Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-04

He could not fight against Il. He
knew That, aud 80 he had to tcmporize.
instead OF showing anger be only
'm''ed with apparent surprise and
pity.
"Wlint could have put such a ridicu-
lous notion In your mind, Frances?
It's too foolish to discuss. Who told
you:"
Don't try to explain. Edward the
girl exclaimed angriy. Lucy Smith
told me. OLeary told her He was
burt because he wanted to be honest.
She came to the house to find MIR. Som
mers. and borrowed her dress to
come here quickly and warn him"
Plnckney was smiling now with re-
lief. He saw he had chance II he
could only get the girl out of the way.
And you believe such a story?' he
protested In hurt tone. why. my
child. O'Leary was delirious. Smith
was drunk and struck him while they
we're fishting-n plain. ordinary fight
between hot headed workmen.
What possible reason could l have
for wanting to injure this gun? 10
have It a success means as much TO
your father and TO me as 1t does to
Somners. Think of the reputation OF
the plant. of these works. that your
father has spent his life IN building
up!
why. Sommers is here now looking
after the gun himself. II he were to
hear such story 1t might ruin your
fathers business. You don't want to
ruin your fathers business on the
word Of delirious workman, sore on
his foreman for beating him? Don't
you see how wrong you are?"
The girl hesitated. 1t did seem
plausible. O'Leary was hurt. he
had been fighting. And then she did
not imagine any one could be so con-
temptible as to fight rival in the
way rinckney must be doing II he
really had planned all that O'Leary
charged.
The girl felt that perhaps she had
been too hasty. She felt just a bit
foolish. coming there in Lucy Smiths
clothes ard possibly exposing herself
to ridcule before the men. She hest
tated. looking Mt Pinckpey.
From the other end Of the furnace
room, where he had gone to intercept
Sommers, Smith had made out Lucy,
as he supposed. talking to Pinckney.
The drunken rage Of the foreman
changed instantly to this new object
Of attack.
Why should Lucy be talking TO
Plnckney? What was she doing there
He had warned her time and again to
keep away from the works. and espe-
cially from Plnckney and the Office,
because Smith knew Pinckney and
the advantage which be had taken
Of his position more than once to in
jure girls whose fathers and brothers
depended on him for their livelihood.
The general manager was little
czar in the town. Mr.. Durant did not
come into close personal relation with
the men in the plant, and Pinckney
could take on and put off, make and
ruin men at his will. He had ruined
some. and others. Smith knew. had
risen from the works through com
plaisance and pretended blindness to
the actions Of the general manager.
But the independent foreman did
not propose to put himself in that
class He loved his family when he
was sober and no matter what he
might do himself he was determined
that his wife and daughter should 60
straight. No wonder. then, the sight
Of his daughter talking to Pinckney
In the works before all the men en-
ragged him. With the bar in his hand
he lurched down the long room.
Hey. there" he shouted when he
had come close. what do you mean
talking to this fellow? Haven't l told
you didn't want you hanging around
the works and not to talk to him:
Now. you get out of here quick
Frances turned. and Smith stepped
back aghast
Miss Durant" he exclaimed. "Tx-
cuse me. miss. thought you was
Lucy"
That's all right. Smith," exclaimed
Pinckney hastily. NO trouble now
remember" And he turned back t.
Frances. Come to the office. Frances
Come away from here. will explain
everything to you fully"
Puzzled and bit uncertain as 20
Pinckney's real attitude. the Cir ODE
diently followed him up short i.i-ht
OF steps and into little overseers
office that jutted out into the furnace
room. Pinckney closed the door after
him.
Mr. Sommrrs' gun is just going
into the tempering bath he said
lie IS here experimenting IT, So you
understand all must be right just
wait here few moments. and then
you can see Sommers himself"
The suggestion seemed reasonable
Frances nodded acquiescence
"All right. | will wait" she said,
Outside In the furnace room fu
rious hustle followed the closing OF
the little ofice door. Smith gave the
signal. and the bi: gun, caught in the
chains from the Traveller, began tc
rise slowly out OF the trap furnace
and hung suspended. n huge mass OF
white hot steel.
Hustle 1t up. quick. into the bath"
yelled Smith for already Sommer
had AMMAN rad ~ the and ~ the lous