Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-12-24

Gang Of the tuii.f.: hammers you're
drunk. AID were SAY iAs your job for
you. Now YOU trud to ii or I'll Sml III
your head clean in"
Smith stopped gruniiliu". lie knew
O'Lcary WIS the strongest. coolest
young fellow about the WORKS. y fight
with him sober would have bern Srri-
Gus. and drunk the foreman EicW hc
would not stand Il clIIn'". lie stepped
back.
I'm tending to my job. OI.rary." he
complained, half malldlin. There
: amt no call for you acting that way.
You're trying To get my job. that's
what. I'm doing right just what |
was told Now. you let me ::lonc"
Sure. O'Leary, let him alone" urged
the other men. Hell come round.
and We'll get the gun out on tiEle.'
Before more could he said an Office
boy appeared, coming from The front
office.
They want You In the Office,
O'Leary. Hustle up" he said; its i'm
pOrtant."
Out in the office Lucy Smith WAS eX-
planning vigorously To the stenogra-
pher. Maize OBricn. that Smith. in
charge of the SommcrS gun. was drunk
on the job. and his wife. fearing some
thing might happen, had sent the girl
over to beg O'Leary to take care of
him.
Sure. Lucy. that's all right. OF
course O'Leary will do il for you" the
good natured stcnographer encouraged
I'm just get out and give you Il chance
At him when he comes. When are you
going to get married. anyhow"
Lucy bushed and hesitated.
Il don't know exactly" she said
We haven't talked much about It,"
Maize OI,ricn smiled.
well. it's about time you're getting
busy with that line of conversation.
think. Don't do TO trust any of these
steel hands. Two weeks is long enough
for any girl to be engaged. I'll get
! out now and leave you alone" she
ended as O'Leary, establishment and
worry showing on his bcgrimed face,
entered the office
What's the matter. Lucy" he asked
anxiously.
The girl turned to him with eager
ness.
ITS about father. Is he very bad?
The man hcsitated.
We'll. he's got few drinks ill.," he
confessed mt last But there hasn't
been much trouble up to date"
Hes pretty ugly. amt he?" asked
the girl.
O'Leary laughed grimly.
You know what your dad Is when
he's drunk. Lucy. He's tried to pick
one or two scraps tonight. but the men
are keeping away from him. Ill do
my best TO keep down trouble. you
know that. Lucy"
The girl nodded.
Yes. l know. Joe. you're mighty
good" she said. but If anything hap
pens tonight you know he'll lose his
job sure. I'm awful afraid. and moth
ers worse than | am, SO l just came
over 10 get you to look out for him.
! Is lie doing his work all right
OLcary shook his head regretfully.
That's what bothers me-" he con-
fcsscd The Summers gun S been in
the fire too long now. III 1t don't come
out Of the furnace soon the gun IL be
no good ut all.
The girl made a hopeless gesture.
What do you think OF that" she
complained And he's the best man
over here when he's sober. Can't you
do anything. Joe?'
Il am doing all cam" he urged. as
though in justification, but il that
gun = put in the oil bath after being
too long In the fire the tempering will
be bad"
Lucy wrung her hands despairingly.
Lets yet Mr.. Marsh." she begged.
Mr.. rinckuey amt here. but Mr.
Marsh can take dad Off the job and
keep him from running everything
Sommcrs is such a nice man. too. and
Miss Frances likes him. Oh. what
are we going to do. Joe?"
OIcary looked at her blankly. The
situation was too much for him to
manage.
"Marsh's acting funny. too" he COM
planned. He must know how Smith
Is. but he keeps away and don't say
nothing to him. Guess he's afraid"
Maybe | could go in and beg him.
Couldn't i do that. JoeT" pleaded the
girl.
She turned and started for the door
which led into the works. but before
she could reach ii the door was push
ed open and Smith. drunken and more
enragcd than ever. lurched into the
office. At sight Of Lucy and O'Leary
together he Strengthened up. caught
hold OF the door moment for sup
port. then burst on them with q tor
rent Of anger
What are you doing here?" he roar
ed. why did you come in this Of
fee. Lucy? What business you got
here. O'Leary? Amt l seeing you
hanging around my house enough
without getting that girl in the Officer"
live got your dinner. father.
brought 1t over to YOU" faltered Lucy
And why didn't you bring it to me
right?" he shouted. "And why do you
let this fellow in the office here be
talking to yOu:"
'Joe's all right, father" the girl
urged. He don't want you to make
no mistake with the Sommers gun.
that's all