Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-10-30

"YoU mean you tConf marry NEE" hc
demanded dngrily.
the gun into the furnace three hours
ahead OF time. Now tt was nearly
midnight. and unless the gun came on,
shortly every man knew that IL would
I be completely ruined. Ii must come
out. be brought TO the proper tempera
: ture and then thrust into the temperipg
! bath-a thousand gallons OF oil.
The last time Smith had been i'm
/ charge OF the job he had put q gun
/ into the bath at too high a temperature
and 1t had burst nc the proving ground
4 Smith on that occasion had been laid
! or and had not been brought back 20
| work Until the casting OF the Sommers
] gun. Then Pinckney had sent for him
, and. after a long talk In his private
office, had placed the disgraced fore
man in complete charge OF this new
and very important piece OF work
At the casting Of the Rhinestrom gun
/ Pinckney himself had taken complete
charge, staying I'm the furnace room
until all the work was finished. and
/ the marked difference In the handling
OF the two jobs had not escaped some
! OF the shrewdcr workmen.
Looks like they don't care a hang
whether this one goes or not" O'Learv.
the assistant foreman. had complained
Its plain foolishness. putting smith
on the Job. TIN just get him in trou.
BILE and won't do any good. That guns
bound 20 be "A failure n we amt care.
full"
The men had taken O'Leary's view
Of the matter and were doing all they
could 20 make this job n success.
Sommers during his stay about the
! works had become tremendously popn.
lar. They wanted 20 do their best
FOR him; also O'Lcary expected in
the fan 90 marry Lucy Smith. the fore
mans daughter. and therefore ne had
an interest in putting the job through
right
Sommers was TO come down about
80 In the morning, when the gun was
expected 10 go into the tempering bath
That was the important work. and he
was determined 20 superintend II
However. with Smith putting the rur
In three hours ahead OF time there
seemed every chance that unless som.
mers should be warned OF the change
the gun would be IN the bath and cv.
erything or Importance over before the
navy man should arrive.
In vain OLeary pleaded with Smith
to DO something about the gun.
Its been in too long already.
smith, he urged. do you want 10
ruin this job? Who'll take care ~
you when you ruin another gun?
You'll be down and out for good"
The foreman. swaylng from side to
side. looked at his assistant with a
f, drunken leer.
Who'll take care OF meY' he sheer.
ed. Don't you worry about who'll
take care Of me. I'm the best man
about these works drunk or sober. and
don't You forget It."
O'Leary could not be put OF.
Then II you're the best man show
itr he shouted "Show IL by tending
70 business! That gun II be ruined In
no timer
Smith, broad. brutal. savage from
drink. aimed blow at his assistant
"You will interfere!' he shouted.
You think you're a better man than
am! III show you. I'll let you know
who's the boss Of this here jobw
o'Leary lodged the blow and jump
ed out of the way as the foreman
rushed. Again the foreman came at
him, but the assistant grabbed an iron
bar and stood ready.
You take another step and I'll brain
YOU he yelled above the roar and the
clang OF the toiling hammers. You're
drunk. ana we're saving your Job for
you. Now you tend to il or III smash
your head clean in"
Smith stopped, grumbiing. He knew
O'Leary was the strongest, coolest
young fellow about the works. A fight
with him sober would have been seri-
Gus. and drunk the foreman knew he
would not stand a chance. He stepped
back.
I'm tending to my job, O'Leary." he
complained, half maudlin. 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 alone
Sure. O'Leary, let him alone" urged
the other men. Hell come round,
and Wen get the gun out on time"
Before more could be 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."
Ont in the Office Lucy Smith was ex-
planning vigorously to the stenogra-
spher. Maize O'Brien. that Smith. in
charge OF the Sommers gun. was drunk
on the job. and bis wife. fearing some
thing might happen, had sent the girl