The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-21

NSoIIshuCo.J
 'I wronged you, MT. Pinckney," he said at last. T see you intend to do the fair thing: All right. I won't say anything nore.''
 But, remember" said Pinckney warningly, "the least word and the contract would be off. You must trust me. And another thing''-he hesitated a moment, then spoke meaningly- ''the contract will be no good on earth should the Sommers gun turn out to be better than the Rhinestrom gun.''
 Marsh nodded with the confidence of the inventor in his own work.
 ''That is a chance we have to take, but I think we will come out all right. The Rhinestrom gun is a winner.''
 After the head draughtsman was gone Pinckney pondered d long time. Finally he called in his stenographer and dictated to her contract between the Durant Steel company and Will helm Rhinestrom by which the Durant Steel company agreed to take over the Rhinestrom patents and pay the in- ventor $6,OO0 royalty on every gun six inches or under and $1 GOO an inch for every additional inch above six. The contract he signed as manager of the steel company. Then he sent long cable explaining what he had done to Durant, although he knew Durant was on the ocean and would not receive it.
 That night in his own room the man. ager figured just what he would make '-on every gun six inches and under $5,4OO and 5000 for every additional inch above six.
 And at that,' he said to himself with a sheer, everybody will be hap py. That fool Marsh will make his $6o0 and his $1OO. That is enough for him, and Durant can stand the price It means wealth and that girl, too''-he paused, and a sinister light came into his eyes-''if only that Som mers gun is failure. wonder
 
 George. I was ashamed of you-posi7 lively ashamed of you. Your first night home and you sit up at the table and talk nothing but steel and ar cenary and croop guns and that sort of thing, and when we have guest here too! I don't know what Lieuten- ant Sommers thought of you"
 Mrs. Durant spoke irritably, but her husband, who knew her ideas on busi- ness matters from long experience, merely smiled with toleration.y
 It was the first night after his return from a trip abroad on business, and Sommers and Pinckney had both been to dinner with the family.
 Now. now, my dear" the steel man protested, "I'm sure this naval chap is interested in what have to say. If he invents guns himself he ought to be interested, and he certainly paid attention"
 Mrs Durant's lip eurled. x<
 "Paid attention!' she sniffed. 'I guess he paid attention because you are Frances father, not for any other reason"
 Durant pricked up his ears at once.
 Frances father?' he asked. How should that interest this feIlow?' M
 The father was plainly put out. He had too long held the idea that the name of Durant in the steel world would be perpetuated by the marriage of Frances and his protege, Edward Pinckney, for him to hear with equa- nimity that penniless naval officer was paying her any attention. ! Now, look here, George Durant,' 7 exclaimed his wife indignantly, "don't you dare to pretend yourself that 1, Frances is pot attractive!'
 ''I never pretended any such thing,'' he protested.
 "You didY' she declared insistently. < '.But, my dear''-
 Didn't you say you were surprised that this naval man was paying her attention? That's the same thing as saying she's not attractive, and want to tell you that Frances is the pret- tiest girl in Pittsburg, even if she is your daughter"
 George Durant smiled placidly,
 Well, my dear, you see, she's bound to be pretty. Think of her mother
 ''Now, don't try to soft soap me just because I'm your wife, George. Re member I've had twenty years of your blarney and I recognize it.''
 'sAn right, my dear," he agreed. "We'll let it go at that. Let the naval man pay attention to her. It won't do him any good"
 T should hope notv' exclaimed his wife piously. '"The idea of any girl marrying a man who couldn't come home nights more than one-tenth of the timew
 Edward Pinckney entered from the library, where he had been to arrange some business matters for his chief
 'sYour stenographer is ready, sir, whenever you want her." he said.
 Mrs. Durant threw up her hands in horror
 Good gracious, George, you are not going towoxk on your first night home ?'' F He looked at her in an apologetic, guilty fashion.
 well, my dear, you see," he hesi- tated, "the work has to be done some way, and just wanted to get start l have to go over some matters with Edward about this Rhinestrom gun and also about this gun invented by Sommers which we are casting for the government It won't be much work, and I have my stenographer and sec retary all ready"
 Before the wife could protest fur thar Frances and Summers entered inc