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

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 lower, firmer 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-t thirty" replied Marsh.
Pinckney's laugh was rich with con-
fdent relief.
well, there's lots of time. 1t isn't
II yet" be 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 a 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.
he H.
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
know if we get this order from Wash
ington it means an independent for
tune for you. Don't you know thaty'
The force of the other stronger per
Eonality 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 a lifetime
| your enc chance, Marsh. to amount 70
something in this world and"-he end-
ed most persuasively 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 a helpless child.
'What-what do you intend to do?'
he asked.
Pinckney smiled well satisfied
Do" he said. Nothing | won't
/ 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 temperature
and kill it, be gaSped
Pincknay laughed cruelty
- 4,
! kills the gun we don't know anything
about it," he said.
The little man Shivered
This is horriblp.''
Finckney's laugh was cold AMI men
acing
'Horrible." he Sneered What did
You invent your gun for but to mur-
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.
yes 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
he muttered to himself Then another
thought made him smile with more
satisfaction. Perhaps it's just as
well he is such fool. l couldn't have
got away with him so easy otherwise"
Smith came lurching in a little
fercer 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
l O'Clock. No foolishness now! You're
hghting drunk, but l don't want any
thing out of you. Understand. you
get that gun in before l o'clock If
you're ever going to do any more
work around this Dlaco0