Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-15

on the job. It'll just get him In trou-
BILE and won't do any good. That guns
bound to be failure if we amt 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 tempering 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 OLeary 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 a
drunken leer.
Who'll take care of me?' 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,
O'Leary could not be put off.
Then if you're the best man show
it, he shouted. SHOW it by tending
to business: That gun IL be ruined in
no tlmew
Smith. broad. brutal. savage from
drink. aimed blow at his assistant
''You will interfere" he shouted
You think you're a better man than
I am. I'll show you! I'll let you know
who's the boss of this here jobr'
O'Le2ry 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 toilinS hammers. You're
drunk. and we're saving your job for
you. Now you tend to it or I'll smash
your head clean i'm
Smith stopped. grumbling. He knew
O'Lcary was the strongest. coolest
young fellow about the works. \ 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"
They want you in the office,
.O'Leary. Hustle up" he said; Its i'm
portant."
Out in the office Lucy Smith was ex-
planning vigorously to the stenogra-
pher. Maize OBrien. that Smith. In
charge of the Sommers gun. was drunk
on the job. and his wife, fearing some
thing might happen, had sent the girl
over to beg O'Leary to take care OF
him.
Sure, Lucy. that's all right. OF
course O'Leary will do it for you.' the
good natured stenographer encouraged
I'll just get out and give you a chance
IL
going to get married. anyhow"
Lucy bIushed and hesitated.
81 don't know exactly" she said
I'VE haven't talked much about it,
Maize O'Brien smiled.
well, it's about time you're getting
busy with that line of conversation,
think Don't do to trust any of these
steel hands. Two weeks is long enough
for any gkl to be engaged. I'll get
out now and leave you alone" she
ended as O'Leary, establishment and
worry showing on his begrimed face
entered the Office.
whats the matter, Lucy?'' he asked
anxiously.
The girl turned to him with eager
ness.
IT'S about father. Is he very bad p
The man hesitated.
well. he's got few drinks in," he
confessed at last. But there hasn't
been much trouble up to date"
Hes pretty ugly, amt hep asked
the girl.
O'Leary laughed grimly.
you know what your dad is when
he's drunk. Lucy. He's tried to pick
one or two scraps tonight. but the mer
are keeping away from him. I'll dc
my best to keep down trouble. you
know that, Lucy"
The girl nodded.
Eyes, know, Joe. you're mighty
good" she said, but If anything hap
pens tonight you know he'll lose his
Job sure I'm awful afraid, and moth
er's worse than 1 am, so just came
over to get you to look out for him
Is he doing his work all rightT"
O'Leary shook his head regretfully.
THAT'S what bothers me-" he con
fessed ssgTbe Sommers gun g been IL