Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-11-06


/ from the door. There's plenty Of
time Don't hurry We have our most
responsible map 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 yetF' demanded the general man
/ ager eagerly.
Smith dared up.
mo. I can't do everything ar once.
What DO you think I am? Wen get TO
Il in a few minutes"
ITS got 90 come out now" declared
Pinckney angrily. "Sommers is here
I'm 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.
Lob. he has. has heT" he yelled.
well. n be comes bothering around
me you know what hell Cetf Hell
get what O'Leary got. That's whatu
be coming 10 him"
/ Pinckney shook his head
"No. that won't do. smith," he com
| handed sharply.
Out in the works where be was
| practically boss the foreman could not
{ DE so easily controlled
"Oh. IL WON'T do. won't ity" he yell
cd. "Tu show you whether itTI do or
not"
He doubled up one Of his big fists.
shaking it meuacingly. And now
Pinckney let him rage without check.
A daring idea had come 10 the des-
perate schemer. Perhaps. after all. if
Smith attacked Sommers Il might not
be so bad. IL would be up 20 Smith
He would suffer: no one else. At any
rate. Sommers must not see that gun
80 into the temperius bath. Pinckney
decided 20 irritate his drunken fore
man little more
Better be careful. Smith. He's In
n position 20 make trouble for us all.
He's an officer Of the navy, you know:
has a right 10 inspect the work We've
got 90 treat him we'll Besides, this
Sommers is n pretty bad fighter him
self He's got an idca he can lick
anybody around these works"
That was enough Smiths fury was
keyed 90 the lighting stage now. II
only needed the presence OF Sommers
and little provocation 20 start real
trouble
Thinks he's a fighter. does he?" he
roared. Let him come in here-Tu
show him who's fighter. don't
have 10 treat him well. don't have
TO treat YOU well. Pinckney. 1 don't
have 20 treat anybody well. Fun indie
pendent, 1 am. / don't crawl fsr NO
body"
smith, you're drunk" declared the
general manager. You're drunk or
you wouldn't talk that way"
Il know I'm drunk" reared the fore
man. But I'm the best man I'm the
outfit, drunk or sober. Just let that
navy duck show up"
Inside Pinckney was smiling, well
pleased. but he kept a straight. stern
face.
Il know you're the best man. Smith"
he confessed. But why do you want
TO fight with meg"
Who's lighting with your" buster.
ed the bully. There wouldn't be
enough OF you TO carry away II / was
fighting with you"
Pinckney laughed powerfully.
"All right" he said. Now. remem-
Der, SOmmers must not see that gun
come out OF the furnace. He's sore on
us, and he'll make a bad report on the
job II he gets a 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? III
show him"
he turned 10 the workman near the
furnace, yelling. Here. take that Sons
mers gun"
Pinckney caught the foreman by the
arm.
Wait a minute; wait Smith," he
commanded. Here's Sommers now"
The naval lieutenant was coming
down the long furnace room. shielding
his eyes from the terrific heat aud
glare Of the furnaces as he passed.
Smith lurched out to meet him just
as he stopped In front Of the furnace
which held the Sommers gun. One
quick look assured the navy man OF
the foreman's condition
-~CW eS'A w gOh AAht AhC OuA
SMITH" he asked.
The foreman lurched up, thrusting
his face close to the officers.
None OF your business" he retort-
ed. Il take it out when l get good
and ready. Maybe at one time, and
then again It may be another"
The answer was enough. Every
muscle in Sommers' powerful franz
set for action. Already he had the
foreman's protruding jaw measured
for his right hand, and Pinckney's
voice checked him.
Il say, Sommers. come here, please
viii your
The naval man turned without
word and walked over to the general
manager.
Perhaps you can explain this. Mr.
PinckneyT' he demanded sternly.
Pinckney smiled apologetically.
Il hope you won't mind Smith. You
can see he's been drinking"
The officers eyes narrowed The