The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-11
(ConttnW6.)


 asked his next question in the same pleasant tone. st F'Why. then. was he allowed to be in rharge:" 4s'Wen. we were all there to keep watch of hi-a." he faltered at last The questioner looked puzzled t'Whom do you mean by sweW he asked i"Mr. Pinckney and me and"-f The witness faltered, and Pinckney ended for him sharply:
 "And MT. Sommers."
 "Yes. and MT. Sommers,'. agreed Marsh eagerly.
 The smile had left Bradley's face when he turned coldly to Pinckney
 1T am not questioning you, MT. Pinckney. | may question you short ly, and I hope when I do you'll be as eager to answer. Then he turned back to the rattled witness. 'Was Smith discharged?"
 TT think so,' faltered the head draughtsman. He was drunk, and he was discharged. because MT. Durant never allows that.''
 When was he discharged p
 'I don't remember exactly"
 But he's working in Meadville in your new plant now, isn't he?" came the next sharp question that brought a startled surprise to MT. Durant, be- cause one of the cardinal rules of the Durant works was never to take back a man discharged for inefficiency or drunkenness. .. The steel man turned in his chair to look sharply at Pinckney. for Pinckney was also acting manager of the Mead vile plant The question had thrown Pinckney into a secret panic, while Marsh was openly f1ustered. If this detective had found Smith carefully hidden away under an assumed name in the Meadville plant, what might he not know?
 'T-I heard he was in Meadville," faltered the conspirator under fire.
 He looked appealingly at Pinckney, but Bradley, the imperturbable, gave him no rest.
 What time of day did that gun go into the furnace, MT. Marsh?"
 Again Marsh looked hopelessly for the help that could not be given.
 q don't know, sir," he said at last.
 Bradley lifted his eyebrows, sur prised. t "But you told Lieutenant Sommers 1t was going in at 6 o'clock" he said sternly. Didn't you tell him that?" 4 The witness was in a panic now. He did not know which way to turn.
 MT. Durant was looking at him sharply The shrewd steel man was beginning to realize that there was something back of all this, something discredita ble. and he sat there, his face getting grimmer and grimmer and his jaws setting harder with each sharp question and faltering reply-sat there sternly waiting to administer justice so soon as guilt could be proved.
 q think l did," admitted Marsh at last
 "But you don't know?' persisted Bradley.
 Mot for sure" the witness faltered. The detective said nothing to that, but his smile spoke volumes. Pinck ney saw it and moved uneasily. Marsh caught it, and cold chill be- gan to race up and down his spine. But apparently Bradley was satisfied along that line, for the next question branched to another side.
 If the gun had gone in the furnace at 6, when was it to come out, Marsh? ?' About 2.''
 And it came out at quarter past 12. so it must have gone in between and 4, mustn't it?''
 ''Yes, sir, I suppose; I believe it must sir," faltered the witness pain fully.
 The next question was put like shot
 "Did you ever invent gun?''
 Marsh's mouth dropped open. His face became chalky. His eyes rolled about tae room piteously, seeking for aid, but none was there. He saw only the grim, stern face of Mr. Durant, the hard eyes of Pinckney. with terrible contempt and fear in back of them; the eager, determined look of Sommers, the anxious fearfulness of Frances, and, lastly, the cold, calm, deadly smil- ing man who questioned him. With gasp and gulp he managed to collect himself.
 4fs.No sir" he said firmly.
 What? You mean to tell me you never invented a gun?' demanded Bradley sternly.
 Marsh thought he caught a hint of disappointment in the tone. and it gave him courage.
 But the disappointment if there was any, was hidden promptly by the sneering smile of the secret service man as he said:
 ''Why, you surprise me, Mir Marsh. Then you don't know MT. Rhine strom?
 "No, sir," he faltered.
 Bradley merely smiled.
 You've never seen him here, MT. Marsh?'
 "No, sir." reiterated Marsh more firmly.
 Bradley's next question was still hurled at the same point.
 Has he ever been at the works, MT. Marsh?'
 Marsh looked about again wildly.
 "I don't know" he blurted at last.
 "Ah, very interesting" smiled Brad ley. You don't know MT. Rhine Strom2 Yor'ye never saen hiuo You