At once both turned and stole along the side of the shed directly toward the place where the girl stood.

Her first impulse was to run, but recollecting that she wore a dark gown and stood in deep shadow she merely flattened herself against the building and remained motionless.

The men were chuckling as they passed her, and she recognized them as mill hands from Royal.
"Guess that'll do the job," said one, in a low tone.
"If it don't, nothin' will," was the reply.
They were gone, then, stealing across the road and beating a hasty retreat under the shadows of the houses.
Hetty stood motionless a moment, wondering what to do.

Then with sudden resolve she ran to Thorne's house and rapped sharply at the window of the wing where she knew Thursday Smith slept.

She heard him leap from bed and open the blind.
"What is it ?" he asked.
"It's me, Thursday--Hetty," she said.