men,
that I have been very sorry to refuse. I shall open a book, and any man
who wants to go out may put down his name there, and, just as fast as
the shares are resold, he can go; _but he never comes back into Hope
Mills again_! Just think it over, and decide in the course of a few
days."

"O Winston!" cried Jack, "I am afraid there will be a stampede!"

"You're nervous and blue, Darcy. Now, you see if this isn't the very
best move. There were two men here the other day from Little Falls. They
had been taking out half their wages in store-pay, and the concern burst
up, owing them the other half. They knew of a dozen men, not beggarly
poor either, who would be glad to come. I'll bet my old hat there don't
six men go out. Come, now!"

"You can't tempt me with your old hat," returned Jack laughingly. "Make
it a treat at Kit Connelly's."

"Agreed. We'll take in the household."

A dozen names were put down on the first day, two on the second, then
there was a lull. Afterward four were erased; and, when it came to the
actual pinch, five men went out, two of them very reluctantly.

"I felt so sorry for Davy," said Jack when they had made the transfers.
"He didn't want to go, and I do not believe he would if it had not been
for his brother-in-law."

"A good lesson for all parties. There will not be any grumbling for some
time to come, I'll warrant. It is rather irregular business; but
sometimes you can't wait for a regular surgeon, or the patient would be
past help."

Events pointed the lesson pretty forcibly. By the middle of October
there was a sudden rush of orders. Prices rallied a little. There were
some tremendous bankruptcies, but it seemed more in speculation than
legitimate industry. The new men brought a fresh infusion of spirit and
energy. One of them, a small, middle-aged man, Gilman by name, who had
once been manager and had a share in a mill that came to grief through a
defaulting cashier who had successfully forged the name of the firm, was
especially enthusiastic about the system. Jack admitted that the
culmination of the discontent was the very best thing that had happened
for the mill.

Davy went almost wild over his mistake, cursed his brother-in-law
roundly, and forbade his wife to visit her brother's household. Nothing
to do, not even three-quarter wages to live upon, with cheap coal and
cheap flour. He even waylaid Darcy, and begged to be taken back without
any share.

"I'm sorry, Davy, but