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


Smith on that occasion had been laic
off and had not been brought back Il
work until the casting of the Sommer>
gun. Then Pinckney had sent for hin
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 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" OIeary.
the assistant foreman. had complained
"It's plain foolishness. putting Smith
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 OLeary's view
of the matter and were doing all they
could to make this job success
Sommers during his stay about the
works had become tremendously popu-
lar They wanted to do their best
for him. also OLeary 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
/ 1 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 CUR
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 O'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 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
itr' he shouted SHOW it by tending
to business. That gun II be ruined il
no timer'
Smith. broad. brutal. savage from
drink, aimed blow at his assistant.
You will interfere"' be shouted
'You think you're better man thar
am! I'll show you. I'll let you know
who's the boss of this here job!''
O'Leary lodged the blow AID Jump
ed cut of the way as the foreman
rushed. Again the foreman came a
him, but the assistant grabbed an iror
bar and stood ready.
You take another step and III brain
you.' he yelled above the roar and th,
clang Of the toiling hammers. You're
drunk, and we're saving your job fo
you. Now you ted 70 it or I'll smas
your head clean in
Smith stopped, grumbling. He knew
O'Leary was the strongest, coole
young fellow about the wor.ls. A fig
with him sober would have been Sc
Gus, and drunk tie fore.na knew ~
would not stand a chance. he stepp
back.
I'm tending to my job, O'Leary," h
complained, half maudlin. Their
amt no call for you acting that way
You're trying to get my job, that
what I'm doing right-just what
was told. Now, you let me alone"
Sure, O'Leary. let him alone" urge
the other men. He'll come round
and We'll get the gun out on time
Before more could be said an offic
boy appeared, coming from the from
office.
'They want you in the office
O'Leary. Hustle up" he said; Its in
portant."
Out in the office Lucy Smith was eS
planning vigorously to the stenogra
pher, Maize O'Brien. that Smith, i
charge of the Sommers gun. was drum
on the job and his wife, fearing some
thing might happen, had sent the gil
over to beg O'Leary to take care 0
him.
''Sure. Lucy, that's all right. O
course O'Leary will do it for YOU th
good natured stenographer encouraged
"Tll just get out and give you chanc
at him when he comes. When are 20
going to get married. anyhow"
Lucy blushed and hesitated.
e 81 don't know exactly" she sale
eve haven't talked much about it."
Maize OBrien smiled.
i well. it's about time you're gettin
busy with that line Of conversation,
think. Don't do to trust any Of thes
steel hands. Two weeks is long enoug
for any girl to be engaged. I'll e