"I'm sorry，"said Joe，"they ever started that mill at RoyalFalls.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 a rowdies.I've also been to see Mr.Skeelty，to ask him to keep his men at home，but he answered gruf？y that hehad 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 sureSkeelty would not lift a ？nger to prevent it.""No；he's deathly afraid of them，and that's a fact，"saidJoe.
They sat in silence a while.
"Your report of Skeelty's threat to cut off your electricpower，"said young Wegg，"reminds me of a plan I've had in mind for some time.I ？nd 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 in？uence，"continued theyoung 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 of？ce？"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 weshall have an open rupturea with Skeelty before long."Joe Wegg smiled.
"You're going to accuse me，sir，of asking advice after I'vemade 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 mindof 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 longas 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 heis，and I can't let a lot of rowdies force me to abandon the manfor 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，"advisedJoe."During the day they are perfectly safe.If anything happens，it will be at night，and while the newspaper of？ce may some time go ？ying skyward the girls will run no personal danger whatever.""Maybe so，Joe.How queer it is that such a conditionshould 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 bedriven or bullied by a pack of foreign hounds，I assure you ！
If Skeelty can't discipline his men，I will."In furtherance of a which assertion，Mr.Merrick went to town and wired a message to the great Fogerty.