Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-21

"Then the SoNncrs gitn has 20 corlpct
rith the Frances DW0n glH}"
works. Your man Marsh seems t,
have great faith in it. who Is thl.
Rhlnestromf"
Frances shook her head.
Il don't know. Think he must bt
some German Edward just told tn,
that we had bought the patents an(
controlled them. But that doesn't af
feet your gun any. does IT,"
Sommcrs looked up from the mode
he had been studying.
Frankly" he said III this model /,
correct 1t won't affect my gun The
Sommcrs gun has the good points OF
this one and new principle which
expect will partly revolutionize things
for whoever manufactures It.
ut all depends on the forging. II
my gun Is forged right and properly
| tempered. well'-he PAUSED. then went
on with n confident smile--"I don't
want to brag, but honestly | am not
afraid of any gun that ever was cast
It will all be in the forging. and tomor.
row will tell that Wei" put it through
tomorrow night"
oh. | hope it goes through al
right" cried the girl. ut must &c
through It would be terrible to think
of failure"
Yes" be said Grimly. 1t would"
1T would mean she asked. "the
blasting Of your hope?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
That would be a minor considera-
ton. 1t would mean death TO the men
who are handling the gun and court
martial and disgrace for me You see
why I'm Interested"
but there's 20 chance Of a failure. "
she exclaimed. her eyes big with alarm.
Sommers laughed.
"Not of the Durant works. | think. "
ne said "'That's why was glad when
the government decided to have a gun
east here Your fathers plant there
has reputation for he highest class.
most careful work, SO feel safe. even
IT YOU do own patents on the Rhine
stcom gun"
You'll be here for the forglnC?" she
asked,
"Of course he replied "Il be
down in the works experimenting as
much as | can"
And l., murmurcd the gir. half to
herself, will be up here waiting ca.
Eerly, an1iously, watching for you to
eome with the news that everything
has gone right. On. what IL pity 1t is
that you should invent this gun ana
not get anything for your brains and
your labor
He shook his head smiling
NO. he said; Its right That's
part Of the contract made with Uncle
Sam when he took me in ut Annapolis.
lie cd"cated me. gave me the chance
to work. ana promised to devote my
life to him.
We're AL merely cogs in the big
machine. Miss Durant. we fellows
from Annapolis and West Point. cogs
in the machine that makes the flag.
and the faSs the biggest thing to MS,
you know It's hard sometimes, fear.
fully hard. We have to give up a lot
But it's duty. and duty is what we
must think Of"
he girl had been looking at him, ad.
mlration and Just hint Of somethn.
more showing in her face
YES, she said mt last: after ALL
you mon of the navy and the army are
the rea! patriots working for your
country. iou seem TO be about the
tnly ones who do any real sacriticins."
-hen her voice became wore earnest.
But | don't see why you should sac
rilice everything"
The man laughed somewhat grimly.
That's just it. you see" be said
I'VE try not to sacrifice everything.
We always try not to sacrifice our self
respect, think"
Self respect. hddleSticks. 1t isn't
self respect men won't sacrifice" she
Its generally sellishness
On, how you men do love to fool
yourselves. You step back and stand
on your dignity, so proud and hard
lnd rigid, and you pretend you're suf
fering. that you are heroes who won't
sacrifice self respect. AMI in reality
you are nothing of the kind. lou are /
simply stupid self decevers who are
willing to sacrifice your future, hap
piness, everything, on the altar of your
own enthusiastically sacrifice your
selves and sometimes"-
She paused suddenly, aghast at what
she was about to say.
And sometimes" the man question.
I'd unsteadily.
"And sometimes girls talk more than
hey should she ended sharply. Then
she looked at him with Il sudden smile
md quick change of mood that ballied
aim completely. Il think It's time we
went back TO wireless telegraphy. don't
1ou?'
Batned. hut still somewhat relieved
It being saved from himself. Sommers
urned to the wireless instrument
"You can send and take Well" no
asked.
"Of course. she answered "rdword
auGht me originally, but I've learned
lot since. He's quite an adept foo
learned really because | wanted 70
ave wireless plant placed on IN.