CHAPTER XVIII
OPEN WARFARE
Joe Wegg's machinery and dynamos arrived promptly and the electric plantwas speedily installed at the old mill. So energetically had the youngman supervised his work that poles and wires were all in place as far upthe 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 shoneresplendent under the glare of electric lights. There was a publicbonfire near the mill, speeches were made, and afterward Mr. Merrickserved a free supper to the villagers, in the hall over Sam Cotting'sGeneral Store, where the girls assisted in waiting upon the guests, andeverybody was happy and as hilarious as the fumes of good coffee couldmake them.
More speeches were made in the hall, and one of these was by PeggyMcNutt, who had painted his wooden foot blue with red stripes in honorof the occasion. He said, according to the report afterward printed inthe Tribune:
"Feller Citizens! This 'ere town's bloomin' like a new mown rose. I'llbet anybody anything there ain't another town in Ameriky what's goneahead 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--progressioningcommunity in--in--this community. Our community hes put out a dailypaper 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--ourcommunity. (Laughter and cries of "Cut out the community, Peggy!") No!Never, feller citizens, will I cut out a community what's done so muchfer our--our community. If I do say it myself, the eyes of the com--ofthe world is upon us, an' I'm proud of the things that's ben did by ourfeller citizens, with my full approval, in this 'ere--this'ere--er--community!" (Cheers and a sandwich, which last offering wasreceived by Mr. McNutt in his back hair as he turned to descend from therostrum.)
Joe Wegg is reported to have said: "Neighbors, this electric plant is noplaything. It is going to give you all better light, at no more cost toyou than kerosene. But it will do more than that: it will run machineryof all kinds better than steam will. You've seen electricity running thenewspaper press, and the same current has operated the big paper millsat Royal. Here in this audience is a gentleman from Connecticut who hasaccepted my invitation to look over our village with a view to buildinga factory here, using the power I shall hereafter be able to furnish. Iam in correspondence with two other manufacturers, whom I hope to induceto locate in Millville. (Enthusiastic cheers.) Job Fisher, who used tolive at Malvern, is planning to start a lumber mill, to cut the pinejust north of here; so you see we are about to arouse from our longsleep and have a great future before us if we keep wide awake. Anotheritem of news merits your attention. Bartlett has sold sixty acres of hisfarm to Dr. Adam Matthews, for many years a prominent physician ofBoston, who is going to build a good house on the land and become acitizen 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 theMillville people, although he has retired from city practice. Morepeople will come here from time to time, attracted by our enterprise andthe rugged beauty of our county; real estate will become more valuable,trade will prosper and every one of the old inhabitants will findopportunities to make money." (Great applause.)
A general discussion followed concerning the "doin's of Joe Wegg" andthe prophecies he had made. Opinion seemed divided as to whether thepromised "boom" was desirable for Millville or not. Some of the goodvillagers were averse to personal activity and feared the new order ofthings might disturb their comfort; in others a mild ambition had beenawakened. But while they feasted at Mr. Merrick's expense and gravelycanvassed the situation, the newly installed electric lights suddenlyfailed. Darkness fell upon the assemblage and there was an awed hushuntil 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 decidedto accompany the young man.
Uncle John and his three nieces remained in the hall, and Mr. Merricktook occasion to make a little speech in which he explained that a hitchin the working of the electric plant was liable to happen at first, butafter a few days the dynamos could be fully depended upon.
He had scarcely finished this explanation when Arthur came running backinto the hall in much excitement. He approached Mr. Merrick and said ina 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 inall directions, and several of the men from Royal have been seenloitering 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 tamperedwith."
The meeting broke up at once and the villagers trooped out toinvestigate. Mr. Merrick and Arthur walked with the girls to theprinting office, where they found Thursday Smith and Hetty working bythe light of tallow candles.
"The power is off," said Smith quietly.
"Then the wire from Royal has also been cut," said Patsy. "What shall wedo? His paper must come out to-morrow morning, in spite of anything andeverything!"
"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. "Themanager is too fearful of a damage suit to play any tricks."
"A cut wire may be repaired," suggested the pressman, and even as hespoke Joe Wegg came in, accompanied by the two detectives and the major.
"Cox has interviewed one of the workmen from Royal," said Joe, "and thefellow says there's a strike at the mill and everything is closed down.Skeelty is barricaded in his office building, wild with fear, for themen have captured the company's store and helped themselves to the stockof liquors. The man Cox spoke with, who seems to be a well disposedfellow, predicts all kinds of trouble, and perhaps rioting, before thisthing is ended."
They listened to this report in amazement.
"I conjecture," said the major, "that the rascally manager has given hismen too much leeway. He's encouraged them in mischief until they'vetaken the bit between their teeth and turned against even their master.I have no personal acquaintance with the villain, but I imagine itserves him right."
"But, dear me!" cried Patsy, wringing her hands; "what'll become of thepaper? 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 yourpower?" he asked.
"Easily. An hour's work will serve to make the connection. But unless wewatch the wire every minute those fellows will cut it again. The town'sfull of the rascals, and they're not exactly sober, either."
"Watch the wire; that's the idea," said Uncle John. "It's only a shortdistance to the mill, and I'm sure the villagers will volunteer for thisduty."
"Of course," said Joe. "Major Doyle, will you mount guard over my men atthe dynamos, to see they're not interfered with, while I look after thewire?"
"Sure enough; it'll remind me of the old war times," said the majorreadily.
"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 themajor to join Weldon in guarding the dynamos. One of the detectives wentwith Mr. Wegg, but the other, whose name was Booth, remained to guardthe printing office. Mr. Merrick now proposed that he take the girlshome. Patsy and Beth refused to leave until the emergency was past, whenthe major and Arthur could drive them to the farm, but Louise was tiredand went with Uncle John in his buggy, the surrey being
left for therest of the party to use. Arthur ran over for a moment to say everythingwas quiet at the mill and he did not think there would be any furthertrouble, and the report considerably reassured them.