Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-11-18

| nara eyes or flnckney, Wltn terrlDle 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 a gasp and gulp he managed to collect | himself.
 "No, sir" he said firmly.
 What? You mean to tell me you never invented gun% demanded Bradley sternly.
 disappointment in the tone, and 1t 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: Then you don't know MT. Rhine strom?"
 No, sir" he faltered.
 Bradley merely smiled.
 You've never seen him here, Mir. 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 MarshY
 Marsh looked about again wildly.
 Il don't know" he blurted at last.
 An, very interesting" smiled Brad ley. You don't know MT. Rhine strom? You've never seen him? You don't know whether or not he's ever been at the works? You've never in- vented gun yourself, of course. And the one thing you do know is that Mir. Rhlnestrom is the inventor of the gun you are in charge of forging. You are sure of that, aren't you, MT. Marsh? Take your time. Don't be in hurry with your answer. All we want is the truth. Now, you know MT. Rhine strom is the inventor of the gun, don't you?'
 There was so much satirical con- tempt in the way the question was put that the cold sweat broke out on Marsh. He looked helplessly at Pinck- ney and in his hard eyes read despera- tion, but not despair. Pinckney, crook ed though he might be, still had all the courage of the really big villain. The sight of his courage helped Marsh to falter out his answer.
 "Yes, sir.",
 The next question was entirely un- expected.
 What royalty does Rhinestrom re- ceive for the gun. Mir. Marsha" There was a long pause Marsh looked about helplessly. Quite ob- l viously he was going to pieces. Pinck- ney knew that question must not be | answered. It meant everything. If | Marsh told what he thought the real | royalty might come out and the true inventor. fin desperation and anger, would burt the truth. It must be' stopped. Plnckney sprang to his feet "Tbiy is ridiculous" he exclaimed These questions are all silly. whst ioes Marsh know about all this? How can Marsh know anything about roy llties?7
 Bradley turned to the owner of the. works.
 MT Durant. will you kindly tell Marsh what royalty you pay this 
 The steel man booked puzzled. angry. He did not understand the drift of tbe' He had Bot the slightest suspicion that Marsh was the real ins 'entOr of the khinestrom gun, and so. quite naturally, he looked on the quss- lions regarding royalty as entirely un. necessary prying into business secret For moment he did not reply, and Bradley repeated his question. Then Pinckney broke in angrily.
 "l thought Mr. Bradley came here 10 inquire into the Sommers gua," he sneered.
 The secret service man kept his tenn per as he turned to Mir. Dnrant, to speak in Il tone of polite regret.
 "You invited me here. Mr. Durant, to ask such questions as l saw fit to get at the facts concerning the de struction of gun. Do l understand you refuse to answer the first Ques- tion?
 Mir. Durant hesitated.
 But this is a private business mat ter" he protested at last. "l see no bearing in that question on the matter | in hand"
 Bradley shrugged his shoulders.
 "I'm sorry" be said respectfully. "l ask it only for Mr Marsh's informa- tion."
 "What has Marsh got 'o do with | what pay for patents?" exclaimed Durant angrily.
 Bradley. still unrufied, turned to Marsh with smile.
 (To be continued)