Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-11-06
Tou see bow wrOng you arer.

had been shting. And then she did
not imagine any one could be so con
temptible as TO fight a rival in the
way PIpckney must be doing II he
really had planned all that O'Leary
charged.
The girl felt that perhaps she had
been too hssty. she felt Just a bit
foolish. coming there In Lucy Smiths
clothes and possibly exposing herself
to ridicule before the men She hest
( tated. looking at Pinckney.
From the other end OF the furnace
room. where he had gone to intercert
Sommers. Smith had made out Lucy.
as be supposed. talking TO Pinckney.
The drunken rage OF the forema
changed instantly 10 this new object
OF attack.
Why should Lucy be talking e
Pinckney? What was she doing there
He had warned her time and again &c
keep away from the works. and espe.
cially from Plnckney and the office
because Smith knew Pinckuey and
the advantage which be had taken
OF his position more than once 10 in
jure girls whose fathers and brothers
depended on him for their livelihood.
The general manager was a little
car in the town Mr.. Durant did not
come into close personal relation with
the men I'm the plant. and Pinckncy
could take or and put of. make and
ruin men at his will He had ruined
some. and others. Smith knew. bad
risen from the works through com
plaisance and pretended blindness 10
the actions Of the general manager.
But the Independent foreman dill
not propose To put himself in that
class He loved his family when be
was sober. and no matter what ne
might do himself he was determined
that his wife and daughter should go
straight No wonder. then. the sight
OF his daughter talking TO Pinckney
in the works before all the men en-
ragged him. With the bar in his hand
he lurched down the long room.
Hey. there" be shouted when he
had come close. What do you mean
talking TO this fellow Haven't I told
you l didn't want you hanging around
the works and not 20 talk 20 himf
Now. you get out Of here quick.''
Frances turned. and Smith stepped
back aghast
Miss DurantT' he exclaimed. Eek
cuse me. miss. I thought you was
| Lucy"
"Thafs all right. Smith," exclaimed
PiDckney hastily. mo trouble now.
remember" And he turned back &C
Frances Come 10 the Office. Frances
Come away from here. 1 VIII explain
everything TO you fully"
Puzzled and bit uncertain as to
Pinckney's real attitude, the girl ODE
diently followed him up a short flight
Of steps and into n little overseer's
Office that jutted out into the furnace
room Pinckney closed the door after
him.
Mr.. Sommers' gun Is just going
into the tempering bath" he said
He is here experimenting IL SO you
4 understand all must be right. Just
wait here n few moments, and then,
( you can see Sommers himself"
The suggestion seemed reasonable.
Frances nodded acquiescence.
IAN right | will wait" she said.
Outside IN the furnace room n fu-
rious hustle followed the closing OF
the little onice door. Smith gave the
signal, and the big gun, caught in the
chains from the traveller, began to
rise slowly out OF the trap furnace
and hung suspended. a huge mass OF
/ white hot steel.
Hustle IL up. quick. into the bathr'
yelled Smith. for already Sommers
J had appeared at the end OF the long
furnace room and was coming quickly
toward him.
The men. driven on by their drunk
en- boss, worked desperately fast. The
huge traveller carrying the Sommers
gun moved slowly toward the waiting
oil bath. IL was halfway there when
4 Smith. the iron bar still In his hand.
met Sommers.
$50 you're coming 10 take charge OF
this job. are your" he sneered.
The naval officer tried TO push bv.
| but Smith got I'm front of him.
See here" exclaimed Sommers an
grily. walt until you are sober before
you talk TO me. Now, get away and
attend 10 your work.
The order enraged Smith all the
more.
Who are you giving orders TOT" he
yelled Come on. now: get out OF
here! You'd better beat il up In the
Office" BE jerked his thumb toward
the little overseeing office. Get I'm
there and talk to Pinckney. He's lock-
ed up there with a lady friend OF
yours"
sommers' quick temper had begun
TO fare at the insolence OF the fore
man. He had not come out from the
Office In time. and he did not know
that 1t was his gun which the traveller
was slowly bearing to the waiting
oil bath. He saw only in front of him
an insolent, drunken workman. who
should be discharged for coming on
! duty In such condition.
You drunken blackguardi III see
Pinckney. and If he doesn't discharge
you III kick you out OF here myseIfr'
He nung The foreman aside and, run
ming up the stems 10 fha ofico 49,