The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-03

be bad gutter can't have any luck.
How do you expect to have anything
if you drop at the first ditch?"
The inventor looked up. puzzled.
what can l do:'' he asked.
Pinckney smiled pityingly on him.
What can you do? Haven't you
sense enough to guess? Here"-he
stepped closer to the inventor to speak
in a lower, frmer tone-"this dirty,
tricky sailor has got the best of us in
Washington. but with Smith drunk |
guess we've got the best of him here
Marsh looked up. startled, amazed.
Some slight hint Of what Pinckney in
tended began to dawn on him.
What do you mean?" he asked
slowly in an almost dazed tone.
The general manager looked at him
sharply.
What time did you say Sommers
would get here?"
"One-thirty," replied Marsh.
Pinckney's laugh was rich with con-
| fident relief
well, there's lots of time. 1t isn't
IL yet he chuckled.
On Marsh's face had come an express
| sion of horror. He knew now what
the general manager intended to do.
1t made him sick to think of it. for
Marsh was honest at heart. Only he
was an inventor. He loved his work.
1t was his chance of lifetime. And.
then, he was weak.
You mean you will ruin his gun?'
he half whispered family.
The brutal laugh of the other man
was answer enough.
"Shut upv' he sneered. Don't talk
as if it was murder. If you're going
to get on in this world. Marsh. you
must learn there's as much in blocking
the other fellows game as there is in
playing your own"
His latent sense of honesty made
one last sickening revolt as Marsh
started up from his chair, exclaiming
wildly:
Its awful! l won't be a party to
any such thing as that, Mr.. Pinckney."
With all his superior physical and
| mental strength Pinckney seized the
weaker man and pushed him back in
his chair
"Don't be fool Marsh" he explain
ed. shaking his shoulder fiercely You
ington it means an independent for
tune for you. Don't you know that?"
The force of the other stronger per
sonality reacted on the weaker man.
Eyes. sir: you say So" he said.
Pinckney went on more earnestly
driving his points home with all the
power of his strong will.
think what it means, Marsh. II
means the end of this slavery day aft
er day. at the works. 1t means you'll
Rave time to work on your inventions
It's your one chance of lifetime
your enc chance. Marsh, to amount &c
+ something in this world and"-he end
; ed most perSuaSively-"and you don't
need to have anything to do with this
, affair I'll attend to it."
The little man looked up with the
gaze of helpless child.
"What-what do you intend to do?'
he asked
Pinckney smiled. well satisfied
Do he said. Nothing | won
do anything" His look became shrewd
ly, terribly malevolent as he ended
Smith will put that gun in the tenn
pering bath before Sommers gets
here
The little mans eyes grew wide
with fearful understanding.
Put it in at too high a temperature
and kill it, he gasped
Pinckney laughed cruelty
Smith has charge of that. If h5
kills the gun we don't know anything
about it, he said.
The little man shiyered
This is horribe.'
Pinckney's laugh was cold ana men.
acing
Horrible" he sneered What did
you invent your gun for but to muir
der men and disrupt nations: Now
nobody asked you to do anything
Marsh. just you go out there aud
send Smith in to me. Attend to your
work and don't notice anything that
Smith does
MARSH looked up weakly.
Eyes. sir" he said. and Pinckney
clapped him on the back with real
heartinesS.
Now remember, Marsh, it means
your fortune and your future. Be
quiet"
When Marsh had gone Pinckney
stood thoughtful for moment.
What pity he's such a weak fool. y
he muttered to himself Then another
thought made him smile with more
satisfaction. Perhaps it's just as
well he is such a fool. couldn't have
got away with him so easy otherwise :
Smith came lurching in a little
fiercer than before, but Pinckney on
occasion knew how to manage even
Smith in his fiercest mood.
See here" he exclaimed sharply,
that gun must go into the bath before
o'clock. No foolishness now! You're
Grrh l.