Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-11-03
right, 1908 by Frederic Thompson All Rights Reserved

into the bath at too high temperature and it had burst at the proving ground. Smith on that occasion had been laid off and had not been brought back to work until the casting of the Sommers gun. Then Pinckney had sent for him and, after 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 Pmckncy himself had taken complete charge. staying In 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 shrewder workmen.
 Looks like they don't care a hang whether this one goes or not" 0'Leary. the assistant foreman, had complained Its plain foolishness, putting Smith on the job. It'll just get him, in trou- ble and won't do any good. That guns bound to be failure if we ain't care full"
 The men had taken O'Leary's view of the matter and were doing all they could to make this job a success. Sommers during his stay about the works had become tremendously popu- lar They wanted to do their best for him; also o'Leary expected in the fall to marry Lucy Smith. the fore mans daughter and therefore he had an interest in putting the job through right.
 Sommers was to come down about 80 in the morning. when the gun was expected to go into the temperlng bath. That was the important work. and he was determined to superintend it However. with Smith putting the gun 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 ev. erything of importance over before the navy man should arrive.
 In vain 0'Leary pleaded with Smith to do something about the gun.
 Its been in too long already, Smith," he urged Do you want to ruin this job? Who'll take care of you when you ruin another gun? You'll be down and out for good"
 The foreman. swaying from side to side, looked at his assistant with n drunken leer.
 Who'll take care of meT' he sneer- 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."
 0'Leary could not be put off.
 ''Then if you're the best man show itr' he shouted. "Show 1t by tending to business! That gun n be ruined in no timer
 Smith. broad. brutal. savage from drink. aimed a blow at h,s assistant.
 You will interferer' he shouted. You think you're better man than am! I'll show you. I'll let you know who's the boss of this here job"
 O'Leary lodged the blow and jump ed out of the way Gs 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 elang of the toillng hammers. You're drunk, and we're saving your job for you. Now you tend to 1t or I'll smash your head clean in
 Smith stopped, grumbling. He knew OLeary was the strongest, coolest young fellow about the works. A fight [ with him sober would have been seri- | ous. md drunl; the foreman knew he would not stand chance. He stepped back.
 I'm tending to my job. O'Leary," he complained, half maudlin. "There ain't 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, OLeary, let him alone" urged the other men. Hell come round and we'll get the gun out oD time."
 Before more could be said an office boy appeared, coming from the front | office.