Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-11-18

DOu I you luluk IL Il SOOu one: Ill
quired the girl i%nnocently.
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 a great deal left unsaid.
Frances tossed her head lightly. but
| the tone of her answer was vital with
disfavor.
"And on the big ones. too. Mr.. Som
mers. do always what seems best
to me-"
Pinckney turned away sharply, while
the smile in the face Of the naval off,
Ger 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 Il workroom," the girl in
sisted-"nothing foolish about it. I'm
not as good yet as Edward at sending
and taking. but then 1 have more time
to practice. and if he doesn't hustle
I'll beat him"
you flatter me-" said P%inckney.
Really. Mr.. Sommers. she can beat
me-. l think. but we do have great
fun working over it,"
YES; Edward and l are more or
less partnership this" agreed Frances.
"Partnecs?"
Sommers tried to keep his tone light
ly unpersonal. but a 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. Each
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 d%omineering
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 q naval officer
on duty, as SommerS practically was,
and a manager of u big gun works
must result in a court martial and the
possible disgrace of the officer, and un-
less the p~rovocation were great it
would mean bringing the uniform into
disgrace by conduct which might be
construed as unbecoming an officer
and d gentleman. Pinckney had no one
except Mr.. Durant to whom he must
account, and Sommers knew that a
man as clever and as INSCRIPTIONS as
he believed Pinckney i'll some ways to
be would not hesitate to do anything
that might put a rival in an embarrass-
ing position. However, the naval man
could not imagine for q 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 l see the room?" he asked.
Though it does seem rather queer
your having a workroom instead Of a
music room or O studio"
"Or u dressing room" laughed Fran
ces.
Eyes, 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.
"Well. Mr.. Doubter. If you will just
come with me I'll show you it's a rec
workroom."
Indeed l 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 peck.
cts, and was grimly looking into the
fire.
"Oh. / forgot!" she exclaimed. "You