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Updated: May 20, 2025
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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
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?"
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!"
"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.
"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.
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.
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