It was a rough piece of paper; at the top was scrawled the outline of a coffin underneath which was written: "MR.

MULREADY: Sir, this is to give you warning that if you uses the new machinery you are a dead man.

You have been a marked man for a long time for your tyrannical ways, but as long as you didn't get the new machinery we let you live; but we has come to the end of it now; the day as you turns on steam we burns your mill to the ground and shoots you, so now you knows it." At the bottom of this was signed the words "Captain Lud." "Oh! William," Mrs.Mulready cried, "you will never do it! You will never risk your life at the hands of these terrible people!" All the thin veneer of politeness was cracked by this blow, and Mr.
Mulready said sullenly: "Nice thing indeed; after I have married to get this money, and then not to be able to use it!" His wife gave a little cry.
"It's a shame to say so," Charlie burst out sturdily.
Mr.Mulready's passion found a vent.

He leaped up and seized the boy by the collar and boxed his ears with all his force.
In an instant the fury which had been smoldering in Ned's breast for months found a vent.

He leaped to his feet and struck Mr.Mulready a blow between the eyes which sent him staggering back against the wall; then he caught up the poker.