The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-03
over to get you to look out FOR him.
Is he doing his work all right?'
OF cary shook hiS head rpgrptfl1IIv


over to get you to look out FOR him.
Is he doing his work all right?'
O'Leary shook his head regretfully.
That's what bothers me-" he con-
fessed. The Sommers gun S been in
the fire too long now If it don't come
no good at all.
The girl made a hopeless gesture.
What do you think of that" she
complained And he's the best man
over here when he's sober. Can't you
do anything, Joe?"
Il am doing all l cam" he urged, as
though in justification, but if that
gun S put in the oil bath after being
too long in the fire the tempering will
! be bad"
Lucy wrung her hands despairingly.
Lets get Mr.. Marsh" she begged.
"Mr Pinckney amt here. but Mr..
Marsh can take dad off the Job and
keep him from running everything.
Sommers is such a nice man, too, and
Miss Frances likes him. Oh, what
are we going to do, Joe?'
O'Leary looked at her blankly. The
situation was too much for him to
manage.
"Marsh's acting funny, too" he COM
planned. He must know how Smith
is. but he keeps away and don't say
nothing to him. Guess he's afraid"
Maybe | could go in and beg him.
Couldn't l do that, joe" pleaded the
girl
She turned and started for the door
which led into the works. but before
she could reach it the door was push
ed open and Smith. drunken and more
enraged than ever, 1urched into the
office. At sight of Lucy and O'Leary
together he Strengthened up. caught
port, then burst on them with a tor
rent of anger.
"What are you doing here?" he roar
ed. "Why did you come in this of
fee, Lucy? What business you got
here. OLeary? Amt l seeing you
hanging around my house enough
| without getting that girl in the Office"
Give got your dinner. father l
brought it over to you" faltered Lucy.
And why didn't you bring it to me
right?" he shouted. "And why do you
let this fellow in the office here be
talking to you?"
"Joe's all right, father" the girl
urged. He don't want you to make
no mistake with the Sommers gun,
that's ALL
The drunken foreman turned on his
assistant with fury.
'Oh, you don't. don't your Look
here, you keep that mug of yours out
of my affairs or I'll break it. Do you
hear?''
But Joe OLeary did not come Of the
race that could be bluffed AS Smith
lurched toward him the assistant
Strengthened into a position of de-
Tense, waiting for him.
Don't waste your breath trying to
scare me. Smith" he shouted. You'd
better be getting that gun out of the
fire before it spoilS."
The sudden opposition sobered the
I'll uIlhcu uIstU 1OI Il LlOuGul.
Il got u fine assistant. amt II" he
sneered. Trying to tell me my bust
ness. l know what you're up to. You
sneaked in here to talk to her; that's
what you did Now, you keep away
from her after this. l tell you Don t
you come near her or I'll break you
in two
O'Leary looked the larger man up
and down with fine Irish scorn.
Break me in two"' he sneered. If
you was to break me in two either
piece of me would get up ard knock
your block off. | tell you. if You ever
lay hand on me I'll kill you
In a wild fury Smith rushed I'M
steadily. O'Leary landed once stag
gering the big man. and then Lucy
rushed in between them.
Father. Joe. Don'tr she begged
you'll both be discharged'
The iarring. staggering blow had
knocked little of the fight out of the
bully. He still had sense enough to
know that in an even battle his young.
strong assistant would have a good
chance. and. like most DULLES. he
didn't care for even battles. The plea
of Lucy gave him chance to change
the direction of his anger.
"Dischargedr' he yelled. who'll
discharge me? ! can clean out the
whole works, and T.
He was lurching about the office,
swinging his arms wildly in time to
his drunken threats, when the street
door opened and Pinckney came in
hastily. In moment the manager
saw that something was wrong.
Whats the meaning of this?" he
demanded sharply. stepping forward.
Again the current of Smiths rage
had found an object to dash against.
All sense Of discipline and fear of
consequences was gone from him.
Then. besides. down in his heart he
knew that Pinckney needed him and
would scarcely dare to discharge him