Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-25

"
II ain not questioning you. Mr..
pinckney. may question you short
Is. and 1 hope when do you'll he rs
eager TO answer Then he turned
back to the ratified witness. WAS
Smith discharged?"
IL think So" faltercd the head
draughtsmnn. "FIe was drunk. and he
was discharged. because Mr.. Durant
| never allows that"
when was he discharged?'
II don't remember exactly"
"Eu. he's working in Mcndville IN
your new plant now. isn't hep" came
the next sharp question that brought a
startled surprise to Mr.. Durant. be-
cause one of the cardinal rules Of the
Dur;int works was never to take back
man discharged for inefiiciency or
Drunkenness.
The steel man turned in his chair to
look sharply at Pinckney. for Pnckney
was also acting manager of the Mead
Vile plant. The question had thrown
Pinckney into secret panic. while
Marsh was openly clustered. IL this
detective had found Smith carefully
hidden away under an assumed name
in the Meadvlle plant, what might he
not know:
II heard he was in Meadville +"
faltcred the conspirator under fire.
He looked appealingly at Pinckncy.
but Rrndley. the imperturbable. gave
him no rest.
What time Of day did that gun so
into the furnace, MIR. Marsh?"
Again Marsh looked hopelessly for
the help that could not be given.
81 don't know. sir" he said at last
Bradley lifted his eyebrows. sur
prised.
But you told Lieutenant Sommers
it was going in at o'clock" he said
sternly. Didn't you tell him that?"
The witness was in a panic now. He
did not know which way to turn.
Mr.. Durant was looking at hin,
sharply. The shrewd steel man was
beginning to realize that there was
something back Of all this, something
discreditable. and he sat there. his
face getting grimmer and grimmer and
his jaws setting harder with each SHARP
question and faltering reply--sat there
: sternly waiting to administer justice
so soon as guilt could be proved.
al think | did," admitted Marsh al
last
: But you don't know?" persisted
= Bradley.
Not for sure" the witness faltered
The detective said nothing to that
but his smile spoke volumes. Pinck
ney saw it and moved uneasily
, Marsh caught it. and Il cold chill be
!; gan to race up and down his spine
! But apparently Bradley was satisfied
T along that line. for the next question
:, branched to another side.
y "If the gun had gone in the furnace
y at 6, when was it to come out, Marsh: z
n About g"
And it came out at a quarter pas
, 10. so it must have gone In between
g 3 and 4. mustn't it:'
Il Yes. sir. suppose; l believe i
. mus. sir" faltered the witness pain
q fully.
, The next question was put like {
shot.
Did you ever invent gun.
/ Marsh's mouth dropped open. He
face became chalky. His eyes ROLLED
J about tn. room piteously. seeking 10
aid but none was there. He saw onl!
the grim. stern face of Mr.. Durant. til,
, hard eyes of Pinckpey. with terrible
: contempt and fear in back of them; tn,
eager, determined look Of Sommers
tho anxious fearfulness of Frances
and. lastly, the cold. calm. deadly smil
ing man who questioned him. With
gasp and gulp he managed to colec
himself.
mo. sir" he said firmly.
What? You mean to tell me yo'
never invented gum" demande'
Bradley sternly.
Marsh thought he caught a hint o
disappointment In the tone. and 1t CAV
him courage.
But the disappointment. II there wa
any. was hidden promptly by III
sneering smile of the secret servic
man as lie said:
"Why. you surprise me, Mr.. Marsl
Then you don't know Mr.. Rhin'
strom?"
mo, SIR" he faltered.
Bradley merely smiled.
"You've neve: seen him here. NJ
Marsh"
mo, sir" reiterated Marsh mol
firmly.
Bradley's next question was stl
hurled at the same point.
HAS he ever been at the works, NJ
!" Marsh?"
n Marsh looked about again wildly.
ID II don't know" he blurted Mt last.
"Ah, very interesting" smiled Bra
e, ley. You don't know Mr.. nhin
strom! You've never seen him? "
to don't know whether or not he's ev,
n. been at the works? You've never l
vented a gun yourself, of course. Al
the one thing you do know is that NJ
III Rhinestrom Is the inventor Of the 81
you are In charge Of forging You a
sure OF that, aren't you. Mr.. Marsl
OF Take your time. Don't be In hur
with your answer. All We want
the truth. Now. you know Mr.. Rhiu
strom Is the inventor Of the gun. dol
ly your"
There was so much satirical CO
Is. tempt in the way the question "
put that the cold sweat broke out
be Marsh. He looked helplessly at Pine
no ney and In his hard eyes read despel
ton, but not despair. Pinckney. croc
in cd though he might be. still had