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 decided to accompany the young man.

Uncle John and his three nieces remained in the hall, and Mr. Merrick took occasion to make a little speech in which he explained that a hitch in the working of the electric plant was liable to happen at first, but after a few days the dynamos could be fully depended upon.

He had scarcely finished this explanation when Arthur came running back into the hall in much excitement.  He approached Mr. Merrick and said in a 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 in all directions, and several of the men from Royal have been seen loitering 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 tampered with.”

The meeting broke up at once and the villagers trooped out to investigate.  Mr. Merrick and Arthur walked with the girls to the printing office, where they found Thursday Smith and Hetty working by the light of tallow candles.

“The power is off,” said Smith quietly.

“Then the wire from Royal has also been cut,” said Patsy.  “What shall we do?  His paper must come out to-morrow morning, in spite of anything and everything!”

“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.  “The manager is too fearful of a damage suit to play any tricks.”

“A cut wire may be repaired,” suggested the pressman, and even as he spoke Joe Wegg came in, accompanied by the two detectives and the major.

“Cox has interviewed one of the workmen from Royal,” said Joe, “and the fellow says there’s a strike at the mill and everything is closed down.  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.

“I conjecture,” said the major, “that the rascally manager has given his men too much leeway.  He’s encouraged them in mischief until they’ve taken the bit between their teeth and turned against even their master.  I have no personal acquaintance with the villain, but I imagine it serves him right.”

“But, dear me!” cried Patsy, wringing her hands; “what’ll become of the paper?  It’s nearly ten o’clock now.”