altogether
+there was something mistrustful and uncanny about Fogerty's looks, and
+his habit of eternally puffing cigarettes rendered his companionship
+unpleasant. Yet of the man's professional ability there was no doubt;
+Mr. Merrick and Arthur Weldon had had occasion to employ him before,
+with results that justified their faith in him.
+
+The detective greeted the young ladies with polite bows, supplemented by
+an aimless compliment on the neatness of their office.
+
+"Never would have recognized it as a newspaper sanctum," said he in his
+thin, piping voice. "No litter, no stale pipes lying about, no cursing
+and quarreling, no excitement whatever. The editorial room is the index
+to the workshop; I'll see if the mechanical department is kept as
+neatly."
+
+He opened the door to the back room, passed through and closed it softly
+behind him. Mr. Merrick made a dive for the door and followed Fogerty.
+
+"What's the verdict, Arthur?" asked Louise curiously.
+
+"Why, I--I believe the verdict isn't rendered yet," he hastily replied,
+and followed Mr. Merrick into the pressroom.
+
+"Now, then," cried Patsy, grabbing the major firmly, "you'll not stir a
+step, sir, until you tell us the news!"
+
+"What news, Patricia?" Inquired the old gentleman blandly.
+
+"Who was Thursday Smith?"
+
+"The identical individual he is now," said the Major.
+
+"Don't prevaricate, sir! Who was he? What did he do? What is his right
+name?"
+
+"Is it because you are especially interested in this man, my dear, or
+are ye simply consumed with feminine curiosity?"
+
+"Be good, Daddy! Tell us all about it," said Patsy coaxingly.
+
+"The man Thursday, then, was likely enough the brother of Robinson
+Crusoe's man Friday."
+
+"Major, you're trifling!"
+
+"Or mayhap an ex-president of the United States, or forby the senator
+from Oklahoma. Belike he was once minister to Borneo, an' came home in a
+hurry an' forgot who he was. But John Merrick will be wanting me."
+
+He escaped and opened the door. Then, with his hand on the knob, he
+turned and added:
+
+"Why don't ye come in, me journalistic investigators, and see the fun
+for yerselves? I suspect there's an item in store for ye."
+
+Then he went in, and they took the hint and entered the pressroom in a
+fluttering group. Fogerty stood with his hands in his pockets intently
+watching the Dwyer girls set type, while at his elbow Mr. Merrick was
+explaining in a casual voice how many "m's" were required to make a
+newspaper column. In another part of the long room Arthur Weldon was
+leaning over a table containing the half-empty forms, as if critically
+examining them. Smith, arrayed in overalls and jumper, was cleaning and
+oiling the big press.
+
+"A daily newspaper," said the major, loudly, as he held up a warning
+finger to the bevy of nieces, behind whom Hetty's pale face appeared,
+"means a daily grind for all concerned in it. There's no vacation for
+the paper, no hyphens, no skipping a day or two if it has a bad cold;
+it's the tyrant that leads its slaves by the nose, metaphorically, and
+has no conscience. Just as regularly as the world rolls 'round the press
+rolls out the newspaper, and human life or death makes little
+difference to either of the revolutionists."
+
+While he spoke the Major led the way across the room to the stereotyping
+plant, which brought his party to a position near the press. Smith
+glanced at them and went on with his work. It was not unusual to have
+the pressroom thus invaded.
+
+Presently Fogerty strolled over, smoking his eternal cigarette, and
+stood watching the pressman, as if interested in the oiling of the
+complicated machine. Smith, feeling himself under observation, glanced
+up again in an unconcerned way, and as he faced the detective Fogerty
+gave a cleverly assumed start and exclaimed:
+
+"Good God!"
+
+Instantly Thursday Smith straightened up and looked at the man
+questioningly. Fogerty stretched out his hand and said, as if in wonder:
+
+"Why, Melville, old man, what are you doing here? We wondered what had
+become of you, all these months. Shake hands, my boy! I'm glad I've
+found you."
+
+Smith leaned against the press and stared at him with dilated eyes.
+Everyone in the room was regarding the scene with intense but repressed
+excitement.
+
+"What's wrong, Harold?" continued Fogerty, as if hurt by the other's
+hesitation to acknowledge their acquaintance. "You haven't forgotten me,
+have you? I'm McCormick, you know, and you and I have had many a good
+time together in the past."
+
+Smith passed his hand across his forehead with a dazed gesture.
+
+"What name did you call me, sir?" he asked.
+
+"Melville; Harold Melville, of East Sixty-sixth street. I'm sure I'm
+right. There can't be two like you in the world, you know."
+
+Thursday Smith stepped down from the platform and with a staggering gait
+walked to a stool, on which he weakly sank. He wiped the beads of
+perspiration from his forehead and looked at Fogerty with a half
+frightened air.
+
+"And you--are--McCormick?" he faltered.
+
+"Of course."
+
+Smith stared a moment and then shook his head.
+
+"It's no use," he said despairingly; "I can't recall a single memory of
+either Harold Melville or--or his friend McCormick. Pardon me, sir; I
+must confess my mind is absolutely blank concerning all my life previous
+to the last two years. Until this moment I--I could not recall my own
+name."
+
+"H'm," muttered Fogerty; "you recall it now, don't you?"
+
+"No. You tell me my name is Melville, and you seem to recognize me as a
+man whom you once knew. I accept your statement in good faith, but I
+cannot corroborate it from my own knowledge."
+
+"That's queer," retorted Fogerty, his cold eyes fixed upon the man's
+face.
+
+"Let me explain, please," said Smith, and related his curious experience
+in practically the same words he had employed when confiding it to Mr.
+Merrick. "I had hoped," he concluded, "that if ever I met one who knew
+me formerly, or heard my right name mentioned, my memory would come
+back to me; but in this I am sorely disappointed. Did you know me well,
+sir?"
+
+"Pretty well," answered the detective, after a slight hesitation.
+
+"Then tell me something about myself. Tell me who I was."
+
+"Here--in public?" asked Fogerty, with a suggestive glance at the
+spectators, who had involuntarily crowded nearer.
+
+Smith flushed, but gazed firmly into the faces surrounding him.
+
+"Why not?" he returned. "These young ladies and Mr. Merrick accepted me
+without knowledge of my antecedents. They are entitled to as full an
+explanation as--as I am."
+
+"You place me, Melville, in a rather embarrassing position," declared
+Fogerty. "This is a queer case--the queerest in all my experience.
+Better let me post you in a private interview."
+
+Smith trembled a bit, from nervousness; but he persisted in his demand.
+
+"These people are entitled to the truth," said he. "Tell us frankly all
+you know about me, and do not mince words--whatever the truth may be."
+
+"Oh, it's not so bad," announced the detective, with a shrug; "or at
+least it wouldn't be in New York, among your old aristocratic haunts.
+But here, in a quiet country town, among these generous and
+simple-hearted folks who have befriended you, the thing is rather
+difficult to say."
+
+"Say it!" commanded Smith.
+
+"I will. Many New Yorkers remember the firm of Melville & Ford, the
+cleverest pair of confidence men who ever undertook to fleece the
+wealthy lambs of the metropolis."
+
+"Confidence men!" gasped Smith, in a voice of horror.
+
+"Yes, putting it mildly. You were both jolly good fellows and made a
+host of friends. You were well-groomed, rode in automobiles, frequented
+good clubs and had a stunning establishment on Sixty-sixth street where
+you entertained lavishly. You could afford to, for there was where you
+fleeced your victims. But it wasn't so very bad, as I said. You chose
+the wealthy sons of the super-rich, who were glad to know such popular
+men-about-town as Harold Melville and Edgar Ford. When one set of
+innocents had been so thoroughly trimmed that they compared notes and
+began to avoid you, you had only to pick up another bunch of lambs, for
+New York contains many distinct flocks of the species. As they could
+afford to lose, none of them ever complained to the police, although the
+Central Office had an eye on you and knew your methods perfectly.
+
+"Finally you made a mistake--or rather Ford did, for he was not as
+clever as you were. He brought an imitation millionaire to your house; a
+fellow who was putting up a brazen front on the smallest sort of a roll.
+You won his money and he denounced you, getting away with a pack of
+marked cards for evidence. At this you both took fright and decided on a
+hasty retreat. Gathering together your plunder--which was a royal sum,
+I'm convinced--you and Ford jumped into a motor car and--vanished from
+New York.
+
+"The balance of your history I base on premise. Ford has been located in
+Chicago, where, with an ample supply of money, he is repeating his New
+York operations; but Harold Melville has never been heard of until this
+day. I think the true explanation is easily arrived at. Goaded by
+cupidity--and perhaps envy of your superior talents--Ford took advantage
+of the situation and, finding the automobile speeding along a deserted
+road, knocked you on the head, tumbled you out of the car, and made off
+with your combined winnings. The blow had the effect--not so uncommon as
+you think--of destroying your recollection of your past life, and you
+have for two years been wandering in total ignorance of what caused your
+affliction."
+
+During this recital Smith sat with his eyes eagerly fixed upon the
+speaker's face, dwelling upon every word. At the conclusion of the story
+he dropped his face in his hands a moment, visibly shuddering. Then
+again he looked up, and after reading the circle of pitying faces
+confronting him he bravely met Mr. Merrick's eyes.
+
+"Sir," he said in a voice that faltered in spite of his efforts to
+render it firm, "you now know who I am. When I first came to you I was a
+mere irresponsible hobo, a wandering tramp who had adopted the name of
+Thursday Smith because he was ignorant of his own, but who had no cause
+to be ashamed of his manhood. To-day I am discovered in my true guise.
+As Harold Melville, the disreputable trickster, I am not fit to remain
+in your employ--to associate with honest men and women. You will forgive
+my imposition, I think, because you know how thoroughly ignorant I was
+of the truth; but I will impose upon you no longer. I am sorry, sir, for
+I have been happy here; but I will go, thanking you for the kindly
+generosity that prompted you to accept me as I seemed to be, not as I
+am."
+
+He rose, his face showing evidence of suffering, and bowed gravely.
+Hetty Hewitt walked over and stood by his side, laying her hand gently
+upon his arm.
+
+But Thursday Smith did not know John Merrick very well. The little
+gentleman had silently listened, observing meanwhile the demeanor of the
+accused, and now he smiled in his pleasant, whimsical way and caught
+Smith's hand in both his own.
+
+"Man, man!" he cried, "you're misjudging both me and yourself, I don't
+know this fellow Melville. You don't know him, either. But I do know
+Thursday Smith, who has won my confidence and by his manly acts, and
+I'll stand by him through thick and thin!"
+
+"I am Harold Melville--the gambler--the confidence man."
+
+"You're nothing of the sort, you're just Thursday Smith, and no more
+responsible for Harold Melville than I am."
+
+"Hooray!" exclaimed Patsy Doyle enthusiastically. "Uncle's right,
+Thursday. You're our friend, and the mainstay of the _Millville Daily
+Tribune_. We shall not allow you to desert us just because you've
+discovered that your--your--ancestor--wasn't quite respectable."
+
+"That's it, exactly," asserted Beth. "It's like hearing a tale of an
+ancestor, Thursday, or of some member of your family who lived before
+you. You cannot be responsible, in any way, for another man's
+wickedness."
+
+"As I look at it," said Louise reflectively, "you are just two years
+old, Thursday, and innocent of any wrongdoing before that day you first
+found yourself."
+
+"There's no use our considering Melville at all," added Uncle John
+cheerfully. "I'm sorry we ever heard of him, except that in one way it
+clears up a mystery. Thursday Smith, we like you and trust you. Do not
+doubt yourself because of this tale. I'll vouch for your fairness and
+integrity. Forget Melville, who has never really existed so far as any
+of us are concerned; be yourself, and count on our friendship and
+regard, which Thursday Smith has fairly won."
+
+Hetty was crying softly, her cheek laid against Thursday's sleeve. The
+man stood as if turned to stone, but his cheeks were flushed, his eyes
+sparkling, and his head proudly poised.
+
+Fogerty lighted a fresh cigarette, watching the scene with an
+imperturbable smile.
+
+Suddenly Smith awoke to life. He half turned, looked wonderingly at
+Hetty, and then folded her thin form in his arms and pressed a kiss on
+her forehead.
+
+Fogerty coughed. Uncle John jerked out his handkerchief and blew his
+nose like a bugle call.
+
+The major's eyes were moist, for the old soldier was sympathetic as a
+child. But Patsy, a little catch in her voice, impulsively put her arms
+around the unashamed pair and murmured: "I'm so glad, Hetty! I'm so
+glad, Thursday! But--dear me--aren't we going to have any paper
+to-morrow morning?"
+
+That relieved the tension and everybody laughed. Thursday released Hetty
+and shook Uncle John's hand most gratefully. Then they all wanted to
+shake hands, and did until it came to Fogerty's turn. But now Smith drew
+back and looked askance at the detective.
+
+"I do not know you, Mr. McCormick," he said with dignity.
+
+"My name's not McCormick; it's Fogerty," said the other, without malice.
+"I was simply testing your memory by claiming to be an old friend.
+Personally I never knew Harold Melville, but I'm mighty glad to make
+Thursday Smith's acquaintance and will consider it an honor if you'll
+shake my hand."
+
+Smith was too happy to refuse. He took Fogerty's hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE JOURNALISTS ABDICATE
+
+
+Mr. Merrick told Thursday Smith, in an apologetic way, how he had hired
+Fogerty to unravel the mystery of his former life, and how the great
+detective had gone to work so intelligently and skillfully that, with
+the aid of a sketch Hetty had once made of the pressman, and which Mr.
+Merrick sent on, he had been able to identify the man and unearth the
+disagreeable details of his history.
+
+Thursday was too humble, by this time, and too grateful, besides, to
+resent Uncle John's interference. He admitted that, after all, it was
+better he should know the truth.
+
+"I've nothing to bother me now but the future," he said, "and with God's
+help I mean to keep the name of Thursday Smith clean and free from any
+reproach."
+
+After the interview he went about his duties as before and Hetty sat
+down at her desk and took the telegraphic news that came clicking over
+the wire as if nothing important in her life had occurred. But the girl
+journalists were all excitement and already were beginning to plan the
+things they might do to Make Hetty and Thursday happier. Cox and Booth
+had gone away and Mr. Merrick thanked Fogerty for his skillful service
+and gave him a fat check.
+
+"It's a mighty interesting case, sir," declared the detective, "and I'm
+as glad as any of you that it has ended so comfortably. Whatever
+Melville might have been--and his record is a little worse than I
+related it--there's no doubt of Thursday Smith's honesty. He's a mighty
+fine fellow, and Fate played a proper trick when she blotted out his
+unscrupulous mind and left him as innocent as an unborn babe. He will do
+well in his new life, I'm sure, and that girl of his, Hetty Hewitt--I've
+know of her reckless ways for years--has also redeemed herself and
+turned out a regular brick! All of which, Mr. Merrick is unusual in real
+life, more's the pity, and therefore it makes even a cold-blooded
+detective feel good to witness it."
+
+Mr. Merrick smiled benignantly and Fogerty drove over to the Junction to
+catch his train.
+
+After luncheon, Patsy, while arranging her galley proofs, inquired of
+Louise for the local column.
+
+"Hetty said she'd attend to it," was the reply; "but we are all upset
+to-day and things are at sixes and sevens."
+
+"The column is all prepared, Miss Doyle," announced Hetty.
+
+"Where is it?"
+
+"Thursday has made it ready for the press. It's--illustrated," she
+confessed. "I'd rather you wouldn't see it until the paper is out, if
+you can trust me."
+
+"To be sure," said Patsy. "That's one responsibility I'm relieved of,
+anyhow."
+
+The paper was a bit uneven in appearance next morning, but when Patsy
+came down to breakfast she found both Uncle John and the major roaring
+with laughter over Hetty's locals.
+
+The first item stated that "Mrs. Thorne took tea at Sam Cotting's last
+evening," (the Cottings being notoriously inhospitable) and the picture
+showed Mrs. Thorne, a sour-faced woman, departing from the store with a
+package of tea. Then came the announcement that "Eph Hildreth got shot
+at West's hardware store," and there was a picture of West weighing out
+a pound of buckshot for his customer. The next item said: "Our
+distinguished fellow citizen, Marshall Peggy McNutt, was discovered
+unconscious on his front porch at 3 p.m." The drawing of McNutt was one
+of the best of the series. It was his habit to "snooze" in an easy chair
+on his porch every afternoon, and Hetty depicted the little man with
+both feet--meat and wood--on the rail, his mouth open and eyes shut,
+while lusty snores were indicated by radiating lines and exclamation
+points. The Widow Clark's cow occupied the next square, being tethered
+to a stake while Skim approached the animal with pail and milking-stool.
+Below the drawing were the words: "Mr. Skimton Clark, cowward." A few
+other local hits were concluded by a picture of Hon. Ojoy Boglin shaking
+his fist at Mr. Skeelty, who held a package of money in his grasp
+labeled "insurance." Below was the simple legend: "O Joy!"
+
+The artist's cleverness became the subject of conversation at the
+breakfast table, and Arthur remarked:
+
+"You won't be able to hold Hetty in Millville long. Her talent enables
+her to draw big salaries in New York and it isn't likely she will
+consent to bury herself in this little town."
+
+"I'm not so sure," said Patsy. "If we can hold Thursday Smith we can
+hold Hetty, you know."
+
+"We won't need to hold either of them for long," observed Beth; "for in
+another three weeks or so we must leave here and return to the city,
+when of course the _Millville Daily Tribune_ must suspend publication."
+
+"I've been thinking of that," said Uncle John.
+
+"So have I," declared Patsy. "For a long time I was puzzled what to do,
+for I hated dreadfully to kill our dear _Tribune_ after we've made it
+such a nice paper. Yet I knew very well we couldn't stay here all winter
+and run it. But last night I had an inspiration. Thursday will marry
+Hetty, I suppose, and they can both stay here and run the Tribune. They
+are doing most of the work now. If Uncle John agrees, we will sell out
+to them on 'easy terms.'"
+
+"Good gracious, Patsy!" chuckled the major, "wherever can the poor
+things borrow money to keep going? Do you want to load onto an innocent
+bride an' groom the necessity of meeting a deficit of a couple of
+hundred dollars every week?"
+
+Patsy's face fell.
+
+"They have no money, I know," she said, "except what they earn."
+
+"And their wages'll be cut off when they begin hiring themselves," added
+the major. "No; you can't decently thrust such an incubus on Hetty and
+Thursday--or on anyone else. You've been willing to pay the piper for
+the sake of the dance, but no one else would do it."
+
+"Quite true," agreed Arthur. "The days of the _Millville Tribune_ are
+numbered."
+
+"Let us not settle that question just yet," proposed Mr. Merrick, who
+had been deep in thought. "I'll consider Patsy's proposition for awhile
+and then talk with Thursday. The paper belongs to the girls, but the
+outfit is mine, and I suppose I may do what I please with it when my
+nieces retire from journalism."
+
+Even the major could not demur at this statement and so the conversation
+dropped. During the next few days Uncle John visited the printing office
+several times and looked over the complete little plant with speculative
+eyes. Then one day he made a trip to Malvern, thirty miles up the
+railway line from the Junction, where a successful weekly paper had long
+been published. He interviewed the editor, examined the outfit
+critically, and after asking numerous questions returned to Millville in
+excellent spirits.
+
+Then he invited Thursday Smith and Hetty to dine at the farm on Saturday
+evening, which was the one evening in the week they were free, there
+being no Sunday morning paper. Thursday had bought a new suit of clothes
+since he came to the _Tribune_, and Hetty, after much urging, finally
+prevailed upon him to accept the invitation. When the young man appeared
+at the farm he wore his new suit with an air of perfect ease that
+disguised its cheapness, and it was noticed that he seemed quite at home
+in the handsome living-room, where the party assembled after dinner.
+
+"I am in search of information, Thursday," said Uncle John in his
+pleasant way. "Will you permit me to question you a bit?"
+
+"Certainly, sir."
+
+"And you, Hetty?"
+
+"Ask anything you like, sir."
+
+"Thank you. To begin with, what are your future plans? I understand, of
+course, you are to be married; but--afterward?"
+
+"We haven't considered that as yet, sir," replied Thursday thoughtfully.
+"Of course we shall stay with the _Tribune_ as long as you care to
+employ our services; but--"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"I have been given to understand the young ladies plan to return to New
+York at the end of September, and in that case of course the paper will
+suspend."
+
+"My nieces will be obliged to abandon journalism, to be sure," said Mr.
+Merrick; "but I see no reason why the paper should suspend. How would
+you and Hetty like to remain in Millville and run it?"
+
+Both Thursday and Hetty smiled, but it was the man who answered;
+
+"We cannot afford such a luxury, sir."
+
+"Would you care to make your future home in Millville?"
+
+"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Hetty. "I love the quaint little town dearly, and
+the villagers are all my friends. I'm sure Thursday doesn't care to go
+back to New York, where--where Harold Melville once lived. But, as he
+truly says, we couldn't make a living with the _Tribune_, even if you
+gave us the use of the plant."
+
+"Let us see about that," said Uncle John. "I will admit, in advance,
+that a daily paper in such a place is absurd. None of us quite
+understood that when we established the _Tribune_. My nieces thought a
+daily the only satisfactory sort of newspaper, because they were used to
+such, but it did not take long to convince me--and perhaps them--that in
+spite of all our efforts the _Millville Daily Tribune_ would never
+thrive. It is too expensive to pay its own way and requires too much
+work to be a pleasant plaything. Only unbounded enthusiasm and energy
+have enabled my clever nieces to avoid being swamped by the monster
+their ambition created."
+
+"That," said Patsy, with a laugh, "is very clearly and concisely put, my
+dear Uncle."
+
+"It was never intended to be a permanent thing, anyhow," continued Mr.
+Merrick; "yet I must express my admiration for the courage and talent my
+nieces have displayed in forcing a temporary success where failure was
+the logical conclusion. Shortly, however, they intend to retire
+gracefully from the field of journalism, leaving me with a model country
+newspaper plant on my hands. Therefore it is I, Thursday and Hetty, and
+not my nieces, who have a proposition to place before you.
+
+"While a daily paper is not appropriate in Millville, a weekly paper,
+distributed throughout Chazy County, would not only be desirable but
+could be made to pay an excellent yearly profit. Through the enterprise
+of Joe Wegg, Millville is destined to grow rapidly from this time on,
+and Chazy County is populous enough to support a good weekly paper, in
+any event. Therefore, my proposition is this: To turn the plant over to
+Mr. and Mrs. Thursday Smith, who will change the name to the _Millville
+Weekly Tribune_ and run it as a permanent institution. Your only expense
+for labor will be one assistant to set type and do odd jobs, since you
+are so competent that you can attend to all else yourselves. We will cut
+out the expensive news service we have heretofore indulged in and
+dispense with the private telegraph wire. Joe Wegg says he'll furnish
+you with what power you need free of all charge, because the paper will
+boost Millville's interests, with which his own interests are
+identified. Now, then, tell me what you think of my proposal."
+
+Hetty and Thursday had listened attentively and their faces proved they
+were enthusiastic over the idea. They said at once they would be glad to
+undertake the proposition.
+
+"However," said Thursday, after a little reflection, "there are two
+things that might render our acceptance impossible. I suppose you will
+require rent for the outfit; but for a time, until we get well started,
+we could not afford to pay as much as you have a right to demand."
+
+"I have settled on my demands," replied Mr. Merrick, "and hope you will
+agree to them. You must pay me for the use of the outfit twenty per cent
+of your net profits, over and above all your operating and living
+expenses. When this sum has reimbursed me for my investment, the outfit
+will belong to you."
+
+Thursday Smith looked his amazement.
+
+"That seems hardly business-like, sir," he protested.
+
+"You are right; but this isn't entirely a business deal. You are saving
+my nieces the humiliation of suspending the paper they established and
+have labored on so lovingly. Moreover, I regard you and Hetty as friends
+whom I am glad to put in the way of a modest but--I venture to
+predict--a successful business career. What is your second objection?"
+
+"I heard Mr. West say the other day that he would soon need the building
+we occupy to store his farm machinery in."
+
+"True; but I have anticipated that. I have completed plans for the
+erection of a new building for the newspaper, which will be located on
+the vacant lot next to the hotel. I purchased the lot a long time ago.
+The new building, for which the lumber is already ordered, will be a
+better one than the shed we are now in, and on the second floor I intend
+to have a cozy suite of rooms where you and Hetty can make a home of
+your own. Eh? How does that strike you, my children?"
+
+Their faces were full of wonder and delight.
+
+"The new building goes with the outfit, on the same terms," continued
+Mr. Merrick. "That is I take one-fifth of your net profits for the whole
+thing."
+
+"But, sir," suggested Thursday, "suppose no profits materialize?"
+
+"Then I have induced you to undertake a poor venture and must suffer the
+consequences, which to me will be no hardship at all. In that case I
+will agree to find some better business for you, but I am quite positive
+you will make a go of the _Millville Weekly Tribune_."
+
+"I think so, too, Mr. Merrick, or I would not accept your generous
+offer," replied Smith.
+
+"What do you think, Hetty?"
+
+"The idea pleases me immensely," she declared. "It is a splendid
+opportunity for us, and will enable us to live here quietly and forget
+the big outside world. New York has had a bad influence on both you and
+me, Thursday, and here we can begin a new life of absolute
+respectability."
+
+"When do you intend to be married?" asked Patsy.
+
+"We have scarcely thought of that, as yet, for until this evening we did
+not know what the future held in store for us."
+
+"Couldn't you arrange the wedding before we leave?" asked Beth. "It
+would delight us so much to be present at the ceremony."
+
+"I think we owe the young ladies that much, Thursday," said Hetty, after
+a brief hesitation.
+
+"Nothing could please me better," he asserted eagerly.
+
+So they canvassed the wedding, and Patsy proposed they transfer the
+paper to Thursday and Hetty--to become a weekly instead of a daily--in
+a week's time, and celebrate the wedding immediately after the second
+issue, so as to give the bridal couple a brief vacation before getting
+to work again. Neither of them wished to take a wedding trip, and Mr.
+Merrick promised to rush the work on the new building so they could move
+into their new rooms in the course of a few weeks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+A CHEERFUL BLUNDER
+
+
+"We would like to ask your advice about one thing, sir," said Thursday
+Smith to Mr. Merrick, a little later that same evening. "Would it be
+legal for me to marry under the name of Thursday Smith, or must I use my
+real name--Harold Melville?"
+
+Uncle John could not answer this question, nor could the major or
+Arthur. Hetty and her fiancé had both decided to cling to the name of
+Thursday Smith thereafter, and they disliked to be married under any
+other--especially the detestable one of Harold Melville.
+
+"An act of legislature would render your new name legal, I believe,"
+said Mr. Merrick; "but such an act could not be passed until after the
+date you have planned to be married."
+
+"But if it was made legal afterward it wouldn't matter greatly,"
+suggested the major.
+
+"I do not think it matters at all," asserted Hetty. "It's the man I'm
+marrying, not his name. I don't much care what he calls himself."
+
+"Oh, but it must be legal, you know!" exclaimed Patsy. "You don't care
+now, perhaps, but you might in the future. We cannot be certain, you
+know, that Thursday is entirely free from his former connection with
+Harold Melville."
+
+"Quite true," agreed the major.
+
+"Then," said Smith, with evident disappointment, "I must use the hateful
+name of Melville for the wedding, and afterward abandon it for as long
+as possible."
+
+The nieces were greatly pleased with Uncle John's arrangement, which
+relieved them of the newspaper and also furnished Thursday and Hetty, of
+whom they had grown really fond, with a means of gaining a livelihood.
+
+Millville accepted the new arrangement with little adverse comment, the
+villagers being quite satisfied with a weekly paper, which would cost
+them far less than the daily had done. Everyone was pleased to know
+Thursday Smith had acquired the business, for both he and Hetty had won
+the cordial friendship of the simple-hearted people and were a little
+nearer to them than "the nabob's girls" could ever be.
+
+Preparations were speedily pushed forward for the wedding, which the
+nieces undertook to manage themselves, the prospective bride and groom
+being too busy at the newspaper office to devote much attention to the
+preliminaries of the great event.
+
+The ceremony was to take place at the farmhouse of Mr. Merrick, and
+every inhabitant of Millville was invited to be present. The minister
+would drive over from Hooker's Falls, and the ceremony was to be
+followed by a grand feast, for which delicacies were to be imported from
+New York.
+
+The girls provided a complete trousseau for Hetty, as their wedding
+present, while Arthur and the major undertook to furnish the new
+apartments, which were already under construction. Uncle John's gift was
+a substantial check that would furnish the newly married couple with
+modest capital to promote their business or which they could use in case
+of emergencies.
+
+It was the very day before the wedding that Fogerty gave them so great
+and agreeable a surprise that Uncle John called it "Fogerty's Wedding
+Present" ever afterward. In its physical form it was merely a telegram,
+but in its spiritual and moral aspect it proved the greatest gift
+Thursday and Hetty were destined to receive. The telegram was dated from
+New York and read as follows:
+
+"Harold Melville just arrested here for passing a bogus check under an
+assumed name. Have interviewed him and find he is really Melville, so
+Thursday Smith must be some one else, and doubtless a more respectable
+character. Shall I undertake to discover his real identity?"
+
+Uncle John let Thursday and Hetty answer this question, and their reply
+was a positive "no!"
+
+"The great Fogerty made such a blunder the first time," said Hetty, who
+was overjoyed at the glorious news, "that he might give poor Thursday
+another dreadful scare if he tackled the job again. Let the mystery
+remain unfathomable."
+
+"But, on the contrary, my dear, Fogerty might discover that Thursday was
+some eminent and good man--as I am firmly convinced is the truth,"
+suggested Mr. Merrick.
+
+"He's that right now," asserted Hetty. "For my part, I prefer to know
+nothing of his former history, and Thursday says the present situation
+thoroughly contents him."
+
+"I am more than contented," said Thursday, with a happy smile. "Hetty
+has cured me of my desire to wander, and no matter what I might have
+been in the past I am satisfied to remain hereafter a country editor."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation, by Edith Van Dyne
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10059 ***
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+Project Gutenberg's Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation, by Edith Van Dyne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation
+
+Author: Edith Van Dyne
+
+Release Date: November 12, 2003 [EBook #10059]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JANE'S NIECES ON VACATION ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Afra Ullah, Brett Koonce and PG Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+        AUNT JANE'S NIECES
+           ON VACATION
+
+                BY
+
+          EDITH VAN DYNE
+
+               1912
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER
+
+I     THE HOBO AT CHAZY JUNCTION
+II    THE INVASION OF MILLVILLE
+III   THE DAWN OF A GREAT ENTERPRISE
+IV    THE WAY INTO PRINT
+V     DIVIDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES
+VI    MR. SKEELTY OF THE MILL
+VII   THE SKETCH ARTIST
+VIII  THE _Millville Daily Tribune_
+IX    TROUBLE
+X     THURSDAY SMITH
+XI    THE HONER'BLE OJOY BOGLIN
+XII   MOLLY SIZER'S PARTY
+XIII  BOB WEST INTERFERES
+XIV   THE DANCER SIGNAL
+XV    A CLEVER IDEA
+XVI   LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS
+XVII  THE PENALTIES OF JOURNALISM
+XVIII OPEN WARFARE
+XIX   A MERE MATTER OF REVENGE
+XX    DEFENDING THE PRESS
+XXI   THE COMING OF FOGERTY
+XXII  UNMASKED
+XXIII THE JOURNALISTS ABDICATE
+XXIV  A CHEERFUL BLUNDER
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE HOBO AT CHAZY JUNCTION
+
+
+Mr. Judkins, the station agent at Chazy Junction, came out of his little
+house at daybreak, shivered a bit in the chill morning air and gave an
+involuntary start as he saw a private car on the sidetrack. There were
+two private cars, to be exact--a sleeper and a baggage car--and Mr.
+Judkins knew the three o'clock train must have left them as it passed
+through.
+
+"Ah," said he aloud; "the nabobs hev arrove."
+
+"Who are the nabobs?" asked a quiet voice beside him.
+
+Again Mr. Judkins started; he even stepped back a pace to get a better
+view of the stranger, who had approached so stealthily through the dim
+light that the agent was unaware of his existence until he spoke.
+
+"Who be you?" he demanded, eyeing the man suspiciously.
+
+"Never mind who I am," retorted the other in a grumpy tone; "the
+original question is 'who are the nabobs?'"
+
+"See here, young feller; this ain't no place fer tramps," observed Mr.
+Judkins, frowning with evident displeasure; "Chazy Junction's got all it
+kin do to support its reg'lar inhabitants. You'll hev to move on."
+
+The stranger sat down on a baggage truck and eyed the private car
+reflectively. He wore a rough gray suit, baggy and threadbare, a flannel
+shirt with an old black tie carelessly knotted at the collar, a brown
+felt hat with several holes in the crown, and coarse cowhide shoes that
+had arrived at the last stages of usefulness. You would judge him to be
+from twenty-five to thirty years of age; you would note that his face
+was browned from exposure, that it was rather set and expressionless but
+in no way repulsive. His eyes, dark and retrospective, were his most
+redeeming feature, yet betrayed little of their owner's character. Mr.
+Judkins could make nothing of the fellow, beyond the fact that he was
+doubtless a "tramp" and on that account most unwelcome in this retired
+neighborhood.
+
+Even tramps were unusual at Chazy Junction. The foothills were sparsely
+settled and the inhabitants too humble to be attractive to gentlemen of
+the road, while the rocky highways, tortuous and uneven, offered no
+invitation to the professional pedestrian.
+
+"You'll hev to move on!" repeated the agent, more sternly.
+
+"I can't," replied the other with a smile. "The car I was--er--attached
+to has come to a halt. The engine has left us, and--here we are, I and
+the nabobs."
+
+"Be'n ridin' the trucks, eh?"
+
+"No; rear platform. Very comfortable it was, and no interruptions. The
+crazy old train stopped so many times during the night that I scarcely
+woke up when they sidetracked us here, and the first thing I knew I was
+abandoned in this wilderness. As it grew light I began to examine my
+surroundings, and discovered you. Glad to meet you, sir."
+
+"You needn't be."
+
+"Don't begrudge me the pleasure, I implore you. I can't blame you for
+being gruff and unsociable; were you otherwise you wouldn't reside
+at--at--" he turned his head to read the half legible sign on the
+station house, "at Chazy Junction. I'm familiar with most parts of the
+United States, but Chazy Junction gets my flutters. Why, oh, why in the
+world did it happen?"
+
+Mr. Judkins scowled but made no answer. He was wise enough to understand
+he was no match in conversation for this irresponsible outcast who knew
+the great world as perfectly as the agent knew his junction. He turned
+away and stared hard at the silent sleeper, the appearance of which was
+not wholly unexpected.
+
+"You haven't informed me who the nabobs are, nor why they choose to be
+sidetracked in this forsaken stone-quarry," remarked the stranger,
+eyeing the bleak hills around him in the growing light of dawn.
+
+The agent hesitated. His first gruff resentment had been in a manner
+disarmed and he dearly loved to talk, especially on so interesting a
+subject as "the nabobs." He knew he could astonish the tramp, and the
+temptation to do so was too strong to resist.
+
+"It's the great John Merrick, who's got millions to burn but don't light
+many bonfires," he began, not very graciously at first. "Two years ago
+he bought the Cap'n Wegg farm, over by Millville, an'--"
+
+"Where's Millville?" inquired the man.
+
+"Seven mile back in the hills. The farm ain't nuthin' but cobblestone
+an' pine woods, but--"
+
+"How big is Millville?"
+
+"Quite a town. Eleven stores an' houses, 'sides the mill an' a big
+settlement buildin' up at Royal, where the new paper mill is jest
+started. Royal's four mile up the Little Bill Hill."
+
+"But about the nabob--Mr. Merrick, I think you called him?"
+
+"Yes; John Merrick. He bought the Cap'n Wegg place an' spent summer
+'fore last on it--him an' his three gals as is his nieces."
+
+"Oh; three girls."
+
+"Yes. Clever gals, too. Stirred things up some at Millville, I kin tell
+you, stranger. Lib'ral an' good-natured, but able to hold their own with
+the natives. We missed 'em, last year; but t'other day I seen ol' Hucks,
+that keeps their house for 'em--he 'n' his wife--an' Hucks said they was
+cumin' to spend this summer at the farm an' he was lookin' fer 'em any
+day. The way they togged up thet farmhouse is somethin' won'erful, I'm
+told. Hain't seen it, myself, but a whole carload o' furnitoor--an' then
+some more--was shipped here from New York, an' Peggy McNutt, over t'
+Millville, says it must 'a' cost a for-tun'."
+
+The tramp nodded, somewhat listlessly.
+
+"I feel quite respectable this morning, having passed the night as the
+guest of a millionaire," he observed. "Mr. Merrick didn't know it, of
+course, or he would have invited me inside."
+
+"Like enough," answered the agent seriously. "The nabob's thet reckless
+an' unaccountable, he's likely to do worse ner that. That's what makes
+him an' his gals interestin'; nobody in quarries. How about breakfast,
+friend Judkins?"
+
+"That's my business an' not yourn. My missus never feeds tramps."
+
+"Rather ungracious to travelers, eh?"
+
+"Ef you're a traveler, go to the hoe-tel yonder an' buy your breakfas'
+like a man."
+
+"Thank you; I may follow your advice."
+
+The agent walked up the track and put out the semaphore lights, for the
+sun was beginning to rise over the hills. By the time he came back a
+colored porter stood on the platform of the private car and nodded to
+him.
+
+"Folks up yit?" asked Judkins.
+
+"Dressing, seh."
+
+"Goin' ter feed 'em in there?"
+
+"Not dis mohnin'. Dey'll breakfas' at de hotel. Carriage here yit?"
+
+"Not yit. I s'pose ol' Hucks'll drive over for 'em," said the agent.
+
+"Dey's 'spectin' some one, seh. As fer me, I gotta live heah all day,
+an' it makes me sick teh think of it."
+
+"Heh!" retorted the agent, scornfully; "you won't git sick. You're too
+well paid fer that."
+
+The porter grinned, and just then a little old gentleman with a rosy,
+cheery face pushed him aside and trotted down the steps.
+
+"Mornin', Judkins!" he cried, and shook the agent's hand. "What a
+glorious sunrise, and what crisp, delicious air! Ah, but it's good to be
+in old Chazy County again!"
+
+The agent straightened up, his face wreathed with smiles, and cast an "I
+told you so!" glance toward the man on the truck. But the stranger had
+disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE INVASION OF MILLVILLE
+
+
+Over the brow of the little hill appeared a three-seated wagon, drawn by
+a pair of handsome sorrels, and in a moment the equipage halted beside
+the sleeper.
+
+"Oh, Thomas Hucks--you dear, dear Thomas!" cried a clear, eager voice,
+and out from the car rushed Miss Patricia Doyle, to throw her arms about
+the neck of the old, stoop-shouldered and white-haired driver, whose
+face was illumined by a joyous smile.
+
+"Glad to see ye, Miss Patsy; right glad 'ndeed, child," returned the old
+man. But others were waiting to greet him; pretty Beth De Graf and
+dainty Louise Merrick--not Louise "Merrick" any longer, though, but
+bearing a new name she had recently acquired--and demure Mary, Patsy's
+little maid and an old friend of Thomas Hucks', and Uncle John with his
+merry laugh and cordial handshake and, finally, a tall and rather
+dandified young man who remained an interested spectator in the
+background until Mr. Merrick seized and dragged him forward.
+
+"Here's another for you to know, Thomas," said the little millionaire.
+"This is the other half of our Louise--Mr. Arthur Weldon--and by and by
+you can judge whether he's the better half or not."
+
+The aged servant, hat in hand, made a respectful bow to Mr. Weldon. His
+frank eyes swept the young man from head to foot but his smile was the
+same as before.
+
+"Miss Louise is wiser ner I be," said the old fellow simply; "I'm safe
+to trust to her jedgment, I guess."
+
+There was a general laugh, at this, and they began to clamber aboard the
+wagon and to stow away beneath the seats the luggage the colored porter
+was bringing out.
+
+"Stop at the Junction House, Thomas," said Mr. Merrick as they moved
+away.
+
+"Nora has the breakfast all ready at home, sir," replied Thomas.
+
+"Good for Nora! But we can't fast until we reach home--eight good miles
+of jolting--so we'll stop at the Junction House for a glass of Mrs.
+Todd's famous milk."
+
+"Very good, sir."
+
+"Is anyone coming for our trunks and freight? There's half a car of
+truck to be carted over."
+
+"Ned's on the way, sir; and he'll get the liveryman to help if he can't
+carry it all."
+
+The Junction House was hidden from the station by the tiny hill, as were
+the half dozen other buildings tributary to Chazy Junction. As the wagon
+drew up before the long piazza which extended along the front of the
+little frame inn they saw a man in shabby gray seated at a small table
+with some bread and a glass of milk before him. It was their
+unrecognized guest of the night--the uninvited lodger on the rear
+platform--but he did not raise his eyes or appear to notice the new
+arrivals.
+
+"Mrs. Todd! Hey, Mrs. Todd!" called Uncle John. "Anybody milked the cow
+yet?"
+
+A frowsy looking woman came out, all smiles, and nodded pleasantly at
+the expectant group in the wagon. Behind her loomed the tall, lean form
+of Lucky Todd, the "proprietor," who was serious as a goat, which animal
+he closely resembled in feature.
+
+"Breakfas' all 'round, Mr. Merrick?" asked the woman.
+
+"Not this time, Mrs. Todd. Nora has our breakfast waiting for us. But we
+want some of your delicious milk to last us to the farm."
+
+"Las' night's milkin's half cream by this time," she rejoined, as she
+briskly reentered the house.
+
+The man at the table held out his empty glass.
+
+"Here; fill this up," he said to Lucky Todd.
+
+The somber-faced proprietor turned his gaze from the Merrick group to
+the stranger, eyed him pensively a moment and then faced the wagon
+again. The man in gray got up, placed the empty glass in Todd's hand,
+whirled him around facing the door and said sternly:
+
+"More milk!"
+
+The landlord walked in like an automaton, and a suppressed giggle came
+from the girls in the wagon. Uncle John was likewise amused, and despite
+the unknown's frazzled apparel the little millionaire addressed him in
+the same tone he would have used toward an equal.
+
+"Don't blame you, sir. Nobody ever tasted better milk than they have at
+the Junction House."
+
+The man, who had resumed his seat, stood up, took off his hat and bowed.
+But he made no reply.
+
+Out came Mrs. Todd, accompanied by another frowsy woman. Between them
+they bore a huge jug of milk, a number of thick glasses and a plate of
+crackers.
+
+"The crackers come extry, Mr. Merrick," said the landlady, "but seein'
+as milk's cheap I thought you might like 'em."
+
+The landlord now came out and placed the stranger's glass, about half
+filled with milk, on the table before him. The man looked at it,
+frowned, and tossed off the milk in one gulp.
+
+"More!" he said, holding out the glass.
+
+Todd shook his head.
+
+"Ain't no more," he declared.
+
+His wife overheard him and pausing in her task of refilling the glasses
+for the rich man's party she looked over her shoulder and said:
+
+"Give him what he wants, Lucky."
+
+The landlord pondered.
+
+"Not fer ten cents, Nancy," he protested. "The feller said he wanted ten
+cents wuth o' breakfas', an' by Joe he's had it."
+
+"Milk's cheap," remarked Mrs. Todd. "It's crackers as is expensive these
+days. Fill up his glass, Lucky."
+
+"Why is your husband called 'Lucky,' Mrs. Todd?" inquired Patsy, who was
+enjoying the cool, creamy milk.
+
+"'Cause he got me to manage him, I guess," was the laughing reply. "Todd
+ain't much 'count 'nless I'm on the spot to order him 'round."
+
+The landlord came out with the glass of milk but paused before he set it
+down.
+
+"Let's see your money," he said suspiciously.
+
+It seemed to the girls, who were curiously watching the scene, that the
+tramp flushed under his bronzed skin; but without reply he searched in
+a pocket and drew out four copper cents, which he laid upon the table.
+After further exploration he abstracted a nickel from another pocket and
+pushed the coins toward the landlord.
+
+"'Nother cent," said Todd.
+
+Continued search seemed for a time hopeless, but at last, in quite an
+unexpected way, the man produced the final cent and on receiving it Todd
+set down the milk.
+
+"Anything more, yer honor?" he asked sarcastically.
+
+"Yes; you might bring me the morning paper," was the reply.
+
+Everyone except Todd laughed frankly at this retort. Uncle John put two
+silver dollars in Mrs. Todd's chubby hand and told Thomas to drive on.
+
+"I dunno," remarked old Hucks, when they were out of earshot, "whether
+that feller's jest a common tramp or a workman goin' over to the paper
+mill at Royal. Jedgin' from the fact as he had money I guess he's a
+workman."
+
+"Wrong, Thomas, quite wrong," said Beth, seated just behind him. "Did
+you notice his hands?"
+
+"No, Miss Beth."
+
+"They were not rough and the fingers were slender and delicate."
+
+"That's the mark of a cracksman," said Arthur Weldon, with a laugh. "If
+there are any safes out here that are worth cracking, I'd say look out
+for the gentleman."
+
+"His face isn't bad at all," remarked Patsy, reflectively. "Isn't there
+any grade between a workman and a thief?"
+
+"Of course," asserted Mr. Merrick, in his brisk way. "This fellow,
+shabby as he looked, might be anything--from a strolling artist to a
+gentleman down on his luck. But what's the news, Thomas? How are Ethel
+and Joe?"
+
+"Mr. an' Mrs. Wegg is quite comf't'ble, sir, thank you," replied old
+Hucks, with a show of eagerness. "Miss Ethel's gran'ther, ol' Will
+Thompson, he's dead, you know, an' the young folks hev fixed up the
+Thompson house like a palace. Guess ye'd better speak to 'em about
+spendin' so much money, Mr. Merrick; I'm 'fraid they may need it some
+day."
+
+"Don't worry. They've a fine income for life, Thomas, and there will be
+plenty to leave to their children--if they have any. But tell me about
+the mill at Royal. Where _is_ Royal, anyhow?"
+
+"Four mile up the Little Bill Creek, sir, where the Royal Waterfall is.
+A feller come an' looked the place over las' year an' said the pine
+forest would grind up inter paper an' the waterfall would do the
+grindin'. So he bought a mile o' forest an' built a mill, an' they do
+say things is hummin' up to the new settlement. There's more'n two
+hundred hands a-workin' there, a'ready."
+
+"Goodness me!" cried Patsy; "this thing must have livened up sleepy old
+Millville considerably."
+
+"Not yet," said Hucks, shaking his head. "The comp'ny what owns the mill
+keeps a store there for the workmen, an' none of 'em come much to
+Millville. Our storekeepers is madder'n blazes about it; but fer my part
+I'm glad the two places is separated."
+
+"Why?" asked Louise.
+
+"They're a kinder tough lot, I guess. Turnin' pine trees inter paper
+mus' be a job thet takes more muscle than brains. I don't see how it's
+done, at all."
+
+"It's simple enough," said Mr. Merrick. "First the wood is ground into
+pulp, and then the pulp is run through hot rollers, coming out paper.
+It's a mighty interesting process, so some day we will all go to Royal
+and see the paper made."
+
+"But not just yet, Uncle," remarked Patsy. "Let's have time to settle
+down on the farm and enjoy it. Oh, how glad I am to be back in this
+restful, sleepy, jumping-off-place of the world again! Isn't it
+delightful, Arthur Weldon? Did you ever breathe such ozony, delicious
+mountain air? And do you get the fragrance of the pine forests, and
+the--the--"
+
+"The bumps?" asked Arthur, as the wagon gave a jolt a bit more emphatic
+than usual; "yes, Patsy dear, I get them all; but I won't pass judgment
+on Millville and Uncle John's farm just yet. Are we 'most there?"
+
+"We're to have four whole months of it," sighed Beth. "That ought to
+enable us to renew our youth, after the strenuous winter."
+
+"Rubbish!" said Uncle John. "You haven't known a strenuous moment, my
+dears, and you're all too young to need renewals, anyhow. But if you can
+find happiness here, my girls, our old farm will become a paradise."
+
+These three nieces of Mr. Merrick were well worth looking at. Louise,
+the eldest, was now twenty--entirely too young to be a bride; but having
+decided to marry Arthur Weldon, the girl would brook no interference
+and, having a will of her own, overcame all opposition. Her tall,
+slender form was exceedingly graceful and willowy, her personality
+dainty and refined, her temperament under ordinary conditions
+essentially sweet and agreeable. In crises Louise developed considerable
+character, in strong contrast with her usual assumption of well-bred
+composure. That the girl was insincere in little things and cultivated a
+polished manner to conceal her real feelings, is undeniable; but in
+spite of this she might be relied upon to prove loyal and true in
+emergencies.
+
+Patricia Doyle was more than two years the junior of her cousin Louise
+and very unlike her. Patsy's old father, Major Gregory Doyle, said "she
+wore her heart on her sleeve," and the girl was frank and outspoken to a
+fault. Patsy had no "figure" to speak of, being somewhat dumpy in build,
+nor were her piquant features at all beautiful. Her nose tipped at the
+end, her mouth was broad and full-lipped and her complexion badly
+freckled. But Patsy's hair was of that indescribable shade that hovers
+between burnished gold and sunset carmine. "Fiery red" she was wont to
+describe it, and most people considered it, very justly, one of her two
+claims to distinction. Her other admirable feature was a pair of
+magnificent deep blue eyes--merry, mischievous and scintillating as
+diamonds. Few could resist those eyes, and certain it is that Patsy
+Doyle was a universal favorite and won friends without a particle of
+effort.
+
+The younger of the three nieces, Elizabeth De Graf, was as beautiful a
+girl as you will often discover, one of those rarely perfect creations
+that excite our wonder and compel admiration--as a beautiful picture or
+a bit of statuary will. Dreamy and reserved in disposition, she lacked
+the graciousness of Louise and Patsy's compelling good humor; yet you
+must not think her stupid or disagreeable. Her reserve was really
+diffidence; her dreamy, expressionless gaze the result of a serious
+nature and a thoughtful temperament. Beth was quite practical and
+matter-of-fact, the reverse of Patsy's imaginative instincts or Louise's
+affected indifference. Those who knew Beth De Graf best loved her
+dearly, but strangers found her hard to approach and were often repulsed
+by her unresponsive manner. Underneath all, the girl was a real girl,
+with many splendid qualities, and Uncle John relied upon Beth's
+stability more than on that of his other two nieces. Her early life had
+been a stormy and unhappy one, so she was but now developing her real
+nature beneath the warmth of her uncle's protecting love.
+
+Topping the brow of a little hill the wagon came to a smooth downward
+grade where the road met the quaint old bridge that spanned Little Bill
+Creek, beside which stood the antiquated flour and feed mill that had
+given Millville its name. The horses were able to maintain their brisk
+trot across the bridge and through the main street of the town, which
+was merely a cluster of unimposing frame buildings, that lined either
+side of the highway for the space of an ordinary city block. Then they
+were in the wilds again and rattling over another cobblestone trail.
+
+"This 'ere country's nuth'n' but pine woods 'n' cobblestones," sighed
+old Hucks, as the horses subsided to a walk. "Lor' knows what would 'a'
+happened to us without the trees! They saves our grace, so's to speak."
+
+"I think the scenery is beautiful," observed Patsy. "It's so different
+from other country places."
+
+"Not much farming around here, I imagine," said Arthur Weldon.
+
+"More than you'd think, sir," replied Thomas. "There's certain crops as
+thrives in stony land, an' a few miles north o' here, towards
+Huntingdon, the soil's mighty rich 'n' productive. Things ain't never as
+bad as they seem in this world, sir," he added, turning his persistently
+smiling face toward the young man.
+
+Mr. Merrick sat beside the driver on the front seat. The middle seat was
+occupied by Patsy and Beth, between whom squeezed little Mary, the
+maid. Louise and Arthur had the back seat.
+
+A quarter of a mile beyond the town they came to a sort of lane running
+at right angles with the turnpike, and down this lane old Hucks turned
+his team. It seemed like a forbidding prospect, for ahead of them loomed
+only a group of tall pines marking the edge of the forest, yet as they
+came nearer and made a little bend in the road the Wegg farm suddenly
+appeared in view. The house seemed so cozy and homelike, set upon its
+green lawn with the tall pines for a background, that the girls, who
+knew the place well, exclaimed with delight, and Arthur, who now saw it
+for the first time, nodded his head approvingly.
+
+Uncle John was all excitement over the arrival at his country home. An
+old fashioned stile was set in a rail fence which separated the grounds
+from the lane, and Hucks drew up the wagon so his passengers could all
+alight upon the step of the stile. Patsy was out at a bound. Louise
+followed more deliberately, assisted by her boy husband, and Beth came
+more sedately yet. But Uncle John rode around to the barn with Thomas,
+being eager to see the cows and pigs and poultry with which the
+establishment was liberally stocked.
+
+The house was of two stories, the lower being built of cobblestones and
+the upper of pine slabs; but it had been artistically done and the
+effect was delightful. It was a big, rambling dwelling, and Mr. Merrick
+had furnished the old place in a lavish manner, so that his nieces would
+lack no modern comfort when they came there to spend a summer.
+
+On the porch stood an old woman clothed in a neat gingham dress and
+wearing a white apron and cap. Her pleasant face was wreathed in smiles
+as she turned it toward the laughing, chattering group that came up the
+path. Patsy spied her and rushed up to give old Nora a hug and kiss, and
+the other two girls saluted the blind woman with equal cordiality, for
+long ago she had won the love and devotion of all three. Arthur, who had
+heard of Nora, pressed her hand and told her she must accept him as
+another of her children, and then she asked for Mr. Merrick and ran in
+to get the breakfast served. For, although blind, old Nora was far from
+being helpless, and the breakfast she had prepared in anticipation of
+their arrival was as deliciously cooked as if she had been able to use
+her eyes as others did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE DAWN OF A GREAT ENTERPRISE
+
+
+The great enterprise was sprung on Mr. Merrick the very morning
+following his arrival at the farm. Breakfast was over and a group had
+formed upon the shady front lawn, where chairs, benches and hammocks
+were scattered in profusion.
+
+"Well, Uncle, how do you like it?" asked Louise. "Are you perfectly
+comfortable and happy, now we've escaped so far from the city that its
+humming life is a mere memory?"
+
+"Happy as a clam," responded Uncle John, leaning back in his chair with
+his feet on a foot rest. "If I only had the morning paper there would be
+nothing else to wish for."
+
+"The paper? That's what that queer tramp at the Junction House asked
+for," remarked Beth. "The first thought of even a hobo was for a
+morning paper. I wonder why men are such slaves to those gossipy
+things."
+
+"Phoo!" cried Patsy; "we're all slaves to them. Show me a person who
+doesn't read the daily journals and keep abreast of the times and I'll
+show you a dummy."
+
+"Patsy's right," remarked Arthur Weldon. "The general intelligence and
+cosmopolitan knowledge of the people are best cultivated by the
+newspapers. The superiority of our newspapers has been a factor in
+making us the greatest nation on earth, for we are the best informed."
+
+"My, what big words!" exclaimed Louise.
+
+"It is quite true," said Uncle John soberly, "that I shall miss our
+daily paper during our four months' retirement in these fascinating
+wilds. It's the one luxury we can't enjoy in our country retreat."
+
+"Why not?" asked Patsy, with startling abruptness, while a queer
+expression--as of an inspiration--stole over her bright face.
+
+"Chump!" said Beth, drily; "you know very well why not, Patsy Doyle.
+Mooley cows and the fourth estate don't intermingle, so to speak."
+
+"They can be made to, though," declared Patsy. "Why hasn't some one
+thought of it before? Uncle John--girls!--I propose we start a daily
+paper."
+
+Louise laughed softly, Beth's lip curled and Arthur Weldon cast an
+amused glance at the girl; but Uncle John stared seriously into Patsy's
+questioning blue eyes.
+
+"How?" he asked in a puzzled tone. If anything could interest this
+eccentric little millionaire more than the usual trend of events it was
+an original proposition of this sort. He loved to do things that other
+people had not attempted, nor even thought of. He hated conversational
+platitudes and established conventions, and his nieces had endeared
+themselves to him more by their native originality and frank disregard
+of ordinary feminine limitations than in any other way. It was generally
+conceded that Patsy was his favorite because she could advance more odd
+suggestions than the other girls, and this niece had a practical
+aptitude for carrying out her whimsical ideas that had long since won
+her uncle's respect. Not that she could outdo Mr. Merrick in
+eccentricity: that was admitted to be his special province, in which he
+had no rival; but the girl was so clever a confederate that she gave her
+erratic uncle much happiness of the sort he most appreciated.
+
+Therefore, this seemingly preposterous proposition to establish a daily
+paper on a retired country farm did not strike the old gentleman as
+utterly impossible, and anything within the bounds of possibility was
+sure to meet his earnest consideration, especially when it was proposed
+by one of his favorite nieces.
+
+"How?" responded Patsy; "why, it's easy enough, Uncle. We'll buy a
+press, hire a printer, and Beth and Louise will help me edit the paper.
+I'm sure I can exhibit literary talents of a high order, once they are
+encouraged to sprout. Louise writes lovely poetry and 'stories of human
+interest,' and Beth--"
+
+"I can't write even a good letter," asserted that young lady; "but I'd
+dearly love to edit a newspaper."
+
+"Of course," agreed Louise; "we all would. And I think we could turn
+out a very creditable paper--for Millville. But wouldn't it cost a lot
+of money?"
+
+"That isn't the present question," replied Uncle John. "The main thing
+is, do you girls want to be tied down to such a task? Every day in the
+week, all during our summer holiday--"
+
+"Why, you've made our whole lives a holiday, Uncle John," interrupted
+Patsy, "and we've been so coddled and swamped with luxuries that we are
+just now in serious danger of being spoiled! You don't want three
+spoiled nieces on your hands, do you? And please make allowance for our
+natural impetuosity and eagerness to be up and doing. We love the farm,
+but our happiness here would be doubled if we had some occupation to
+keep us busy, and this philanthropic undertaking would furnish us with
+no end of fun, even while we were benefiting our fellow man."
+
+"All jabber, dear," exclaimed Beth. "I admit the fun, but where does the
+philanthropy come in?"
+
+"Don't you see?" asked Patsy. "Both Uncle John and that tramp we
+encountered have met on common ground to bewail the lack of a daily
+newspaper 'in our midst'--to speak in journalistic parlance. At the
+paper mill at Royal are over two hundred workmen moaning in despair
+while they lose all track of the world's progress. At Huntingdon, not
+five miles distant, are four or five hundred people lacking all the
+educational advantages of an up-to-date--or is 'down-to-date'
+proper?--press. And Millville--good gracious! What would sleepy
+Millville folks think of having a bright, newsy, metropolitan newspaper
+left on their doorsteps every morning, or evening, as the case may be?"
+
+"H-m," said Uncle John; "I scent a social revolution in the wilds of
+Chazy County."
+
+"Let's start it right away!" cried Patsy. "The 'Millville Tribune.' What
+do you say, girls?"
+
+"Why 'Tribune?'" asked Louise.
+
+"Because we three will run it, and we're a triumvirate--the future
+tribunal of the people in this district."
+
+"Very good!" said Uncle John, nodding approval. "A clever idea, Patsy."
+
+"But it's all nonsense, sir," observed Arthur Weldon, in astonishment.
+"Have you any idea of the details of this thing you are proposing?"
+
+"None whatever," said the little millionaire. "That's the beauty of the
+scheme, Arthur; it may lead us into a reg'lar complicated mix-up, and
+the joy of getting untangled ought to repay us for all our bother."
+
+"Perhaps so--if you ever untangle," said the young man, smiling at the
+whimsical speech. Then he turned to his young bride. "Do you want to go
+into this thing, Louise?" he asked.
+
+"Of course I do," she promptly replied. "It's the biggest thing in the
+way of a sensation that Patsy's crazy brain has ever evolved, and I'll
+stand by the _Millville Tribune_ to the last. You mustn't forget,
+Arthur, that I shall be able to publish all my verses and stories, which
+the Century and Harpers' so heartlessly turned down."
+
+"And Beth?"
+
+"Oh, I'm in it too," declared Beth. "There's something so delightfully
+mysterious and bewildering in the idea of our editing and printing a
+daily paper here in Millville that I can hardly wait to begin the
+experiment."
+
+"It's no experiment whatever," asserted Patsy boldly. "The daily
+newspaper is an established factor in civilization, and 'whatever man
+has done, man can do'--an adage that applies equally to girls."
+
+"Have you any notion of the cost of an outfit such as is required to
+print a modern daily?" asked Arthur.
+
+"Oh, two or three hundred, perhaps, but--"
+
+"You're crazy, child! That wouldn't buy the type."
+
+"Nevertheless," began Patsy, argumentatively, but her uncle stopped her.
+
+"You needn't figure on that," he said hastily. "The outfit shall be my
+contribution to the enterprise. If you girls say you're anxious and
+willing to run a newspaper, I'll agree to give you a proper start."
+
+"Oh, thank you, Uncle!"
+
+"Of course we're willing!"
+
+"It is all absolutely settled, so far as we are concerned," said Patsy,
+firmly. "How long will it take to get the things here, Uncle?"
+
+Mr. Merrick considered a moment.
+
+"There's a long-distance telephone over at Cotting's General Store, in
+town," he said. "I'll drive over and get Major Doyle on the wire and
+have him order the stuff sent out at once."
+
+"Oh, no!" protested Patsy; "don't tell daddy of this plan, please. He'd
+think we were all fit subjects for the lunatic asylum."
+
+"Major Doyle wouldn't be far wrong in that conclusion," suggested
+Arthur.
+
+"I'd like to surprise him by sending him the first copy of the
+_Millville Tribune_," added the major's daughter.
+
+"Then," said Mr. Merrick, "I'll call up Marvin, my banker. He'll perhaps
+attend to the matter more understandingly and more promptly than the
+major would. Tell Hucks to harness Joe to the buggy, Patsy, and I'll go
+at once."
+
+"We'll all go!" exclaimed Beth.
+
+"Of course," added Louise; "we are all equally interested in this
+venture."
+
+So Patsy had old Hucks hitch Joe to the surrey, and the three girls
+accompanied their uncle in his drive to town, leaving Arthur Weldon
+shaking his head in a deprecating way but fully realizing that no
+protest of his would avail to prevent this amazing undertaking.
+
+"That old man is as much a child as Beth or Patsy," he reflected. "It
+puzzles me to explain how he made all those millions with so little
+worldly wisdom."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE WAY INTO PRINT
+
+
+Sam Cotting's General Store at Millville divided importance with Bob
+West's hardware store but was a more popular loafing place for the
+sparse population of the tiny town. The post office was located in one
+corner and the telephone booth in another, and this latter institution
+was regarded with much awe by the simple natives. Once in awhile some
+one would telephone over to the Junction on some trivial business, but
+the long-distance call was never employed except by the "nabobs"--the
+local name for John Merrick and his nieces--or by the manager of the new
+mill at Royal, who had extended the line to his own office in the heart
+of the pine forest.
+
+So, when Uncle John and the girls entered Cotting's store and the little
+gentleman shut himself up in the telephone booth, a ripple of
+excitement spread throughout the neighborhood. Skim Clark, the youthful
+hope of the Widow Clark, who "run the Emporium," happened to be in the
+store and he rushed out to spread the news that "the nabob's talkin' to
+New Yoruk!"
+
+This information demanded immediate attention. Marshall McMahon McNutt,
+familiarly known as "Peggy" McNutt--because he had once lost a foot in a
+mowing machine--and who was alleged to be a real estate agent, horse
+doctor, fancy poultry breeder and palmist, and who also dabbled in the
+sale of subscription books, life insurance, liniment and watermelons,
+quickly slid off his front porch across the way and sauntered into
+Cotting's to participate in the excitement. Seth Davis, the blacksmith,
+dropped his tools and hurried to the store, and the druggist three doors
+away--a dapper gentleman known as Nib Corkins--hurriedly locked his door
+and attended the meeting. Presently the curious group was enlarged by
+the addition of Nick Thome the liveryman, Lon Taft, a carpenter and
+general man-of-all-work, and Silas Caldwell the miller, the latter a
+serious individual who had "jest happened to come acrost from the mill
+in the nick o' time."
+
+Sam Cotting, being himself of great local importance, had never regarded
+with favor the rivalry of the nabob, but he placed stools near the
+telephone booth for the three girls, who accepted the courtesy with a
+graciousness that ought to have disarmed the surly storekeeper. They
+could not fail to be amused at the interest they excited, and as they
+personally knew every one of the town people they pleasantly nodded to
+each arrival and inquired after their health and the welfare of their
+families. The replies were monosyllables. Millville folks were diffident
+in the presence of these city visitors and while they favored the girls
+with rather embarrassing stares, their chief interest was centered on
+the little man in the telephone booth, who could plainly be seen through
+the glass door but might not be heard, however loudly he shouted.
+
+"Talkin' to New Yoruk" was yet a marvelous thing to them, and much
+speculation was exchanged in low tones as to the probable cost of such
+a conversation as Mr. Merrick was now indulging in.
+
+"Costs a dollar to connect, ye know," remarked Peggy McNutt to Ned Long.
+"Bet a cookie he's runnin' the blame bill up to two dollars, with all
+this chinnin'. Why can't th' ol' nabob write a letter, like common
+folks, an' give his extry cash to the poor?"
+
+"Meanin' you, Peggy?" asked Nib Corkins, with a chuckle.
+
+"He might do wuss ner that," retorted Peggy. "Lor' knows I'm poor
+enough. You don't ketch _me_ a-talkin' to New York at a dollar a throw,
+Nib, do ye?"
+
+Meantime Mr. Merrick had succeeded in getting Mr. Marvin, of the banking
+house of Isham, Marvin & Co., on the wire.
+
+"Do me a favor, Marvin," he said. "Hunt up the best supply house and
+have them send me a complete outfit to print a daily newspaper.
+Everything must be modern, you know, and don't let them leave out
+anything that might come handy. Then go to Corrigan, the superintendent
+of the railroad, and have him send the freight up here to Chazy
+Junction by a special engine, for I don't want a moment's delay and the
+regular freight takes a week or so. Charge everything to my account and
+impress upon the dealer the need of haste. Understand all that, Marvin?"
+
+"I think I do, sir," was the reply; "but that's a pretty big order, Mr.
+Merrick. The outfit for a modern daily will cost a small fortune."
+
+"Never mind; send it along."
+
+"Very well. But you'd better give me some details. How big a newspaper
+do you want to print?"
+
+"Hold the wire and I'll find out," said Uncle John. Then he opened the
+door of the booth and said: "Patsy, how big a thing do you want to
+print?"
+
+"How big? Oh, let me see. Four pages will do, won't it, Louise?"
+
+"Plenty, I should say, for this place," answered Louise.
+
+"And how many columns to a page?" asked Uncle John.
+
+"Oh, six or seven. That's regular, I guess."
+
+"Make it six," proposed Beth. "That will keep us busy enough."
+
+"All right," said Uncle John, and closed the door again.
+
+This conversation was of the most startling nature to the assembled
+villagers, who were all trying to look unconcerned and as if "they'd
+jest dropped in," but were unable to dissemble their curiosity
+successfully. Of course much of this interchange of words between the
+man in the booth and the girls outside was Greek to them all, but "to
+print" and "columns" and "pages" could apply only to one idea, which,
+while not fully grasped, was tremendously startling in its suggestion.
+The Merrick party was noted for doing astonishing things in the past and
+evidently, in the words of Peggy McNutt, they were "up to some blame
+foolishness that'll either kill this neighborhood or make it talked
+about."
+
+"It's too dead a'ready to kill," responded Nick Thorne gloomily. "Even
+the paper mill, four mile away, ain't managed to make Millville wiggle
+its big toe. Don't you worry over what the nabob'll do, Peggy; he
+couldn't hurt nuthin' if he tried."
+
+The door opened again and Mr. Merrick protruded a puzzled countenance.
+
+"He wants to know about a stereotype plant, Patsy. What'll I tell him?"
+
+Patsy stared. Louise and Beth shook their heads.
+
+"If it belongs to the--the thing we want, Uncle, have 'em send it
+along," said Patsy in desperation.
+
+"All right."
+
+A few minutes later the little man again appealed to them.
+
+"How'll we run the thing, girls; steam or electricity?"
+
+Patsy's face was a blank. Beth giggled and Louise frowned.
+
+"Of course it'll have to be run," suggested Mr. Merrick; "but how?
+That's the question."
+
+"I--I hadn't given that matter thought," admitted Patsy. "What do you
+think, Uncle?"
+
+He considered, holding open the door while he thoughtfully regarded the
+silent but interested group of villagers that eagerly hung upon every
+word that passed.
+
+"Cotting," called Mr. Merrick, "how do they run the paper mill at
+Royal?"
+
+"'Lectricity! 'Lectricity, sir!" answered half a dozen at once.
+
+"They develops the power from the Royal Waterfall of the Little Bill,"
+explained Cotting, with slow and pompous deliberation. "Mr. Skeelty he
+tol' me they had enough 'lectric'ty to light up the whole dum country
+fer ten mile in all directions, 'sides a-runnin' of the mill."
+
+"Who's Skeelty?"
+
+"Manager o' the mill, sir, an' part owner, he says."
+
+"Has he a telephone?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Merrick."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Mr. Merrick shut the door and called up Skeelty. Five minutes of
+bargaining settled the question and he then connected with Mr. Marvin
+again and directed him to have the presses and machinery equipped to run
+by electricity. Thinking he had now given the banker all the commissions
+he could attend to with celerity, Uncle John next called up Major Doyle
+and instructed his brother-in-law to send four miles of electric cable,
+with fittings and transformers, and a crew of men to do the work, and
+not to waste a moment's time in getting them to Millville.
+
+"What in blazes are ye up to now, John?" inquired the major, on
+receiving this order.
+
+"None of your business, Gregory. Obey orders."
+
+"Going to light the farm and turn night into day?" persisted the major.
+
+"This is Patsy's secret, and I'm not going to give it away," said Mr.
+Merrick. "Attend to this matter promptly, Major, and you'll see the
+result when you come to us in July for your vacation."
+
+Having attended to all the requirements of the projected _Millville
+Tribune_, as he thought, Mr. Merrick called the operator for the amount
+of his bill and paid it to Sam Cotting--three dollars and eighty cents.
+The sum fairly made the onlookers gasp, and as the Merrick party passed
+out, Silas, the miller, said solemnly:
+
+"Don't anybody tell me talk is cheap, arter this. John Merrick may be a
+millionaire, but ef he keeps this thing up long he'll be a pauper.
+Thet's _my_ prophe-sigh."
+
+"Yer off yer base, Si," said McNutt "Joe Wegg tol' me once thet the
+nabob's earnin's on his money were more'n he could spend ef he lays
+awake nights a-doin' it. Joe says it keeps pilin' up on him, till
+sometimes it drives him nigh desp'rit. I hed an idee I'd ask him to
+shuck off some of it onter me. _I_ could stan' the strain all right, an'
+get plenty o' sleep too."
+
+"Ye won't hev no call to stan' it, Peggy," pre-dcted Lon Tait.
+"Milyunhairs may spend money foolish, but they don't never give none
+away. I've done sev'ral odd jobs fer Mr. Merrick, but he's never give me
+more'n jest wages."
+
+"Well," said McNutt with a sigh, "while he's in easy reach there orter
+be _some_ sort o' pickings fer us, an' it's our duty to git all we can
+out'n him--short o' actoo-al robbery. What do ye s'pose this new deal
+means, boys? Sounds like printin' somethin', don't it?"
+
+"P'raps it's some letterheads fer the Wegg Farm," suggested Nib
+Corkins. "These Merricks do everything on a big scale."
+
+"Four pages, an' six columns to a page?" asked Cotting scornfully.
+"Sounds to me more like a newspaper, folks!"
+
+There was a moment's silence, during which they all stared at the
+speaker fearfully. Then said Skim Clark, in his drawling, halting way:
+
+"Ef thet's the case, an' there's goin' ter be a newspaper here in
+Millville, we may as well give up the struggle, fer the town'll be
+ruined!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+DIVIDING THE RESPONSIBILITY
+
+
+The rest of that day and a good share of the night was devoted to an
+earnest consultation concerning the proper methods of launching the
+_Millville Daily Tribune_.
+
+"We must divide the work," said Patsy, "so that all will have an equal
+share of responsibility. Louise is to be the literary editor and the
+society editor. That sounds like a good combination."
+
+"There is no society here," objected Louise.
+
+"Not as we understand the term, perhaps," replied Miss Doyle; "but every
+community, however small, believes it is a social center; and so it
+is--to itself. If there is a dance or a prayer meeting or a christening
+or illness, it must be recorded in our local columns. If Bob West sells
+a plow we've got to mention the name of the farmer who bought it; if
+there's a wedding, we'll make a double-header of it; if a baby is born,
+we will--will--"
+
+"Print its picture in the paper. Eh, Uncle John?" This from Beth.
+
+"Of course," said Mr. Merrick. "You must print all the home news, as
+well as the news of the world."
+
+"How are you going to get the news of the world?" asked Arthur.
+
+"How? How?"
+
+"That was my question."
+
+"Private wire from New York," said Mr. Merrick, as the girls hesitated
+how to meet this problem. "I'll arrange with the telegraph company
+to-morrow to have an extension of the wire run over from Chazy Junction.
+Then we'll hire an operator--a girl, of course--to receive the news in
+the office of the paper."
+
+"But who will send us the news?" asked Beth.
+
+"The Associated Press, I suppose, or some news agency in New York. I'll
+telegraph to-morrow to Marvin to arrange it."
+
+Arthur whistled softly.
+
+"This newspaper is going to cost something," he murmured. Uncle John
+looked at him with a half quizzical, half amused expression.
+
+"That's what Marvin warned me yesterday, when I ordered the equipment,"
+said he. "He told me that before I got through with this deal it would
+run up into the thousands. And he added that Millville wasn't worth it."
+
+"And what did you say to that, Uncle John?" asked Beth.
+
+"In that case, I said, I would be sure to get some pleasure and
+satisfaction out of your journalistic enterprise. My last financial
+statement showed a frightful condition of affairs. In spite of Major
+Doyle's reckless investments of my money, and--and the little we manage
+to give to deserving charities, I'm getting richer every day. When a
+small leak like this newspaper project occurs, it seems that Fortune is
+patting me on the back. I've no idea what a respectable newspaper will
+cost, but I hope it will cost a lot, for every dollar it devours makes
+my mind just that much easier."
+
+Arthur Weldon laughed.
+
+"In that case, sir," said he, "I can make no further protest. But I
+predict you will find the bills--eh--eh--entirely satisfactory."
+
+"You mentioned an office, just now, Uncle," observed Louise. "Must we
+have a business office?"
+
+"To be sure," Mr. Merrick replied. "We must find a proper location,
+where we can install the presses and all the type and machinery that go
+to making up a newspaper. I hadn't thought of this before, but it is a
+serious matter, my dears. We may have to build a place."
+
+"Oh, that would take too long, entirely," said Patsy. "Can't we put it
+in the barn, Uncle?"
+
+"What would happen to the horses and cows? No; we'll take a look over
+Millville and see what we can find there."
+
+"You won't find much," predicted Beth. "I can't think of a single
+unoccupied building in the town."
+
+"Then we'll put it in a tent," declared Patsy.
+
+"Don't borrow trouble," advised Uncle John. "Wait till we've gone over
+the ground together. Our truck will require a pretty big place, for
+Marvin said one freight car wouldn't hold all the outfit. He's going to
+send two cars, anyhow."
+
+"Have him fill up the second with print paper," proposed Arthur.
+
+"Ah; that's another thing I hadn't thought of," said Mr. Merrick. "How
+big a daily edition will you print, Patsy?"
+
+"Let's see," pondered the girl. "There are about two hundred at Royal,
+say four hundred at Huntingdon, at Millville about--about--"
+
+"Say fifteen," said Uncle John; "that's six hundred and fifteen, and--"
+
+"And the farmers, of course. There must be at least a hundred and fifty
+of 'em in the county, so that makes seven hundred and seventy-five
+copies a day."
+
+"Wait a moment!" cried Arthur, somewhat bewildered by this figuring. "Do
+you suppose every inhabitant--man, woman and child--will subscribe for
+your paper?"
+
+Patsy blushed.
+
+"Why, no, of course not," she acknowledged frankly. "How many do you
+think _will_ subscribe, Arthur? Remember, it's to be a great
+newspaper."
+
+"Four pages of six columns each. Plenty big enough for Millville," he
+said, thoughtfully. "My advice, girls, is to print a first edition of
+about four hundred copies and distribute the papers free in every house
+within a radius of five or six miles from Millville. These will be
+samples, and after the people have had a chance to read them you can ask
+them to subscribe. By the way, what will you charge for subscription?"
+
+"How much, Uncle?" asked Patsy, appealingly.
+
+"A penny paper is the most popular," he said, regarding her with merry,
+twinkling eyes. "Say thirty cents a month, or three-fifty a year. That's
+as much as these poor people can stand."
+
+"I think so too," replied the girl, seriously.
+
+"But it seems to me a penny paper isn't dignified," pouted Louise. "I
+had intended to print all my poems in it, and I'm sure that ought to
+make it worth at least five cents a copy."
+
+"That will make it worth more, my dear," commented Uncle John; "but
+frequently one must sell property for less than it's actually worth.
+You must remember these people have not been used to spending much money
+on literature, and I imagine you'll have to coax them to spend thirty
+cents a month. Many of the big New York papers are sold for a penny, and
+without any loss of dignity, either."
+
+"Do you think we can make it pay on that basis, Uncle?" asked Beth.
+
+Uncle John coughed to gain time while he thought of a suitable reply.
+"That, my dear," he informed his niece, "will depend upon how many
+subscribers you can get. Subscribers and advertisers are necessary to
+make any paper pay."
+
+"Advertisers!"
+
+"Of course," said practical Beth. "Every merchant in Millville and
+Huntingdon will naturally advertise in our paper, and we'll make the
+major get us a lot from New York."
+
+"Oh," said Patsy; "I see. So _that_ difficulty is settled."
+
+Arthur smiled, but held his peace. Uncle John's round face was growing
+merrier every minute.
+
+"Patsy, do you think we shall make any money from this venture?" asked
+Louise.
+
+"We ought to, if we put our hearts and souls into the thing," was the
+reply. "But before we divide any profits we must pay back to Uncle John
+the original investment."
+
+"We don't especially care to make any profit, do we?" inquired Beth.
+"It's fun for us, you know, and a--a--great educational experience,
+and--and--a fine philanthropy--and all that. We don't need the money, so
+if the paper pays a profit at a cent a copy we'd better cut down the
+price."
+
+"Don't do that yet," advised Uncle John, soberly. "There will be
+expenses that as yet you don't suspect, and a penny for a paper is about
+as low as you can go."
+
+"What's to be my position on the staff, Patsy?" asked Beth, turning to
+her cousin.
+
+"You're a good mathematician, Beth, so I propose you act as secretary
+and treasurer, and keep the books."
+
+"No; that's too mechanical; no bookkeeping for me. I want something
+literary."
+
+"Then you can be sporting editor."
+
+"Goodness, Patsy! There will be no sporting news in Millville."
+
+"There will be a ball game occasionally, and I saw some of the men
+pitching quoits yesterday. But this is to be a newspaper reflecting the
+excitement of the entire world, Beth, and all the telegraphic news of a
+sporting character you must edit and arrange for our reading columns.
+Oh, yes; and you'll take care of the religious items too. We must have a
+Sunday Sermon, by some famous preacher, Uncle. We'll print that every
+Saturday, so those who can't go to church may get as good a talk as if
+they did--and perhaps a better one."
+
+"That will be fine," he agreed. "How about murders, crimes and
+divorces?"
+
+"All barred. Nothing that sends a cold chill down your back will be
+allowed in our paper. These people are delightfully simple; we don't
+want to spoil them."
+
+"Cut out the cold chills and you'll spoil your newspaper," suggested
+Arthur. "People like to read of other folks' horrors, for it makes them
+more contented with their own lot in life."
+
+"False philosophy, sir!" cried Fatsy firmly. "You can't educate people
+by retailing crimes and scandals, and the _Millville Tribune_ is going
+to be as clean as a prayer book, if I'm to be managing editor."
+
+"Is that to be your office, dear?" asked Louise.
+
+"I think so. I've a heap of executive ability, and I'm running over with
+literary--eh--eh--literary discrimination. In addition to running the
+thing, I'll be the general news editor, because I'm better posted on
+newspaper business than the other girls."
+
+"How does that happen?" inquired Louise, wonderingly.
+
+"Why, I--I _read_ the papers more than you or Beth. And I've set myself
+to master every detail of the business. No more crocheting or fancy
+work--no novel reading--no gossipy letter writing. From this day on we
+must attend strictly to business. If we're to become journalist, girls,
+we must be good ones--better than the ordinary--so that Uncle John may
+point to us with pride, and the columns of the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+will be quoted by the New York and Chicago press. Only in that way can
+we become famous throughout the world!"
+
+"Pass me the bonbons, dear," sighed Louise. "It's a high ambition, isn't
+it?"
+
+"A very laudable ambition," added Uncle John approvingly. "I hope my
+clever nieces will be able to accomplish it."
+
+"How about pictures?" asked Beth. "Modern newspapers are illustrated,
+and have cartoons of the leading events of the day."
+
+"Can't we buy those things somewhere?" asked Patsy, appealing to Uncle
+John again. "There isn't an artist among us, of any account; and we
+shall be too busy to draw pictures."
+
+"We must hire an artist," said Mr. Merrick, adding the item to his
+memoranda. "I'll speak to Marvin about it."
+
+All these details were beginning to bewilder the embryo journalists. It
+is quite possible that had not Uncle John placed his order for presses
+and type so promptly the girls might have withdrawn from the
+proposition, but the die was now cast and they were too brave--perhaps
+too stubborn--to "back down" at this juncture.
+
+"I realize," said Patsy, slowly and with a shake of her flaming head,
+"that we have undertaken an important venture. Our new enterprise is a
+most serious one, girls, for there is nothing greater or grander in our
+advanced age than the daily newspaper; no power so tremendous as the
+Power of the Press."
+
+"Yes, the press must be powerful or it wouldn't print clearly," remarked
+Beth.
+
+"We are to become public mentors to the simple natives of Chazy County,"
+continued Patsy, warming up to her subject and speaking oratorically.
+"We shall be the guiding star of the--er--er--the benighted citizens of
+Millville and Huntingdon. We must lead them in politics, counsel them in
+the management of their farms and educate them to the great World
+Movements that are constantly occurring."
+
+"Let's put all that rot in our prospectus," said Louise, looking at her
+cousin admiringly. "Can you remember it, Patsy, or had I better write it
+down now? I like that about teaching the farmers how to run their
+farms; it's so practical."
+
+"You wait," said Patsy unflinchingly. "I'll write 'em an editorial that
+will make their eyes roll. But it won't do a bit of harm for you and
+Beth to jot down all the brilliant thoughts you run across, for the
+benefit of our subscribers."
+
+"We haven't any subscribers yet," remarked Beth, placidly.
+
+"I'll overcome that defect," said Uncle John. "I want to subscribe right
+now for ten copies, to be mailed to friends of mine in the city who--who
+need educating. I'll pay in advance and collect of my friends when I see
+'em."
+
+This was certainly encouraging and Patsy smiled benignantly.
+
+"I'll take five more yearly subscriptions," said Arthur.
+
+"Oh, but you're going to be on the staff!" cried Patsy.
+
+"Am I?"
+
+"Certainly. I've been thinking over our organization and while it is
+quite proper for three girls to run paper, there ought to be a man to
+pose as the editor in chief. That'll be you, Arthur."
+
+"But you won't print my name?"
+
+"Oh, yes we shall. Don't groan, sir; it's no disgrace. Wait till you see
+the _Millville Tribune_. Also we shall print our own names, in that case
+giving credit to whom credit is due. The announcement will run something
+like this: 'Arthur Weldon, General Manager and Editor in Chief; P.
+Doyle, General News Editor; L. Merrick Weldon, Society and Literary
+Editor; E. DeGraf, Sporting Editor, Secretary and Treasurer.' You see,
+by using our initials only, no one will ever suspect we are girls."
+
+"The Millville people may," said Arthur, slyly, "and perhaps the
+disguise will be penetrated by outsiders. That will depend on the
+paper."
+
+"I don't like that combination of sporting editor and secretary and
+treasurer," objected Beth. "It isn't the usual thing in journalism, I'm
+sure. Suppose you call me Editor of Special Features, and let it go at
+that?"
+
+"Have we any special features?" asked Louise.
+
+"Oh, yes," said Arthur; "there's Beth's eyebrows, Patsy's nose, and--"
+
+"Do be sensible!" cried Patsy. "This isn't a joking matter, sir. Our
+newspaper will have plenty of special features, and Beth's suggestion is
+a good one. It sounds impressive. You see, Arthur, we've got to use you
+as a figurehead, but so you won't loaf on your job I've decided to
+appoint you Solicitor of Advertising and Subscriptions."
+
+"Thank you, my dear," he said, grinning in an amused way.
+
+"You and Louise, who still like to be together, can drive all over the
+county getting subscriptions, and you can write letters on our new
+stationery to all the big manufacturers of soaps and breakfast foods and
+beauty powders and to all the correspondence schools and get their
+advertisements for the _Tribune_. If you get a good many, we may have to
+enlarge the paper."
+
+"Don't worry, Miss Doyle; I'll try to keep within bounds."
+
+And so they went on, laying plans and discussing details in such an
+earnest way that Uncle John became as enthusiastic as any of them and
+declared in no uncertain tone that the _Millville Daily Tribune_ was
+bound to be a "howling success."
+
+After the girls had retired for the night and the men sat smoking
+together in Uncle John's own room, Arthur said:
+
+"Tell me, sir, why you have encouraged this mad project."
+
+The little millionaire puffed his pipe in silence a moment. Then he
+replied:
+
+"I'm educating my girls to be energetic and self-reliant. I want to
+bring out and develop every spark of latent ability there is in them.
+Whether the _Millville Tribune_ succeeds or fails is not important; it
+will at least keep them busy for a time, along new lines, and tax their
+best resources of intellect and business ability. In other words, this
+experience is bound to do 'em good, and in that way I figure it will be
+worth all it costs--and more. I like the originality of the idea; I'm
+pleased with the difficulties I see looming ahead; I'm quite sure my
+girls will rise to every occasion and prove their grit." He paused to
+knock the ashes from his pipe. "I'm worth a lot of money, Arthur," he
+continued, meekly, "and some day these three girls will inherit immense
+fortunes. It is my duty to train them in all practical business ways to
+take care of their property."
+
+"I follow your line of reasoning, sir," observed Arthur Weldon; "but
+this absurd journalistic venture is bound to result in heavy financial
+loss."
+
+"I know it, my boy. I'm sure of it. But can't you see that the lesson
+they will learn will render them more cautious in making future
+investments? I'm going to supply a complete newspaper outfit--to the
+last detail--and give 'em a good running start. Then I shall sit back
+and watch results. If they lose money on running expenses, as they
+surely will, they'll first take it out of their allowances, then sell
+their jewelry, and finally come to me for help. See? The lesson will be
+worth while, Arthur, and aside from that--think of the fun they'll
+have!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+MR. SKEELTY OF THE MILL
+
+
+The next morning they drove to town again, passing slowly up the street
+of the little village to examine each building that might be a possible
+location for a newspaper office. Here is a map that Patsy drew of
+Millville, which gives a fair idea of its arrangement:
+
+[Illustration: Village Street]
+
+Counting the dwellings there were exactly twelve buildings, and they all
+seemed occupied.
+
+When they reached the hardware store, opposite Cotting's, Mr. West, the
+proprietor, was standing on the broad platform in front of it. In many
+respects Bob West was the most important citizen of Millville. Tall and
+gaunt, with great horn spectacles covering a pair of cold gray eyes, he
+was usually as reserved and silent as his neighbors were confiding and
+talkative. A widower of long standing, without children or near
+relatives, he occupied a suite of well-appointed rooms over the hardware
+store and took his meals at the hotel. Before Mr. Merrick appeared on
+the scene West had been considered a very wealthy man, as it was known
+he had many interests outside of his store; but compared with the
+multi-millionaire old Bob had come to be regarded more modestly,
+although still admitted to be the village's "warmest" citizen. He was an
+authority in the town, too, and a man of real importance.
+
+Mr. Merrick stopped his horse to speak with the hardware man, an old
+acquaintance.
+
+"West," said he, "my girls are going to start a newspaper in Millville."
+
+The merchant bowed gravely, perhaps to cover the trace of a smile he
+was unable to repress.
+
+"It's to be a daily paper, you know," continued Mr. Merrick, "and it
+seems there's a lot of machinery in the outfit. It'll need quite a bit
+of room, in other words, and we're looking for a place to install it."
+
+West glanced along the street--up one side and down the other--and then
+shook his head negatively.
+
+"Plenty of land, but no buildings," said he. "You might buy the old mill
+and turn it into a newspaper office. Caldwell isn't making much of a
+living and would be glad to sell out."
+
+"It's too dusty and floury," said Patsy. "We'd never get it clean, I'm
+sure."
+
+"What's in that shed of yours?" asked Uncle John, pointing to a long,
+low building' that adjoined the hardware store.
+
+West turned and looked at the shed reflectively.
+
+"That is where I store my stock of farm machinery," he said. "There's
+very little in there now, for it's a poor season and I didn't lay in
+much of a supply. In fact, I'm pretty well cleaned out of all surplus
+stock. But next spring I shall need the place again."
+
+"Good!" cried Mr. Merrick. "That solves our problem. Has it a floor?"
+
+"Yes; an excellent one; but only one small window."
+
+"We can remedy that," declared Uncle John. "Here's the proposition,
+West: Let us have the shed for six months, at the end of which time we
+will know whether the _Millville Tribune_ is a success or not. If it is,
+we'll build a fine new building for it; if it don't seem to prosper,
+we'll give you back the shed. What do you say?"
+
+West thought it over.
+
+"There is room on the rear platform, for all the farm machinery I now
+have on hand. All right, Mr. Merrick; I'll move the truck out and give
+you possession. It won't make a bad newspaper office. But of course you
+are to fit up the place at your own expense."
+
+"Thank you very much, sir!" exclaimed Uncle John. "I'll set Lon Taft at
+work at once. Where can he be found?"
+
+"Playing billiards at the hotel, usually. I suppose he is there now."
+
+"Very good; I'll hunt him up. What do you think of our newspaper scheme,
+West?"
+
+The old merchant hesitated. Then he said slowly:
+
+"Whatever your charming and energetic nieces undertake, sir, will
+doubtless be well accomplished. The typical country newspaper groans
+under a load of debt and seldom gets a fair show to succeed; but in this
+case there will be no lack of money, and--why, that settles the
+question, I think. Money is the keystone to success."
+
+"Mr. West," said Louise, with dignity, "we are depending chiefly on the
+literary merit of our newspaper to win recognition."
+
+"Of course; of course!" said he hastily. "Put me down as a subscriber,
+please, and rely upon my support at all times. It is possible, young
+ladies--nay, quite probable, I should say--that your originality and
+genius will yet make Millville famous."
+
+That speech pleased Uncle John, and as the hardware merchant bowed and
+turned away, Mr. Merrick said in his cheeriest tones: "He's quite right,
+my dears, and we're lucky to have found such a fine, roomy place for our
+establishment. Before we go after the carpenter to fix it up I must
+telephone to Marvin about the things we still need."
+
+Over the long-distance telephone Mr. Marvin reported that he had bought
+the required outfit and it was even then being loaded on the freight
+cars.
+
+"I've arranged for a special engine," he added, "and if all goes well
+the freight will be on the sidetrack at Chazy Junction on Monday
+morning. The dealer will send down three men to set up the presses and
+get everything in running order. But he asks if you have arranged for
+your workmen. How about it, Mr. Merrick? have you plenty of competent
+printers and pressmen at Millville?"
+
+"There are none at all," was the reply. "Better inquire how many we will
+need, Marvin, and send them down here. And, by the way, hire women or
+girls for every position they are competent to fill. This is going to
+be a girls' newspaper, so we'll have as few men around as possible."
+
+"I understand, sir."
+
+Uncle John ordered everything he could think of and told his agent to
+add whatever the supply man thought might be needed. This business being
+accomplished, he found Lon Taft at the hotel and instructed the
+carpenter to put rows of windows on both sides of the shed and to build
+partitions for an editorial office and a business office at the front.
+
+This was the beginning of a busy period, especially for poor Uncle John,
+who had many details to attend to personally. The next morning the
+electricians arrived and began stringing the power cables from the paper
+mill to the newspaper office. This rendered it necessary for Mr. Merrick
+to make a trip to Royal, to complete his arrangement with Mr. Skeelty,
+the manager. He drove over with Arthur Weldon, in the buggy--four miles
+of hill climbing, over rough cobble-stones, into the pine forest.
+
+Arriving there, the visitors were astonished at the extent of the plant
+so recently established in this practically unknown district. The great
+mill, where the wood pulp was made, was a building constructed from pine
+slabs and cobblestones, material gathered from the clearing in which it
+stood, but it was quite substantial and roomy. Adjoining the mill was
+the factory building where the pulp was rolled into print paper.
+Surrounding these huge buildings were some sixty small dwellings of the
+bungalow type, for the use of the workmen, built of rough boards, but
+neat and uniform in appearance. Almost in the center of this group stood
+the extensive storehouse from which all necessary supplies were
+furnished the mill hands, the cost being deducted from their wages. The
+electric power plant was a building at the edge of Royal Waterfall, the
+low and persistent roar of which was scarcely drowned by the rumble of
+machinery. Finally, at the edge of the clearing nearest the mills, stood
+the business office, and to this place Mr. Merrick and Arthur at once
+proceeded.
+
+They found the office a busy place. Three or four typewriters were
+clicking away, operated by sallow-faced girls, and behind a tall desk
+were two bookkeepers, in one of whom Uncle John recognized--with mild
+surprise--the tramp he had encountered at Chazy Junction on the morning
+of his arrival. The young fellow had improved in appearance, having
+discarded his frayed gray suit for one of plain brown khaki, such as
+many of the workmen wore, a supply being carried by the company's store.
+He was clean-shaven and trim, and a gentlemanly bearing had replaced the
+careless, half defiant attitude of the former hobo. It was evident he
+remembered meeting Mr. Merrick, for he smiled and returned the "nabob's"
+nod.
+
+Mr. Skeelty had a private enclosed office in a corner of the room. Being
+admitted to this sanctum, the visitors found the manager to be a small,
+puffy individual about forty-five years of age, with shrewd, beadlike
+black eyes and an insolent assumption of super-importance. Skeelty
+interrupted his task of running up columns of impressive figures to ask
+his callers to be seated, and opened the interview with characteristic
+abruptness.
+
+"You're Merrick, eh? I remember. You want to buy power, and we have it
+to sell. How much will you contract to take?"
+
+"I don't know just how much we need," answered Uncle John. "We want
+enough to run a newspaper plant at Millville, and will pay for whatever
+we use. I've ordered a meter, as you asked me to do, and my men are now
+stringing the cables to make the connection."
+
+"Pah! a newspaper. How absurd," said Mr. Skeelty with scornful emphasis.
+"Your name, Merrick, is not unknown to me. It stands for financial
+success, I understand; but I'll bet you never made your money doing such
+fool things as establishing newspapers in graveyards."
+
+Uncle John looked at the man attentively.
+
+"I shall refrain from criticising your conduct of this mill, Mr.
+Skeelty," he quietly observed, "nor shall I dictate what you may do with
+your money--provided you succeed in making any."
+
+The manager smiled broadly, as if the retort pleased him.
+
+"Give an' take, sir; that's my motto," he said.
+
+"But you prefer to take?"
+
+"I do," was the cheerful reply. "I'll take your paper, for instance--if
+it isn't too high priced."
+
+"In case it is, we will present you with a subscription," said Uncle
+John. "But that reminds me: as a part of our bargain I want you to allow
+my nieces, or any representative of the _Millville Tribune_, to take
+subscriptions among your workmen."
+
+Mr. Skeelty stared at him a moment. Then he laughed.
+
+"They're mostly foreigners, Mr. Merrick, who haven't yet fully mastered
+the English language. But," he added, thoughtfully, "a few among them
+might subscribe, if your country sheet contains any news of interest at
+all. This is rather a lonely place for my men and they get dissatisfied
+at times. All workmen seem chronically dissatisfied, and their women
+constantly urge them to rebellion. Already there are grumblings, and
+they claim they're buried alive in this forlorn forest. Don't appreciate
+the advantages of country life, you see, and I've an idea they'll begin
+to desert, pretty soon. Really, a live newspaper might do them
+good--especially if you print a little socialistic drivel now and then."
+Again he devoted a moment to thought, and then continued: "Tell you what
+I'll do, sir; I'll solicit the subscriptions myself, and deduct the
+price from the men's wages, as I do the cost of their other supplies.
+But the Company gets a commission for that, of course."
+
+"It's a penny paper," said Uncle John. "The subscription is only thirty
+cents a month."
+
+"Delivered?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"Well, I'll pay you twenty cents, and keep the balance for commission.
+That's fair enough."
+
+"Very well, Mr. Skeelty. We're after subscriptions more than money, just
+now. Get all you can, at that rate."
+
+After signing a contract for the supply of electrical power, whereby he
+was outrageously robbed but the supply was guaranteed, Mr. Merrick and
+Arthur returned to the farm.
+
+"That man," said Louise's young husband, referring to the manager of the
+paper mill, "is an unmitigated scoundrel, sir."
+
+"I won't deny it," replied Mr. Merrick. "It occurs to me he is hiring
+those poor workmen at low wages and making a profit on all their living
+necessities, which he reserves the right of supplying from his own
+store. No wonder the poor fellows get dissatisfied."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE SKETCH ARTIST
+
+
+During the next three days so many things happened at Millville that the
+natives were in a panic of excitement. Not only was electricity brought
+from the paper mill, but a telegraph wire was run from Chazy Junction to
+Bob West's former storage shed and a telephone gang came along and
+placed a private wire, with long-distance connections, in the new
+newspaper office. The office itself became transformed--"as full o'
+winders as a hothouse!" exclaimed Peggy McNutt, with bulging eyes--and
+neat partitions were placed for the offices. There was no longer any
+secret as to the plans of the "nabobs"; it was generally understood that
+those terribly aggressive girls were going to inflict a daily paper on
+the community. Some were glad, and some rebelled, but all were excited.
+A perpetual meeting was held at Cotting's store to discuss developments,
+for something startling occurred every few minutes.
+
+"It's a outrage, this thing," commented young Skim Clark despondently.
+"They're tryin' to run mother out o' business--an' she a widder with me
+to look after! Most o' the business at the Emporium is done in
+newspapers an' magazines an' sich; so these gals thought they'd cut
+under an' take the business away from her."
+
+"Can't the Widder Clark sell the new paper, then?" asked the blacksmith.
+
+"I dunno. Hadn't thought o' that," said Skim. "But the price is to be
+jus' one cent, an' we've ben gittin' five cents fer all the outside
+papers. Where's the profit comin' from, on one cent, I'd like to know?
+Why, we make two or three cents on all the five cent papers."
+
+"As fer that," remarked the druggist, "we'll get a cheap paper--if it's
+any good--an' that's somethin' to be thankful for."
+
+"'Twon't be any good," asserted Skim. "Ma says so."
+
+But no one except McNutt was prepared to agree with this prediction.
+The extensive plans in preparation seemed to indicate that the new paper
+would be fully equal to the requirements of the populace.
+
+On Monday, when the news spread that two big freight cars had arrived at
+the Junction, and Nick Thorne began working three teams to haul the
+outfit to Millville, the rest of the town abandoned all business other
+than watching the arrival of the drays. Workmen and machinists arrived
+from the city and began unpacking and setting up the presses, type cases
+and all other paraphernalia, every motion being watched by eager faces
+that lined the windows. These workmen were lodged at the hotel, which
+had never entertained so many guests at one time in all its past
+history. The three girls, even more excited and full of awe than the
+townspeople, were at the office early and late, taking note of
+everything installed and getting by degrees a fair idea of the extent of
+their new plaything.
+
+"It almost takes my breath away, Uncle," said Patsy. "You've given the
+_Tribune_ such a splendid start that we must hustle to make good and
+prove we are worthy your generosity."
+
+"I sat up last night and wrote a poem for the first page of the first
+number," announced Louise earnestly.
+
+"Poems don't go on the first page," observed Patsy; "but they're needed
+to fill in with. What's it about, dear?"
+
+"It's called 'Ode to a Mignonette,'" answered Louise. "It begins this
+way:
+
+    "Wee brown blossom, humble and sweet,
+      Content on my bosom lying,
+     Who would guess from your quiet dress
+      The beauty there is lying
+          Under the rust?"
+
+"Hm," said Patsy, "I don't see as there's any beauty under the rust, at
+all. There's no beauty about a mignonette, anyhow, suspected or
+unsuspected."
+
+"She means 'fragrance,'" suggested Beth. "Change it to: 'The fragrance
+there is lying under the rust.' That'll fix it all right, Louise."
+
+"It doesn't seem right, even then," remarked Uncle John. "If the
+fragrance lies under the rust, it can't be smelt, can it?"
+
+"I did not anticipate all this criticism," said Louise, with an air of
+injured dignity. "None of the big publishing houses that returned my
+poems ever said anything mean about them; they merely said they were
+'not available.' However, as this poem has not made a hit with the
+managing editor, I'll tear it up and write another."
+
+"Don't do that," begged Patsy. "Save it for emergencies. We've got to
+fill twenty-four columns every day, remember!"
+
+By Wednesday night the equipment was fully installed and the workmen
+departed, leaving only Jim McGaffey, an experienced pressman, and
+Lawrence Doane--familiarly called Larry--who was to attend to the
+electrotyping and "make-up." The press was of the best modern
+construction, and folded, cut and counted the papers automatically, with
+a capacity for printing three thousand copies an hour.
+
+"And at that rate," observed Patsy, "It will run off our regular edition
+in eight minutes."
+
+Aside from the newspaper press there were two "job" presses and an
+assortment of type for printing anything that might be required, from a
+calling card to a circus poster. A third man, who came from the city
+Thursday morning, was to take charge of the job printing and assist in
+the newspaper work. Three girls also arrived, pale-faced, sad-eyed
+creatures, who were expert typesetters. Uncle John arranged with Mrs.
+Kebble, the landlady at the hotel, to board all the "help" at moderate
+charge.
+
+It had been decided, after much consultation, to make the _Tribune_ a
+morning paper. At first it was feared this would result in keeping the
+girls up nights, but it was finally arranged that all the copy they
+furnished would be turned in by nine o'clock, and Miss Briggs, the
+telegraph editor, would attend to anything further that came in over the
+wires. The advantages of a morning edition were obvious.
+
+"You'll have all day to distribute a morning paper," Arthur pointed out,
+"whereas an evening paper couldn't get to your scattered subscribers
+until the next morning."
+
+Miss Briggs, upon whom they were to rely so greatly, proved to be a
+woman of tremendous energy and undoubted ability. She was thirty-five
+years of age and had been engaged in newspaper work ever since she was
+eighteen. Bright and cheerful, of even temper and shrewd comprehension,
+Miss Briggs listened to the eager explanations of the three girls who
+had undertaken this queer venture, and assured them she would assist in
+making a newspaper that would be a credit to them all. She understood
+clearly the conditions; that inexperience was backed by ample capital
+and unpractical ideas by unlimited enthusiasm.
+
+"This job may not last long," she told herself, "but while it does it
+will be mighty amusing. I shall enjoy these weeks in a quiet country
+town after the bustle of the big city."
+
+So here were seven regular employees of the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+already secured and the eighth was shortly to appear. Preparations were
+well under way for a first edition on the Fourth of July and the office
+was beginning to hum with work, when one afternoon a girl strolled in
+and asked in a tired voice for the managing editor.
+
+She was admitted to Patsy's private room, where Beth and Louise were
+also sitting, and they looked upon their visitor in undisguised
+astonishment.
+
+She was young: perhaps not over twenty years of age. Her face bore marks
+of considerable dissipation and there was a broad scar underneath her
+right eye. Her hair was thin, straggling and tow-colored; her eyes
+large, deep-set and of a faded blue. The girl's dress was as queer and
+untidy as her personal appearance, for she wore a brown tailored coat, a
+short skirt and long, buttoned leggings. A round cap of the same
+material as her dress was set jauntily on the back of her head, and over
+her shoulder was slung a fiat satchel of worn leather. There was little
+that was feminine and less that was attractive about the young woman,
+and Patsy eyed her with distinct disfavor.
+
+"Tommy sent me here," said the newcomer, sinking wearily into a chair.
+"I'm hired for a month, on good behavior, with a chance to stay on if I
+conduct myself in a ladylike manner. I've been working on the _Herald_,
+you know; but there was no end of a row last week, and they fired me
+bodily. Any booze for sale in this town?"
+
+"It is a temperance community," answered Patsy, stiffly.
+
+"Hooray for me. There's a chance I'll keep sober. In that case you've
+acquired the best sketch artist in America."
+
+"Oh! Are you the artist, then?" asked Patsy, with doubtful intonation.
+
+"I don't like the word. I'm not a real artist--just a cartoonist and
+newspaper hack. Say, it's funny to see me in this jungle, isn't it? What
+joy I'll have in astonishing the natives! I s'pose a picture's a
+picture, to them, and Art an impenetrable mystery. What sort of stuff do
+you want me to turn out?"
+
+"I--I'm not sure you'll do," said Miss Doyle, desperately. "I--we--that
+is--we are three quite respectable young women who have under-taken to
+edit the _Millville Daily Tribune_, and the people we have secured to
+assist us are all--all quite desirable, in their way. So--; ahem!--so--"
+
+"That's all right," remarked the artist composedly. "I don't know that
+I blame you. I can see very well the atmosphere is not my atmosphere.
+When is the next train back to New York?"
+
+"At four o'clock, I believe."
+
+"I'll engage a nice upholstered seat in the smoking car. But I've
+several hours to loaf, and loafing is my best stunt. Isn't this a queer
+start for girls like you?" looking around the "den" critically. "I
+wonder how you got the bug, and what'll come of it. It's so funny to see
+a newspaper office where everything is brand new, and--eminently
+respectable. Do you mind my lighting a cigarette? This sort of a deal is
+quite interesting to an old-timer like me; but perhaps I owe you an
+apology for intruding. I had a letter from Tommy and one from a big
+banker--Marvin, I guess his name is."
+
+She drew two letters from her satchel and tossed them on the desk before
+Patsy.
+
+"They're no good to me now," she added. "Where's your waste basket?"
+
+The managing editor, feeling embarrassed by the presence of the artist,
+opened the letters. The first was from Mr. Marvin, Uncle John's banker,
+saying:
+
+"After much negotiation I have secured for you the best newspaper
+illustrator in New York, and a girl, too, which is an added
+satisfaction. For months I have admired the cartoons signed 'Het' in the
+New York papers, for they were essentially clever and droll. Miss Hewitt
+is highly recommended but like most successful artists is not always to
+be relied upon. I'm told if you can manage to win her confidence she
+will be very loyal to you."
+
+The other letter was from the editor of a great New York journal. "In
+giving you Hetty," he said, "I am parting with one of our strongest
+attractions, but in this big city the poor girl is rapidly drifting to
+perdition and I want to save her, if possible, before it is too late.
+She has a sweet, lovable nature, a generous heart and a keen intellect,
+but these have been so degraded by drink and dissipation that you may
+not readily discover them. My idea is that in a country town, away from
+all disreputable companionship, the child may find herself, and come to
+her own again. Be patient with her and help her all you can. Her
+wonderful talent will well repay you, even if you are not interested in
+saving one of God's creatures."
+
+Silently Patsy passed the letters to Beth and Louise. After reading them
+there was a new expression on the faces they turned toward Hetty Hewitt.
+
+"Forgive me," said Patsy, abruptly. "I--I think I misjudged you. I was
+wrong in saying what I did."
+
+"No; you were quite right." She sat with downcast eyes a moment, musing
+deeply. Then she looked up with a smile that quite glorified her wan
+face. "I'd like to stay, you know," she said humbly. "I'm facing a
+crisis, just now, and on the whole I'd rather straighten up. If you feel
+like giving me a chance I--I'd like to see if I've any reserve force or
+whether the decency in me has all evaporated."
+
+"We'll try you; and I'm sure you have lots of reserve force, Hetty,"
+cried Patsy, jumping up impulsively to take the artist's soiled, thin
+hand in her own. "Come with me to the hotel and I'll get you a room.
+Where is your baggage?"
+
+"Didn't bring it. I wasn't sure I'd like the country, or that you'd care
+to trust me. In New York they know me for what I'm worth, and I get lots
+of work and good advice--mixed with curses."
+
+"We'll send for your trunk," said Patsy, leading the girl up the street.
+
+"No; it's in hock. But I won't need it. With no booze to buy I can
+invest my earnings in wearing apparel. What a picturesque place this is!
+Way back in the primitive; no hint of those namby-pamby green meadows
+and set rows of shade trees that make most country towns detestable;
+rocks and boulders--boulders and rocks--and the scraggly pines for
+background. The wee brook has gone crazy. What do you call it?"
+
+"Little Bill Creek."
+
+"I'm going to stab it with my pencil. Where it bumps the rocks it's
+obstinate and pig-headed; where it leaps the little shelves of slate
+it's merry and playful; where it sweeps silently between the curving
+banks it is sulky and resentful. The Little Bill has moods, bless its
+heart! Moods betoken character."
+
+Patsy secured for Hetty a pleasant room facing the creek.
+
+"Where will you work, at the office or here?" she asked.
+
+"In the open, I guess. I'll run over the telegraph news to get a subject
+for the day's cartoon, and then take to the woods. Let me know what
+other pictures you want and I'll do 'em on the run. I'm a beast to
+work."
+
+Arthur Weldon, in his capacity as advertising manager, wrote to all the
+national advertisers asking their patronage for the _Millville Daily
+Tribune_. The letters were typewritten by the office stenographer on
+newly printed letterheads that Fitzgerald, the job printer, had
+prepared. Some of the advertisers were interested enough in Arthur's
+novel proposition to reply with questions as to the circulation of the
+new paper, where it was distributed, and the advertising rates. The
+voting man answered frankly that they had 27 subscribers already and
+were going to distribute 400 free copies every day, for a time, as
+samples, with the hope of increasing the subscription list. "I am not
+sure you will derive any benefit at all from advertising in our paper,"
+he added; "but we would like to have you try it, and you can pay us
+whatever you consider the results warrant."
+
+To his astonishment the advertisements arrived, a great many from very
+prominent firms, who accepted his proposal with amusement at his
+originality and a desire to help the new venture along.
+
+"Our square statement of facts has given us a good start," he told the
+girls. "I'm really amazed at our success, and it's up to you to make a
+paper that will circulate and make trade for these trustful
+advertisers."
+
+With the local merchants the results were less satisfying. Bob West put
+in a card advertising his hardware business and Nib Corkins cautiously
+invested a half dollar to promote his drug store and stock of tarnished
+cheap jewelry; but Sam Cotting said everybody knew what he had for sale
+and advertising wouldn't help him any. Arthur drove to Huntingdon with
+Louise and while the society editor picked up items her husband
+interviewed the merchants. The Huntingdon people were more interested in
+the new paper than the Millville folk, and Arthur quoted such low prices
+that several advertisements were secured. Two bright boys of this
+thriving village were also employed to ride over to Millville each
+morning, get a supply of _Tribunes_ and distribute a sample copy to
+every house in the neighborhood.
+
+"Fitz" set up the "ads" in impressive type and the columns of the first
+edition began to fill up days before the Fourth of July arrived. Louise
+had a story and two poems set in type and read over the proofs dozens of
+times with much pride and satisfaction, while Beth prepared an article
+on the history of baseball and the probable future of our national game.
+
+They did not see much of their artist during the first days following
+her arrival, but one afternoon she brought Patsy a sketch and asked:
+
+"Who is this?"
+
+Patsy glanced at it and laughed gleefully. It was Peggy McNutt, the
+fish-eyed pooh-bah of Millville, who was represented sitting on his
+front porch engaged in painting his wooden foot. This was one of
+McNutt's recognized amusements. He kept a supply of paints of many
+colors, and every few days appeared with his rudely carved wooden foot
+glistening with a new coat of paint and elaborately striped. Sometimes
+it would be blue with yellow stripes, then green with red stripes, and
+anon a lovely pink decorated with purple. One drawback to Peggy's
+delight in these transformations was the fact that it took the paint a
+night and a day to dry thoroughly, and during this period of waiting he
+would sit upon his porch with the wooden foot tenderly resting upon the
+rail--a helpless prisoner.
+
+"Some folks," he would say, "likes pretty neckties; an' some wears fancy
+socks; but fer my part I'd ruther show a han'some foot ner anything. It
+don't cost as much as wearin' socks an' neckties, an' it's more artistic
+like."
+
+Hetty had caught the village character in the act of striping the wooden
+foot, and his expression of intense interest in the operation was so
+original, and the likeness so perfect, from the string suspenders and
+flannel shirt to the antiquated straw hat and faded and patched
+overalls, that no one would be likely to mistake the subject. The sketch
+was entitled "The Village Artist," and Patsy declared they would run it
+on an inside page, just to make the Millville people aware of the "power
+of the press." Larry made an etching of it and mounted the plate for a
+double column picture. The original sketch Patsy decided to have framed
+and to hang it in her office.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE MILLVILLE DAILY TRIBUNE
+
+
+The first edition of the _Millville Daily Tribune_ certainly proved it
+to be a wonderful newspaper. The telegraphic news of the world's doings,
+received and edited by the skillful Miss Briggs, was equal to that of
+any metropolitan journal; the first page cartoon, referring to the
+outbreak of a rebellion in China, was clever and humorous enough to
+delight anyone; but the local news and "literary page" were woefully
+amateurish and smacked of the schoolgirl editors who had prepared them.
+Perhaps the Chazy County people did not recognize these deficiencies,
+for the new paper certainly created a vast amount of excitement and won
+the praise of nearly all who read it.
+
+On the eventful night of the _Tribune's_ "first run" our girls were too
+eager to go home and await its appearance, so they remained at the
+office to see the birth of their enterprise, and as it was the night
+preceding the Fourth of July Uncle John gave an exhibition of fireworks
+in front of the newspaper office, to the delight of the entire
+population.
+
+The girl journalists, however, were not so greatly interested in
+fireworks as in the birth of their fascinating enterprise. Wearing long
+gingham aprons they hovered over the big table where the forms were
+being locked up, and watched anxiously every movement of the workmen. It
+was exceedingly interesting to note how a column of the first page was
+left open until the last, so that copy "hot from the wire" of the very
+latest news might be added before going to press. Finally, at exactly
+two o'clock, the forms were locked, placed upon the bed of the press,
+and McGaffey, a sour-faced individual whose chief recommendation was his
+ability as a pressman, began to make ready for the "run."
+
+Outside the brilliantly lighted windows, which were left open for air,
+congregated a wondering group of the Millville people, many of whom had
+never been up so late before in all their lives. But the event was too
+important to miss. The huge, complicated press had already inspired
+their awe, and they were eager to "see it work" as it printed the new
+paper.
+
+The girls tolerated this native curiosity with indulgent good humor and
+at midnight even passed out sandwiches to the crowd, a supply having
+been secured for the workmen. These were accepted silently, and as they
+munched the food all kept their eyes fixed upon the magicians within.
+
+There was a hitch somewhere; McGaffey muttered naughty words under his
+breath and plied wrenches and screwdrivers in a way that brought a
+thrill of anxiety, approaching fear, to every heart. The press started
+half a dozen times, only to be shut down abruptly before it had printed
+a single impression. McGaffey counseled with Larry, who shook his head.
+Fitzgerald, the job printer, examined the machinery carefully and again
+McGaffey screwed nuts and regulated the press. Then he turned on the
+power; the big cylinder revolved; the white paper reeled out like a long
+ribbon and with a rattle and thump the first copy of the _Millville
+Daily Tribune_ was deposited, cut and folded, upon the table placed to
+receive it. Patsy made a rush for it, but before she could reach the
+table half a dozen more papers had been piled above it, and gathering
+speed the great press hummed busily and the pile of _Tribunes_ grew as
+if by magic.
+
+Patsy grabbed the first dozen and handed them to Beth, for they were to
+be reserved as souvenirs. Then, running back to the table, she seized a
+bunch and began distributing them to the watchers outside the window.
+The natives accepted them eagerly enough, but could not withdraw their
+eyes from the marvelous press, which seemed to possess intelligence
+almost human.
+
+Each of the three girl journalists now had a copy in hand, scanning it
+with boundless pride and satisfaction. It realized completely their
+fondest hopes and they had good cause to rejoice.
+
+Then Uncle John, who ought to have been in bed and sound asleep at this
+uncanny hour of night, came bouncing in, accompanied by Arthur Weldon.
+Each made a dive for a paper and each face wore an expression of genuine
+delight. The roar of the press made conversation difficult, but Mr.
+Merrick caught his nieces in his arms, by turn, and gave each one an
+ecstatic hug and kiss.
+
+Suddenly the press stopped.
+
+"What's wrong, McGaffey?" demanded Patsy, anxiously.
+
+"Nothing, miss. Edition off, that's all."
+
+"What! the entire four hundred are printed?"
+
+"Four twenty-five. I run a few extrys."
+
+And now a shriek of laughter came from the windows as the villagers,
+slowly opening the papers they held, came upon the caricature of Peggy
+McNutt. The subject of the cartoon had, with his usual aggressiveness,
+secured the best "standing room" available, and his contemplative,
+protruding eyes were yet fixed upon the interior of the workroom. But
+now, his curiosity aroused, he looked at the paper to see what his
+neighbors were laughing at, and his expression of wonder slowly changed
+to a broad grin. He straightened up, looked triumphantly around the
+circle and exclaimed:
+
+"By gum, folks, this 'ere paper's going to be a go! I didn't take no
+stock in it till now, but them fool gals seem to know their business,
+an' I'll back 'em to the last ditch!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+TROUBLE
+
+
+Of course the girls exhausted their store of "effusions" on the first
+two or three papers. A daily eats up "copy" very fast and the need to
+supply so much material began to bewilder the budding journalists. There
+was not sufficient local news to keep them going, but fortunately the
+New York news service supplied more general news than they could
+possibly use, and, besides, Mr. Marvin, foreseeing this dilemma, had
+sent on several long, stout boxes filled with "plate matter," which
+meant that a variety of stories, poems, special articles and paragraphs
+of every sort had been made into stereotyped plates of column width
+which could be placed anywhere in the paper where a space needed to be
+filled. This material, having been prepared by skilled writers, was of
+excellent character, so that the paper gained in its class of contents
+as the girlish contributions began to be replaced by "plates." The
+nieces did not abandon writing, however, and all three worked sedulously
+to prepare copy so that at least one column of the Tribune each day was
+filled with notes from their pens.
+
+Subscriptions came in freely during those first days, for farmers and
+villagers alike were proud of their local daily and the price was so low
+that no one begrudged the investment. But Uncle John well knew that if
+every individual in the county subscribed, and the advertising patronage
+doubled, the income would fall far short of running expenses.
+
+Saturday night, when the pay roll had to be met, the girls consulted
+together seriously. In spite of the new subscriptions received, a
+deficiency must be supplied, and they quietly advanced the money from
+their private purses. This was no great hardship, for each had an ample
+allowance from Uncle John, as well as an income from property owned in
+her own name.
+
+"It's only about thirty dollars apiece," said Patsy. "I guess we can
+stand that until--until more money begins coming in."
+
+On Saturday evening there was an invasion of workmen from Royal, many of
+whom we're rough foreigners who came to Millville in search of
+excitement, as a relief from their week's confinement at the pine woods
+settlement at the mill. Skeelty, who thought he knew how to manage these
+people, allowed every man, at the close of work on Saturday, to purchase
+a pint of whiskey from the company store, charging an exorbitant price
+that netted a huge profit. There was no strong drink to be had at
+Millville, so the workmen brought their bottles to town, carousing on
+the way, and thought it amusing to frighten the simple inhabitants of
+the village by their rude shouts and ribald songs.
+
+This annoyance had occurred several times since the establishment of the
+mill, and Bob West had protested vigorously to Mr. Skeelty for giving
+his men whiskey and turning them loose in a respectable community; but
+the manager merely grinned and said he must keep "the boys" satisfied at
+all hazards, and it was the business of the Millville people to protect
+themselves if the workmen became too boisterous.
+
+On this Saturday evening the girls were standing on the sidewalk outside
+the printing office, awaiting the arrival of Arthur with the surrey,
+when a group of the Royal workmen appeared in the dim light, swaggering
+three abreast and indulging in offensive language. Uncle John's nieces
+withdrew to the protection of the doorway, but a big bearded fellow in a
+red shirt discovered them, and, lurching forward, pushed his evil
+countenance in Patsy's face, calling to his fellows in harsh tones that
+he had "found a partner for a dance."
+
+An instant later he received a swinging blow above the ear that sent him
+sprawling at full length upon the sidewalk, and a quiet voice said:
+
+"Pardon me, ladies; it seemed necessary."
+
+All three at once recognized the supposed tramp whom they had seen the
+morning of their arrival, but whom Uncle John had reported to be one of
+the bookkeepers at the paper mill. The young fellow had no time to say
+more, for the downfall of their comrade brought a shout of rage from
+the group of workmen, numbering nearly a dozen, and with one accord they
+rushed upon the man who had dared champion the defenseless girls.
+
+Beth managed to open the door of the office, through which Patsy and
+Louise slipped instantly, but the younger girl, always cool in
+emergencies, held the door ajar while she cried to the young man:
+
+"Quick, sir--come inside!"
+
+Really, he had no time to obey, just then. With his back to the door he
+drove his fists at his assailants in a dogged, persistent way that
+felled three more of them before the others drew away from his stalwart
+bows. By that time Larry and Fitzgerald, who had been summoned by
+Louise, rushed from the office armed with iron bars caught up at random,
+both eager for a fight. The workmen, seeing the reinforcements, beat a
+retreat, carrying their sadly pommeled comrades with them, but their
+insulting language was not restricted until they had passed out of
+hearing.
+
+Then the young man turned, bowed gravely to the girls, who had now
+ventured forth again, and without waiting to receive their thanks
+marched calmly down the street.
+
+When Arthur reached home with the girls, Mr. Merrick was very indignant
+at his report of the adventure. He denounced Skeelty in unmeasured terms
+and declared he would find a way to protect Millville from further
+invasion by these rough and drunken workmen.
+
+There was no Sunday paper, so the girlish editors found the morrow a
+veritable day of rest. They all drove to Hooker's Falls to church and
+returned to find that old Nora had prepared a fine chicken dinner for
+them. Patsy had invited Hetty Hewitt, in whom she was now greatly
+interested, to dine with them, and to the astonishment of all the artist
+walked over to the farm arrayed in a new gown, having discarded the
+disreputable costume in which she had formerly appeared. The new dress
+was not in the best of taste and its loud checks made dainty Louise
+shudder, but somehow Hetty seemed far more feminine than before, and she
+had, moreover, washed herself carefully and tried to arrange her
+rebellious hair.
+
+"This place is doing me good," she confided to her girl employers,
+after dinner, when they were seated in a group upon the lawn. "I'm
+getting over my nervousness, and although I haven't drank a drop
+stronger than water since I arrived. I feel a new sort of energy
+coursing through my veins. Also I eat like a trooper--not at night, as I
+used to, but at regular mealtime. And I'm behaving quite like a lady. Do
+you know, I wouldn't be surprised to find it just as amusing to be
+respectable as to--to be--the other thing?"
+
+"You will find it far more satisfactory, I'm sure," replied Patsy
+encouragingly. "What most surprises me is that with your talent and
+education you ever got into such bad ways."
+
+"Environment," said Hetty. "That's what did it. When I first went to New
+York I was very young. A newspaper man took me out to dinner and asked
+me to have a cocktail. I looked around the tables and saw other girls
+drinking cocktails, so I took one. That was where I turned into the
+rocky road. People get careless around the newspaper offices. They work
+under a constant nervous strain and find that drink steadies them--for
+a time. By and by they disappear; others take their places, and they are
+never heard of again except in the police courts. I knew a girl, society
+editor of a big paper, who drew her five thousand a year, at one time.
+She got the cocktail habit and a week or so ago I paid her fine for
+getting pinched while intoxicated. She was in rags and hadn't a red
+cent. That set me thinking, and when Tommy fired me from his paper and
+said the best he could do was to get me a job in the country, it seemed
+as if my chance to turn over a new leaf had arrived. I've turned it,"
+she added, with a pathetic sigh; "but whether it'll stay turned, or not,
+is a question for the puzzle page."
+
+"Haven't you a family to look after you--or for you to look after?"
+asked Beth.
+
+"No. Brother and I were left orphans in a Connecticut town, and he went
+out West, to Chicago, and promised to send for me. Must have forgot that
+promise, I guess, for I've never heard of Dan since. I could draw
+pictures, so I went to New York and found a job. Guess that's my
+biography, and it isn't as interesting as one of Hearst's editorials,
+either."
+
+Hetty seemed pleased and grateful to note the frank friendliness of her
+girlish employers, in whom she recognized the admirable qualities she
+had personally sacrificed for a life of dissipation. In the privacy of
+her room at the hotel she had read the first copy of the Millville
+Tribune and shrieked with laughter at the ingenuous editorials and
+schoolgirl essays. Then she grew sober and thoughtful, envying in her
+heart the sweetness and simplicity so apparent in every line. Here were
+girls who possessed something infinitely higher than journalistic
+acumen; they were true women, with genuine womanly qualities and natures
+that betrayed their worth at a glance, as do ingots of refined gold.
+What would not this waif from the grim underworld of New York have given
+for such clear eyes, pure mind and unsullied heart? "I don't know as I
+can ever swim in their pond," Hetty reflected, with honest regret, "but
+there's a chance I can look folks square in the eye again--and that
+wouldn't be so bad."
+
+Monday morning, when Patsy, Louise and Beth drove to their office, Miss
+Briggs said nonchalantly:
+
+"McGaffey's gone."
+
+"Gone! Gone where?" asked Patsy.
+
+"Back to New York. Caught a freight from the Junction Saturday night."
+
+"Isn't he coming back?" inquired Beth.
+
+"Here's a letter he left," said Miss Briggs.
+
+They read it together. It was very brief; "Climate don't suit me. No
+excitement. I've quit. McGaffey."
+
+"I suppose," said Patsy, with indignation, "he intended to go, all the
+while, and only waited for his Saturday pay."
+
+Miss Briggs nodded. She was at the telegraph instrument.
+
+"What shall we do?" asked Louise. "Can anyone else work the press?"
+
+"I'll find out," said Patsy, marching into the workroom.
+
+Neither Fitz nor Larry would undertake to run the press. They said the
+machine was so complicated it required an expert, and unless an
+experienced pressman could be secured the paper must suspend
+publication.
+
+Here was an unexpected dilemma; one that for a time dazed them.
+
+"These things always happen in the newspaper business," remarked Miss
+Briggs, when appealed to. "Can't you telegraph to New York for another
+pressman?"
+
+"Yes; but he can't get here in time," said Patsy. "There's no Monday
+train to Chazy Junction, at all, and it would be Wednesday morning
+before a man could possibly arrive. To shut down the paper would ruin
+it, for everyone would think we had failed in our attempt and it might
+take us weeks to regain public confidence."
+
+"I know," said Miss Briggs, composedly. "A paper never stops. Somehow or
+other it always keeps going--even if the world turns somersaults and
+stands on its head. You'll find a way, I'm sure."
+
+But the bewildered girls had no such confidence. They drove back to the
+farm to consult with Uncle John and Arthur.
+
+"Let's take a look at that press, my dears," said Mr. Merrick. "I'm
+something of a mechanic myself, or was in my young days, and I may be
+able to work this thing until we can get a new pressman."
+
+"I'll help you," said Arthur. "Anyone who can run an automobile ought to
+be able to manage a printing press."
+
+So they went to the office, took off their coats and examined the press;
+but the big machine defied their combined intelligence. Uncle John
+turned on the power. The cylinder groaned, swung half around, and then
+the huge wooden "nippers" came down upon the table with a force that
+shattered them to kindlings. At the crash Mr. Merrick involuntarily shut
+down the machine, and then they all stood around and looked gloomily at
+the smash-up and wondered if the damage was irreparable.
+
+"Couldn't we print the paper on the job press?" asked the little
+millionaire, turning to Fitzgerald.
+
+"In sections, sir," replied Fitz, grinning. "Half a page at a time is
+all we can manage, but we might be able to match margins so the thing
+could be read."
+
+"We'll try it," said Uncle John. "Do your best, my man, and if you can
+help us out of this bog you shall be amply rewarded."
+
+Fitz looked grave.
+
+"Never knew of such a thing being done, sir," he remarked; "but that's
+no reason it's impossible."
+
+"'Twill be a horror of a make-up," added Larry, who did not relish his
+part in the experiment.
+
+Uncle John put on his coat and went into the front office, followed by
+Arthur and the girls in dismal procession.
+
+"A man to see the manager," announced Miss Briggs, nodding toward a
+quiet figure seated on the "waiting bench."
+
+The man stood up and bowed. It was the young bookkeeper from the paper
+mill, who had so bravely defended the girls on Saturday night. Uncle
+John regarded him with a frown.
+
+"I suppose Skeelty has sent you to apologize," he said.
+
+"No, sir; Skeelty is not in an apologetic mood," replied the man,
+smiling. "He has fired me."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Interfering with his workmen. The boys didn't like what I did the other
+night and threatened to strike unless I was put in the discard."
+
+"And now? asked Uncle John, looking curiously at the man.
+
+"I'm out of work and would like a job, sir."
+
+"What can you do?"
+
+"Anything."
+
+"That means nothing at all."
+
+"I beg your pardon. Let me say that I'm not afraid to tackle anything."
+
+"Can you run a power printing press?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ever had any experience?"
+
+The young man hesitated.
+
+"I'm not sure," he replied slowly; "but I think I have."
+
+This statement would not have been encouraging under ordinary
+circumstances, but in this emergency Uncle John accepted it.
+
+"What is your name?" he asked.
+
+Another moment's hesitation.
+
+"Call me Smith, please."
+
+"First name?"
+
+The man smiled.
+
+"Thursday," he said.
+
+All his hearers seemed astonished at this peculiar name, but Mr. Merrick
+said abruptly: "Follow me, Thursday Smith."
+
+The man obeyed, and the girls and Arthur trotted after them back to the
+pressroom.
+
+"Our pressman has deserted us without warning," explained Mr. Merrick.
+"None of our other employees is able to run the thing. If you can master
+it so as to run off the paper tonight, the job is yours."
+
+Thursday Smith took off his jacket--a cheap khaki affair--and rolled up
+his sleeves. Then he carefully looked over the press and found the
+damaged nippers. Without a word he picked up a wrench, released the stub
+ends of the broken fingers, gathered the pieces in his hand and asked:
+"Where is there a carpenter shop?"
+
+"Can you operate this press?" asked Mr. Merrick.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"The carpenter shop is a little shanty back of the hotel. You'll find
+Lon Taft there."
+
+Smith walked away, and Mr. Merrick drew a long breath of relief.
+
+"That's good luck," he said. "You may quit worrying, now, my dears."
+
+"Are you sure he's a good pressman, Uncle?"
+
+"No; but _he_ is sure. I've an idea he wouldn't attempt the thing,
+otherwise."
+
+Mr. Merrick returned to the farm, while Arthur drove Louise over to
+Huntingdon to gather items for the paper, and Patsy and Beth sat in the
+office arranging copy.
+
+In an hour Smith came back with new nippers, which he fitted to the
+steel frame. Then he oiled the press, started it going a few
+revolutions, to test its condition, and handled the machinery so
+dexterously and with such evident confidence that Larry nodded to Fitz
+and muttered, "He'll do."
+
+McGaffey, knowing he was about to decamp, had not kept the press very
+clean; but Thursday Smith put in the afternoon and evening removing
+grease, polishing and rubbing, until the huge machine shone resplendent.
+The girls went home at dinner time, but they sent Arthur to the office
+at midnight to see if the new pressman was proving capable. The Tuesday
+morning _Tribune_ greeted them at the breakfast table, and the presswork
+was remarkably clean and distinct.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THURSDAY SMITH
+
+
+In a day or so Mr. Merrick received a letter from Mr. Skeelty, the
+manager of the paper mill. He said: "I understand you have employed one
+of my discharged workmen, who is named Thursday Smith. My men don't want
+him in this neighborhood, and have made a strong protest. I therefore
+desire you to discharge the fellow at once, and in case you refuse to
+accede to this reasonable demand I shall shut off your power."
+
+Mr. Merrick replied: "Shut off the power and I'll sue you for damages.
+My contract with you fully protects me. Permit me a request in turn:
+that you mind your own business. The _Millville Tribune_ will employ
+whomsoever it chooses."
+
+Uncle John said nothing to the girls concerning this correspondence,
+nor did he mention it to the new pressman.
+
+On Wednesday Larry and Fitz sent in their "resignations," to take effect
+Saturday night. They told Patsy, who promptly interviewed them, that the
+town was altogether too slow for men accustomed to the city, but to
+Smith they admitted they feared trouble from the men at the mill.
+
+"I talked with one of the mill hands last night," said Larry, "and
+they're up to mischief. If you stay here, my boy, you'd better watch
+out, for it's you they're after, in the first place, and Skeelty has
+told 'em he wouldn't be annoyed if they wiped out the whole newspaper
+plant at the same time."
+
+Thursday nodded but said nothing. He began watching the work of the two
+men with comprehensive care. When Mr. Merrick came down to the office
+during the forenoon to consult with his nieces about replacing the two
+men who had resigned, Smith asked him for a private interview.
+
+"Come into the office," said Uncle John.
+
+When the man found the three girl journalists present he hesitated, but
+Mr. Merrick declared they were the ones most interested in anything an
+employee of the paper might have to say to his principals.
+
+"I am told, sir," Thursday began, "that the people at the mill have
+boycotted this paper."
+
+"They've cancelled all their subscriptions," replied Beth; "but as they
+had not paid for them it won't hurt us any."
+
+"It seems the trouble started through your employing me," resumed the
+young man; "so it will be best for you to let me go."
+
+"Never!" cried Mr. Merrick, firmly. "Do you suppose I'll allow that
+rascal Skeelty to dictate to us for a single minute? Not by a jug full!
+And the reason the men dislike you is because you pounded some of them
+unmercifully when they annoyed my girls. Where did you learn to use your
+fists so cleverly, Smith?"
+
+"I don't know, sir."
+
+"Well, you have earned our gratitude, and we're going to stand by you. I
+don't mind a bit of a row, when I'm on the right side of an argument. Do
+you?"
+
+"Not at all, sir; but the young ladies--"
+
+"They're pretty good fighters, too; so don't worry."
+
+Thursday was silent a moment. Then he said:
+
+"Fitzgerald and Doane tell me they're going to quit, Saturday."
+
+"It is true," replied Patsy. "I'm sorry, for they seem good men and we
+may have trouble replacing them."
+
+"They are not needed here, Miss Doyle," said Smith. "There isn't a great
+deal of electrotyping to do, or much job printing. More than half the
+time the two men are idle. It's the same way with my own job. Three
+hours a day will take care of the press and make the regular run. If you
+will permit me, I am sure I can attend to all the work, unaided."
+
+They looked at one another in amazement.
+
+"How about the make-up?" asked Uncle John.
+
+"I can manage that easily, sir. I've been watching the operation and
+understand it perfectly."
+
+"And you believe you can do the work of three men?"
+
+"Three men were unnecessary in a small plant like this, sir. Whoever
+sent them to you did not understand very well your requirements. I've
+been watching the compositors, too, and your three girls are one too
+many. Two are sisters, and can set all the type very easily. I recommend
+that you send the other back to New York."
+
+They considered this advice seriously.
+
+"I think Mr. Smith is right," observed Patsy. "The girls have not seemed
+busy, at all, and spend most of their time laughing and talking
+together."
+
+"It will cut down expenses a lot," said Beth, "and I'm sure we ought to
+be able to run this paper more economically than we have been doing."
+
+Uncle John looked at the man thoughtfully.
+
+"Where did you learn the printing business?" he asked.
+
+"I--I don't know, sir."
+
+"What offices have you worked in?"
+
+"I cannot tell you that, sir."
+
+"You seem to answer all my questions with the statement that you 'don't
+know,'" asserted Mr. Merrick, with an annoyed frown. "Is there any
+reason you should refuse to tell us of your former life?"
+
+"None whatever, sir."
+
+"Who are you, Smith?"
+
+"I--I don't know, sir."
+
+Mr. Merrick was getting provoked.
+
+"This obstinacy is not likely to win our confidence," he said. "Under
+the circumstances I think we ought to know something more about you,
+before we allow you to undertake so much responsibility. You seem a
+bright, able young man, and I've no doubt you understand the work you're
+about to undertake, but if we have no knowledge of your antecedents you
+may cause us considerable future trouble."
+
+Smith bowed his head and his cheeks flamed red.
+
+"I have no knowledge of my antecedents to confide to you, sir," he said
+in a low voice.
+
+Uncle John sighed regretfully and turned away, but Patsy looked at the
+man with new interest.
+
+"Won't you please explain that a little more fully?" she gently
+inquired.
+
+"I am quite willing to tell all I know," said he; "but that is very
+little, I assure you. Two years ago last May, on the morning of
+Thursday, the twenty-second, I awoke to find myself lying in a ditch
+beside a road. Of my life previous to that time I have no knowledge
+whatever."
+
+The three girls regarded him with startled eyes. Uncle John turned from
+the window to examine the young man with new interest.
+
+"Were you injured?" he asked.
+
+"My right ankle was sprained and I had a cut under my left eye--you can
+see the scar still."
+
+"You have no idea how you came there?"
+
+"Not the slightest. I did not recognize the surrounding country; I had
+no clear impression as to who I was. There was a farmhouse a quarter of
+a mile away; I limped to it and they gave me some breakfast. I found I
+was fifty-six miles from New York. The farmer had heard of no accident;
+there was no railway nearer than six miles; the highway was little
+used. I told the good people my story and they suspected me of being
+drunk or crazy, but did not credit a single word I said."
+
+"That was but natural," said Uncle John.
+
+"After breakfast I took stock of myself. In my pockets I found a
+twenty-dollar bill and some silver. I wore a watch and chain and a ring
+set with a good-sized diamond. My clothing seemed good, but the ditch
+had soiled it. I had no hat, nor could the farmer find one when I sent
+him back to look for it. My mind was not wholly a blank; I seemed to
+have a fair knowledge of life, and when the farmer mentioned New York
+the city seemed familiar to me. But in regard to myself, my past
+history--even my name--I was totally ignorant. All personal
+consciousness dated from the moment I woke up in the ditch."
+
+"How wonderful!" exclaimed Louise.
+
+"And you haven't solved the mystery yet, after two years?" asked Patsy.
+
+"No, Miss Doyle. I hired the farmer to drive me to the railway station,
+where I took the train to New York. I seemed to know the city, but no
+recollection guided me to home or friends. I went to a small hotel,
+took a room, and began to read all the newspapers, seeking to discover
+if anyone was reported missing. The sight of automobiles led me to
+conceive the theory that I had been riding in one of those machines
+along a country road when something threw me out. My head might have
+struck a stump or stone and the blow rendered me insensible. Something
+in the nature of the thing, or in my physical condition, deprived me of
+all knowledge of the past. Since then I have read of several similar
+cases. The curious thing about my own experience was that I could find
+no reference to my disappearance, in any way, nor could I learn of any
+automobile accident that might account for it. I walked the streets day
+after day, hoping some acquaintance would accost me. I waited patiently
+for some impulse to direct me to my former haunts. I searched the
+newspapers persistently for a clue; but nothing rewarded me.
+
+"After spending all my money and the proceeds of my watch and diamond, I
+began to seek employment; but no one would employ a man without
+recommendations or antecedents. I did not know what work I was capable
+of doing. So finally I left the city and for more than two years I have
+been wandering from one part of the country to another, hoping that some
+day I would recognize a familiar spot. I have done odd jobs, at times,
+but my fortunes went from bad to worse until of late I have become no
+better than the typical tramp."
+
+"How did you secure employment as a book-keeper for Skeelty?" asked
+Uncle John.
+
+"I heard a new mill had started at Royal and walked up there to inquire
+for work. The manager asked if I could keep books, and I said yes."
+
+"Have you ever kept books before?"
+
+"Not that I know of; but I did it very well. I seemed to comprehend the
+work at once, and needed no instruction. Often during these two years I
+have encountered similar curious conditions. I sold goods in a store and
+seemed to know the stocks; I worked two weeks in a telegraph office and
+discovered I knew the code perfectly; I've shod horses for a country
+blacksmith, wired a house for electric lights and compounded
+prescriptions in a drug store. Whatever I have undertaken to do I seem
+able to accomplish, and so it is hard for me to guess what profession I
+followed before my memory deserted me."
+
+"You did not retain any position for long, it seems," remarked Uncle
+John.
+
+"No; I was always impatient to move on, always hoping to arrive at some
+place so familiar that my lost memory would return to me. The work I
+have mentioned was nearly all secured during the first year. After I
+became seedy and disreputable in appearance people were more apt to
+suspect me and work was harder to obtain."
+
+"Why did you come to Millville?" asked Louise.
+
+"You brought me here," he answered, with a smile. "I caught a ride on
+your private car, when it left New York, not caring much where it might
+take me. When I woke up the next morning the car was sidetracked at
+Chazy Junction, and as this is a section I have never before explored I
+decided to stay here for a time. That is all of my story, I believe."
+
+"Quite remarkable!" declared Mr. Merrick, emphatically. The girls, too,
+had been intensely interested in the strange recital.
+
+"You seem educated," said Patsy thoughtfully; "therefore you must have
+come from a good family."
+
+"That does not seem conclusive," replied Thursday Smith, deprecatingly,
+"although I naturally hope my family was respectable. I have been
+inclined to resent the fact that none of my friends or relatives has
+ever inquired what became of me."
+
+"Are you sure they have not?"
+
+"I have watched the papers carefully. In two years I have followed
+several clues. A bricklayer disappeared, but his drowned body was
+finally found; a college professor was missing, but he was sixty years
+of age; a young man in New York embezzled a large sum and hid himself. I
+followed that trail, although regretfully, but the real embezzler was
+caught the day I presented myself in his place. Perhaps the most curious
+experience was in the case of a young husband who deserted his wife and
+infant child. She advertised for him; he had disappeared about the time
+I had found myself; so I went to see her."
+
+"What was the result?" asked Beth.
+
+"She said I was not her husband, but if he failed to come back I might
+take his place, provided I would guarantee to support her."
+
+During the laugh that followed, Thursday Smith went back to his work and
+an animated discussion concerning his strange story followed.
+
+"He seems honest," said Louise, "but I blame a man of his ability for
+becoming a mere tramp. He ought to have asserted himself and maintained
+the position in which he first found himself."
+
+"How?" inquired Patsy.
+
+"At that time he was well dressed and had a watch and diamond ring. If
+he had gone to some one and frankly told his story he could surely have
+obtained a position to correspond with his personality. But instead of
+this he wasted his time and the little capital he possessed in doing
+nothing that was sensible."
+
+"It is easy for us to criticise the man," remarked Beth, "and he may be
+sorry, now, that he did not act differently. But I think, in his place,
+I should have made the same attempt he did to unravel the mystery of his
+lost identity. So much depended upon that."
+
+"It's all very odd and incomprehensible," said Uncle John. "I wonder who
+he can be."
+
+"I suppose he calls himself Thursday because that was the day he first
+found himself," observed Patsy.
+
+"Yes; and Smith was the commonest name he could think of to go with it.
+The most surprising thing," added their uncle, "is the fact that a man
+of his standing was not missed or sought for."
+
+"Perhaps," suggested Louise, "he had been insane and escaped from some
+asylum."
+
+"Then how did he come to be lying in a ditch?" questioned Patsy; "and
+wouldn't an escaped maniac be promptly hunted down and captured?"
+
+"I think so," agreed Mr. Merrick. "For my part, I'm inclined to accept
+the man's theory that it was an automobile accident."
+
+"Then what became of the car, or of the others in it?"
+
+"It's no use," said Beth, shaking her head gravely. "If Thursday Smith,
+who is an intelligent young man, couldn't solve the mystery himself, it
+isn't likely we can do so."
+
+"We know as much as he does, as far as that is concerned," said Patsy,
+"and our combined intelligence ought at least to equal his. I'm sorry
+for the poor man, and wish we might help him to come to his own again."
+
+They all agreed to this sentiment and while the girls attended to their
+editorial duties they had the amazing story of Thursday Smith uppermost
+in their minds. When the last copy had been placed in the hands of Miss
+Briggs and they were driving to the farm--at a little after six
+o'clock--they renewed the interesting discussion.
+
+Just before reaching the farm Hetty Hewitt came out of the wood just in
+front of them. She was clothed in her short skirt and leggings and bore
+a fishing rod and a creel.
+
+"What luck?" asked Patsy, stopping the horse.
+
+"Seven trout," answered the artist. "I might have caught more, but the
+poor little creatures squirmed and struggled so desperately that I
+hadn't the heart to destroy any more of them. Won't you take them home
+for Mr. Merrick's breakfast?"
+
+Patsy looked at the girl musingly.
+
+"Jump in, Hetty," she said; "I'm going to take you with us for the
+night. The day's fishing has tired you; there are deep circles under
+your eyes; and that stuffy old hotel isn't home-like. Jump in."
+
+Hetty flushed with pleasure, but hesitated to accept the invitation.
+
+"I--I'm not dressed for--"
+
+"You're all right," said Beth, supporting her cousin's proposition.
+"We'll lend you anything you need."
+
+"Do come, Miss Hewitt," added Louise.
+
+Hetty sighed, then smiled and finally climbed into the surrey.
+
+"In New York," she said, as they started on, "I've sometimes hobnobbed
+with editors; but this is somewhat different."
+
+"In what way?" asked Patsy casually.
+
+"You're not real journalists, you know, and--"
+
+"Why aren't we journalists?" asked Louise.
+
+For a moment Hetty was puzzled how to reply.
+
+"You are doing very good editorial work," she said mendaciously, "but,
+after all, you are only playing at journalism. The real journalist--as I
+know him--is a Bohemian; a font of cleverness running to waste; a
+reckless, tender-hearted, jolly, careless ne'er-do-well who works like a
+Trojan and plays like a child. He is very sophisticated at his desk and
+very artless when he dives into the underworld for rest and recreation.
+He lives at high tension, scintillates, burns his red fire without
+discrimination and is shortly extinguished. You are not like that. You
+can't even sympathize with that sort of person. But I can, for I'm cut
+from a remnant of the same cloth."
+
+"Scintillate all you want to, Hetty," cried Patsy with a laugh; "but
+you're not going to be extinguished. For we, the imitation journalists,
+have taken you under our wings. There's no underworld at Millville, and
+the only excitement we can furnish just now is a night with us at the
+old farm."
+
+"That," replied Hetty, "is indeed a real excitement. You can't quite
+understand it, perhaps; but it's so--so very different from what I'm
+accustomed to."
+
+Uncle John welcomed the girl artist cordially and under his hospitable
+roof the waif soon felt at ease. At dinner the conversation turned upon
+Thursday Smith and his peculiar experience. Beth asked Hetty if she knew
+the man.
+
+"Yes," replied the girl; "I've seen him at the office and we've
+exchanged a word or two. But he boards with Thorne, the liveryman, and
+not at the hotel."
+
+"You have never seen him before you met him here?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"I wonder," said Louise musingly, "if he is quite right in his mind. All
+this story may be an hallucination, you know."
+
+"He's a very clever fellow," asserted Hetty, "and such a loss of memory
+is by no means so uncommon as you think. Our brains are queer
+things--mine is, I know--and it doesn't take much to throw their
+machinery out of gear. Once I knew a reporter who was worried and
+over-worked. He came to the office one morning and said he was George
+Washington, the Commander of the Continental Army. In all other ways he
+was sane enough, and we humored him and called him 'General.' At the end
+of three months the idea quit him as suddenly as it had come on, and he
+was not only normal but greatly restored in strength of intellect
+through the experience. Perhaps some of the overworked brain cells had
+taken a rest and renewed their energy. It would not surprise me if some
+day Thursday Smith suddenly remembered who he was."
+
+[Footnote: This anecdote is true.--_Author._]
+
+"In the meantime," said Uncle John, "I'm going to make an effort to
+discover his identity."
+
+"In what way, Uncle?" asked Patsy.
+
+"I'll set Fogerty, who is a clever detective, at work. No man can
+disappear from his customary haunts without leaving some sort of a
+record behind him, and Fogerty may be able to uncover the mystery in a
+short time."
+
+"Then we'll lose our pressman," declared Beth; "for I'm positive that
+Thursday Smith was a person of some importance in his past life."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE HONER'BLE OJOY BOGLIN
+
+
+One morning while Patsy was alone in her office, busied over her work,
+the door softly opened and a curious looking individual stood before
+her.
+
+He was thin in form, leathery skinned and somewhat past the middle age
+of life. His clothing consisted of a rusty black Prince Albert coat,
+rusty trousers to match, which were carefully creased, cowhide shoes
+brilliant with stove polish, a tall silk hat of antiquated design, and a
+frayed winged collar decorated with a black tie on which sparkled a
+large diamond attached to a chain. He had chin whiskers of a sandy gray
+color and small gray eyes that were both shrewd and suspicious in
+expression.
+
+He stood in the doorway a moment, attentively eyeing the girl, while
+she in turn examined him with an amusement she could not quite suppress.
+Then he said, speaking in a low, diffident voice:
+
+"I'm lookin' for the editor."
+
+"I am the editor," asserted Patsy.
+
+"Really?"
+
+"It is quite true."
+
+He seemed disconcerted a moment, striving to regain his assurance. Then
+he took out a well-worn pocketbook and from its depths abstracted a
+soiled card which, leaning forward, he placed carefully upon the table
+before Patsy. She glanced at it and read: "Hon. Ojoy Boglin, Hooker's
+Falls, Chazy County."
+
+"Oh," said she, rather surprised; "are you Mr. Boglin?"
+
+"I am the Honer'ble Ojoy Boglin, miss," he replied, dwelling lovingly
+upon the "Honer'ble."
+
+"I have not had the honor of your acquaintance," said she, deciding she
+did not like her visitor. "What is your business, please?"
+
+The Hon. Ojoy coughed. Then he suddenly remembered he was in the
+presence of a lady and took off his hat. Next he slid slowly into the
+vacant chair at the end of the table.
+
+"First," he began, "I want to compliment you on your new paper. It's a
+good thing, and I like it. It's what's been needed in these 'ere parts a
+long time, and it's talked about all over Chazy County."
+
+"Thank you," said the editor briefly, for the praise was given in a
+perfunctory way that irritated her.
+
+"The only other papers in this senatorial deestric', which covers three
+counties," continued the visitor, in impressive tones, "air weeklies,
+run by political mud-slingers that's bought up by the Kleppish gang."
+
+"What is the Kleppish gang?" she asked, wonderingly.
+
+"The supporters o' that rascal, Colonel Kleppish, who has been
+occupyin' my berth for goin' on eight years," he said with fierce
+indignation.
+
+"I fear I do not understand," remarked Patsy, really bewildered. "What
+was your berth, which Colonel Kleppish has--has usurped?"
+
+"See that 'Honer'ble' on the card?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"That means I were senator--state senator--which makes any common man
+honer'ble, accordin' to law, which it's useless to dispute. I were
+elected fer this deestric', which covers three counties," he said
+proudly, "an' I served my country in that capacity."
+
+"Oh, I see. But you're not state senator now?"
+
+"No; Kleppish beat me for the nomination, after I'd served only one
+term."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Eh? Why did he git the nomination? 'Cause he bought up the
+newspapers--the country weeklies--and set them to yellin' 'graft.' He
+made 'em say I went into office poor, and in two years made a fortune."
+
+"Did you?" asked the girl.
+
+He shuffled in his seat.
+
+"I ain't used to talkin' politics with a girl," he admitted; "but seein'
+as you're the editor of this paper--a daily, by Jupe!--you've probably
+got a head on you and understand that a man don't get into office for
+his health. There's a lot of bother in servin' your country, and a man
+oughter be well paid for it. I did jest like the others do--like
+Kleppish is doin' right now--but the reg'lar voters don't understand
+politics, and when the howl went up about graft, backed by Kleppish's
+bought-up newspapers, they turned me down cold. I've been eight years
+watchin' for a chance to get in again, an' now I've got it."
+
+"This is very interesting, I'm sure," remarked Patsy; "but our paper
+doesn't go much into local politics, Mr. Boglin, and I'm very busy
+to-day."
+
+"Honer'ble Ojoy Boglin," he said, correcting her; but he did not take
+the hint to leave.
+
+Patsy picked up her pencil as if to resume her work, while he eyed her
+with a countenance baffled and uncertain. Presently he asked:
+
+"Has Kleppish got this paper too?"
+
+"No," she coldly replied.
+
+"I thought I'd likely head him off, you being so new. See here,
+Editor--"
+
+"I am Miss Doyle, sir."
+
+"Glad to know you, Miss Doyle. What I was about to remark is this: The
+election for senator comes up agin in September and I want this paper to
+pull for me. Bein' as it's a daily it's got more power than all of
+Kleppish's weeklies put together, and if you work the campaign proper
+I'll win the nomination hands down. This is a strong Republican
+deestric', and to git nominated on the Republican ticket is the same as
+an election. So what I want is the nomination. What do you say?"
+
+Patsy glared at him and decided that as far as appearances went he was
+not a fit candidate for any office, however humble. But she answered
+diplomatically:
+
+"I will inquire into the condition of politics in this district, Mr.
+Boglin, and try to determine which candidate is the most deserving.
+Having reached a decision, the _Millville Tribune_ will espouse the
+cause of the best man--if it mentions local politics at all."
+
+The Hon. Ojoy gave a dissatisfied grunt.
+
+"That means, in plain words," he suggested, "that you'll give Kleppish a
+chance to bid against me. But I need this paper, and I'm willin' to pay
+a big price for it. Let Kleppish go, and we'll make our dicker right
+now, on a lib'ral basis. It's the only way you can make your paper pay.
+I've got money, Miss Doyle. I own six farms near Hooker's Falls, which
+is in this county, and six hundred acres of good pine forest, and I'm
+director in the Bank of Huntingdon, with plenty of money out on
+interest. Also I own half the stock in the new paper mill at Royal--"
+
+"You do?" she exclaimed. "I thought Mr. Skeelty--"
+
+"Skeelty's the head man, of course," he said. "He came to me about the
+mill proposition and I went in with him. I own all the forest around
+Royal. Bein' manager, and knowin' the business, Skeelty stood out for
+fifty-one shares of stock, which is the controllin' interest; but I own
+all the rest, and the mill's makin' good money. People don't know I'm in
+that deal, and of course this is all confidential and not to be talked
+about."
+
+"Very well, sir. But I fear you have mistaken the character of our
+paper," said Patsy quietly. "We are quite independent, Mr. Boglin, and
+intend to remain so--even if we can't make the paper pay. In other
+words, the _Millville Daily Tribune_ can't be bought."
+
+He stared in amazement; then scratched his ear with a puzzled air.
+
+"Such talk as that means somethin'," he asserted, gropingly, "but what
+it means, blamed if I know! Newspapers never turn money down unless
+they're a'ready bought, or have got a grouch of their own.... Say!" he
+suddenly cried, as an inspiration struck him, "you ain't got anything
+agin the mill at Royal, or agin Skeelty, have you?"
+
+"I have, sir!" declared Patsy, raising her head to frown discouragingly
+upon the Honer'ble Ojoy. "Mr. Skeelty is acting in a very disagreeable
+manner. He has not only boycotted our paper and refused to pay for the
+subscriptions he engaged, but I understand he is encouraging his workmen
+to annoy the Millville people, and especially this printing office."
+
+"Well--durn--Skeelty!" ejaculated Mr. Boglin, greatly discomposed by
+this statement. "But I'll fix all that, Miss Doyle," he added, eagerly.
+"Skeelty's my partner and he's got to do what I say or I'll make trouble
+for him. You dicker with me for the support of your paper and I'll
+guarantee a hundred subscriptions from Royal and get you an apology from
+Skeelty and a promise he'll behave an' keep his men to home. And all
+that's outside the price I'll agree to pay."
+
+Patsy's eyes were full of scorn.
+
+"I won't dicker with you an instant," she firmly declared. "I don't know
+Colonel Kleppish, or what his character is, but I'm very sure he's the
+better man and that the people have made no mistake in electing him in
+your place. No respectable candidate for office would attempt to buy the
+support of a newspaper, and I advise you to change the wording on your
+card. Instead of 'Honorable' it should read 'Dishonorable' Ojoy Boglin.
+Good day, sir!"
+
+Mr. Boglin's face turned white with rage. He half rose from his seat,
+but sat down again with a vicious snarl.
+
+"I've coaxed, so far, young woman," he said grimly, "but I guess it's
+time I showed my hand. You'll either run this paper in my interest or
+I'll push Skeelty on to make the town too hot to hold you. I've got
+power in this county, even if I ain't senator, and you'll feel that
+power if you dare oppose me. Take your choice, girl--either to make good
+money out o' this campaign, or be run out of town, neck an' crop! It's
+up to you to decide."
+
+"In thirty seconds," said Patsy, her face as white as was Boglin's, "I
+shall ring this bell to summon my men to throw you out."
+
+The Honer'ble Ojoy slowly rose and put on his hat.
+
+"Look out!" he said warningly.
+
+"I will," snapped Patsy.
+
+"This ain't the end of it, girl!"
+
+"There are ten seconds left," she said.
+
+He picked up his card, turned his back and walked out, leaving his
+opponent trembling betwixt agitation and righteous indignation. A few
+moments later Bob West came in and looked at the girl editor curiously.
+
+"Ojoy Boglin has been here," he said.
+
+"The Honer'ble Ojoy, if you please," answered Patsy, with a laugh that
+bordered on hysteria.
+
+The hardware man nodded, his eyes reading her face.
+
+"You were quite right to turn him down," he asserted.
+
+"It was the only thing to do," responded the girl, wondering how he
+knew.
+
+"But Boglin is a dangerous man," resumed West. "Look out for him. Miss
+Doyle."
+
+"Yes; he told me to do that, and I will," said she, more quietly. "He is
+Skeelty's partner."
+
+"And you're not afraid of him?"
+
+"Why should I be, Mr. West?"
+
+He smiled.
+
+"I'm justice of the peace here. If there's a hint of trouble from Boglin
+or Skeelty, come directly to me."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. West. I will."
+
+With this he nodded cheerfully and went away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+MOLLY SIZER'S PARTY
+
+
+The people of Chazy County were very proud of the _Millville Tribune_,
+the only daily paper in that section of the state. It was really a very
+good newspaper, if small in size, and related the news of the day as
+promptly as the great New York journals did.
+
+Arthur Weldon had not been very enthusiastic about the paper at any
+time, although he humored the girls by attending in a good-natured way
+to the advertising, hiring some of the country folk to get
+subscriptions, and keeping the books. He was a young man of considerable
+education who had inherited a large fortune, safely invested, and
+therefore had no need, through financial necessity, to interest himself
+in business of any sort. He allowed the girls to print his name as
+editor in chief, but he did no editorial work at all, amusing himself
+these delightful summer days by wandering in the woods, where he
+collected botanical specimens, or sitting with Uncle John on the lawn,
+where they read together or played chess. Both the men were glad the
+girls were happy in their work and enthusiastic over the success of
+their audacious venture. Beth was developing decided talent as a writer
+of editorials and her articles were even more thoughtful and dignified
+than were those of Patsy. The two girls found plenty to occupy them at
+the office, while Louise did the reportorial work and flitted through
+Millville and down to Huntingdon each day in search of small items of
+local interest. She grew fond of this work, for it brought her close to
+the people and enabled her to study their characters and peculiarities.
+Her manner of approaching the simple country folk was so gracious and
+winning that they freely gave her any information they possessed, and
+chatted with her unreservedly.
+
+Sometimes Louise would make her rounds alone, but often Arthur would
+join her for an afternoon drive to Huntingdon, and it greatly amused
+him to listen to his girl-wife's adroit manner of "pumping the natives."
+
+About halfway to Huntingdon was the Sizer Farm, the largest and most
+important in that vicinity. Old Zeke Sizer had a large family--five boys
+and three girls--and they were noted as quite the most aggressive and
+disturbing element in the neighborhood. Old Zeke was rude and coarse and
+swore like a trooper, so his sons could not be expected to excel him in
+refinement. Bill Sizer, the eldest, was a hard drinker, and people who
+knew him asserted that he "never drew a sober breath." The other sons
+were all quarrelsome in disposition and many a free fight was indulged
+in among them whenever disputes arose. They were industrious farmers,
+though, and the three girls and their mother worked from morning till
+night, so the farm prospered and the Sizers were reputed to be
+"well-off."
+
+Molly, the eldest girl, had attracted Louise, who declared she was
+pretty enough to arrest attention in any place. Indeed, this girl was a
+"raving beauty" in her buxom, countrified way, and her good looks were
+the pride of the Sizer family and the admiration of the neighbors. The
+other two were bouncing, merry girls, rather coarse in manner, as might
+be expected from their environment; but Molly, perhaps fully conscious
+of her prettiness, assumed certain airs and graces and a regal
+deportment that brought even her big, brutal brothers to her feet in
+adoration.
+
+The Sizers were among the first subscribers to the _Millville Tribune_
+and whenever Louise stopped at the farmhouse for news the family would
+crowd around her, ignoring all duties, and volunteer whatever
+information they possessed. For when they read their own gossip in the
+local column it gave them a sort of proprietary interest in the paper,
+and Bill had once thrashed a young clerk at Huntingdon for questioning
+the truth of an item the Sizers had contributed.
+
+One day when Louise and Arthur stopped at the farm, Mollie ran out with
+an eager face to say that Friday was her birthday and the Sizers were to
+give a grand party to celebrate it.
+
+"We want you to come over an' write it up, Mrs. Weldon," said the girl.
+"They're comin' from twenty mile around, fer the dance, an' we've got
+the orchestry from Malvern to play for us. Pop's goin' to spend a lot of
+money on refreshments an' it'll be the biggest blow-out Chazy County
+ever seen!"
+
+"I think I can write up the party without being present, Mollie,"
+suggested Louise.
+
+"No; you come over. I read once, in a novel, how an editor come to a
+swell party an' writ about all the dresses an' things--said what
+everybody wore, you know. I'm goin' to have a new dress, an' if
+ever'thing's described right well we'll buy a lot of papers to send to
+folks we know in Connecticut."
+
+"Well," said Louise, with a sigh, "I'll try to drive over for a little
+while. It is to be Saturday, you say?"
+
+"Yes; the birthday's Friday and the dance Saturday night, rain or shine.
+An' you might bring the chief editor, your husband, an' try a dance with
+us. It wouldn't hurt our reputation any to have you folks mingle with us
+on this festive occasion," she added airily.
+
+They had a good laugh over this invitation when it was reported at Mr.
+Merrick's dinner table, and Patsy insisted that Louise must write up
+the party.
+
+"It will be fun to give it a 'double head' and a big send-off," she
+said. "Write it up as if it were a real society event, dear, and exhaust
+your vocabulary on the gowns. You'll have to invent some Frenchy names
+to describe those, I guess, for they'll be wonders; and we'll wind up
+with a list of 'those present.'"
+
+So on Saturday evening Arthur drove his wife over to the Sizer farm, and
+long before they reached there they heard the scraping of fiddles,
+mingled with shouts and boisterous laughter. It was a prohibition
+district, to be sure, but old Sizer had imported from somewhere outside
+the "dry zone" a quantity of liquors more remarkable for strength than
+quality, and with these the guests had been plied from the moment of
+their arrival. Most of them were wholly unused to such libations, so by
+the time Arthur and Louise arrived, the big living room of the farmhouse
+presented an appearance of wild revelry that was quite deplorable.
+
+Molly welcomed them with wild enthusiasm and big Bill, her adoring
+brother, demanded in a loud voice if Arthur did not consider her the
+"Belle of Chazy County."
+
+"They ain't a stunner in the state as kin hold a candle to our Molly,"
+he added, and then with uncertain gait he left the "reporters" with the
+promise to "bring 'em a drink."
+
+"Come, Louise," said Arthur, quietly, "let's get out of here."
+
+He drew her to the door and as a dance was just starting they managed to
+escape without notice.
+
+"What a disgraceful scene!" cried Louise, when they were on their way
+home; "and to think of such a shocking carousal being held in good old
+Chazy County, where morals are usually irreproachable! I shall not
+mention the affair in the _Tribune_ at all."
+
+But Patsy, who had a managing editor's respect for news of any sort,
+combatted this determination and begged Louise to write up Molly Sizer's
+party without referring to its deplorable features.
+
+"It isn't policy to offend the Sizers," she said, "for although they
+are coarse and common they have shown a friendly spirit toward the
+paper. Moreover, the enmity of such people--which would surely result
+from our ignoring the birthday party--would keep us in hot water."
+
+So Louise, though reluctantly, wrote up the party and the manuscript was
+sent over to Miss Briggs Sunday afternoon, so it would get a place in
+Monday morning's _Tribune_.
+
+Uncle John had the paper at breakfast on Monday, and he gave an amused
+laugh as his eye caught the report of the Sizer party.
+
+"This is a good one on you, Louise," he exclaimed. "You say that Miss
+Molly, 'looking more lovely than ever in her handsome new gown, greeted
+her guests with a roughish smile.'"
+
+"A what?" demanded Louise, horrified.
+
+"A 'roughish' smile."
+
+"Oh; that's a mistake," she said, glancing at the item. "What I said was
+a 'roguish' smile; but there's been a typographical error which Miss
+Briggs must have overlooked in reading the proof."
+
+"Nevertheless," remarked Arthur, "the statement isn't far wrong.
+Everything was rough, including the smiles, as far as I noted that
+remarkable gathering."
+
+"But--see here!" cried Patsy; "that's a dreadful mistake. That spoils
+all the nice things you said about the girl, Louise. I hope the Sizers
+won't notice it."
+
+But the Sizers did, and were frantic with rage over what they deemed was
+a deliberate insult to Molly. Several young men who had come from
+distances to attend the birthday party had stayed over Sunday at the
+farmhouse, where the revelry still continued in a fitful way, due to
+vain attempts to relieve racking headaches by further libations. Monday
+morning found the dissipated crew still the guests of the Sizers, and
+when big Bill slowly spelled out the assertion made by the _Tribune_
+that his sister had "a roughish smile" loud cries of indignation arose.
+Molly first cried and then had hysterics and screamed vigorously; Bill
+swore vengeance on the _Millville Tribune_ and all connected with it,
+while the guests gravely asserted it was "a low-down, measly trick"
+which the Sizers ought to resent. They all began drinking again, to
+calm their feelings, and after the midday dinner Bill Sizer grabbed a
+huge cowhide whip and started to Millville to "lick the editor to a
+standstill." A wagonload of his guests accompanied him, and Molly
+pleaded with her brother not to hurt Mrs. Weldon.
+
+"I won't; but I'll cowhide that fresh husband of hers," declared Bill.
+"He's the editor--the paper says so--and he's the one I'm after!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+BOB WEST INTERFERES
+
+
+It was unfortunate that at that time Thursday Smith had gone up the
+electric line toward Royal, to inspect it. In the office were Patsy,
+Hetty Hewitt--who was making a drawing--Arthur Weldon, engaged upon his
+books, and finally, seated in an easy-chair from which he silently
+watched them work, old Bob West, the hardware man. Louise and Beth had
+driven over to the Junction to write up an accident, one of the trainmen
+having caught his hand in a coupling, between two freight cars.
+
+Bob West often dropped into the office, which was next door to his own
+place of business, but he was a silent man and had little to say on
+these visits. In his early days he had wandered pretty much over the
+whole world, and he could relate some interesting personal adventures
+if he chose. In this retired village West was the one inhabitant
+distinguished above his fellows for his knowledge of the world. In his
+rooms over the store, where few were ever invited, he had a fine library
+of unusual books and a rare collection of curios gathered from foreign
+lands. It was natural that such a man would be interested in so unique
+an experiment as the _Millville Tribune_, and he watched its conduct
+with curiosity but a constantly growing respect for the three girl
+journalists. No one ever minded when he came into the office, nodded and
+sat down. Sometimes he would converse with much freedom; at other times
+the old gentleman remained an hour without offering a remark, and went
+away with a brief parting nod.
+
+It was West who first saw, through the window, the wagonload of men from
+the Sizer farm come dashing up the street at a gallop. Instinctively,
+perhaps, he knew trouble was brewing, but he never altered his
+expression or his attitude, even when the wagon stopped at the printing
+office and the passengers leaped out.
+
+In marched Bill Sizer at the head of his following, cowhide in hand.
+Patsy, her face flushing scarlet, stood up and faced the intruders.
+
+"Stand back, girl!" cried Sizer in a fierce tone; "it's that coward
+editor I'm after," pointing his whip with trembling hand at Arthur. "My
+sister Molly may be rough, an' hev a rough smile, but I'll be dinged ef
+I don't skin the man thet prints it in a paper!"
+
+"Good fer you, Bill!" murmured his friends, approvingly.
+
+Arthur leaned back and regarded his accuser in wonder. The big table,
+littered with papers, was between them.
+
+"Come out o' there, ye measly city chap, an' take yer medicine," roared
+Bill, swinging his whip. "I'll larn ye to come inter a decent
+neighborhood an' slander its women. Come outer there!"
+
+West had sat quietly observing the scene. Now he inquired, in composed
+tones:
+
+"What's the trouble, Bill?"
+
+"Trouble? Trouble, West? Why, this lyin' scroundrel said in his paper
+thet our Molly had a rough smile. That's the trouble!"
+
+"Did he really say that?" asked West.
+
+"'Course he did. Printed it in the paper, for all to read. That's why
+I've come to cowhide the critter within an inch o' his life!"
+
+"Good fer you, Bill!" cried his friends, encouragingly.
+
+"But--wait a moment!" commanded West, as the maddened, half drunken
+young farmer was about to leap over the table to grasp his victim;
+"you're not going at this thing right, Bill Sizer."
+
+"Why ain't I, Bob West?"
+
+"Because," answered West, in calm, even tones, "this insult is too great
+to be avenged by a mere cowhiding. Nothing but blood will wipe away the
+dreadful stain on your sister's character."
+
+"Oh, Mr. West!" cried Patsy, horrified by such a statement.
+
+"Eh? Blood?" said Bill, stupefied by the suggestion.
+
+"Of course," returned West. "You mustn't thrash Mr. Weldon; you must
+kill him."
+
+A delighted chorus of approval came from Sizer's supporters.
+
+"All right, then," said the bully, glaring around, "I--I'll kill the
+scandler!"
+
+"Hold on!" counselled West, seizing his arm. "This affair must be
+conducted properly--otherwise the law might cause us trouble. No murder,
+mind you. You must kill Weldon in a duel."
+
+"A--a what? A duel!" gasped Sizer.
+
+"To be sure. That's the way to be revenged. Hetty," he added, turning to
+the artist, who alone of the observers had smiled instead of groaned at
+the old gentleman's startling suggestion, "will you kindly run up to my
+rooms and get a red leather case that lies under the shell cabinet?
+Thank you, my dear."
+
+Hetty was off like a flash. During her absence an intense silence
+pervaded the office, broken only by an occasional hiccough from one of
+Mr. Sizer's guests. Patsy was paralyzed with horror and had fallen back
+into her chair to glare alternately at Bob West and the big bully who
+threatened her cousin's husband. Arthur was pale and stern as he fixed a
+reproachful gaze on the hardware merchant. From Miss Briggs' little
+room could be heard the steady click-click of the telegraph instrument.
+
+But the furious arrival of the Sizer party had aroused every inhabitant
+of Millville and with one accord they dropped work and rushed to the
+printing office. By this time the windows were dark with groups of eager
+faces that peered wonderingly through the screens--the sashes being
+up--and listened to the conversation within.
+
+While Hetty was gone not a word was spoken, but the artist was absent
+only a brief time. Presently she reentered and laid the red leather case
+on the table before Bob West. The hardware man at once opened it,
+displaying a pair of old-fashioned dueling pistols, with long barrels
+and pearl handles. There was a small can of powder, some bullets and
+wadding in the case, and as West took up one of the pistols and
+proceeded to load it he said in an unconcerned voice:
+
+"I once got these from an officer in Vienna, and they have been used in
+more than a score of duels, I was told. One of the pistols--I can't
+tell which it is--has killed a dozen men, so you are going to fight
+with famous weapons."
+
+Both Arthur and Bill Sizer, as well as the groups at the window, watched
+the loading of the pistols with fascinated gaze.
+
+"Bob's a queer ol' feller," whispered Peggy McNutt to the blacksmith,
+who stood beside him. "This dool is just one o' his odd fancies. Much he
+keers ef they kills each other er not!"
+
+"Mr. West," cried Patsy, suddenly rousing from her apathy, "I'll not
+allow this shameful thing! A duel is no better than murder, and I'm sure
+there is a law against it."
+
+"True," returned West, ramming the bullet into the second pistol; "it is
+quite irregular and--er--illegal, I believe. Perhaps I shall go to jail
+with whichever of the duelists survives; but you see it is a point of
+honor with us all. Molly Sizer has seemingly been grossly maligned in
+your paper, and the editor is responsible. Are you a good shot, Bill?"
+
+"I--I guess so," stammered Sizer.
+
+"That's good. Weldon, I hear, is an expert with the pistol."
+
+Arthur did not contradict this statement, although he was positive he
+could not hit a barn at twenty yards.
+
+"Now, then, are we ready?" staid West, rising. "Come with me,
+gentlemen."
+
+"What ye goin' to do, Bob?" asked Sizer, anxiously.
+
+"I'll explain," replied the hardware man, leading the way to the street.
+Everyone followed him and the crowd at the windows joined the group
+outside. "Of course you mustn't shoot in the main street, for you might
+hit some one, or break windows; but back of this row of buildings is a
+lane that is perfectly clear. You will stand back to back in the center
+of the block and then, at my word, you will each march to the end of the
+block and pass around the buildings to the lane. As soon as you come in
+sight of one another you are privileged to fire, and I suppose Bill
+Sizer will try to kill you, Mr. Weldon, on the spot, and therefore you
+will try to kill him first."
+
+"But--look a-here, Bob!" cried Sizer; "it ain't right fer him to take a
+shot at me. You said fer me to kill him, but ye didn't say nuth'n about
+_his_ shootin' at _me_."
+
+"That's all right, Bill," returned West. "You're in the right, and the
+right ought to win. But you must give the man a chance for his life, you
+know."
+
+"That weren't in the bargain."
+
+"It is now, by the laws of dueling."
+
+"He--he might shoot me," urged Bill.
+
+"It isn't likely. Although he's a dead shot, you have right on your
+side, and you must be sure to fire as soon as you get within good range.
+It won't be considered murder; it will only be a duel, and the law will
+deal lightly with you."
+
+"That's right, Bill," asserted one of Sizer's friends. "Bob West's a
+justice o' the peace himself, an' he orter know."
+
+"I do know," declared West gravely.
+
+He placed Arthur Weldon and Bill Sizer back to back in the middle of the
+street and handed each a pistol.
+
+"Now, then," said he, "you both understand the rules, which I have
+explained, and the spectators will bear witness that, whatever happens,
+this affair has been conducted in a regular manner, with no favor shown
+to either. You are both brave men, and this duel will vindicate your
+honor. If you are fortunate enough to survive, you will be heroes, and
+all your differences will be wiped off the slate. But as one or both may
+fall, we, the citizens of Millville, hereby bid you a solemn and sad
+farewell."
+
+Impressed by this speech, Sizer's friends began to shake hands with him.
+
+"All ready!" called West. "One--two--three----go!"
+
+At the word the two, back to back, started for the opposite ends of the
+little street, and at once the crowd made a rush between the buildings
+to gain the rear, where they might witness the shooting in the lane when
+the duelists met. Arthur had been thinking seriously during these
+proceedings and had made up his mind it was in no degree his duty to be
+bored full of holes by a drunken countryman like Bill Sizer, just
+because there had been a typographical error in the _Millville Tribune_.
+So, when he got to the end of the street, instead of turning into the
+lane he made for the farm, holding the long dueling pistol gingerly in
+his hand and trotting at a good pace for home.
+
+Footsteps followed him. In sudden panic he increased his run; but the
+other was faster. A heavy hand grasped his shoulder and swung him
+around, while old Bob West, panting for Breath, exclaimed:
+
+"Stop, you fool--stop! The other one is running."
+
+"The other one!" echoed Arthur, wonderingly.
+
+"Of course. Bill Sizer was sure to run; he's a coward, as all bullies
+are. Quick, Weldon, save the day and your reputation or I'll never stand
+your friend again."
+
+Arthur understood now. He turned and ran back faster than he had come,
+swung into the lane where the crowd was cautiously peering from the
+shelter of the buildings, and waving his pistol in a reckless way that
+made Bob West shudder, he cried out:
+
+"Where is he? Where's Sizer? Why don't he show up and be shot, like a
+man?"
+
+No Sizer appeared. He was even then headed cross-lots for home, leaving
+his friends to bemoan his cowardice. As for Arthur, the crowd gave him a
+cheer and condemned his opponent's conduct in no measured terms. They
+were terribly disappointed by Big Bill's defection, for while not
+especially bloodthirsty they hated to see the impending tragedy turn out
+a farce.
+
+In the printing office Patsy was laughing hysterically as her horror
+dissolved and allowed her to discover the comic phase of the duel. She
+literally fell on Arthur's neck as he entered, but the next moment
+pushed him away to face the hardware merchant.
+
+"I beg your pardon, Mr. West," said she with twinkling eyes. "I
+suspected you of being a cold-blooded ruffian, when you proposed this
+duel; but I now see that you understand human nature better than the
+whole caboodle of us put together! Arthur, thank Mr. West for saving you
+from a flogging."
+
+"I do, indeed!" said Arthur fervently.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE DANGER SIGNAL
+
+
+By this time the _Tribune_ had become the pride of all Millville, yet
+the villagers could not quite overcome their awe and wonder at it. Also
+the newspaper was the pride of the three girl journalists, who under the
+tutelage of Miss Briggs were learning to understand the complicated
+system of a daily journal. Their amateurish efforts were gradually
+giving way to more dignified and readable articles; Beth could write an
+editorial that interested even Uncle John, her severest critic; Louise
+showed exceptional talent for picking up local happenings and making
+news notes of them, while Patsy grabbed everything that came to her
+net--locals, editorials, telegraphic and telephone reports from all
+parts of the world--and skillfully sorted, edited and arranged them for
+the various departments of the paper. It was mighty interesting to them
+all, and they were so eager each morning to get to work that they could
+scarcely devote the proper time to old Nora's famous breakfasts.
+
+"We made a mistake. Uncle," said Patsy to Mr. Merrick, "in starting the
+_Tribune_ in the wrong place. In a few weeks we must leave it and go
+back to the city, whereas, had we established our paper in New York--"
+
+"Then it never would have been heard of," interrupted practical Beth.
+"In New York, Patsy dear, we would become the laughing stock of the
+town. I shudder when I think what a countrified paper we turned out that
+first issue."
+
+"But we are fast becoming educated," declared Patsy. "I'm not ashamed of
+the _Tribune_ now, even in comparison with the best New York dailies."
+
+Beth laughed, but Uncle John said judicially:
+
+"For Millville, it's certainly a marvel. I get the world news more
+concisely and more pleasantly from its four pages than when I wade
+through twenty or thirty of the big pages of a metropolitan newspaper.
+You are doing famously, my dears. I congratulate you."
+
+"But we are running behind dreadfully," suggested Arthur, the
+bookkeeper, "even since Thursday Smith enabled us to cut down expenses
+so greatly. The money that comes in never equals what we pay out. How
+long can you keep this up, girls?"
+
+They made no reply, nor did Uncle John discuss the financial condition
+of the newspaper. He was himself paying some heavy expenses that did not
+appear on the books, such as the Associated Press franchise, the
+telegraph bills and the electric power; but he was quite delighted to
+take care of these items and regretted he had not assumed more of the
+paper's obligations. He knew the expenses were eating big holes in the
+incomes of his three nieces, yet they never complained nor allowed their
+enthusiasm to flag.
+
+Mr. Merrick, who had tested these girls in more ways than one, was
+watching them carefully, and fully approved their spirit and courage
+under such trying conditions. Major Doyle, Patsy's father, when the
+first copy of the _Millville Tribune_ was laid on his desk in the city,
+was astounded at the audacity of this rash venture. When he could
+command his temper to write calmly he sent a letter to Mr. Merrick which
+read: "Taken altogether, John, you're the craziest bunch of
+irresponsibles outside an asylum. No wonder you kept this folly a secret
+from me until you had accomplished your nefarious designs. The
+_Millville Daily Tribune_ is a corker and no mistake, for our Patsy's at
+the head of your lunatic gang. I'll go farther, and say the paper's a
+wonder. I believe it is the first daily newspaper published in a town of
+six inhabitants, that has ever carried the Associated Press dispatches,
+But, allow me to ask, why? The lonely inhabitants of the desert of Chazy
+County don't need a daily--or a weekly--or a monthly. A semi-annual
+would about hit their gait, and be more than they deserve. So I've
+decided it's merely a silly way to spend money--and an easy way, too,
+I'll be bound. Oblige me by explaining this incomprehensible
+eccentricity."
+
+To this, a mild protest for the major, Uncle John replied: "Dear Major
+Doyle: Yours received. Have you no business of your own to attend to?
+Affectionately yours, John Merrick."
+
+The major took the hint. He made no further complaint but read the paper
+religiously every day, gloating over Patsy's name as managing editor and
+preserving the files with great care. He really enjoyed, the _Millville
+Tribune_, and as his summer vacation was shortly due he anticipated with
+pleasure a visit to the farm and a peep at the workings of "our Patsy's"
+famous newspaper. The other girls he ignored. If Patsy was connected
+with the thing, her adoring parent was quite sure she was responsible
+for all the good there was in it.
+
+The paper printed no mention of the famous duel. But Hetty made a
+cartoon of it, showing the lane, with its fringe of spectators, Arthur
+Weldon standing manfully to await his antagonist and big Bill Sizer, in
+the distance, sprinting across the fields in the direction of home. This
+cartoon was highly prized by those who had witnessed the adventure and
+Peggy McNutt pinned it on the wall of his real estate office beside the
+one Hetty had made of himself. Bill Sizer promptly "stopped the paper,"
+that being the only vengeance at hand, and when Bob West sent a boy to
+him demanding the return of the pistol, Bill dispatched with the weapon
+the following characteristic note, which he had penned with much labor:
+
+"Bob west sir you Beet me out uv my Reeveng and Made me look like a bag
+uv Beens. but I will skware this Thing sum da and yu and that edyter hed
+better Watch out. i don't stand fer no Throwdown like that Wm. Sizer."
+
+However, the bully received scant sympathy, even from his most intimate
+friends, and his prestige in the community was henceforth destroyed.
+Arthur did not crow, for his part. He told the girls frankly of his
+attempt to run away and evade the meeting, which sensible intention was
+only frustrated by Bob West's interference, and they all agreed he was
+thoroughly justified. The young man had proved to them his courage years
+before and none of the girls was disposed to accuse him of cowardice for
+not wishing to shoot or be shot by such a person as Bill Sizer.
+
+A few days following the duel another incident occurred which was of a
+nature so startling that it drove the Sizer comedy from all minds. This
+time Thursday Smith was the hero.
+
+Hetty Hewitt, it seems, was having a desperate struggle to quell the
+longings of her heart for the allurements of the great city. She had
+been for years a thorough Bohemienne, frequenting cafes, theatres and
+dance halls, smoking and drinking with men and women of her class and,
+by degrees, losing every womanly quality with which nature had
+generously endowed her. But the girl was not really bad. She was
+essentially nervous and craved excitement, so she had drifted into this
+sort of life because no counteracting influence of good had been
+injected into her pliable disposition. None, that is, until the friendly
+editor for whom she worked, anticipating her final downfall, had sought
+to save her by sending her to a country newspaper. He talked to the girl
+artist very frankly before she left for Millville, and Hetty knew he was
+right, and was truly grateful for the opportunity to redeem herself. The
+sweet girl journalists with whom she was thrown in contact were so
+different from any young women she had heretofore known, and proved so
+kindly sympathetic, that Hetty speedily became ashamed of her wasted
+life and formed a brave resolution to merit the friendship so generously
+extended her.
+
+But it was hard work at first. She could get through the days easily
+enough by wandering in the woods and taking long walks along the rugged
+country roads; but in the evenings came the insistent call of the cafes,
+the cheap orchestras, vaudeville, midnight suppers and the like. She
+strenuously fought this yearning and found it was growing less and less
+powerful to influence her. But her nights were yet restless and her
+nerves throbbing from the effects of past dissipations. Often she would
+find herself unable to sleep and would go out into the moonlight when
+all others were in bed, and "prowl around with the cats," as she
+expressed it, until the wee hours of morning. Often she told Patsy she
+wished there was more work she could do. The drawings required by the
+paper never occupied her more than a couple of hours each day.
+Sometimes she made one of her cleverest cartoons in fifteen or twenty
+minutes.
+
+"Can't I do something else?" she begged. "Let me set type, or run the
+ticker--I can receive telegrams fairly well--or even write a column of
+local comment. I'm no journalist, so you'll not be envious."
+
+But Patsy shook her head.
+
+"Really, Hetty, there's nothing else you can do, and your pictures are
+very important to us. Rest and enjoy yourself, and get strong and well.
+You are improving wonderfully in health since you came here."
+
+Often at midnight Hetty would wander into the pressroom and watch
+Thursday Smith run off the edition on the wonderful press, which seemed
+to possess an intelligence of its own, so perfectly did it perform its
+functions. At such times she sat listlessly by and said little, for
+Thursday was no voluble talker, especially when busied over his press.
+But a certain spirit of comradeship grew up between these two, and it
+was not unusual for the pressmen, after his work was finished and the
+papers were neatly piled for distribution to the carriers at daybreak,
+to walk with Hetty to the hotel before proceeding to his own lodgings in
+the little wing of Nick Thorne's house, which stood quite at the end of
+the street. To be sure, the hotel adjoined the printing office, with
+only a vacant lot between, but Hetty seemed to appreciate this courtesy
+and would exchange a brief good night with Smith before going to her own
+room. Afterward she not infrequently stole out again, because sleep
+would not come to her, and then the moon watched her wanderings until it
+dipped behind the hills.
+
+On the night we speak of, Hetty had parted from Thursday Smith at one
+o'clock and crept into the hallway of the silent, barnlike hotel; but as
+soon as the man turned away she issued forth again and walked up the
+empty street like a shadow. Almost to Thompson's Crossing she strolled,
+deep in thought, and then turned and retraced her steps. But when she
+again reached the hotel she was wide-eyed as ever; so she passed the
+building, thinking she would go on to Little Bill Creek and sit by the
+old mill for a time.
+
+The girl was just opposite the printing office when her attention was
+attracted by a queer grating noise, as if one of the windows was being
+pried up. She stopped short, a moment, and then crept closer to the
+building. Two men were at a side window of the pressroom, which they had
+just succeeded in opening. As Hetty gained her point of observation one
+of the men slipped inside, but a moment later hastily reappeared and
+joined his fellow. At once both turned and stole along the side of the
+shed directly toward the place where the girl stood. Her first impulse
+was to run, but recollecting that she wore a dark gown and stood in deep
+shadow she merely flattened herself against the building and remained
+motionless. The men were chuckling as they passed her, and she
+recognized them as mill hands from Royal.
+
+"Guess that'll do the job," said one, in a low tone.
+
+"If it don't, nothin' will," was the reply.
+
+They were gone, then, stealing across the road and beating a hasty
+retreat under the shadows of the houses.
+
+Hetty stood motionless a moment, wondering what to do. Then with sudden
+resolve she ran to Thorne's house and rapped sharply at the window of
+the wing where she knew Thursday Smith slept. She heard him leap from
+bed and open the blind.
+
+"What is it?" he asked.
+
+"It's me, Thursday--Hetty," she said. "Two men have just broken into the
+pressroom, through a window. They were men from Royal, and they didn't
+steal anything, but ran away in great haste. I--I'm afraid something is
+wrong, Thursday!"
+
+Even while she spoke he was rapidly dressing.
+
+"Wait!" he called to her. In a few moments he opened the door and joined
+her.
+
+Without hesitation he began walking rapidly toward the office, and the
+girl kept step with him. He asked no questions whatever, but us soon as
+she had led him to the open window he leaped through it and switched on
+an electric light. An instant later he cried aloud, in a voice of fear:
+
+"Get out, Hetty! Run--for your life!"
+
+"Run yourself, Thursday, if there's danger," she coolly returned.
+
+But he shouted "Run--run--run!" in such thrilling, compelling tones
+that the girl shrank away and dashed across the vacant lot to the hotel
+before she turned again in time to see Smith leap from the window and
+make a dash toward the rear. He was carrying something--something
+extended at arms' length before him--and he crossed the lane and ran far
+into the field before stooping to set down his burden.
+
+Now he was racing back again, running as madly as if a troop of demons
+was after him. A flash cleft the darkness; a deep detonation thundered
+and echoed against the hills; the building against which Hetty leaned
+shook as if an earthquake had seized it, and Thursday Smith was thrown
+flat on his face and rolled almost to the terrified girl's feet, where
+he lay motionless. Only the building saved her from pitching headlong
+too, but as the reverberations died away, to be followed by frantic
+screams from the rudely wakened population of Millville, Hetty sank upon
+her knees and turned the man over, so that he lay face up.
+
+He opened his eyes and put up one hand. Then he struggled to his feet,
+trembling weakly, and his white face smiled into the girl's anxious one.
+
+"That was a close call, dear," he whispered; "but your timely discovery
+saved us from a terrible calamity. I--I don't believe there is much harm
+done, as it is."
+
+Hetty made no reply. She was thinking of the moments he had held that
+deadly Thing in his hands, while he strove to save lives and property
+from destruction.
+
+The inevitable crowd was gathering now, demanding in terrified tones
+what had happened. Men, women and children poured from the houses in
+scant attire, all unnerved and fearful, crying for an explanation of the
+explosion.
+
+"Keep mum, Hetty," said Smith, warningly. "It will do no good to tell
+them the truth."
+
+She nodded, realizing it was best the villagers did not suspect that an
+enemy of the newspaper had placed them all in dire peril.
+
+"Dynamite?" she asked in a whisper.
+
+"Yes; a bomb. But for heaven's sake don't mention it."
+
+Suddenly a man with a lantern discovered a great pit in the field
+behind the lane and the crowd quickly surrounded it. From their limited
+knowledge of the facts the explosion seemed unaccountable, but there was
+sufficient intelligence among them to determine that dynamite had caused
+it and dug this gaping hole in the stony soil. Bob West glanced at the
+printing office, which was directly in line with the explosion; then he
+cast a shrewd look into the white face of Thursday Smith; but the old
+hardware merchant merely muttered under his breath something about Ojoy
+Boglin and shook his head determinedly when questioned by his fellow
+villagers.
+
+Interest presently centered in the damage that had been done. Many
+window panes were shattered and the kitchen chimney of the hotel had
+toppled over; but no person had been injured and the damage could easily
+be repaired. While the excitement was at its height Thursday Smith
+returned to his room and went to bed; but long after the villagers had
+calmed down sufficiently to seek their homes Hetty Hewitt sat alone by
+the great pit, staring reflectively into its ragged depths. Quaint and
+curious were the thoughts that puzzled the solitary girl's weary brain,
+but prominent and ever-recurring was the sentence that had trembled upon
+Thursday Smith's lips: "It was a close call, _dear_!"
+
+The "close call" didn't worry Hetty a particle; it was the last word of
+the sentence that amazed her. That, and a new and wonderful respect for
+the manliness of Thursday Smith, filled her heart to overflowing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+A CLEVER IDEA
+
+
+Neither Thursday nor Hetty allowed a word to escape concerning the
+placing of the bomb in the _Tribune_ office, but the explosion was
+public knowledge and many were bothering their heads to explain its
+meaning.
+
+John Merrick, when he heard the news, looked very grave and glanced
+uneasily into the unconscious faces of his three beloved nieces. A man
+of much worldly experience, in spite of his simple, ingenuous nature,
+the little man began carefully piecing together parts of the puzzle.
+Thursday Smith's defense of the girl journalists, whereby he had
+severely pounded some of the workmen who had insulted them, had caused
+the man to be denounced by the colony at Royal. Mr. Skeelty, the
+manager, had demanded that Smith be discharged by Mr. Mirrick, and
+being refused, had threatened to shut off the power from the newspaper
+plant. Skeelty dared not carry out this threat, for fear of a lawsuit,
+but his men, who had urged the matter of Smith's discharge upon their
+manager, were of the class that seeks revenge at any cost. At this
+juncture Ojoy Boglin, Skeelty's partner and the owner of all the pine
+forest around Royal, had become the enemy of the newspaper and was aware
+of the feeling among the workmen. A word from Boglin, backed by
+Skeelty's tacit consent, would induce the men to go to any length in
+injuring the _Millville Tribune_ and all concerned in its welfare.
+
+Considering these facts, Mr. Merrick shrewdly suspected that the
+dynamite explosion had been the work of the mill hands, yet why it was
+harmlessly exploded in a field was a factor that puzzled him
+exceedingly. He concluded, from what information he possessed, that they
+had merely intended this as a warning, which if disregarded might be
+followed by a more serious catastrophe.
+
+The idea that such a danger threatened his nieces made the old
+gentleman distinctly nervous.
+
+There were ways to evade further molestation from the lawless element at
+the mill. The Hon. Ojoy could be conciliated; Thursday Smith discharged;
+or the girls could abandon their journalistic enterprise altogether.
+Such alternatives were mortifying to consider, but his girls must be
+protected from harm at any cost.
+
+While he was still considering the problem, the girls and Arthur having
+driven to the office, as usual, Joe Wegg rode over from Thompson's
+Crossing on his sorrel mare for a chat with his old friend and
+benefactor. It was this same young man--still a boy in years--who had
+once owned the Wegg Farm and disposed of it to Mr. Merrick.
+
+Joe was something of a mechanical genius and, when his father died,
+longed to make his way in the great world. But after many vicissitudes
+and failures he returned to Chazy County to marry Ethel Thompson, his
+boyhood sweetheart, and to find that one of his father's apparently
+foolish investments had made him rich.
+
+Ethel was the great-granddaughter of the pioneer settler of Chazy
+County--Little Bill Thompson--from whom the Little Bill Creek and Little
+Bill Mountain had been named. It was he who first established the mill
+at Millville; so, in marrying a descendant of Little Bill Thompson, Joe
+Wegg had become quite the most important resident of Chazy County, and
+the young man was popular and well liked by all who knew him.
+
+After the first interchange of greetings Joe questioned Mr. Merrick
+about the explosion of the night before, and Uncle John frankly stated
+his suspicions.
+
+"I'm sorry," said Joe, "they ever started that mill at Royal Falls. Most
+of the workmen are foreigners, and all of them rude and reckless. They
+have caused our quiet, law-abiding people no end of trouble and anxiety
+already. It is becoming a habit with them to haunt Millville on Saturday
+nights, when they are partly intoxicated, and they've even invaded some
+of the farmhouses and frightened the women and children. I've talked to
+Bob West about it and he has promised to swear in Lon Taft and Seth
+Davis as special constables, to preserve order; but he admits we are
+quite helpless to oppose such a gang of rowdies. I've also been to see
+Mr. Skeelty, to ask him to keep his men at home, but he answered gruffly
+that he had no authority over his employees except during working hours,
+and not much authority even then."
+
+"Skeelty doesn't seem the right man to handle those fellows," observed
+Mr. Merrick thoughtfully; "but as he owns the controlling interest in
+his company, and Boglin is fully as unreasonable, we cannot possibly
+oust him from control. If the men determined to blow up all Millville
+with dynamite I'm sure Skeelty would not lift a finger to prevent it."
+
+"No; he's deathly afraid of them, and that's a fact," said Joe.
+
+They sat in silence a while.
+
+"Your report of Skeelty's threat to cut off your electric power," said
+young Wegg, "reminds me of a plan I've had in mind for some time. I find
+I've too much time on my hands, Mr. Merrick, and I cannot be thoroughly
+happy unless I'm occupied. Ethel's farms are let on shares and I'm a
+drone in the world's busy hive. But we're anchored here at Millville, so
+I've been wondering what I could do to improve the place and keep myself
+busy. It has seemed to me that the same rush of water in Little Bill
+Creek that runs the dynamos at Royal is in evidence--to a lesser
+extent--at the old milldam. What would you think of my putting in an
+electric plant at the mill, and lighting both Millville and Huntingdon,
+as well as all the farmhouses?"
+
+"Not a bad idea, Joe," said Uncle John approvingly.
+
+"Electric lights have a civilizing influence," continued the young man.
+"I'm quite sure all the farmers between here and Huntingdon would use
+them, at a reasonable price. I can also run a line to Hooker's Falls,
+and one to Chazy Junction. Plenty of poles can be cut from our pine
+forests and the wires will be the chief expense. I may not make money,
+at first, but I'll play pretty nearly even and have something to do."
+
+"Do you think you could furnish enough power for our printing office?"
+asked Mr. Merrick.
+
+"Yes; and a dozen factories, besides. I've an idea the thing may bring
+factories to Millville."
+
+"Then get at it, Joe, and build it quick. I've a notion we shall have an
+open rupture with Skeelty before long."
+
+Joe Wegg smiled.
+
+"You're going to accuse me, sir, of asking advice after I've made up my
+mind," said he; "but the fact is, I have bought the mill of Silas
+Caldwell already. He's been wanting to dispose of the property for some
+time."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Uncle John.
+
+"Also I--I've ordered a dynamo and machinery. It all ought to be here in
+a few days."
+
+"Better yet!" cried Mr. Merrick. "You've relieved my mind of a great
+weight, Joe."
+
+"Now about Thursday Smith," said the young man. "Don't you think it
+would be policy for you to let him go, Mr. Merrick?"
+
+"No."
+
+"He's a clever fellow. I can use him at my lighting plant."
+
+"Thank you, Joe; but that wouldn't help any. As long as he's in
+Millville he will be an object of vengeance to those anarchistic mill
+hands. The only way to satisfy them in to drive Smith out of town,
+and--I'll be hanged if I'll do it! He hasn't done anything wrong, and
+I'm interested in the fellow's curious history. I've put his case in the
+hands of a famous New York detective--Fogerty--with instructions to
+discover who he is, and I can't let a lot of rowdies force me to abandon
+the man for no reasonable cause."
+
+"Don't blame you, sir," said Joe. "If it wasn't this Thursday Smith,
+some other would incur the hatred of the Royal workmen, and as they're
+disposed to terrorize us we may as well fight it out on this line as any
+other. The whole county will stand by you, sir."
+
+"The only thing I dread is possible danger to my girls."
+
+"Keep 'em away from the office evenings," advised Joe. "During the day
+they are perfectly safe. If anything happens, it will be at night, and
+while the newspaper office may some time go flying skyward the girls
+will run no personal danger whatever."
+
+"Maybe so, Joe. How queer it is that such a condition should exist in
+Millville--a little forgotten spot in the very heart of civilization and
+the last place where one might expect excitement of this sort. But I
+won't be cowed; I won't be driven or bullied by a pack of foreign
+hounds, I assure you! If Skeelty can't discipline his men, I will."
+
+In furtherance of which assertion, Mr. Merrick went to town and wired a
+message to the great Fogerty.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+LOCAL CONTRIBUTION
+
+
+We hear considerable of the "conventional people" of this world, but
+seldom meet with them; for, as soon as we begin to know a person, we
+discover peculiarities that quite remove him from the ranks of the
+conventional--if such ranks exist at all. The remark of the old Scotch
+divine to his good wife: "Everybody's queer but thee and me, Nancy, and
+sometimes I think _thee_ a little queer," sums up human nature
+admirably. We seldom recognize our own queerness, but are prone to mark
+the erratic temperaments of others, and this is rather more comfortable
+than to be annoyed by a consciousness of our personal deficits.
+
+The inhabitants of a country town are so limited in their experiences
+that we generally find their personal characteristics very amusing. No
+amount of scholastic learning could have rendered the Millville people
+sophisticated, for contact with the world and humanity is the only true
+educator; but, as a matter of fact, there was little scholastic learning
+among them, with one or two exceptions, and the villagers as a rule were
+of limited intelligence. Every one was really a "character," and Uncle
+John's nieces, who all possessed a keen sense of humor, enjoyed the
+oddities of the Millvillites immensely.
+
+A humorous situation occurred through a seemingly innocent editorial of
+Beth on authorship. In the course of her remarks she said: "A prominent
+author is stated to have accumulated a large fortune by writing short
+stories for the newspapers and magazines. He is said to receive ten
+cents a word, and this unusual price is warranted by the eager demand
+for his stories, of which the reading public is very fond. However, the
+unknown author does not fare so badly. The sum of from thirty to fifty
+dollars usually remitted for a short story pays the beginner a better
+recompense, for the actual time he is engaged upon the work, than any
+other occupation he might undertake."
+
+This was seriously considered the morning it appeared in the _Tribune_
+by Peggy McNutt and Skim Clark, as they sat in the sunshine on the
+former's little front porch. Peggy had read it aloud in his laborious,
+halting way, and Skim listened with growing amazement.
+
+"Thirty dollars!" he cried; "thirty to fifty fer a short story! Great
+Snakes, Peggy, I'm goin' into it."
+
+"Heh? Goin' into what?" asked Peggy, raising his eyes from the paper.
+
+"I kin write a story," declared Skim confidently.
+
+"Ye kin, Skim?"
+
+"It's a cinch, Peggy. Mother keeps all the magazines an' paper novils,
+an' we allus reads 'em afore we sells 'em. I've read the gol-durndest
+lot o' truck ye ever heard of, so I'm posted on stories in gen'ral. I'll
+write one an' sell it to the _Millville Tribune_. Do ye s'pose they'll
+give me the thirty, er the fifty, Peggy?"
+
+"Anywheres between, they says. But one feller gits ten cents a word.
+Whew!"
+
+"I know; but he's a big one, which I ain't--just now. I'll take even the
+thirty, if I hev to."
+
+"I would, Skim," advised Peggy, nodding approval. "But make 'em put yer
+photygraf in the paper, besides. Say, it'll be a big thing fer Millville
+to turn out a author. I didn't think it were in you, Skim."
+
+"Why, it hadn't struck me afore," replied the youth, modestly. "I've ben
+hankerin' to make money, without knowin' how to do it. I tell ye, Peggy,
+it pays to read the newspapers. This one's give me a hint how to carve
+out a future career, an' I'll write a story as'll make them girl edyturs
+set up an' take notice."
+
+"Make it someth'n' 'bout Injuns," suggested Peggy. "I ain't read a Injun
+story fer years."
+
+"No; they're out o' fashion," observed Skim loftily. "What folks want
+now is a detective story. Feller sees a hole in a fence an' says, 'Ha!
+there's ben a murder!' Somebody asks what makes him think so, an' the
+detective feller says, takin' out a magnifie-in' glass, 'Thet hole's a
+bullet-hole, an' the traces o' blood aroun' the edges shows the bullet
+went through a human body afore it went through the fence.' 'Then,' says
+some one, 'where's the body?' 'That,' says the detective, 'is what we
+mus' diskiver.' So the story goes on to show how the body were
+diskivered an' who did the murderin'."
+
+"By Jupe, thet's great!" cried Peggy admiringly. "Skim, ye're a wonder!"
+
+"Ma allus said I were good fer somethin', but she couldn't tell what."
+
+"It's story-writin'," declared Peggy "Say, Skim, I put ye onter this
+deal; don't I git a rake-off on thet fifty dollars?"
+
+"Not a cent!" said Skim indignantly. "Ye didn't tell me to write a
+story; I said myself as I could do it. An' I know where to use the
+money, Peggy, ev'ry dollar of it, whether it's thirty er fifty."
+
+Peggy sighed.
+
+"I writ a pome once," he said. "Wonder ef they'd pay fer a pome?"
+
+"What were it like?" asked Skim curiously.
+
+"It went someth'n' this way," said Peggy:
+
+        "I sigh
+        Ter fly
+        Up high
+        In the sky.
+        But my
+        Wings is shy,
+        So I mus' cry
+        Good-bye
+        Ter fly-
+            in'."
+
+"Shoo!" said Skim disdainfully. "Thet ain't no real pome, Peggy."
+
+"It makes rhymes, don't it? All but the las' line."
+
+"Mebbe it does," replied Skim, with assumption of superior wisdom; "but
+it don't mean nuth'n'."
+
+"It would ef I got paid fer it," observed Peggy.
+
+Skim went home to his mother's tiny "Emporium," took some note paper out
+of stock, opened a new bottle of ink and sat down at the sitting room
+table to write his story. The Widow Clark looked in and asked what he
+meant by "squanderin' profits that way."
+
+"Shet up, mar. Gi' me elbow room," said her dutiful son. "I'm writin' a
+fifty dollar story fer the _Tribune_."
+
+"Fifty dollars!"
+
+"Thirty, anyhow; mebbe fifty," replied Skim. "What's a good name fer a
+detective, mar?"
+
+The widow sat down and wiped her damp hands on her apron, looking upon
+her hopeful with an expression of mingled awe and pride.
+
+"Kin ye do it, Skim?" she asked softly.
+
+"I s'pose I kin turn out one a day, by hard work," he said confidently.
+"At thirty a day, the lowes' price, thet's a hunderd 'n' eighty a week,
+seven hunderd 'n' twenty a month, or over eight thousan' dollars a year.
+I got it all figgered out. It's lucky fer me the nabobs is rich, or they
+couldn't stan' the strain. Now, mar, ef ye want to see yer son a nabob
+hisself, some day, jes' think up a good name fer a detective."
+
+"Sherholmes Locke," she said after some reflection.
+
+"No; this 'ere story's got ter be original. I thought o' callin' him
+Suspectin' Algernon. Detectives is allus suspectin' something."
+
+"Algernon's high-toned," mused the widow. "Let it go at that, Skim."
+
+All that day and far into the evening he sat at his task, pausing now
+and then for inspiration, but most of the time diligently pushing his
+pen over the strongly lined note paper and hopelessly straying from the
+lines. Meantime, Mrs. Clark walked around on tiptoe, so as not to
+disturb him, and was reluctant even to call him to his meals in the
+kitchen. When Skim went to bed his story had got into an aggravating
+muddle, but during the next forenoon he managed to bring it to a
+triumphant ending.
+
+"When I git used to the thing, mar," he said, "I kin do one a day, easy.
+I had to be pertickler over this one, it bein' the first."
+
+The widow read the story carefully, guessing at the words that were
+hopelessly indistinct.
+
+"My! but it's a thriller, Skim," she said with maternal enthusiasm; "but
+ye don't say why he killed the girl."
+
+"That don't matter, so long's he did it."
+
+"The spellin' don't allus seem quite right," she added doubtfully.
+
+"I guess the spellin's as good as the readin'll be," he retorted, with
+evident irritation. "I bet I spell as well as any o' the folks thet
+takes the paper."
+
+"And some words I can't make out."
+
+"Oh, the edytur'll fix that. Say, air ye tryin' to queer my story, mar?
+Do ye set up to know more'n I do about story writin'?"
+
+"No," she said; "I ain't talented, Skim, an' you be."
+
+"What I orter hev," he continued, reflectively, "is a typewriter. When I
+git two er three hunderd ahead perhaps I'll buy one--secondhand."
+
+"Kin ye buy one thet'll spell, Skim?" she asked, as she made a neat roll
+of the manuscript and tied a pink hair ribbon around it.
+
+Skim put on a collar and necktie and took his story across to the
+newspaper office.
+
+"I got a conter-bution fer the paper," he said to Patsy, who asked him
+his business.
+
+"What, something original, Skim?" she asked in surprise.
+
+"Ye've hit it right, Miss Doyle; it's a story."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"A detective story."
+
+"Dear me! Then you'll have to see Mrs. Weldon, who is our literary
+editor."
+
+Louise, who was sitting close by, looked up and held out her hand for
+the beribboned roll.
+
+"I don't jes' know," remarked Skim, as he handed it across the table,
+"whether it's a thirty dollar deal, er a fifty."
+
+Having forgotten Beth's editorial, Louise did not understand this
+remark, but she calmly unrolled Skim's manuscript and glanced at the
+scrawled heading with an amused smile.
+
+"'Suspecting Algernon,'" she read aloud.
+
+"'It were a dark and teedjus night in the erly springtime while the snow
+were falling soft over the moon litt lanskape.' Why, Skim, how came you
+to write this?"
+
+"It were the money," he said boldly. "I kin do one a day like this, at
+thirty dollers apiece, an' never feel the wear an' tear."
+
+Patsy giggled, but Louise stared with a wondering, puzzled expression at
+the crabbed writing, the misspelled words and dreadful grammar. Indeed,
+she was a little embarrassed how to handle so delicate a situation.
+
+"I'm afraid we cannot use your story, Mr. Clark," she said gently, and
+remembering the formula that usually accompanied her own rejected
+manuscripts she added: "This does not necessarily imply a lack of merit
+in your contribution, but is due to the fact that it is at present
+unavailable for our use."
+
+Skim stared at her in utter dismay.
+
+"Ye mean ye won't take it?" he asked with trembling lips.
+
+"We have so much material on hand, just now, that we cannot possibly
+purchase more," she said firmly, but feeling intensely sorry for the
+boy. "It may be a good story--"
+
+"It's the bes' story I ever heard of!" declared Skim.
+
+"But we have no place for it in the _Millville Tribune,_" she added,
+handing him back the roll.
+
+Skim was terribly disappointed. Never, for a single moment, had he
+expected "sech a throwdown as this."
+
+"Seems to me like a bunco game," he muttered savagely. "First ye say in
+yer blamed ol' paper a story's wuth thirty to fifty dollars, an' then
+when I bring ye a story ye won't pay a red cent fer it!"
+
+"Stories," suggested Louise, "are of various qualities, depending on the
+experience and talent of the author. An excellent story is often refused
+because the periodical to which it is offered is overstocked with
+similar material. Such conditions are often trying, Skim; I've had a
+good many manuscripts rejected myself."
+
+But the boy would not be conciliated.
+
+"I'll send it to Munsey's, thet's what I'll do; an' then you'll be durn
+sorry," he said, almost ready to cry.
+
+"Do," urged Louise sweetly. "And if they print it, Mr. Clark, I'll agree
+to purchase your next story for fifty dollars."
+
+"All right; the fifty's mine. I got witnesses, mind ye!" and he flounced
+out of the room like an angry schoolboy.
+
+"Oh, Louise," exclaimed Patsy, reproachfully, "why didn't you let me
+see the thing? It would have been better than a circus."
+
+"Poor boy!" said the literary editor, with a sigh. "I didn't want to
+humiliate him more than I could help. I wonder if he really will have
+the audacity to send it to Munsey's?"
+
+And now the door opened to admit Peggy McNutt, who had been watching his
+chance to stump across to the printing office as soon as Skim left
+there. For Peggy had reasoned, not unjustly, that if Skim Clark could
+make a fortune as an author he, Marshall McMahon McNutt, had a show to
+corral a few dollars in literature himself. After lying awake half the
+night thinking it over, he arose this morning with the firm intention of
+competing with Skim for the village laurels. He well knew he could not
+write a shuddery detective story, such as Skim had outlined, but that
+early poem of his, which the boy had seemed to regard so disdainfully,
+was considered by Peggy a rather clever production. He repeated it over
+and over to himself, dwelling joyously on its perfect rhyme, until he
+was convinced it was a good poem and that Skim had enviously slandered
+it. So he wrote it out in big letters on a sheet of foolscap and
+determined to offer it to "them newspaper gals."
+
+"I got a pome, Miss Patsy," he said, with unusual diffidence, for he was
+by no means sure the "gals" would not agree with Skim's criticism.
+
+"What! Another contributor?" she exclaimed playfully. "Has the whole
+town suddenly turned literary, Peggy?"
+
+"No; jest me 'n' Skim. Skim says my pome's no good; but I sort o' like
+it, myself."
+
+"Let me see it," said Patsy, ignoring this time the literary editor, who
+was glad to be relieved of the responsibility of disappointing another
+budding author.
+
+Peggy handed over the foolscap, and Patsy eagerly read the "pome."
+
+"Listen, Louise! Listen, Beth!" she called, delightedly. "Here is
+certainly a real 'pome,' and on aviation--the latest fad:
+
+               "'SKY HIGH
+        BY MARSHALL MCMAHON MCNUTT
+               of Millville
+  dealer in Real Estate Spring Chickens &c.
+
+               1.
+        I sigh
+        Too fly
+        Up high
+        In the sky.
+
+               2.
+        But my
+        Wings air shy
+        And so I cry
+        A sad goodby
+        Too fly-
+            Ing.'"
+
+A chorus of hilarious laughter followed the reading, and then Patsy
+wiped her eyes and exclaimed:
+
+"Peggy, you are not only a poet but a humorist. This is one of the best
+short poems I ever read."
+
+"It's short 'cause I run out o' rhymes," admitted Peggy.
+
+"But it's a gem, what there is of it."
+
+"Don't, dear," remonstrated Louise; "don't poke fun at the poor man."
+
+"Poke fun? Why, I'm going to print that poem in the _Tribune_, as sure
+as my name's Patricia Doyle! It's too good for oblivion."
+
+"I dunno," remarked Peggy, uncertainly, "whether it's wuth fifty
+dollars, er about--"
+
+"About forty-nine less," said Patsy. "A poem of that length brings about
+fifty cents in open market, but I'll be liberal. You shall have a whole
+dollar--and there it is, solid cash."
+
+"Thank ye," returned Peggy, pocketing the silver. "It ain't what I
+expected, but--"
+
+"But what, sir?"
+
+"But it's like findin' it, for I didn't expect nuth'n'. I wish I could
+do more of 'em at the same price; but I did thet pome when I were young
+an' hed more ambition. I couldn't think of another like it to save my
+neck."
+
+"I am glad of that, Peggy. One of this kind is all a paper dare print.
+We mustn't get too popular, you know."
+
+"I s'pose you'll print my name as the one what did it?" he inquired
+anxiously.
+
+"I shall print it just as it's written, advertisement and all."
+
+She did, and Peggy bought two extra copies, at a cent apiece. He framed
+all three and hung one in his office, one in the sitting room and a
+third in his bedroom, where he could see it the first thing when he
+wakened each morning. His fellow villagers were very proud of him, in
+spite of the "knocking" of the Clarks. Skim was deeply mortified that
+Peggy's "bum pome" had been accepted and his own masterly composition
+"turned down cold." The widow backed her son and told all the neighbors
+that "Peggy never hed the brains to write thet pome, an' the chances air
+he stole it from the 'Malvern Weekly Journal.' Them gal edyturs wouldn't
+know," she added scornfully; "they's as ignerunt as Peggy is, mostly."
+
+A few days later McNutt entered the printing office with an air of great
+importance.
+
+"Goodness me! I hope you haven't done it again, Peggy," cried Patsy, in
+alarm.
+
+"No; I got fame enough. What I want is to hev the wordin' on my business
+cards changed," said he. "What'll it cost?"
+
+"What change do you wish made?" asked Patsy, examining the sample card.
+
+"Instead of 'Marshall McMahon McNutt, dealer in Real Estate an' Spring
+Chickens,' I want to make it read: 'dealer in Real Estate, Spring
+Chickens an' Poetry.' What'll it cost. Miss Patsy?"
+
+"Nothing," she said, her eyes dancing; "We'll do that job free of
+charge, Peggy!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE PENALTIES OF JOURNALISM
+
+
+Two strange men appeared in Millville--keen, intelligent looking
+fellows--and applied to Joe Wegg for jobs. Having received a hint from
+Mr. Merrick, Joe promptly employed the strangers to prepare the old mill
+for the reception of the machinery for the lighting plant, and both of
+them engaged board at the hold.
+
+"Thursday," said Hetty, as she watched the pressman that night, "there's
+a New York detective here--two of them, I think."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I recognized one of them, who used to prowl around the city looking for
+suspicious characters. They say they've come to work on the new electric
+plant, but I don't believe it."
+
+Thursday worked a while in silence.
+
+"Mr. Merrick must have sent for them," he suggested.
+
+"Yes. I think he suspects about the bomb."
+
+"He ought to discharge me," said Thursday.
+
+"No; he's man enough to stand by his guns. I like Mr. Merrick. He didn't
+become a millionaire without having cleverness to back him and I imagine
+he is clever enough to thwart Skeelty and all his gang."
+
+"Perhaps I ought to go of my own accord," said Thursday.
+
+"Don't do that. When you've found a friend like Mr. Merrick, stick to
+him. I imagine those detectives are here to protect you, as well as the
+printing plant. It won't be so easy to set a bomb the next time."
+
+Smith looked at her with a smile. There was a glint of admiration in his
+eyes.
+
+"You're not a bad sleuth yourself, Hetty," he remarked. "No detective
+could have acted more wisely and promptly than you did that night."
+
+"It was an accidental discovery, Thursday. Sometimes I sleep."
+
+That was a good deal of conversation for these two to indulge in. Hetty
+was talkative enough, at times, and so was Thursday Smith, when the
+humor seized him; but when they were together they said very little. The
+artist would stroll into the pressroom after the compositors had
+finished their tasks and watch the man make up the forms, lock them,
+place them on the press and run off the edition. Then he would glance
+over the paper while Thursday washed up and put on his coat, after which
+he accompanied her to the door of her hotel and with a simple "good
+night" proceeded up the street to his own lodging.
+
+There are surprises in the newspaper business, as our girl journalists
+were fast discovering. It was a real calamity when Miss Briggs, who had
+been primarily responsible for getting the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+into proper working order, suddenly resigned her position. They had
+depended a great deal on Miss Briggs, so when the telegraph editor
+informed them she was going back to New York, they were positively
+bewildered by her loss. Questions elicited the fact that the woman was
+nervous over the recent explosion and looked for further trouble from
+the mill hands. She also suspected the two recent arrivals to be
+detectives, and the town was so small and so absolutely without police
+protection that she would not risk her personal safety by remaining
+longer in it.
+
+"Perhaps I'm homesick," she added. "It's dreadfully lonely here when I'm
+not at work, and for that reason I've tried to keep busy most of the
+time. Really, I'm astonished to think I've stood this isolation so long;
+but now that my mind is made up, I'm going, and it is useless to ask me
+to remain."
+
+They offered her higher wages, and Mr. Merrick himself had a long talk
+with her, but all arguments were unavailing.
+
+"What shall we do, Thursday?" asked Patsy in despair. "None of us
+understands telegraphy."
+
+"Hetty Hewitt does," he suggested.
+
+"Hetty! I'm afraid if I asked her to assume this work she also would
+leave us."
+
+"No; she'll stay," he said positively.
+
+"But she can't edit the telegraph news. Suppose she took the messages,
+who would get the night news in shape for the compositors? My uncle
+would not like to have me remain here until midnight, but even if he
+would permit it I have not yet mastered the art of condensing the
+dispatches and selecting just such items as are suitable for the
+_Tribune_."
+
+"I'll do that, Miss Doyle," promised Smith.
+
+"I've been paying especial attention to the work of Miss Briggs, for I
+had an idea she was getting uneasy. And I can take all the day messages,
+too. If Hetty will look after the wires evenings I can do the rest of
+the telegraph editor's work, and my own, too."
+
+"Good gracious, Thursday!" exclaimed Patsy; "you'll be running the whole
+paper, presently."
+
+"No; I can't do the typesetting. But if the Dwyer girls stick to their
+job--and they seem quite contented here--I'll answer for the rest of the
+outfit."
+
+"I'm glad the Dwyer girls seem contented," she answered; "but I'm
+afraid to depend upon anyone now--except you."
+
+He liked that compliment, but said nothing further. After consulting
+with Louise and Beth, Patsy broached the subject to Hetty, and the
+artist jumped at the opportunity to do something to occupy her leisure
+time. The work brought her in contact with Thursday Smith more than
+ever, and when Miss Briggs departed bag and baggage for New York, the
+paper suffered little through her defection.
+
+"Newspaper folk," remarked Major Doyle, who was now at the farm enjoying
+his vacation and worshipping at the shrine of the managing editor in the
+person of his versatile daughter, "are the most unreliable of any class
+in the world. So I've often been told, and I believe it. They come and
+go, by fits and starts, and it's a wonder the erratic rascals never put
+a paper out of business. But they don't. You never heard of a newspaper
+that failed to appear just because the mechanical force deserted and
+left it in the lurch. By hook or crook the paper must be printed--and
+it always is. So don't worry, mavourneen; when your sallow-faced artist
+and your hobo jack-of-all-trades desert you, there'll still be a way to
+keep the _Millville Tribune_ going, and therefore the world will
+continue to whirl on its axis."
+
+"I don't believe Thursday will ever desert, and Hetty likes us too well
+to leave us in the lurch; but suppose those typesetters take a notion to
+flit?"
+
+"Then," said matter-of-fact Beth, "we'll fill the paper with ready-made
+plate stuff and telegraph for more compositors."
+
+"That's it," agreed the major, "Those people are always to be had. But
+don't worry till the time comes. As me grandfather, the commodore, once
+said: 'Never cross a bridge till ye come to it.'"
+
+"It wasn't your grandfather who originated that remark," said Uncle
+John.
+
+"It was, sir! I defy you to prove otherwise."
+
+"I'm not certain you ever had a grandfather; and he wasn't a commodore,
+anyhow."
+
+"Sir!" cried the major, glaring at his brother-in-law, "I have his
+commission, somewhere--laid away."
+
+"Never mind," said Patsy, cheerfully, for these fierce arguments between
+her father and uncle--who were devotedly attached to one another--never
+disturbed her in the least, "the _Tribune's_ running smoothly just now,
+and the work is keeping us delightfully busy. I think that never in my
+life have I enjoyed myself more than since I became a journalist."
+
+"Is the thing paying dividends?" inquired the major.
+
+Arthur laughed.
+
+"I've just been figuring up the last month's expenditures and receipts,"
+said he. "The first month didn't count, for we were getting started."
+
+"And what's the result?" asked the Major.
+
+"Every paper we send out--for one cent--costs us eighty-eight cents to
+manufacture."
+
+There was a painful silence for a time, broken by the major's suggestive
+cough.
+
+"I hope," said the old soldier, solemnly, "that the paper's circulation
+is very small."
+
+"The smallest of any daily paper in all the civilized word, sir,"
+declared the bookkeeper.
+
+"Of course," remarked Louise, with dignity; "that is what distinguishes
+it. We did not undertake this publication to make money, and it does not
+cost us more than we are willing to pay for the exceptional experiences
+we are gaining."
+
+The major raised his eyebrows; Arthur whistled softly; Uncle John
+smiled; but with one accord they dropped the disagreeable subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+OPEN WARFARE
+
+
+Joe Wegg's machinery and dynamos arrived promptly and the electric plant
+was speedily installed at the old mill. So energetically had the young
+man supervised his work that poles and wires were all in place as far up
+the road as Thompson's Crossing and a branch line run to the Wegg Farm,
+by the time the first test was made.
+
+All Millville celebrated that first night when its streets shone
+resplendent under the glare of electric lights. There was a public
+bonfire near the mill, speeches were made, and afterward Mr. Merrick
+served a free supper to the villagers, in the hall over Sam Cotting's
+General Store, where the girls assisted in waiting upon the guests, and
+everybody was happy and as hilarious as the fumes of good coffee could
+make them.
+
+More speeches were made in the hall, and one of these was by Peggy
+McNutt, who had painted his wooden foot blue with red stripes in honor
+of the occasion. He said, according to the report afterward printed in
+the Tribune:
+
+"Feller Citizens! This 'ere town's bloomin' like a new mown rose. I'll
+bet anybody anything there ain't another town in Ameriky what's gone
+ahead like we hev in the past few months that's jest past. (Applause.)
+If I do say it myself, we're the mos'--eh--the mos'--eh--progressioning
+community in--in--this community. Our community hes put out a daily
+paper what's a credit to--to--our community, especially the poetry;
+we've got a paper mill at Royal what makes paper fer New Yoruk; an' now,
+to cap the climate, our community hes lighted our community with
+'lectric lights fit fer Lundon, New Yoruk, Canada or--or--or--our
+community. (Laughter and cries of "Cut out the community, Peggy!") No!
+Never, feller citizens, will I cut out a community what's done so much
+fer our--our community. If I do say it myself, the eyes of the com--of
+the world is upon us, an' I'm proud of the things that's ben did by our
+feller citizens, with my full approval, in this 'ere--this
+'ere--er--community!" (Cheers and a sandwich, which last offering was
+received by Mr. McNutt in his back hair as he turned to descend from the
+rostrum.)
+
+Joe Wegg is reported to have said: "Neighbors, this electric plant is no
+plaything. It is going to give you all better light, at no more cost to
+you than kerosene. But it will do more than that: it will run machinery
+of all kinds better than steam will. You've seen electricity running the
+newspaper press, and the same current has operated the big paper mills
+at Royal. Here in this audience is a gentleman from Connecticut who has
+accepted my invitation to look over our village with a view to building
+a factory here, using the power I shall hereafter be able to furnish. I
+am in correspondence with two other manufacturers, whom I hope to induce
+to locate in Millville. (Enthusiastic cheers.) Job Fisher, who used to
+live at Malvern, is planning to start a lumber mill, to cut the pine
+just north of here; so you see we are about to arouse from our long
+sleep and have a great future before us if we keep wide awake. Another
+item of news merits your attention. Bartlett has sold sixty acres of his
+farm to Dr. Adam Matthews, for many years a prominent physician of
+Boston, who is going to build a good house on the land and become a
+citizen of Millville. We've always had to go to Huntingdon for a doctor,
+but now Dr. Matthews has promised to look after the health of the
+Millville people, although he has retired from city practice. More
+people will come here from time to time, attracted by our enterprise and
+the rugged beauty of our county; real estate will become more valuable,
+trade will prosper and every one of the old inhabitants will find
+opportunities to make money." (Great applause.)
+
+A general discussion followed concerning the "doin's of Joe Wegg" and
+the prophecies he had made. Opinion seemed divided as to whether the
+promised "boom" was desirable for Millville or not. Some of the good
+villagers were averse to personal activity and feared the new order of
+things might disturb their comfort; in others a mild ambition had been
+awakened. But while they feasted at Mr. Merrick's expense and gravely
+canvassed the situation, the newly installed electric lights suddenly
+failed. Darkness fell upon the assemblage and there was an awed hush
+until Sam Cotting lighted the old reliable kerosene lamps.
+
+Joe Wegg was as much astonished as anyone.
+
+"There has been an accident to the machinery," he said to Mr. Merrick.
+"I'll run over to the mill and see what has happened."
+
+"I will go with you," said Arthur Weldon, and Major Doyle also decided
+to accompany the young man.
+
+Uncle John and his three nieces remained in the hall, and Mr. Merrick
+took occasion to make a little speech in which he explained that a hitch
+in the working of the electric plant was liable to happen at first, but
+after a few days the dynamos could be fully depended upon.
+
+He had scarcely finished this explanation when Arthur came running back
+into the hall in much excitement. He approached Mr. Merrick and said in
+a low voice:
+
+"The machinery is all right, sir. Some one has cut the wires."
+
+"Cut the wires!"
+
+"Yes. Joe thinks it's the work of the mill hands. The wires are cut in
+all directions, and several of the men from Royal have been seen
+loitering around by Cox and Booth, the detectives."
+
+The girls overheard this assertion, and Patsy exclaimed:
+
+"I'm going to the office, to make sure our power hasn't been tampered
+with."
+
+The meeting broke up at once and the villagers trooped out to
+investigate. Mr. Merrick and Arthur walked with the girls to the
+printing office, where they found Thursday Smith and Hetty working by
+the light of tallow candles.
+
+"The power is off," said Smith quietly.
+
+"Then the wire from Royal has also been cut," said Patsy. "What shall we
+do? His paper must come out to-morrow morning, in spite of anything and
+everything!"
+
+"Do you know who cut the wires?" inquired Thursday.
+
+"We think the mill hands must have done it."
+
+"Not with Skeelty's consent, I'll be bound," said Mr. Merrick. "The
+manager is too fearful of a damage suit to play any tricks."
+
+"A cut wire may be repaired," suggested the pressman, and even as he
+spoke Joe Wegg came in, accompanied by the two detectives and the major.
+
+"Cox has interviewed one of the workmen from Royal," said Joe, "and the
+fellow says there's a strike at the mill and everything is closed down.
+Skeelty is barricaded in his office building, wild with fear, for the
+men have captured the company's store and helped themselves to the stock
+of liquors. The man Cox spoke with, who seems to be a well disposed
+fellow, predicts all kinds of trouble, and perhaps rioting, before this
+thing is ended."
+
+They listened to this report in amazement.
+
+"I conjecture," said the major, "that the rascally manager has given his
+men too much leeway. He's encouraged them in mischief until they've
+taken the bit between their teeth and turned against even their master.
+I have no personal acquaintance with the villain, but I imagine it
+serves him right."
+
+"But, dear me!" cried Patsy, wringing her hands; "what'll become of the
+paper? It's nearly ten o'clock now."
+
+Thursday turned to Joe Wegg.
+
+"Can't we connect our supply wire with your new plant, so as to use your
+power?" he asked.
+
+"Easily. An hour's work will serve to make the connection. But unless we
+watch the wire every minute those fellows will cut it again. The town's
+full of the rascals, and they're not exactly sober, either."
+
+"Watch the wire; that's the idea," said Uncle John. "It's only a short
+distance to the mill, and I'm sure the villagers will volunteer for this
+duty."
+
+"Of course," said Joe. "Major Doyle, will you mount guard over my men at
+the dynamos, to see they're not interfered with, while I look after the
+wire?"
+
+"Sure enough; it'll remind me of the old war times," said the major
+readily.
+
+"Where is Arthur?" asked Louise.
+
+"We left him at the mill."
+
+They left the office at once, Joe to get his line-men at work, and the
+major to join Weldon in guarding the dynamos. One of the detectives went
+with Mr. Wegg, but the other, whose name was Booth, remained to guard
+the printing office. Mr. Merrick now proposed that he take the girls
+home. Patsy and Beth refused to leave until the emergency was past, when
+the major and Arthur could drive them to the farm, but Louise was tired
+and went with Uncle John in his buggy, the surrey being left for the
+rest of the party to use. Arthur ran over for a moment to say everything
+was quiet at the mill and he did not think there would be any further
+trouble, and the report considerably reassured them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+A MERE MATTER OF REVENGE
+
+
+Hetty and Thursday continued to work on the paper.
+
+"We'll have everything ready by the time the line is connected," said
+the artist. "Then it will be but a few moments' work to run off the
+edition."
+
+Patsy and Beth held candles for them, for the electric lights had been
+cut off with the power; so, seeing them all busily engaged, Arthur
+Weldon decided to return to the mill to join the Major. Booth sat in the
+front office, near the door, and in the darkness Arthur nearly stumbled
+over him.
+
+"Going away, sir?" asked the man.
+
+"Yes; I'll see if I can be of any assistance at the mill."
+
+"Be careful. Those workmen have been drifting into town in squads, the
+last few minutes, and most of them are reckless with drink."
+
+"I'll watch out," said Arthur.
+
+In the middle of the road a group of mill hands conversed excitedly in
+some foreign tongue; but they paid no attention to Weldon as he passed
+them. Others joined them, presently, and one began a harangue in a loud
+voice, to which they listened eagerly. Then Bob West slipped across from
+the hardware store and ran against the detective in the doorway of the
+printing office.
+
+"Who's this?" he demanded, holding the man in a firm grip.
+
+"Booth, sir."
+
+"Good. I could not recognize you in this darkness. Are you armed?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you and I will defend this door. Who is inside?"
+
+"The pressman--Thursday Smith--and three of the girls."
+
+"The compositors?"
+
+"No; they've gone to the hotel. Miss Doyle, Miss DeGraf, and--Hetty
+Hewitt."
+
+West went into the hack room, which was faintly illumined by candles
+stuck here and there. The girls and Smith were all bending over the
+imposing stone, where the forms of the paper were being made up.
+
+"Here," said West, taking a revolver from his pocket and laying it on
+the table; "I'm afraid there may be an attack on this office in a few
+minutes, for I understand the language of those strikers and have been
+listening to them. If any of the mill hands attempt to break into this
+room don't be afraid to shoot."
+
+"Why should the men wish to attack us, sir?" asked Patsy wonderingly.
+
+"There are several reasons. They're after Smith, for one thing. They've
+an old grudge against him to settle. Aside from the mere matter of
+revenge I overheard one of them telling his friends to smash the press
+and keep the paper from coming out, and Mr. Boglin would pay them well
+for the job."
+
+Smith carelessly thrust the revolver into his hip pocket.
+
+"The paper will come out if Mr. Wegg gives us the power," he said.
+
+"Can you let me have a revolver, Mr. West?" asked Hetty.
+
+"Could you use it?"
+
+"I think so."
+
+He looked at her a moment and then took a second revolver from his
+pocket.
+
+"I've robbed my hardware stock," he said with a smile. "But I advise you
+girls to keep your hands off the thing unless a crisis arises. I don't
+imagine the gang will get past me and Booth at the entrance, but if any
+stragglers come your way Smith has authority to drive them back. I'm
+justice of the peace, and I hereby appoint you all special officers of
+the law."
+
+He said this lightly, fearing to alarm the girls unnecessarily, and then
+passed through the doorway and joined Booth at the front.
+
+The telephone rang and Patsy answered it.
+
+"How soon will the forms be ready?" asked Arthur's voice.
+
+"In ten minutes--perhaps five," she answered.
+
+"We'll have the power on in ten minutes more. Tell Smith not to lose an
+instant's time in running off the edition, for we don't know how long we
+can keep the line open. The strikers are threatening us, even now."
+
+"All right," called Patsy; "just give us the power for a few minutes,
+and we'll be through for to-night."
+
+She went back to Thursday and reported.
+
+"There may be a few typographical errors, and I'm afraid it's a bad
+make-up," he remarked; "but I'll have the thing on the press in five
+minutes."
+
+With mallet and shooting-stick he tightened the quoins, then lifted the
+heavy iron frames filled with type and slid them onto the bed of the
+press. They gave him all the light the flickering candles afforded as he
+adjusted the machinery, and all were bending over the press when a low,
+distant growl was heard, rising slowly to a frenzied shout. A revolver
+popped--another--followed by wild cries from the street.
+
+The girls grew a little pale, but Thursday Smith put his hand on the
+lever of the press and said:
+
+"All right. The moment they give us the current we're ready to run."
+
+Patsy straightened up with a sigh of relief, then gave a low cry as the
+screens of the two windows of the pressroom were smashed in and through
+the openings men began to tumble into the room. At once Hetty confronted
+them with leveled revolver and the sight caused them to hesitate.
+
+"Out o' the way, you women!" called a burly fellow who wore a green
+sweater and an oilskin hat; "we don't want to hurt you if we can help.
+There's the one we're after!" He pointed a finger at Thursday Smith.
+
+"You can't have him," retorted Beth, half shielded behind the militant
+Hetty. "This is private property, and you're trespassing. Unless you go
+away at once you will suffer the consequences."
+
+This defense seemed to surprise them, for they fell back a little toward
+the windows. At that moment, with a low rumble, the press started,
+moving slowly at first but gradually acquiring speed. The sight aroused
+the resentment of the invaders.
+
+"Stop that press!" yelled their spokesman excitedly. "Stop it, Smith, or
+we'll put both you and the machine out of business."
+
+Thursday paid no attention to anything but his press. The huge cylinder
+of white paper was unrolling, passing under the platen and emerging at
+the other end as neatly folded copies of the Millville Daily Tribune.
+
+With a roar of rage the big fellow leaped forward, but at the action a
+shot rang out and he fell headlong almost at the foot of the press.
+
+Beth and Patsy turned their heads an instant to glance at Hetty. The
+artist's face was white and set; her eyes sparkled brilliantly; she held
+the still smoking weapon in readiness for another shot.
+
+But the men were awed by the fall of their leader. They watched Beth
+leap to the platform beside Thursday Smith and draw his revolver from
+his pocket, where he had placed it. Hetty's courage had inspired her,
+and Beth had handled pistols before. The men read the determined eyes
+fixed upon them; they noted Smith's indifference to their threats. The
+defenders of the press and pressman were only girls, but they were girls
+evidently not afraid to shoot.
+
+No advance was made and the tableau was dramatic. Smith watched his
+press with undivided attention and it clattered away at full speed until
+the frail building shook with its powerful, steady motion. Then suddenly
+it began to slow down. The power was off, and the machine came to an
+abrupt stop.
+
+Thursday stepped from the platform and looked at the index of the
+counter.
+
+"Four hundred and sixty-three. Twenty-two short, Miss Doyle," he
+announced.
+
+"That'll do, Thursday."
+
+He came to her side, then, facing the sullen, glowering group of mill
+hands.
+
+"Boys," said he, "it won't do you any good to interfere with us
+to-night. The paper for to-morrow morning is already printed, and Ojoy
+Boglin isn't a big enough man to stop it, now or ever. Better go back
+to Royal and settle your troubles with Skeelty, for if you stay here the
+citizens of Millville are in the mood to shoot you down like dogs."
+
+They stood undecided a moment, but the argument had evidently struck
+home.
+
+"What's the matter with Harris?" asked one, pointing to the motionless
+form of the man in the green sweater. "Is he dead?"
+
+"I suppose so," answered Thursday coolly; but he stooped to examine
+Hetty's victim, rolling him over so that his face was upward. "No; he
+isn't hurt much, I'm sorry to say. The bullet glanced off his forehead
+and stunned him, that's all. Take the brute, if you want him, and go."
+
+They obeyed in silence. Several stepped forward and raised the
+unconscious Harris, bearing him to the window, where they passed him to
+those without. Then they also retreated through the windows and the room
+was cleared.
+
+Only then did Hetty and Beth venture to lower their weapons.
+
+"Oh, dear!" cried Patsy, in a low, agitated voice; "I'm so glad you
+didn't kill him, Hetty."
+
+"I'm not," returned the artist doggedly. "He deserved death, at the
+least, and by killing him I'd have cheated the gallows."
+
+Then she glanced around at the horrified faces of her friends and burst
+into tears.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+DEFENDING THE PRESS
+
+
+In the front room Bob West and the detective were having a busy time. At
+the first rush they each fired a shot over the heads of the mob, merely
+to let them know the place was guarded. In the darkness it was
+impossible for the strikers to tell how many armed men confronted them,
+so they fell back a little, but formed a cordon around the entire
+building. From the printing office to the old mill was a distance of
+only a few hundred feet, and every able-bodied inhabitant of Millville
+except Peggy McNutt and Sara Cotting--who had discreetly disappeared at
+the first sign of danger--was assisting Joe Wegg to protect the electric
+cable he was trying to connect. The men from Royal were scattered all
+along the line, peering through the dim light to discover a vulnerable
+point of attack but deterred from interfering by the determination of
+the stalwart defenders. Mobs are invariably cowardly, and this one,
+composed of the lowest strata of mixed American and foreign laborers,
+was no exception to the general rule. However, when word was finally
+passed along from the mill that the dynamo was running and supplying
+power to the printing press, a howl of rage went up and a sudden rush
+was made for the line, the attack concentrating at one point.
+
+The defenders promptly grouped themselves in front of the threatened
+pole and Seth Davis, the blacksmith, wielding a heavy sledge hammer, did
+valiant service, clearing a space around him with little difficulty. Joe
+Wegg, Arthur Weldon, Cox the detective, Lon Taft, Nick Thome and even
+little Skim Clark were all in the melee, fighting desperately for time
+to enable Thursday Smith to work his press, using whatever cudgels they
+had been able to pick up to keep the assailants from the pole. Slowly,
+however, they were forced back by superior numbers until finally one of
+the mill hands clambered up the pole and cut the wire.
+
+"Never mind," said Arthur to Joe, as they retreated fighting toward the
+printing office; "I think they've had time to run off the edition,
+provided Smith was ready with the forms."
+
+The mob was by this time in an ugly mood and the nearer Joe and Arthur
+edged toward the printing office the more numerous their enemies became.
+The Millville people were getting rather the worst of the scrimmage when
+out rushed Thursday Smith, swinging a stout iron bar he had taken from
+the press, and with this terrible weapon he struck out so vigorously
+that the diversion in their favor enabled the retreating villagers to
+gain the office, where Booth and Bob West fired several shots that
+effectually checked the mob.
+
+"Stand back, ye villains!" cried a loud voice, as Major Doyle marched
+calmly down the road from the mill; "how dare ye interfere with a
+gentleman?"
+
+One of the leaders confronted him menacingly. The major slapped his face
+with the flat of his hand and then kicked the fellow in the shins.
+
+"Didn't I say to get out o' my way?" he roared, and to the surprise of
+everyone--even the major, perhaps--they fell hack and allowed him to
+walk leisurely into the printing office.
+
+Having succeeded in their primary attempt to cut the wire, and finding
+the determined band of defenders more dangerous than they had thought,
+the workmen retreated in the direction of Royal, where there was more to
+be gained by rioting than in Millville.
+
+When at last the town was clear of them, Arthur, who was considerably
+battered and bruised but pleased with the triumphant ending of the
+adventure, drove the girls and the major to the farm. They urged Hetty
+to accompany them, but she declared she was not a bit nervous and
+preferred to sleep at the hotel.
+
+"I think the trouble is over for to-night," said West, and all agreed
+with him. Cox and Booth decided to sleep in the printing office, and
+after the girls had driven away with their escorts and the villagers had
+dispersed to their homes, Thursday put on his coat and walked to the
+hotel with Hetty.
+
+"All that row was about me," he remarked disconsolately.
+
+"But they didn't get you," said Hetty, triumph in her voice.
+
+"No."
+
+He did not mention her bravery, or the loyal support of Beth and Patsy,
+but after a moment he added: "I'm not worth defending."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Hetty. "It occurs to me, Mr. Smith, that you
+are as much a stranger to yourself as to us."
+
+"That is true."
+
+"And in emergencies you are not averse to defending others. Of course
+Miss DeGraf and her cousin wanted the paper printed, at all hazards. I
+don't blame them for that; but I--"
+
+She hesitated.
+
+"You simply stood by a comrade. Thank you, Hetty."
+
+"Good night, Thursday."
+
+"Will you be able to sleep to-night?"
+
+"I'm going straight to bed. The rumpus has quieted my nerves."
+
+"Good night, then."
+
+In the early morning Mr. Merrick was awakened by a red glare that
+flooded his bedroom. Going to the window he found the sky at the north
+full of flame. He threw on his bathrobe and went to the door of Arthur
+Weldon's room, arousing the young man with a rap on the panels.
+
+"The settlement at Royal is burning," he reported.
+
+Arthur came out, very weary and drowsy, for he had not been asleep long
+and the strenuous work of the night had tired him.
+
+"Let it burn," he said, glancing through a window at the lurid light of
+the conflagration. "We couldn't be of any use going over there and,
+after all, it isn't our affair to relieve Skeelty."
+
+Then he told Uncle John of the riot in the village, for the old
+gentleman had been sound asleep when the party returned to the farm.
+
+"The blaze is the work of those crazy strikers, I suppose," said Mr.
+Merrick. "It looks from here as if they had set fire to their own
+homes, as well as to the paper mills and office and store buildings. It
+will be fortunate if the forest does not also burn."
+
+"Don't worry, sir," advised Arthur. "We'll discover the extent of the
+fire by daylight. For my part, I'm going back to bed, and it will be
+well for you to follow my example."
+
+"Another item for the paper," whispered a soft voice, and there was
+Patsy beside them at the window.
+
+Mr. Merrick sighed.
+
+"I had no idea so much excitement could possibly happen at Millville,"
+said he. "If this keeps on we'll have to go back to New York for quiet.
+But let us get to bed, my dear, for to-morrow is likely to be a busy day
+for us all."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE COMING OF FOGERTY
+
+
+The homeless mill hands flocked to Chazy Junction next day, from whence
+a freight train distributed them over other parts of the country. The
+clearing at Royal Falls was now a heap of charred embers, for every one
+of the cheap, rough-board buildings had been consumed by the fire.
+
+Skeelty had watched the destruction of his plant with feelings of
+mingled glee and disgust. He was insured against loss, and his rash
+workmen, who had turned upon him so unexpectedly, had accidentally
+settled the strike and their own future by starting the fire during
+their drunken orgies. There being no longer a mill to employ them they
+went elsewhere for work, rather glad of the change and regretting
+nothing. As for the manager, he stood to lose temporary profits but was
+not wholly displeased by the catastrophe. Transportation of his
+manufactured products had been so irregular and undefendable that even
+while he watched the blaze he determined to rebuild his plant nearer the
+main line of a railway, for many such locations could be found where the
+pine was as plentiful as here.
+
+At dawn he entered the hotel at Millville with his arms full of books
+and papers which he had succeeded in saving from the fire, and securing
+a room went directly to bed. It was afternoon when he awoke and after
+obtaining a meal he strolled out into the village and entered the
+newspaper office.
+
+"Here's an item for your paper," he said to Patsy, who was busy at her
+desk. "The mills at Royal will never be rebuilt, and Millville has lost
+the only chance it ever had of becoming a manufacturing center. The
+whole settlement, which belonged to Boglin and myself, went up in smoke,
+and I'm willing to let it go at that. I shall collect the insurance,
+make myself good, and if anything's left over, that fool Boglin is
+welcome to it. I admit I made a mistake in ever allowing him to induce
+me to build at Royal. Boglin owned the land and I used his money, so I
+gave up to him; but I'm through with the _honer'ble_ ass now. Put it all
+in the paper; it'll make him feel good. You might add that I'm taking
+the evening train for New York, shaking the dust of your miserable
+village from my feet for good and all."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Patsy, brightly; "the Millville people will
+appreciate their good luck, I'm sure."
+
+Skeelty hung around the town for awhile, sneering at the new electric
+light plant and insolently railing at any of the natives who would
+converse with him. Then he hired Nick Thorne to drive him over to Chazy
+Junction, and that was the last Millville ever saw of him.
+
+During this day Joe Wegg's men succeeded in repairing all the wires
+which had been tampered with and in making a proper and permanent
+connection of the cable to the printing office. That evening the village
+was again brilliantly lighted and thereafter the big dynamos whirled
+peacefully and without interruption.
+
+The girls had a busy day, as Uncle John had predicted, for all the
+exciting incidents of the evening and night before had to be written up
+and the next day's paper teemed with "news" of a character to interest
+all its readers. Beth's editorial declared the neighborhood well rid of
+the paper mill, which had been of little advantage but had caused no end
+of annoyance because of the rough and mischievous character of the
+workmen employed. In this statement nearly everyone agreed with her.
+
+Several had been wounded in the riot of the eventful evening, but none
+seriously injured. The workmen took away their damaged comrades and Lon
+Taft drove over to Huntingdon and had his head sewed up by the doctor.
+Other villagers suffered mere bruises, but all who engaged in the fight
+posed as heroes and even Peggy McNutt, who figured as "not present,"
+told marvelous tales of how he had worsted seven mill hands in a
+stand-up fight, using only his invincible fists.
+
+The following forenoon the liveryman at the Junction brought to
+Millville a passenger who had arrived by the morning train--a quiet,
+boyish-looking man with a shock of brick-red hair and a thin, freckled
+face. He was driven directly to the Merrick farm, where Uncle John
+received him cordially, but with surprise, and at once favored the new
+arrival with a long interview in his private room.
+
+The girls, who had not yet gone to the office, awaited somewhat
+impatiently the result of this conference, for they already knew the
+red-headed youth to be the great Fogerty--admitted by even his would-be
+rivals, the king of New York detectives. Also they knew that Uncle John
+had employed him some time ago to ferret out the mystery of the identity
+of Thursday Smith, and the fact of Fogerty's presence indicated he had
+something to report.
+
+However, when Mr. Merrick came out of the private room his usually
+cheery countenance wore a troubled expression. Fogerty was invariably
+placid and inscrutable, so no explanation could be gleaned from his
+demeanor.
+
+"Ready for town, my dears?" asked Uncle John.
+
+"Yes; the surrey is waiting," answered Louise.
+
+"Then go along, and Fogerty and I will join you at the office presently.
+I want to confer with the major and Arthur before--before taking any
+steps to--"
+
+"What's the news, Uncle?" demanded Patsy, impatiently.
+
+"You shall know in good time."
+
+"Who is Thursday Smith?"
+
+"By and by, dear. Don't bother me now. But that reminds me; you are to
+say nothing to--to--Thursday about Mr. Fogerty's arrival. Treat
+him--Thursday, you know--just as you have always done, for the present,
+at least. Whatever we determine on in regard to this man, during our
+conference, we must not forget that he has acted most gallantly since he
+came to Millville. We really owe him a debt of gratitude."
+
+With this somewhat incomprehensible statement the girls were forced to
+content themselves. Feeling quite helpless, they drove to the office
+and left the men to settle the fate of Thursday Smith.
+
+The "pressman" was now the man-of-all-work about the modest but trim
+little publishing plant. He attended to whatever job printing came in,
+made the etchings from Hetty's drawings, cast the stereotypes, made up
+the forms and operated the press. But aside from this mechanical work
+Smith took the telegraphic news received by Hetty, edited and condensed
+it and wrote the black-letter headings over the various items. All this,
+with a general supervision over the girl compositors, kept the man busy
+from daybreak to midnight.
+
+In spite of this, the Tribune was essentially a "girls' paper," since
+Thursday Smith was the only man employed on it--not counting the "dummy"
+editor, Arthur Weldon, who did nothing but keep the books, and found
+this not an arduous task. Hetty, at Miss Briggs' desk, attended the
+telegraph instrument and long-distance telephone, receiving news over
+both wires, and still found time to draw her daily cartoons and
+additional humorous sketches which she "worked in" whenever the mood
+seized her. The typesetting was done by the Dwyer sisters--a colorless
+pair but quite reliable--while the reportorial and editorial work was
+divided between Louise, Beth and Patsy, none of whom shirked a single
+duty. Indeed, they had come to love this work dearly and were
+enthusiastic over the _Tribune_, which they fondly believed was being
+watched with envious admiration by all the journalistic world.
+
+This belief was not wholly due to egotism. Their "exchanges," both city
+and country, had shown considerable interest in the "Millville
+Experiment," as they called it, and only a few days before the leading
+journal of a good-sized city had commented at length on the "girls'
+newspaper" and, after indulging in some humorous remarks, concluded
+quite seriously with the statement that "its evident sincerity, clean
+contents and typographical neatness render the _Millville Daily Tribune_
+worthy a better setting than the somnolent country village whose census
+is too low to be officially recorded."
+
+"But that's all right," said Patsy, smiling at the praise; "we'd never
+have dared to start a newspaper anywhere else, because a journal that
+will do for Millville might not make a hit if it bumped against
+experienced competition."
+
+"We were woefully ignorant when we began, a few weeks ago," commented
+Beth, glancing with pride at her latest editorial, which she thought had
+caught the oracular tone of the big city newspapers.
+
+"And we're not expert journalists, even yet," added Louise, with a sigh.
+"We've improved, to be sure; but I imagine there is still lots of room
+for improvement."
+
+"One trouble," said Patsy, "is that every inhabitant of Millville wants
+to see his or her name in print every day, whether he or she has done
+anything worthy of publication or not. If the name isn't printed, we've
+made an enemy; and, if it is, the paper is sure to suffer more or less
+ridicule."
+
+"That is quite true, my dear," responded Louise, the reporter. "I've
+said everything, about every one of them, that has ever happened, or
+threatened to happen, since we started the paper, and it is driving me
+crazy to discover anything more about these stupid natives that will do
+to print."
+
+Hetty had overheard this conversation and now looked up with a smile.
+
+"Has your 'local happenings' column been prepared for to-morrow, Mrs.
+Weldon?" she inquired.
+
+"No; I'm about to start out to unearth some items," replied Louise,
+wearily.
+
+"Let me do it for you. I've an hour or so to spare and I won't need to
+leave my desk," suggested the artist.
+
+"It is my duty, you know, Hetty, and I've no right to evade it."
+
+"Evade it for to-day. Go home and rest. I'll do your column for
+to-morrow, and after the vacation you can tackle the thrilling
+situations with better courage."
+
+"Thank you, Hetty. But I won't go home. I'll wait here to see Fogerty."
+
+"Fogerty!" exclaimed the artist, with a start of surprise. "Do you mean
+the detective?"
+
+"Yes," said Louise, regretting she had inadvertently mentioned the
+name.
+
+"But what is there now to detect?" asked Hetty suspiciously. "Our
+troubles seem ended with the burning of the mill and the flitting of
+Skeelty and his workmen."
+
+Louise hardly knew how to reply; but Patsy, who trusted the queer girl
+artist, said quite frankly:
+
+"There remains the mystery of Thursday Smith to fathom, you know."
+
+Hetty flushed and an indignant look swept over her face.
+
+"What right has anyone to solve that mystery?" she asked defiantly.
+"Isn't that Thursday Smith's own business?"
+
+"Perhaps," returned Patsy, somewhat amused; "but Smith hasn't been able
+to discover who he is--or was, rather--and seems really anxious to
+know."
+
+Hetty bent over her desk for a time. Then she looked up and her thin
+features were white and drawn with anxiety.
+
+"When you discover who Thursday Smith is," said she, "the Millville
+Tribune will lose its right bower."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Before his accident, or whatever it was that made him lose his memory,
+he was an unusual man, a man of exceptional ability. You know that."
+
+"We are all inclined to admit it," answered Patsy. "But what then?"
+
+"Men of ability," declared Hetty slowly, "are of two classes: the very
+successful, who attain high and honorable positions, or the clever
+scoundrels who fasten themselves like leeches on humanity and bleed
+their victims with heartless unconcern. What will you gain if you unmask
+the past of Thursday Smith? You uncover a rogue or a man of affairs, and
+in either case you will lose your pressman. Better leave the curtain
+drawn, Miss Doyle, and accept Thursday Smith as he is."
+
+There was so much good sense in this reasoning that all three girls were
+impressed and began to regret that Uncle John had called Fogerty to
+untangle the skein. But it was now too late for such repentance and,
+after all, they were curious to discover who their remarkable employee
+really was.
+
+Even while the awkward silence that had fallen upon the group of girls
+continued, the door opened to admit Uncle John, Fogerty, Major Doyle and
+Arthur Weldon. Except for the detective they were stern-faced and
+uncompromising.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+UNMASKED
+
+
+Quintus Fogerty was as unlike the typical detective as one could
+imagine. Small in size, slight and boyish, his years could not readily
+be determined by the ordinary observer. His face was deeply furrowed and
+lined, yet a few paces away it seemed the face of a boy of eighteen. His
+cold gray eyes were persistently staring but conveyed no inkling of his
+thoughts. His brick-red hair was as unkempt as if it had never known a
+comb, yet the attire of the great detective was as fastidiously neat as
+if he had dressed for an important social function. Taken altogether
+there was something mistrustful and uncanny about Fogerty's looks, and
+his habit of eternally puffing cigarettes rendered his companionship
+unpleasant. Yet of the man's professional ability there was no doubt;
+Mr. Merrick and Arthur Weldon had had occasion to employ him before,
+with results that justified their faith in him.
+
+The detective greeted the young ladies with polite bows, supplemented by
+an aimless compliment on the neatness of their office.
+
+"Never would have recognized it as a newspaper sanctum," said he in his
+thin, piping voice. "No litter, no stale pipes lying about, no cursing
+and quarreling, no excitement whatever. The editorial room is the index
+to the workshop; I'll see if the mechanical department is kept as
+neatly."
+
+He opened the door to the back room, passed through and closed it softly
+behind him. Mr. Merrick made a dive for the door and followed Fogerty.
+
+"What's the verdict, Arthur?" asked Louise curiously.
+
+"Why, I--I believe the verdict isn't rendered yet," he hastily replied,
+and followed Mr. Merrick into the pressroom.
+
+"Now, then," cried Patsy, grabbing the major firmly, "you'll not stir a
+step, sir, until you tell us the news!"
+
+"What news, Patricia?" Inquired the old gentleman blandly.
+
+"Who was Thursday Smith?"
+
+"The identical individual he is now," said the Major.
+
+"Don't prevaricate, sir! Who was he? What did he do? What is his right
+name?"
+
+"Is it because you are especially interested in this man, my dear, or
+are ye simply consumed with feminine curiosity?"
+
+"Be good, Daddy! Tell us all about it," said Patsy coaxingly.
+
+"The man Thursday, then, was likely enough the brother of Robinson
+Crusoe's man Friday."
+
+"Major, you're trifling!"
+
+"Or mayhap an ex-president of the United States, or forby the senator
+from Oklahoma. Belike he was once minister to Borneo, an' came home in a
+hurry an' forgot who he was. But John Merrick will be wanting me."
+
+He escaped and opened the door. Then, with his hand on the knob, he
+turned and added:
+
+"Why don't ye come in, me journalistic investigators, and see the fun
+for yerselves? I suspect there's an item in store for ye."
+
+Then he went in, and they took the hint and entered the pressroom in a
+fluttering group. Fogerty stood with his hands in his pockets intently
+watching the Dwyer girls set type, while at his elbow Mr. Merrick was
+explaining in a casual voice how many "m's" were required to make a
+newspaper column. In another part of the long room Arthur Weldon was
+leaning over a table containing the half-empty forms, as if critically
+examining them. Smith, arrayed in overalls and jumper, was cleaning and
+oiling the big press.
+
+"A daily newspaper," said the major, loudly, as he held up a warning
+finger to the bevy of nieces, behind whom Hetty's pale face appeared,
+"means a daily grind for all concerned in it. There's no vacation for
+the paper, no hyphens, no skipping a day or two if it has a bad cold;
+it's the tyrant that leads its slaves by the nose, metaphorically, and
+has no conscience. Just as regularly as the world rolls 'round the press
+rolls out the newspaper, and human life or death makes little
+difference to either of the revolutionists."
+
+While he spoke the Major led the way across the room to the stereotyping
+plant, which brought his party to a position near the press. Smith
+glanced at them and went on with his work. It was not unusual to have
+the pressroom thus invaded.
+
+Presently Fogerty strolled over, smoking his eternal cigarette, and
+stood watching the pressman, as if interested in the oiling of the
+complicated machine. Smith, feeling himself under observation, glanced
+up again in an unconcerned way, and as he faced the detective Fogerty
+gave a cleverly assumed start and exclaimed:
+
+"Good God!"
+
+Instantly Thursday Smith straightened up and looked at the man
+questioningly. Fogerty stretched out his hand and said, as if in wonder:
+
+"Why, Melville, old man, what are you doing here? We wondered what had
+become of you, all these months. Shake hands, my boy! I'm glad I've
+found you."
+
+Smith leaned against the press and stared at him with dilated eyes.
+Everyone in the room was regarding the scene with intense but repressed
+excitement.
+
+"What's wrong, Harold?" continued Fogerty, as if hurt by the other's
+hesitation to acknowledge their acquaintance. "You haven't forgotten me,
+have you? I'm McCormick, you know, and you and I have had many a good
+time together in the past."
+
+Smith passed his hand across his forehead with a dazed gesture.
+
+"What name did you call me, sir?" he asked.
+
+"Melville; Harold Melville, of East Sixty-sixth street. I'm sure I'm
+right. There can't be two like you in the world, you know."
+
+Thursday Smith stepped down from the platform and with a staggering gait
+walked to a stool, on which he weakly sank. He wiped the beads of
+perspiration from his forehead and looked at Fogerty with a half
+frightened air.
+
+"And you--are--McCormick?" he faltered.
+
+"Of course."
+
+Smith stared a moment and then shook his head.
+
+"It's no use," he said despairingly; "I can't recall a single memory of
+either Harold Melville or--or his friend McCormick. Pardon me, sir; I
+must confess my mind is absolutely blank concerning all my life previous
+to the last two years. Until this moment I--I could not recall my own
+name."
+
+"H'm," muttered Fogerty; "you recall it now, don't you?"
+
+"No. You tell me my name is Melville, and you seem to recognize me as a
+man whom you once knew. I accept your statement in good faith, but I
+cannot corroborate it from my own knowledge."
+
+"That's queer," retorted Fogerty, his cold eyes fixed upon the man's
+face.
+
+"Let me explain, please," said Smith, and related his curious experience
+in practically the same words he had employed when confiding it to Mr.
+Merrick. "I had hoped," he concluded, "that if ever I met one who knew
+me formerly, or heard my right name mentioned, my memory would come
+back to me; but in this I am sorely disappointed. Did you know me well,
+sir?"
+
+"Pretty well," answered the detective, after a slight hesitation.
+
+"Then tell me something about myself. Tell me who I was."
+
+"Here--in public?" asked Fogerty, with a suggestive glance at the
+spectators, who had involuntarily crowded nearer.
+
+Smith flushed, but gazed firmly into the faces surrounding him.
+
+"Why not?" he returned. "These young ladies and Mr. Merrick accepted me
+without knowledge of my antecedents. They are entitled to as full an
+explanation as--as I am."
+
+"You place me, Melville, in a rather embarrassing position," declared
+Fogerty. "This is a queer case--the queerest in all my experience.
+Better let me post you in a private interview."
+
+Smith trembled a bit, from nervousness; but he persisted in his demand.
+
+"These people are entitled to the truth," said he. "Tell us frankly all
+you know about me, and do not mince words--whatever the truth may be."
+
+"Oh, it's not so bad," announced the detective, with a shrug; "or at
+least it wouldn't be in New York, among your old aristocratic haunts.
+But here, in a quiet country town, among these generous and
+simple-hearted folks who have befriended you, the thing is rather
+difficult to say."
+
+"Say it!" commanded Smith.
+
+"I will. Many New Yorkers remember the firm of Melville & Ford, the
+cleverest pair of confidence men who ever undertook to fleece the
+wealthy lambs of the metropolis."
+
+"Confidence men!" gasped Smith, in a voice of horror.
+
+"Yes, putting it mildly. You were both jolly good fellows and made a
+host of friends. You were well-groomed, rode in automobiles, frequented
+good clubs and had a stunning establishment on Sixty-sixth street where
+you entertained lavishly. You could afford to, for there was where you
+fleeced your victims. But it wasn't so very bad, as I said. You chose
+the wealthy sons of the super-rich, who were glad to know such popular
+men-about-town as Harold Melville and Edgar Ford. When one set of
+innocents had been so thoroughly trimmed that they compared notes and
+began to avoid you, you had only to pick up another bunch of lambs, for
+New York contains many distinct flocks of the species. As they could
+afford to lose, none of them ever complained to the police, although the
+Central Office had an eye on you and knew your methods perfectly.
+
+"Finally you made a mistake--or rather Ford did, for he was not as
+clever as you were. He brought an imitation millionaire to your house; a
+fellow who was putting up a brazen front on the smallest sort of a roll.
+You won his money and he denounced you, getting away with a pack of
+marked cards for evidence. At this you both took fright and decided on a
+hasty retreat. Gathering together your plunder--which was a royal sum,
+I'm convinced--you and Ford jumped into a motor car and--vanished from
+New York.
+
+"The balance of your history I base on premise. Ford has been located in
+Chicago, where, with an ample supply of money, he is repeating his New
+York operations; but Harold Melville has never been heard of until this
+day. I think the true explanation is easily arrived at. Goaded by
+cupidity--and perhaps envy of your superior talents--Ford took advantage
+of the situation and, finding the automobile speeding along a deserted
+road, knocked you on the head, tumbled you out of the car, and made off
+with your combined winnings. The blow had the effect--not so uncommon as
+you think--of destroying your recollection of your past life, and you
+have for two years been wandering in total ignorance of what caused your
+affliction."
+
+During this recital Smith sat with his eyes eagerly fixed upon the
+speaker's face, dwelling upon every word. At the conclusion of the story
+he dropped his face in his hands a moment, visibly shuddering. Then
+again he looked up, and after reading the circle of pitying faces
+confronting him he bravely met Mr. Merrick's eyes.
+
+"Sir," he said in a voice that faltered in spite of his efforts to
+render it firm, "you now know who I am. When I first came to you I was a
+mere irresponsible hobo, a wandering tramp who had adopted the name of
+Thursday Smith because he was ignorant of his own, but who had no cause
+to be ashamed of his manhood. To-day I am discovered in my true guise.
+As Harold Melville, the disreputable trickster, I am not fit to remain
+in your employ--to associate with honest men and women. You will forgive
+my imposition, I think, because you know how thoroughly ignorant I was
+of the truth; but I will impose upon you no longer. I am sorry, sir, for
+I have been happy here; but I will go, thanking you for the kindly
+generosity that prompted you to accept me as I seemed to be, not as I
+am."
+
+He rose, his face showing evidence of suffering, and bowed gravely.
+Hetty Hewitt walked over and stood by his side, laying her hand gently
+upon his arm.
+
+But Thursday Smith did not know John Merrick very well. The little
+gentleman had silently listened, observing meanwhile the demeanor of the
+accused, and now he smiled in his pleasant, whimsical way and caught
+Smith's hand in both his own.
+
+"Man, man!" he cried, "you're misjudging both me and yourself, I don't
+know this fellow Melville. You don't know him, either. But I do know
+Thursday Smith, who has won my confidence and by his manly acts, and
+I'll stand by him through thick and thin!"
+
+"I am Harold Melville--the gambler--the confidence man."
+
+"You're nothing of the sort, you're just Thursday Smith, and no more
+responsible for Harold Melville than I am."
+
+"Hooray!" exclaimed Patsy Doyle enthusiastically. "Uncle's right,
+Thursday. You're our friend, and the mainstay of the _Millville Daily
+Tribune_. We shall not allow you to desert us just because you've
+discovered that your--your--ancestor--wasn't quite respectable."
+
+"That's it, exactly," asserted Beth. "It's like hearing a tale of an
+ancestor, Thursday, or of some member of your family who lived before
+you. You cannot be responsible, in any way, for another man's
+wickedness."
+
+"As I look at it," said Louise reflectively, "you are just two years
+old, Thursday, and innocent of any wrongdoing before that day you first
+found yourself."
+
+"There's no use our considering Melville at all," added Uncle John
+cheerfully. "I'm sorry we ever heard of him, except that in one way it
+clears up a mystery. Thursday Smith, we like you and trust you. Do not
+doubt yourself because of this tale. I'll vouch for your fairness and
+integrity. Forget Melville, who has never really existed so far as any
+of us are concerned; be yourself, and count on our friendship and
+regard, which Thursday Smith has fairly won."
+
+Hetty was crying softly, her cheek laid against Thursday's sleeve. The
+man stood as if turned to stone, but his cheeks were flushed, his eyes
+sparkling, and his head proudly poised.
+
+Fogerty lighted a fresh cigarette, watching the scene with an
+imperturbable smile.
+
+Suddenly Smith awoke to life. He half turned, looked wonderingly at
+Hetty, and then folded her thin form in his arms and pressed a kiss on
+her forehead.
+
+Fogerty coughed. Uncle John jerked out his handkerchief and blew his
+nose like a bugle call.
+
+The major's eyes were moist, for the old soldier was sympathetic as a
+child. But Patsy, a little catch in her voice, impulsively put her arms
+around the unashamed pair and murmured: "I'm so glad, Hetty! I'm so
+glad, Thursday! But--dear me--aren't we going to have any paper
+to-morrow morning?"
+
+That relieved the tension and everybody laughed. Thursday released Hetty
+and shook Uncle John's hand most gratefully. Then they all wanted to
+shake hands, and did until it came to Fogerty's turn. But now Smith drew
+back and looked askance at the detective.
+
+"I do not know you, Mr. McCormick," he said with dignity.
+
+"My name's not McCormick; it's Fogerty," said the other, without malice.
+"I was simply testing your memory by claiming to be an old friend.
+Personally I never knew Harold Melville, but I'm mighty glad to make
+Thursday Smith's acquaintance and will consider it an honor if you'll
+shake my hand."
+
+Smith was too happy to refuse. He took Fogerty's hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE JOURNALISTS ABDICATE
+
+
+Mr. Merrick told Thursday Smith, in an apologetic way, how he had hired
+Fogerty to unravel the mystery of his former life, and how the great
+detective had gone to work so intelligently and skillfully that, with
+the aid of a sketch Hetty had once made of the pressman, and which Mr.
+Merrick sent on, he had been able to identify the man and unearth the
+disagreeable details of his history.
+
+Thursday was too humble, by this time, and too grateful, besides, to
+resent Uncle John's interference. He admitted that, after all, it was
+better he should know the truth.
+
+"I've nothing to bother me now but the future," he said, "and with God's
+help I mean to keep the name of Thursday Smith clean and free from any
+reproach."
+
+After the interview he went about his duties as before and Hetty sat
+down at her desk and took the telegraphic news that came clicking over
+the wire as if nothing important in her life had occurred. But the girl
+journalists were all excitement and already were beginning to plan the
+things they might do to Make Hetty and Thursday happier. Cox and Booth
+had gone away and Mr. Merrick thanked Fogerty for his skillful service
+and gave him a fat check.
+
+"It's a mighty interesting case, sir," declared the detective, "and I'm
+as glad as any of you that it has ended so comfortably. Whatever
+Melville might have been--and his record is a little worse than I
+related it--there's no doubt of Thursday Smith's honesty. He's a mighty
+fine fellow, and Fate played a proper trick when she blotted out his
+unscrupulous mind and left him as innocent as an unborn babe. He will do
+well in his new life, I'm sure, and that girl of his, Hetty Hewitt--I've
+know of her reckless ways for years--has also redeemed herself and
+turned out a regular brick! All of which, Mr. Merrick is unusual in real
+life, more's the pity, and therefore it makes even a cold-blooded
+detective feel good to witness it."
+
+Mr. Merrick smiled benignantly and Fogerty drove over to the Junction to
+catch his train.
+
+After luncheon, Patsy, while arranging her galley proofs, inquired of
+Louise for the local column.
+
+"Hetty said she'd attend to it," was the reply; "but we are all upset
+to-day and things are at sixes and sevens."
+
+"The column is all prepared, Miss Doyle," announced Hetty.
+
+"Where is it?"
+
+"Thursday has made it ready for the press. It's--illustrated," she
+confessed. "I'd rather you wouldn't see it until the paper is out, if
+you can trust me."
+
+"To be sure," said Patsy. "That's one responsibility I'm relieved of,
+anyhow."
+
+The paper was a bit uneven in appearance next morning, but when Patsy
+came down to breakfast she found both Uncle John and the major roaring
+with laughter over Hetty's locals.
+
+The first item stated that "Mrs. Thorne took tea at Sam Cotting's last
+evening," (the Cottings being notoriously inhospitable) and the picture
+showed Mrs. Thorne, a sour-faced woman, departing from the store with a
+package of tea. Then came the announcement that "Eph Hildreth got shot
+at West's hardware store," and there was a picture of West weighing out
+a pound of buckshot for his customer. The next item said: "Our
+distinguished fellow citizen, Marshall Peggy McNutt, was discovered
+unconscious on his front porch at 3 p.m." The drawing of McNutt was one
+of the best of the series. It was his habit to "snooze" in an easy chair
+on his porch every afternoon, and Hetty depicted the little man with
+both feet--meat and wood--on the rail, his mouth open and eyes shut,
+while lusty snores were indicated by radiating lines and exclamation
+points. The Widow Clark's cow occupied the next square, being tethered
+to a stake while Skim approached the animal with pail and milking-stool.
+Below the drawing were the words: "Mr. Skimton Clark, cowward." A few
+other local hits were concluded by a picture of Hon. Ojoy Boglin shaking
+his fist at Mr. Skeelty, who held a package of money in his grasp
+labeled "insurance." Below was the simple legend: "O Joy!"
+
+The artist's cleverness became the subject of conversation at the
+breakfast table, and Arthur remarked:
+
+"You won't be able to hold Hetty in Millville long. Her talent enables
+her to draw big salaries in New York and it isn't likely she will
+consent to bury herself in this little town."
+
+"I'm not so sure," said Patsy. "If we can hold Thursday Smith we can
+hold Hetty, you know."
+
+"We won't need to hold either of them for long," observed Beth; "for in
+another three weeks or so we must leave here and return to the city,
+when of course the _Millville Daily Tribune_ must suspend publication."
+
+"I've been thinking of that," said Uncle John.
+
+"So have I," declared Patsy. "For a long time I was puzzled what to do,
+for I hated dreadfully to kill our dear _Tribune_ after we've made it
+such a nice paper. Yet I knew very well we couldn't stay here all winter
+and run it. But last night I had an inspiration. Thursday will marry
+Hetty, I suppose, and they can both stay here and run the Tribune. They
+are doing most of the work now. If Uncle John agrees, we will sell out
+to them on 'easy terms.'"
+
+"Good gracious, Patsy!" chuckled the major, "wherever can the poor
+things borrow money to keep going? Do you want to load onto an innocent
+bride an' groom the necessity of meeting a deficit of a couple of
+hundred dollars every week?"
+
+Patsy's face fell.
+
+"They have no money, I know," she said, "except what they earn."
+
+"And their wages'll be cut off when they begin hiring themselves," added
+the major. "No; you can't decently thrust such an incubus on Hetty and
+Thursday--or on anyone else. You've been willing to pay the piper for
+the sake of the dance, but no one else would do it."
+
+"Quite true," agreed Arthur. "The days of the _Millville Tribune_ are
+numbered."
+
+"Let us not settle that question just yet," proposed Mr. Merrick, who
+had been deep in thought. "I'll consider Patsy's proposition for awhile
+and then talk with Thursday. The paper belongs to the girls, but the
+outfit is mine, and I suppose I may do what I please with it when my
+nieces retire from journalism."
+
+Even the major could not demur at this statement and so the conversation
+dropped. During the next few days Uncle John visited the printing office
+several times and looked over the complete little plant with speculative
+eyes. Then one day he made a trip to Malvern, thirty miles up the
+railway line from the Junction, where a successful weekly paper had long
+been published. He interviewed the editor, examined the outfit
+critically, and after asking numerous questions returned to Millville in
+excellent spirits.
+
+Then he invited Thursday Smith and Hetty to dine at the farm on Saturday
+evening, which was the one evening in the week they were free, there
+being no Sunday morning paper. Thursday had bought a new suit of clothes
+since he came to the _Tribune_, and Hetty, after much urging, finally
+prevailed upon him to accept the invitation. When the young man appeared
+at the farm he wore his new suit with an air of perfect ease that
+disguised its cheapness, and it was noticed that he seemed quite at home
+in the handsome living-room, where the party assembled after dinner.
+
+"I am in search of information, Thursday," said Uncle John in his
+pleasant way. "Will you permit me to question you a bit?"
+
+"Certainly, sir."
+
+"And you, Hetty?"
+
+"Ask anything you like, sir."
+
+"Thank you. To begin with, what are your future plans? I understand, of
+course, you are to be married; but--afterward?"
+
+"We haven't considered that as yet, sir," replied Thursday thoughtfully.
+"Of course we shall stay with the _Tribune_ as long as you care to
+employ our services; but--"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"I have been given to understand the young ladies plan to return to New
+York at the end of September, and in that case of course the paper will
+suspend."
+
+"My nieces will be obliged to abandon journalism, to be sure," said Mr.
+Merrick; "but I see no reason why the paper should suspend. How would
+you and Hetty like to remain in Millville and run it?"
+
+Both Thursday and Hetty smiled, but it was the man who answered;
+
+"We cannot afford such a luxury, sir."
+
+"Would you care to make your future home in Millville?"
+
+"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Hetty. "I love the quaint little town dearly, and
+the villagers are all my friends. I'm sure Thursday doesn't care to go
+back to New York, where--where Harold Melville once lived. But, as he
+truly says, we couldn't make a living with the _Tribune_, even if you
+gave us the use of the plant."
+
+"Let us see about that," said Uncle John. "I will admit, in advance,
+that a daily paper in such a place is absurd. None of us quite
+understood that when we established the _Tribune_. My nieces thought a
+daily the only satisfactory sort of newspaper, because they were used to
+such, but it did not take long to convince me--and perhaps them--that in
+spite of all our efforts the _Millville Daily Tribune_ would never
+thrive. It is too expensive to pay its own way and requires too much
+work to be a pleasant plaything. Only unbounded enthusiasm and energy
+have enabled my clever nieces to avoid being swamped by the monster
+their ambition created."
+
+"That," said Patsy, with a laugh, "is very clearly and concisely put, my
+dear Uncle."
+
+"It was never intended to be a permanent thing, anyhow," continued Mr.
+Merrick; "yet I must express my admiration for the courage and talent my
+nieces have displayed in forcing a temporary success where failure was
+the logical conclusion. Shortly, however, they intend to retire
+gracefully from the field of journalism, leaving me with a model country
+newspaper plant on my hands. Therefore it is I, Thursday and Hetty, and
+not my nieces, who have a proposition to place before you.
+
+"While a daily paper is not appropriate in Millville, a weekly paper,
+distributed throughout Chazy County, would not only be desirable but
+could be made to pay an excellent yearly profit. Through the enterprise
+of Joe Wegg, Millville is destined to grow rapidly from this time on,
+and Chazy County is populous enough to support a good weekly paper, in
+any event. Therefore, my proposition is this: To turn the plant over to
+Mr. and Mrs. Thursday Smith, who will change the name to the _Millville
+Weekly Tribune_ and run it as a permanent institution. Your only expense
+for labor will be one assistant to set type and do odd jobs, since you
+are so competent that you can attend to all else yourselves. We will cut
+out the expensive news service we have heretofore indulged in and
+dispense with the private telegraph wire. Joe Wegg says he'll furnish
+you with what power you need free of all charge, because the paper will
+boost Millville's interests, with which his own interests are
+identified. Now, then, tell me what you think of my proposal."
+
+Hetty and Thursday had listened attentively and their faces proved they
+were enthusiastic over the idea. They said at once they would be glad to
+undertake the proposition.
+
+"However," said Thursday, after a little reflection, "there are two
+things that might render our acceptance impossible. I suppose you will
+require rent for the outfit; but for a time, until we get well started,
+we could not afford to pay as much as you have a right to demand."
+
+"I have settled on my demands," replied Mr. Merrick, "and hope you will
+agree to them. You must pay me for the use of the outfit twenty per cent
+of your net profits, over and above all your operating and living
+expenses. When this sum has reimbursed me for my investment, the outfit
+will belong to you."
+
+Thursday Smith looked his amazement.
+
+"That seems hardly business-like, sir," he protested.
+
+"You are right; but this isn't entirely a business deal. You are saving
+my nieces the humiliation of suspending the paper they established and
+have labored on so lovingly. Moreover, I regard you and Hetty as friends
+whom I am glad to put in the way of a modest but--I venture to
+predict--a successful business career. What is your second objection?"
+
+"I heard Mr. West say the other day that he would soon need the building
+we occupy to store his farm machinery in."
+
+"True; but I have anticipated that. I have completed plans for the
+erection of a new building for the newspaper, which will be located on
+the vacant lot next to the hotel. I purchased the lot a long time ago.
+The new building, for which the lumber is already ordered, will be a
+better one than the shed we are now in, and on the second floor I intend
+to have a cozy suite of rooms where you and Hetty can make a home of
+your own. Eh? How does that strike you, my children?"
+
+Their faces were full of wonder and delight.
+
+"The new building goes with the outfit, on the same terms," continued
+Mr. Merrick. "That is I take one-fifth of your net profits for the whole
+thing."
+
+"But, sir," suggested Thursday, "suppose no profits materialize?"
+
+"Then I have induced you to undertake a poor venture and must suffer the
+consequences, which to me will be no hardship at all. In that case I
+will agree to find some better business for you, but I am quite positive
+you will make a go of the _Millville Weekly Tribune_."
+
+"I think so, too, Mr. Merrick, or I would not accept your generous
+offer," replied Smith.
+
+"What do you think, Hetty?"
+
+"The idea pleases me immensely," she declared. "It is a splendid
+opportunity for us, and will enable us to live here quietly and forget
+the big outside world. New York has had a bad influence on both you and
+me, Thursday, and here we can begin a new life of absolute
+respectability."
+
+"When do you intend to be married?" asked Patsy.
+
+"We have scarcely thought of that, as yet, for until this evening we did
+not know what the future held in store for us."
+
+"Couldn't you arrange the wedding before we leave?" asked Beth. "It
+would delight us so much to be present at the ceremony."
+
+"I think we owe the young ladies that much, Thursday," said Hetty, after
+a brief hesitation.
+
+"Nothing could please me better," he asserted eagerly.
+
+So they canvassed the wedding, and Patsy proposed they transfer the
+paper to Thursday and Hetty--to become a weekly instead of a daily--in
+a week's time, and celebrate the wedding immediately after the second
+issue, so as to give the bridal couple a brief vacation before getting
+to work again. Neither of them wished to take a wedding trip, and Mr.
+Merrick promised to rush the work on the new building so they could move
+into their new rooms in the course of a few weeks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+A CHEERFUL BLUNDER
+
+
+"We would like to ask your advice about one thing, sir," said Thursday
+Smith to Mr. Merrick, a little later that same evening. "Would it be
+legal for me to marry under the name of Thursday Smith, or must I use my
+real name--Harold Melville?"
+
+Uncle John could not answer this question, nor could the major or
+Arthur. Hetty and her fiancé had both decided to cling to the name of
+Thursday Smith thereafter, and they disliked to be married under any
+other--especially the detestable one of Harold Melville.
+
+"An act of legislature would render your new name legal, I believe,"
+said Mr. Merrick; "but such an act could not be passed until after the
+date you have planned to be married."
+
+"But if it was made legal afterward it wouldn't matter greatly,"
+suggested the major.
+
+"I do not think it matters at all," asserted Hetty. "It's the man I'm
+marrying, not his name. I don't much care what he calls himself."
+
+"Oh, but it must be legal, you know!" exclaimed Patsy. "You don't care
+now, perhaps, but you might in the future. We cannot be certain, you
+know, that Thursday is entirely free from his former connection with
+Harold Melville."
+
+"Quite true," agreed the major.
+
+"Then," said Smith, with evident disappointment, "I must use the hateful
+name of Melville for the wedding, and afterward abandon it for as long
+as possible."
+
+The nieces were greatly pleased with Uncle John's arrangement, which
+relieved them of the newspaper and also furnished Thursday and Hetty, of
+whom they had grown really fond, with a means of gaining a livelihood.
+
+Millville accepted the new arrangement with little adverse comment, the
+villagers being quite satisfied with a weekly paper, which would cost
+them far less than the daily had done. Everyone was pleased to know
+Thursday Smith had acquired the business, for both he and Hetty had won
+the cordial friendship of the simple-hearted people and were a little
+nearer to them than "the nabob's girls" could ever be.
+
+Preparations were speedily pushed forward for the wedding, which the
+nieces undertook to manage themselves, the prospective bride and groom
+being too busy at the newspaper office to devote much attention to the
+preliminaries of the great event.
+
+The ceremony was to take place at the farmhouse of Mr. Merrick, and
+every inhabitant of Millville was invited to be present. The minister
+would drive over from Hooker's Falls, and the ceremony was to be
+followed by a grand feast, for which delicacies were to be imported from
+New York.
+
+The girls provided a complete trousseau for Hetty, as their wedding
+present, while Arthur and the major undertook to furnish the new
+apartments, which were already under construction. Uncle John's gift was
+a substantial check that would furnish the newly married couple with
+modest capital to promote their business or which they could use in case
+of emergencies.
+
+It was the very day before the wedding that Fogerty gave them so great
+and agreeable a surprise that Uncle John called it "Fogerty's Wedding
+Present" ever afterward. In its physical form it was merely a telegram,
+but in its spiritual and moral aspect it proved the greatest gift
+Thursday and Hetty were destined to receive. The telegram was dated from
+New York and read as follows:
+
+"Harold Melville just arrested here for passing a bogus check under an
+assumed name. Have interviewed him and find he is really Melville, so
+Thursday Smith must be some one else, and doubtless a more respectable
+character. Shall I undertake to discover his real identity?"
+
+Uncle John let Thursday and Hetty answer this question, and their reply
+was a positive "no!"
+
+"The great Fogerty made such a blunder the first time," said Hetty, who
+was overjoyed at the glorious news, "that he might give poor Thursday
+another dreadful scare if he tackled the job again. Let the mystery
+remain unfathomable."
+
+"But, on the contrary, my dear, Fogerty might discover that Thursday was
+some eminent and good man--as I am firmly convinced is the truth,"
+suggested Mr. Merrick.
+
+"He's that right now," asserted Hetty. "For my part, I prefer to know
+nothing of his former history, and Thursday says the present situation
+thoroughly contents him."
+
+"I am more than contented," said Thursday, with a happy smile. "Hetty
+has cured me of my desire to wander, and no matter what I might have
+been in the past I am satisfied to remain hereafter a country editor."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation, by Edith Van Dyne
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