Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-30

in the navy insignificant. 1t was not
until a week had gone by and he dis
covered that Frances had been out
with the officer for several hours each
day that he finally awoke to the dan
ger of the situation from this point of
view. Then his first move was fool
ish. He asked Frances to go to the
theater with him that night
Il am awfully sorry, Edward" she
told him; but, you see, Mr.. Sommers
and 1 are going tonight to that play.
But I am sure he would be glad to
have you come along. I'll get one Of
the girls, and we will make up a
party"
mo. thanks" the man retorted
shortly. Il dent care anything for
the theater, you know. only asked
because thought you might wish to
see the play"
She smiled on him sweetly.
II know how self sacrificing you are,
Edward, about the theater; but, you
see, you need not bother while Mr..
lSommers Is here. You have been aw-
fully good to me about 1t, but now you
can have long rest, because, you see.
he Is devoted to 1t, and he says he gets
ashore so seldom that he likes 20 go
at every opportunity. Isn't that nice
for you?"
"Of course that is all right, Fran
ces,' he agreed stiffly, but any time
you do wish to go 1t will be great
pleasure for me to take you. II were
you I would not go out too much with
this naval whippersnapper You know
how people talk, and you don't want to
get the gossips wagging their tongues
about you and a penniless naval lieu
tenant. It's easy to start gossip in
Pittsburs, you know"
The girls head came up sharply, and
her smile was dangerously bright as
she replied:
THAT Is awfully sweet Of you, Ed
ward, to warn me about penniless ma
val officers, but don't you think that
man who can invent new gun is
quite as good as man who can mere
ly make one? And then, Edward, dear,
even you might bn practically penni-
less If father had not started you"
And, smiling. she left him with his
jaw set tight and every nerve muscle
quivering with anger.
| "Penniless," he muttered at last. "A
man who invents guns rs good as a
man who merely makes them. I am
puddler or mechanic, suppose. in
her eyes. Might be penniless but for
her father. Well, we will see."
He whirled away from the house
where they had been talking and hur-
ried down to the works. Upon reach
ing them he Immediately sent for Will
liam Marsh, the head draughtsman.
William Marsh had been with the
Durant works since early manhood.
His whole life was wrapped up in the
place Unceasing application had rails
ed him to his present responsible and
arduous position; but, like many an
other man who gives his life unreserv-
edly to one concern, he had come to
Efnd himself in the end Ill repaid. To
make matters worse his only child,
bright, promising young fellow OF
twenty, had died as the result Of ter
rible accident in the chemical room,
and the father could not help believing
that had Pinckney used proper discre-
ton in selecting the boss Of the work
the accident might not have occurred.
| All this had tended toward breach
between them, only Pinckney was one
who cared little for breaches with his
employees. He was born to rule and
since becoming manager had ridden
roughshod over all opposition. Partic-
ularly Marsh, fifty years old, spare,
physically weak and essentially
dreamer, in love with his own work,
was little fitted to cope with the iron
willed manager
Pinckney was still fuming when the
head draughtsman arrived.
Marsh" he said shortly, Il have de-
cided definitely to push the Rhinestrom
gun. 1 believe it's great gun and
will prove very effective"
Its all of that" returned the
draughtsman shortly.
Il think So" agreed the manager,
"and we must hurry the work along
as fast as possible. By the way, what
do you think Of this new gun-tne
Sommers gun that this dandifed naval
lieutenant is here to have cast?"
Marsh did not know how eagerly the
manager was listening for his reply.
He paused judicially a moment, then
said hesitatinsly:
Pm sorry, Mr.. Pinckney, but from
what I can make out 1t will make
pretty good weapon. The fellow has
| hit on something new, and 1t may
prove a wonder. Either very good or
rotten, that is the way I size 1t up
| You mean from the principle on
which It is constructed it will either
prove a winner or burst and kill a
lot of people?" questioned the mann-
ger cautiously.
Exactly" agreed Marsh, and 1t
will have to be very carefully made or
it will burst for sure. We don't want
that"
Then you do not think it Is as good
a gun as the Rhinestrom gun?" sug-
gested Pinckney.
A dull flush rose in Marsh's pale
cheeks. His whole body quivered. 1t
was the anger Of a parent whose child
had been attacked.
There isn't any gun as good as the
Rhinestrom gun," he cried hotly. L
invented it and l know, and, WHAT'S
more, while we are on the subject, l
want to tell you that l think you are
doing me dirty injustice. have put
the best part of my life on that gun'
and you have patented it and put
Dutch name on it, and I don't get
cent or any credit"
Pinckney jumped from his chair, his
own face red with anger.
Look here, Marsh" he cried, Just
a little more like that and I'll fire you
| out of these works! Who. do you think