r with the certainty that this gentleman,
aristocrat as he is, has no right to set himself at the head of the
business and tie every one's hands.

"Mr. Grandon," with a sort of rough, sullen courage, "me and my mates
here are tired of the way things are going on. We can't work under the
new man. We never had a day's trouble with Mr. Brent, who understood
his business. We want to know if he is coming back at the end of the
month; if not----"

"Well, if he is not, what then?" The words ring out clear and incisive.

"Then," angrily, "we'll quit! We've resolved not to work under the new
one. Either he goes or we will."

"He will not go out until I am quite ready."

"Then, mates, we will knock off. We're willing to come to any
reasonable terms, Mr. Grandon, and do our best, but we won't stand
false accusations, and we're tired of this sort of thing."

Floyd Grandon would give a good deal for a glance into the face of
Rising or Lindmeyer as inspiration for his next word. It is really a
step in the dark, but he is bound to stand by them.

"Very well," he replies. "When two parties cannot get along amicably,
it is best to separate."

The men seem rather nonplussed, not expecting so brief and decisive a
result. They turn lingeringly, stare at each other, and march toward
Wilmarth's office.

Grandon goes straight to the workroom. Half a dozen men are still at
their looms.

"O Mr. Grandon!" begins Rising, with a face of the utmost anxiety, but
Lindmeyer has a half-smile on his lips as he advances, which breaks
into an unmirthful laugh.

"Quite a strike or an insurrection, with some muttered thunder! I hope
you let them go; it will be a good day's work if you have."

"What was the trouble?" Grandon's spirits rise a trifle.

"The machinery and the new looms have been tampered with continually,
just enough to keep everything out of gear. Nearly every improvement,
you know, has to fight its way through opposition in the beginning. The
men declare themselves innocent, and puzzled over it, but it certainly
has been done. There are five excellent weavers left, Rising says."

"I would rather go on with just those a few days, until I am able to
decide two or three points. And if you don't object, I should like to
remain here at night."

"And we shall need a watchman. A little preventive, you know, is better
than a great deal of cure."

Both men take the _emeute_ in such good part that Grandon gains confidence.
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