"Leave the room!" sister Martha orders. And the frightened servant retires.
"Do not feel alarmed. I shall stay here and the miners will do you no injury. They love me and will obey me."
Ethel clasps the hand of her defender and crouches at her feet. A knock at the door startles the two women. Sister Martha remains in possession of her faculties; Ethel swoons.
"Come in," calls Sister Martha.
The butler enters.
"I have come to inform you that the miners are on their way to the house. They have sworn to sack it. What shall we do?"
"Who told you that the miners intend to come here?"
"I have just received the warning from the office; one of the clerks telephoned. He says the Superintendent is on his way here, but will probably be cut off."
Fear has anticipated the actual trend which events are to take. The miners are parading the streets but have not formulated any definite plan to attack the Purdy palace.
Superintendent Judson arrives and assumes charge of the house. He brings definite news of the intention of the miners. They are bent on claiming the body of Carl Metz to give it a public funeral. "We shall never be able to prevent violence," he declares.