CHAPTER XX
DEFENDING THE PRESS
In the front room Bob West and the detective were having a busy time. Atthe first rush they each fired a shot over the heads of the mob, merelyto let them know the place was guarded. In the darkness it wasimpossible for the strikers to tell how many armed men confronted them,so they fell back a little, but formed a cordon around the entirebuilding. From the printing office to the old mill was a distance ofonly a few hundred feet, and every able-bodied inhabitant of Millvilleexcept Peggy McNutt and Sara Cotting--who had discreetly disappeared atthe first sign of danger--was assisting Joe Wegg to protect the electriccable he was trying to connect. The men from Royal were scattered allalong the line, peering through the dim light to discover a vulnerablepoint of attack but deterred from interfering by the determination ofthe 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 finallypassed along from the mill that the dynamo was running and supplyingpower to the printing press, a howl of rage went up and a sudden rushwas made for the line, the attack concentrating at one point.
The defenders promptly grouped themselves in front of the threatenedpole and Seth Davis, the blacksmith, wielding a heavy sledge hammer, didvaliant service, clearing a space around him with little difficulty. JoeWegg, Arthur Weldon, Cox the detective, Lon Taft, Nick Thome and evenlittle Skim Clark were all in the melee, fighting desperately for timeto enable Thursday Smith to work his press, using whatever cudgels theyhad been able to pick up to keep the assailants from the pole. Slowly,however, they were forced back by superior numbers until finally one ofthe mill hands clambered up the pole and cut the wire.
"Never mind," said Arthur to Joe, as they retreated fighting toward theprinting 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 Arthuredged toward the printing office the more numerous their enemies became.The Millville people were getting rather the worst of the scrimmage whenout rushed Thursday Smith, swinging a stout iron bar he had taken fromthe press, and with this terrible weapon he struck out so vigorouslythat the diversion in their favor enabled the retreating villagers togain the office, where Booth and Bob West fired several shots thateffectually checked the mob.
"Stand back, ye villains!" cried a loud voice, as Major Doyle marchedcalmly down the road from the mill; "how dare ye interfere with agentleman?"
One of the leaders confronted him menacingly. The major slapped his facewith 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 ofeveryone--even the major, perhaps--they fell hack and allowed him towalk leisurely into the printing office.
Having succeeded in their primary attempt to cut the wire, and findingthe determined band of defenders more dangerous than they had thought,the workmen retreated in the direction of Royal, where there was more tobe gained by rioting than in Millville.
When at last the town was clear of them, Arthur, who was considerablybattered and bruised but pleased with the triumphant ending of theadventure, drove the girls and the major to the farm. They urged Hettyto accompany them, but she declared she was not a bit nervous andpreferred to sleep at the hotel.
"I think the trouble is over for to-night," said West, and all agreedwith him. Cox and Booth decided to sleep in the printing office, andafter the girls had driven away with their escorts and the villagers haddispersed to their homes, Thursday put on his coat and walked to thehotel 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 youare as much a stranger to yourself as to us."
"That is true."
"And in emergencies you are not averse to defending others. Of courseMiss DeGraf and her cousin wanted the paper printed, at all hazards. Idon'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 thatflooded his bedroom. Going to the window he found the sky at the northfull of flame. He threw on his bathrobe and went to the door of ArthurWeldon'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 longand the strenuous work of the night had tired him.
"Let it burn," he said, glancing through a window at the lurid light ofthe 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 oldgentleman 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 ownhomes, as well as to the paper mills and office and store buildings. Itwill be fortunate if the forest does not also burn."
"Don't worry, sir," advised Arthur. "We'll discover the extent of thefire by daylight. For my part, I'm going back to bed, and it will bewell for you to follow my example."
"Another item for the paper," whispered a soft voice, and there wasPatsy 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 dayfor us all."