Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-12-31

"Of course that Is all right, Frances"
he agreed stifly. but any time you do
wish to go 1t will be a great pleasure
for me to take you. II I were you 1
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 leu
tenant. It's easy to start gossip in
Pittsburg, 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 pennfless ma
val officers, but don't you think that a
man who can invent a new gun Is
quite as good as a man who can mere
ly make one? And then, Edward. DEAR
even you might be practically pennfl
less If father had not started you"
And. smiling, she left him with his
jaw set tight and every nerve muscle
quiyering with anger.
"Penniless," he muttered at last. "A
man who invents guns as good as a
man who merely makes them. l am a
puddler or a mechanic. l 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 reachl
Ing them he Immediately sent for Will
::am 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 rais1
ed him to his present responsible ana
arduous position; but. like many an
other man who gives his life unreserv-
eddy to one concern. he had come to
find himself In the end Ill repaid. To
make matters worse his only child, a
bright. promising young fellow OF
twenty, had died as the result of a 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 a 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
r~oughshod oyer all opposition. Partic-
ularly Marsh, fifty years old, spare.
Oh sceasy--u-cc1 ard SsscEtid22J =
dreamer. In love with his own work,
was little fitted to cope with the iron
willed manager.
Pinckney was still Tuning when the
head draughtsman arrived
Marsh" he said shortly. II have de-
cided definitely to push the Rhinestrom
gun. | believe It's q great gun and
will prove very effective"
Its all of that" returned the
draughtsman shortly.
81 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-the
Sommers gun that this dandified naval
lieutenant is here to have castT'
Marsh did not know how eagerly he
manager was listening for his reply.
He paused judicially a moment, then
said hesitatingly:
I'm sorry, Mr.. Pinckney, but from
what | can make out 1t will max a
pretty good weapon. The fellow has
hit on something new and it may
prove a wonder. Either very good or
rotten. that is the way | size it up"
"You mean from the principle on
which it is constructed 1t will either
prove a winner or burst and kill a
lot of people?" questioned the mama
ger cautiously.
Exactly" agreed Marsh. land ID
will have to be very carefully made or
it will burst for sure. We don't wank
that"
Then you do not think 1t is as good
a gun as the Rhinestrom gum sug-
gested Pinckney.
A dull flush rose in Marsh's pale
cheeks. His whole body quiyered. 1t
was the anger of a parent whose child
had been attacked.
There isn't any gun as good as the
Rhinestrom gum" he cried hotly II
invented it and | know, and. what's
more, while we are on the subject, I
want to tell you that I think you are
doing me a dirty injustice. | have put
the best part of my life on that gun,
and you have patented 1t and put a
Dutch name on 1t. and / don't get a
cent or any credit"
Pinckney jumped from his chair. his
own face red with anger.
Look here. Marsh" he cried, lust
a little more like that and I'll fire you
out of these works! Who do you think
you are? Don't you know that we
haVa noon having Won a salary for
years for your time and your brainsi
We did not pay you for your looks.
I'll put the name Rhinestrom on that
gun or any name l please, and If you
don't like 1t you can get out There
are plenty of men who would be glad
to have your job"