The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-12-30
=, copvrsh 1905 by Frederic Thomp,on An Rights Reserved


might do himself he was determined
| that his vie and daughter should go
straight No worder. then. the sight
VI his daughter talking to Pinckney
in the works before all the men en-
rn -ed him With the bar in his hand
| he lurched down the long room.
Hey. there" he shouted when he
hnd come close What do you mean
talking to this fellow? Haven't told
YOU didn't want you hanging around
the works and not to talk to him?
Now. you get out of here quick
Frances turned. and Smith stepped
hack ughaSt
Miss Durant!' he exclaimed. "Ex-
,use me. miss. ! thought you was
Lucy"
"That's al right Smith" exclaimed
Pinckney hastily. "No trouble now,
"smembcr" And he turned back to
,mnces. "Come TO the office, frances
Come away from here. will explain
everything to you fully"
Puzzled and bit uncertain as to
Pinckney's real attitude, the girl obe-
diently followed him up short flight
of steps aud into a little Overseer's
Office that jutred out into the furnace
room. Pinckrey closed the door after
him.
"Mr. Sommers' gun is just going
into the tempering bath" he said.
He Is here superlntending 1t. SO you
understand all must be right. Just
walt here few moments. and then
you can see Sommers himself"
The suggestion seemed reasonable
Frances nodded acquiescence.
"All right. | will wait" she said.
outside In the furnace room fu-
rious hustle followed the closing Of
the little Office 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. huge mass Of
white hot steel
Hustle II up, quick. into the BATH
yelled Smith, for already Sommers
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. II was halfway there when
Smith. the iron bar still in his hand.
met Sommers.
$50 you're coming to take charge of
this job, are your" he sneered.
The naval officer tried to push by.
but Smith got in front of him.
"See here" exclaimed Sommers an
grily, wait until you are sober before
you talk to me. Now, get away and
attend to your workg
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 1t up In the
office" He jerked his thumb toward
the little overseeing office. Get in
there and talk to Pinckney. He's lock-
ed up there with lady friend of
yours"
Sommers' quick temper had begun
to flare 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 blackguard! I'll see
Pinckney, and il he doesn't discharge
you I'll kick you out Of here myselfr'
He flung the foreman aside and. run
ming up the steps to the office, tried
the door. 1t was locked, and his knock
brought no response
Down below the men looked at each
other and, taking the cue from Smith
laughed at the navy man. Slowly
Sommers came down the steps. What
was wrong? He could not make out
exactly. He saw Marsh, who had
been standing uneasily far in the back.
ground, and motloned to him.
The head craftsman came slowly
He knew how important IL was 10
keep Sommers diverted from the main
object and was neryed to play his
part until the gun should be disposed
of.
Il wouldn't go In there If were
you, Mr.. Sommers," he suggested.
Mr.. Pinckney's in there with a girl"
Sommers had been about the works
long enough to know Pinckney's repu-
} tation among the men, but this open
Haunting In their very faces was worse
than anything he had imagined.
WHO Is itT' he asked contemptuous.
ly.
81 think it's Smiths daughter, Lu,
cy," hesitated Marsh.
Sommers' face famed with anger
He understood now. he thought, why
Pinckney had been willing to leave
, Smith on the job, even though he was
/ drunk. 1t all seemed simple. Smith
must buy immunity from punishment
In this shameful fashion.