The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-30
fcont,nued.,
Novelized by Thompson Buchanan From
 Sucfessful Play of the Same Name
By WINCHELL SMITH, FREDERIC

(Continued.l
 "Hey. there!' he shouted when he had come close. What do you mean talking to this fellow? Haven't I told you didn't t4want you hanging around the works and not to talk to him Now, you get out of here quicky'
 Frances turned, and Smith stepped back aghast.
 Miss Durant.'' he exclaimed. "Ex- cuse me, miss. thought you was Lucy"
 .That's all right, Smith," exclaimed Pinckney hastily ''No trouble now, remember" And he turned back to Frances Come to the office, Frances. Come away from here. will explain everything to you fully"
 Puzzled and bit uncertain as to Pinckney.s real attitude. the girl obe- diently followed him up short flight of steps and into little overseer's office that jutted out into the furnace room. Pinckney closed the door after him.
 "Mr Sommers' gun is just going into the tempering bath,'' he said. HHe is here experimenting it. So you understand all must be right. Just wait here few moments, and then you can see Sommers himself"
 The suggestion seemed reasonable. Frances nodded acquiescence.
 '.A1l right. will wait" she said. 2 Outside in the furnace room a flu rious bustle followed the closing of the little office door. Smith gave the signal, and the big gun, caught in the chains from the traveller, began to rise slowly out of the trap furnace and hung suspended, a huge mass of white hot steel.
 Hustle it Np, quick, into the bathy' yelled Smith, for already Sommers had appeared at the end of the long furnace room and was coming quickly toward him.
 The men, driven on by their drunk en boss, worked desperately fast. The huge traveller carrying the Sommers gun moved slowly toward the waiting oil bath. It was halfway there when Smith, the iron bar still in his hand, met Semmers.
 "So you're coming to take charge of this job, are you?" he sneered
 The naval officer tried to push by, but Smith got in front of him.
 "See here,'' exclaimed Sommers an- grfly, "wait until you are sober before you talk to me. Now, get away and attend to your workp' <
 The order enraged Smith all the more.
 Who are you giving orders to?" he yelled. "Come on, now; get out of here! You'd better beat it. up in the office" He jerked his thumb toward the little overseeing office Get in there and talk to Pinckney He's lock- ed up there with lady friend of yours"
 Sommers' quick temper had begun to flare at the insolence of the fore man. He had not come out from the office in time, and he did not know that it was his gun which the traveller was slowly bearing to the waiting oil bath. He saw only in front of him m insolent, drunken workman, who should be discharged for coming on duty in such condition.
 You drunken blackguard! I'll see Pinckney, and if he doesn't discharge you I'll kick you out of here myselfv'
 He flung the foreman aside and, run ming up the steps to the office, tried the door It was locked, and his knock brought no response.
 Down below the men looked at each other and, taking the cue from Smith, laughed at the navy man. Slowly Sommers came down the steps. What was wrong? He could not make out exactly. He saw Marsh, who had been standing uneasiIy far in the back ground, and motioned to him.
 The head draftsman came slowly. He knew how important it was to keep Sommers diverted from the main object and was nerved to play his part until the gun should be disposed of.
 T wouldn't go in there if I were you, Mir. Sommers," he suggested. "Mr. Pinckney's in there with girl.''
 Sommers had been about the works long enough to know Pinckney's repu- tatlon among the men, but this open Haunting in their very faces was worse than anything he had imagined.
 "Who is it?" he asked contemptuous- ly.
 T think it's Smiths daughter, Lu-l cy," hesitated Marsh.
 Sommers, face famed with anger. He understood now, he thought, why Pinckney had been willing to leave Smith on the job, even though he was drunk. It all seemed simple. Smith must buy immunity from punishment in this shameful fashion.
 Contempt for Pinckney and rage that he should run the risk of being ruined by the dirty work of such men reused Sommers to fierce anger. He turned back and ran again up the steps to the little office, knocking fiercely this time on the door,
 "Pinckney, come out of there at once!' he shouted
 The command was so fiercely given the general manager could not but obey. He opened the door, coming out slowly and, in response to Sommers' gesture of command, followed him down the steps.
 Frances, her face partly covered