The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-12-02
o'Leary dodgei :ss blow and iump.


You take another step and I'll brain
you" he yelled above the roar and the
clang Of the telling hammers You're
drunk, and we're saving your job for
you. Now you tend to II or I'll smash
your head clean in
Smith stopped. grumblug He knew
OLeary was the strongest. coolest
young fellow about the works. \ fight
with him sober would have been seri-
Gus, and drunk the foreman knew he
would not stand chance. He stepped
back.
"1m tending to my job o'Leary," he
complained. half maudln. There
bin't no call for you acting that way.
You're trying to get my job. that's
what I'm doing right-just what
was told. Now. you let me alone"
Sure, O'Leary, let him alone" urged
the other men. Hell come round,
and well get the gun out on time"
Before more could be said an office
boy appeared, coming from the front
office.
They want you In the office,
O'Leary. Hustle up" he said: ITS Inn
portant"
Out in the office Lucy Smith was ex-
planning vigorously TO the stcnogra-
pher, Maize O'Brien. that Smith. in
charge Of the Sommers gun. was drunk
on the job, and his wife, fearing some.
thing might happen, had sent the girl
over to beg OLeary to take care of
him.
Sure, Lucy. that's all right. or
course OLeary will do II for you" the
good natured stenographer encouraged.
I'll just get out and give you chance
at him when he comes. When are you
going to get married, anyhow"
Lucy blushed and hesitated.
IL don't know exactly" she said
1--WE haven't talked much about It,"
Maize O'Brien smiled.
well, it's about time you're getting
busy with that line of conversation, |
think. Don't do to trust any of these
steel hands. Two weeks is long enough
for any girl to be engaged. I'll get
out now and leave you alone" she
ended as O'Leary. astonshment and
worry showing on his begrimed face.
entered the Office
whats the matter LucyT" he asked
anxiously.
The girl turned to him with eager
ness
IT'S about father Is he very bad?"
The man hesitated.
well, he's got few drinks in" he
confessed at last But there hasn't
been much trouble up TO date"
Hes pretty ugly, amt he?" asked
abe girl.
O'Leary laughed grimly.
You know what your dad is when
he's drunk, Lucy. He's tried TO pick !
one or two scraps tonight, but the men
are keeping away from him. I'll do |
my best to keep down trouble you
know that, Lucy"
> The girl nodded.
Yes, l know, Joe, you're mighty |
good" she said but If anything hap
pens tonight you know he'll lose his |
dob sure. I'm awful afraid, and moth
er's worse than l am, so | just came |
over to get you to look out for him. |
is he doing his work all right?"
OLeary shook his head regretfully.
That's what bothers me-" he con-
fessed. The Sommers gun s been in
the fire too long now. If II don't come
out Of the furnace soon the gun II be
no good at ALL"
The girl made 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 / can" he urged, as
though in justification, but II 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. Plnckney amt here, but Mr..
Marsh can take dad off the job and
keep him from running everything.
Bommers Is such nice man, too, and
Miss Frances likes him. Oh, what
are we going to do, JoeT
O'Leary looked at her blankly. The
situation was too much for him TO
manage. -
"Marsh's acting funny, too" he COM
plained "He must know how Smith
Us, 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 1t the door was push
Sd open and Smith drunker and more
enraged than ever, lurched into the
ofiice. At sight of Lucy and O'Leary
together he Strengthened up, caught
hold OF the door moment for sup
port, then burst on them with tor
rent of anger
What are you doing here?" he roar
ed. why did you come In this Of
nee Lucy? What business you got
here. O'Leary? Amt | seeing you
hanging around my house enough
without getting that girl in the office?"
I