The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-03

p
office Then he excused him.
self on the plea of work and, leaving
Sommers. hurried out to see whether
Smith had followed directions.
'I'll be out in few minutes my
self" said. Sommers as the general
manager left Expect there is plenty
of time. though
"Oh, yes" Pinckney assured him
from the door. There's plenty of
time. Don't hurry. We have our most
responsible man in charge of the job"
Out in the furnace room Pinckney
found Smith moving about in leisurely
fashion, as though he had all the time
in the world ahead of him.
"Have you taken out the Sommers
gun yet?" demanded the general man.
ager eagerly.
Smith fared up.
mo l can't do everything at once.
What do you think am? Wen get to
it in a few minutes
Its got to come out now" declared
Pinckney angrily. 'Sommers is here
in the Office He thinks we aren't
able to run this job, and he's come to
see his gun go into the bath"
The drunken foreman's face con-
vulsed with rage.
ooh. he has, has he?" he yelled.
"Well, if he comes bothering around
me you know what he'll get? He'll
get what O'Leary got. That's what'll
be coming to him.
Pinckney shook his head.
"No. that won't do, Smith," lie com
manded sharply.
Out in the works where be was.
practically boss the foreman could not
be so easily controlled.
"Oh, it won't do. won't it," he yell
ed. "I'll show you whether it'll do or
not
He doubled up one of his big fists,
shaking it menacingly And now
Pinckney let him rage without check,
A daring idea had come to the des-
perate schemer. Perhaps, after all if
Smith attacked Sommers it might not
be so bad. 1t would be up to Smith.
He would suffer; no one else. At any
rate, Sommers must not see that gun
go into the tempering bath. rinckney
decided to irritate his drunken fore
man a little more.
Better be careful, Smith Hes in
position TO make trouble for us all.
He's an officer of the navy, you know;
has Il right to inspect the work We've
got to treat him we'll Besides. this
Sommers is pretty bad fighter him
self. He's got an idea he can lick
anybody around these works.
That was enough Smiths fury was
keyed TO the fighting stage now. 1t
only needed the presence of Sommers
and a little provocation to start real
trouble
Thinks he's Il fighter. does he" he
roared. Let him come in here-l'l
show him who's Il fighter. | don't
have to treat him We'll | don't nave
to treat you well. l'inckney. don't
have to treat anybody well I'm ipe-
pendent / am. don't crawl for no
body.
Saith. you're druak." declared The
general nala-ef. "lou're dru..& ,or
you Wou.Ga tax that way
II knew Ia uruuH. ruaIcd tic ioYp-
man. "but IN the best mau IN Tie
outfit. drank or sober. just lei t.eit
navy Gu X snow up
lnsi.p fin kney was smiling. WI
pleased. bat he kept straight. stern
face
Il know you're the best man. smith
he confessed But why do you want
to fight with me-
Who's fighting with YOU" buster
ed the buy There wouldn be
enough Of you to carry away if / was
fighting with YOU
Pinckrey laughed powerfully
"All right he said Now. remem-
come out Of the furnace. He's sore on
us, and he'll make a bad report on the
job if he gets chance. You know
what would happen to you then"
He tried to get my job" roared the
foreman. TRY to take an honest
mans living away from him: I'll
show him.
II
furnace. yelling. Here, take that Som
mers gum"
Pinckney caught the foreman by the
arm.
wait minute; wait, Smith," he
commanded. Here's Sommers now"
The naval lieutenant was coming
Town the long furnace room. shielding
MS eyes from the terrific heat and
glare Of the furnaces as he passed.
Smith lurched out to meet him Just
rs he stopped in front of the furnace
which held the Sommers gun. One
luick look assured the navy man OF
he foreman's condition.
How soon do you take the gun out,
Smith" he asked.
The foreman lurched up, thrusting
his face close to the officers
"None of your business" he retort-
I'd. Il take it out when | get good
md ready. Maybe at one time. and
hen again if NAV he another