The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-11-11
Frederie Thompson.

ness on the first night home! He
won't stay long after come inv'
Indeed be won't" agreed Frances
"You know" she went on. with n
laughing explanation to Sommers,
whenever mother decides that father
simply shall not work she goes into
the room. takes seat where he Is
bound to see her and just sits there
staring M him reproachfully She calls
It moral suasion"
"But does II work - asked Sommers.
docs It work." interpolated Pinck.
ney. III you'd ever seen II you'd un
derstand It would work"
"Yes. indeed" exclaimed Frances.
"Father will struggle along for FIVE or
ten or even fifteen minutes. but at last
that steady stare gets too much for bis
nerves He'll hegin to make mistakes
In his debating. and al last he'll jump
out of his chair and stare. and then
mother will heave long sigh and say:
George. dear. know you are tired
Don't you think you'd better stop
awhileT And he stops"
What a splendid system" laughed
Sommers And what do you do, Miss
Durant. when you want TO manage
him?"
The girl smiled.
"Oh. that's a secret she said. IL
have my own way Of doing It, but II
works. doesn't II. Edward?"
You're right there" agreed Pinck.
ney. 81 won't forget in a hurry how
you handled him on the wireless teleg.
raphv scheme"
Wireless telegraphy" exclaimed the
naval man. DO you mean to tell me
that you understand wireless telegra-
ply toor'
Not very much" confessed the girl.
"but do know something about 1t.
Edward taught me the rudiments, and
then went to work myself. got
some Of the men up from the shops,
and they rugged up station for me at
the top of the house. Father did not
know a thing about II until one day
brought him up there and showed him
He didn't think 1t was very nice for
girl, but what could he doY'
oh" said Sommers, II see your
system. You do what you please and
then make him agree"
Don't you think II a good oner In
Quired the girl innocenuy.
The man smiled and shrugged his
shoulders.
Good for little things, but how
would 1t work for a big one?"
The question was lightly put, and all
three were smiling. The smiles on the
mems faces were just a bit set, for
behind that question both knew there
was a great deal left unsaid.
Frances tossed her head lightly, but
the tone OF her answer was vital with
disfavor.
"And on the big ones. too, Mr.. Som
mers. do always what seems best
to me-"
Pinckney turned away sharply, while
the smile in the face of the naval Off.
Ger became more natural and a little
broader.
"You know I'd like to see this wire
less room" he said. "It must be
bully place"
"Oh, It's a workroom." the girl In
sisted-"nothing foolish about It. I'm
not as good yet as Edward at sending
and taking. but then have more time
10 practice, and II he doesn't hustle
III beat him"
"You flatter me-" said Pinckney.
"Really, Mr. Sommers. she can beat
me, | think. but we do have great
fun working over It,"
"Yes; Edward and | are more or
less partners-in this" agreed Frances.
"PartnersY
Sommers ried to keep his tone light
ly unpersonal. but a little hardness had
20 creep in The two men were so nat
urally antagOnlstic that probably they
must have taken opposite sides on
anything. and the feeling Of each for
the girl only tended to bring out more
keenly their inborn antipathy Since
the afternoon when Pinckney inter
rupted the practical love scene between
Frances and Sommers on the hill above
the works the tension had been greater
than ever between the men. Each
treated the other with elaborate cour-
tesy, but 1t needed only a word on
either side to bring about real trouble
The more impulsive and domineering
Pinckney had been close to the limit
OF endurance several times, and on
each occasion the cool courtesy, the
splendid self control and the good
breeding of the naval officer had pre-
vented an outbreak Sommers realized
his position He knew that Pinckney
was the manager OF the works where
his gun was to be cast. He knew
also that Pinckney probably in the end
would marry the girl they both loved,
and in many respects he had the right
OF way. All this had made the naval
man circumspect in his dealings. He
could not afford TO have an open break
with Pinckney,
An open fight between a naval officer
on duty, as SOmmers practically was,
and a manager Of big gun works
must result in court martial and the
possible disgrace Of the officer. and un-
less the nrOVOCatiOn were oraaf A