Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-03

Durant, when you want to manage
him?"
The girl smiled.
"Oh, that's a secret" she said. '
have my own way of doing 1t, but Il
works, doesn't 1t, Edward?"
You're right there" agreed Pinck.
ney. II won't forget in hurry how
you handled him on the wireless teles.
raphy scheme"
wireless telegraphy!" exclaimed Til
naval man. do you mean to tell M
that you understand wireless teltgra
ply too?"
Not very much" confessed the girl
but I do know something about it
Edward taught me the rudiments, and
then I went to work myself. I got
some Of the men up from the shops
and they riggd up station for me al
the top Of the house. Father did not
know thing about 1t until one day
brought him up there and showed him
He didn't think it was very nice for q
girl, but what could he do?"
"Oh," said Sommers. II see your
system. You do what you please and
then make him agree"
Don't you think 1t good one?" in
quired the girl innocently.
The man smiled and shrugged his
shoulders.
Good for little things, but how
would It work for a big one?"
The question was lightly put, and all
three were smiling. The smiles on the
mems faces were just a bit set, for
behind that question both knew there
was great deal unsaid.
Frances tossed her head lightly, but
the tone Of her answer was vital with
disfavor.
And on the big ones, too, Mr.. Son.
mers. do always what seems best
to me-"
Pinckney turned away sharply
| while the smile in the face Of the ma
val officer became more natural and a
little broader
You know I'd like to see this wire
less room," he said. 1T must be a
bully place"
"Oh, it's a workroom," the girl in
sisted-"nothing foolish about it. I'm
not as good yet as Edward at sending
| and talking, but then L have more time
to practice, and II he doesn't hustle I'll
| beat him."
You fatter me-" said Pinckney
| Really, Mr.. Sommers, she can beat
me, I think, but we do have great fun
working over It,"
Yes; Edward and I are more or less
partners-in this" agreed Frances.
"Partners?"
Sommers tried to keep his tone light
ly unpersonal, but q little hardness had
to creep in. The two men were so nat
urally antagonistic that probably they
must have taken opposite sides on
anything, and the feeling Of each for
the girl only tended to bring out more
keenly their Unborn antipathy. Since
| the afternoon when Pinckney inter-
rupted the practical love scene between
Frances and Sommers on the hill above
the works the tension had been greater
than ever between the men. Eacn
treated the other with elaborate cour-
tesy, but it needed only a word on
either side to bring about real trouble.
The more impulsive and domineering
Pinckney had been close to the limit
of endurance several times, and on
each occasion the cool courtesy, the
splendid self control and the good
breeding of the naval officer had pre-
vented an outbreak. Sommers realized
his position. He knew that Pinckney
was the manager Of the works where
| his gun was to be cast. He knew
also that Pinckney probably in the end
would marry the girl they both loved,
and in many respects he had the right
of way. All this had made the naval
man circumspect in his dealings. He
could not afford to have an open break
with Pinckney.
An open fight between naval officer
on duty, as Sommers practically was,
and a manager of a big gun works
must result in a court martial and the
possible disgrace Of the officer. and un-
less the provocation were great 1t
would mean bringing the uniform into
disgrace by conduct which might be
construed as unbecoming an officer
and a gentleman. Pinckney had no one
except Mr.. Durant to whom he must
account, and Sommers knew that a
man as clever and as unscrupulous as
he believed Pinckney in some ways to
| be would not hesitate to do anything
| that might put rival in an embar-
RAISING position. However, the naval
man could not imagine for moment
| that the manager could be guilty of
any conduct that might injure his work.
He considered the matter between
them entirely a personal fight, and he
| believed that Pinckney's i'll will would
| not go further than some. petty spite
to injure him or supplant him with
Miss Durant. The thought that Pinck-
ney and the girl were partners in a
wireless telegraph scheme against his
will irritated the lieutenant.
Couldn't see the room?" he asked.
| Though it does seem rather queer
your having a workroom instead of a
music room or a studio"
| "Or a dressing room laughed Fran
ces.
| Yes, or a dressing room," he agreed.
That's the sort of thing we might
expect our young women Of today to
have"
| The girl tilted her chin proudly.
| We'll Mr. Doubter, if you will just
come with me I'll show you it's real
| workroom."
Indeed 1 WILL" he agreed eagerly.
The girl arose.
Come on, then"
They had almost reached the door
when she remembered that Pinckney
had not been included in her invita-
ton. He was standing over by the
mantel, both hands stuffed in his pock-
cts, and was grimly looking into the
i f,n