The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-29


 Well. you're the general manager 1 MT. Pinckney," he said. ''If that gun is ruined in your place the Durant works will be responsible. Personally think, valuable as Smith may be, il
 would be good thing to lay him of | until he sobers up." Pinckney nodded. T understand your feelings he l said, but I'll stay out here myself to see that the gun goes through all right. Smiths nasty now. It might be
 as well if you didn't stay any longer It upsets him to have outsiders about , For the first time a real suspicion of | foul play took hold of Sommers. They | were all too obviously anxious to get l him away.
 l Don't worry" he said shortly to Pinckney. "I'Il take care of myself. | I've got time to get into my working | togs, haven't I?" He turned away and started back to 1 the office just in time to. meet Marsh l approaching. He had sized up Marsh ! for an honest, well meaning fellow, so l he didn't hesitate to stop him. "Oh, l say. Marsh, what time did I that gun go into the fire?'' The head draughtsman looked up | and down and everywhere but at Som l mers' face.
 Fl don't know, Mr. Sommers, ex- actly," he hesitated.. Don't knoww exclaimed the officer. Whats going on here anyhow? It looks to me like there's something wrong. Didn't you tell me that gun went in at o'clocky' Marsh was thoroughly frightened | now.
 Did I say 6 o'clock? I've forgotten. MT. Pinckney will know. I'll ask him." Suspicion had become practical cer- tainty in Sommers' mind now. He saw he, too, must be diplomatic. He must not let these people realize what he suspected. He shook his head ca gerly.
 "Oh, don't bother Pinckney, Marsh. I'll be back in a moment, just as soon as get on my working clothes" And, leaving Marsh in cold sweat of fear, the naval man hurried into the office. As soon as the door had l closed after him Pinckney rushed over to Smith
 "Now, Smith, go to it quick" he commanded.
 In moment the roar in the big fur mace room had increased tremendous ly Smith began to below his orders. The men realizing the important time z had come went to work with a will. The hugh traveller was rushed over above the trap furnace as fast as it
  Fling lowered into the trap to draw out the gun when Marsh caught Pinckney by the arm.
 "Mr. Pinckney, don't-don't try it. he exclaimed ''Sommers suspects
 Pinckney shook off the restraining touch.
 Let him suspect" he exclaimed con- tenlptuously. What difference does that make? Once get that gun into the bath without his seeing it, can beat him. no matter what story he tells in Washington
 But you can't get it in,v expostu- lated the frightened draughtsman. He'll be back in minute. He knew you couldn't beat him or he wouldn't have left. He's gone to put on his working clothes"
 For reply Pinckney shook himself free and shouted to Smith:
 Here, Smith, Sommers has just de manded that you be discharged He says you can't handle the job. He's gone to change his clothes, and he'll be back in minute to boss the job himself"
 That was enough. The drunken foreman's rage was as fierce as one of his own furnaces now.
 'He has, has he?" he roared above the noise of the furnaces and the changing steel If he comes in here I'll throw him in the furnaceY'
 q don't blame you,' supplemented Pinckney. And Smith, seeing now the general manager was behind him in whatever he might attempt, was ready for desperate work.
 ''Herey' he shouted. Take my sig nal whistle. I'll go over by the door and wait for that guy. When he shows up you signal the men to take out the gum
 ''When he comes in!'' exclaimed Pinckney, amazed. How can you stop his seeing you?'
 fNIne Iorenan iduSneQ Drutdlly, then, stopping over, picked up from the floor short piece of iron already blood stained at one end.
 "O'Leary,' he said briefly, and, turning with the bar in his hand, lurched across, drunkenly confident, toward the path which Sommers must cross on his way in the office to the trap furnaces that contained the Son. mers gun, now ready to be hoisted and transferred to the tempering bath.
 Marsh had already hurried away. Possible murder. was more than he had counted on when he allowed Pinckney to bully him into becoming his fellow conspirator.
 Pinckney stood ready with the whis- tie in his hand, while the men at their places waited, ready to hoist when the signal should be given.
 The trap was laid. All was in readi- ness when Pinckney saw raggedly dressed girl with a shawl over her head hurrying Gown the furnace room from the doO1. throI1ph which the men