拉里和菲茨畏惧斯科特的恐吓离去，而此时流浪汉提出可以做两人的工作，这让约翰大喜。流浪汉的出色才能再次引发了大家对他的身份的好奇和种种猜测……
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 yourpower."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.WhenMr.Merrick came down to the of？ce during the forenoona to consult with his nieces about replacing the two men who had resigned，Smith asked him for a private interview.
"Come into the of？ce，"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 themill have boycotted this paper.""They've cancelled all their subions，"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 supposeI'll allow that rascalb Skeelty to dictate toc us for a single minute？Not by a jug full！And the reason the men dislike you is because you poundedd some of them unmercifully when they annoyed my girls.Where did you learn to use your ？sts so cleverly，Smith？""I don't know，sir.""Well，you have earned our gratitude，and we're goingto 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 ？ghters，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 goodmen 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 compositorsa，too，and your three girls are one too many.Two are sisters，and can set all the type very easily.I recommend that you sendthe 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 surewe 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 of？ces 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 obstinacya 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'veno doubt you understand the work you're about to undertake，but if we have no knowledge of your antecedentsa you may cause us considerable future trouble."Smith bowed his head and his cheeks ？amed 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？"shegently 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.