造纸厂的恶棍受伯格林指使展开了更疯狂的报复，他们擅闯报社企图阻挠印制明天的报纸，四个女孩临危不惧，与恶棍展开了激烈的斗争……
Hetty and Thursday continued to work on the paper."We'll have everything ready by the time the line isconnected，"said the artist."Then it will be but a few moments'
work to run off a the edition."
Patsy and Beth held candles for them，for the electric lights had been cut off with the power；so，seeing them all busily engaged，Arthur Weldon decided to return to the mill to join the Major.Booth sat in the front of？ce，near the door，and in the darkness Arthur nearly stumbled over him.
"Going away，sir？"asked the man.
"Yes；I'll see if I can be of any assistance at the mill.""Be careful.Those workmen have been drifting into town in squadsb，the last few minutes，and most of them are reckless with drink.""I'll watch out，"said Arthur.
In the middle of the road a group of mill hands conversed excitedly in some foreign tongue；but they paid no attention to Weldon as he passed them.Others joined them，presently，and one began a harangue in a loud voice，to which they listened eagerly.Then Bob West slipped across from the hardware store and ran against the detective in the doorway of the printing of？ce.
"Who's this ？"he demanded，holding the man in a firmgripc.
"Booth，sir."
"Good.I could not recognize you in this darkness.Are you armed？""Yes.""Then you and I will defend this door.Who is inside ？""The pressman—Thursday Smith—and three of the girls.""The compositors ？""No；they've gone to the hotel.Miss Doyle，Miss DeGraf，and—Hetty Hewitt."West went into the hack room，which was faintly illumined by candles stuck here and there.The girls and Smith were all bending over the imposing stone，where the forms of the paper were being made up.
"Here，"said West，taking a revolver from his pocketand laying it on the table；"I'm afraid there may be an attack on this of？ce in a few minutes，for I understand the language of those strikers and have been listening to them.If any of the mill hands attempt to break into this room don't be afraid to shoot.""Why should the men wish to attack us，sir？"asked Patsywonderingly.
"There are several reasons.They're after Smith，for one thing.They've an old grudgea against him to settle.Aside from the mere matter of revenge I overheard one of them telling his friends to smash the press and keep the paper from coming out，and Mr.Boglin would pay them well for the job."Smith carelessly thrust the revolver into his hip pocket."The paper will come out if Mr.Wegg gives us the power，"he said.
"Can you let me have a revolver，Mr.West ？"asked Hetty."Could you use it ？""I think so."He looked at her a moment and then took a second revolver from his pocket.
"I've robbed my hardware stock，"he said with a smile.
"But I advise you girls to keep your hands off the thing unless a crisis arises.I don't imagine the gang will get past me and Booth at the entrance，but if any stragglers come your way Smith has authority to drive them back.I'm justice of the peace，and I hereby appoint you all special officers of the law."He said this lightly，fearing to alarm the girls unnecessarily，and then passed through the doorway and joined Booth at the front.
The telephone rang and Patsy answered it.
"How soon will the forms be ready？"asked Arthur's voice."In ten minutes—perhaps ？ve，"she answered.
"We'll have the power on in ten minutes more.Tell Smith not to lose an instant's time in running off the edition，for we don't know how long we can keep the line open.The strikers are threatening us，even now.""All right，"called Patsy；"just give us the power for a fewminutes，and we'll be through for to—night."She went back to Thursday and reported.
