The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-10-27
EMPHASIS that was almost a stamp

clared. land stay there until | get hin,
out. The idea of his beginning bust
| ness on the first night home He
won't stay long after come i'm
Indeed be won't" agreed Frances
You know" she went on. with q
laughing explanation TO SommerS
whenever mother decides that father
simply shall not work she goes into
the room. takes a seat where be is
bound to see her and just sits there
staring at him reproachfully She calls
| it moral suasion."
But does it work.? asked Sommers.
Does it work 2" interpolated Pinck-
ney. If you'd ever seen it you'd I'M
derstand it would work.
Eyes. indeed" exclaimed Frances.
Father will struggle along for five or
| ten or even fifteen minutes. but at last
that steady stare gets too much for his
nerves. He'll begin to make mistakes
in his debating, and at last he'll jump
out of his chair and stare, and then
mother will heave long sigh and say:
George. dear. | know you are tired
Don't you think you'd better stop
J awhile? And he stops"
What a splendid systemr' laughed
Sommers. And what do you do. Miss
Durant, when you want to manage
him?"
The girl smiled.
"Oh, that's a secret" she said Il
have my own way of doing it, but it
works, doesn't it, Edward?"
you're right there" agreed Pinck-
ney. Il won't forget in a hurry how
you handled him on the wireless teleg-
raphy scheme
Wireless telegraphy" exclaimed the
naval man. do you mean to tell me
that you understand wireless telegra-
ply too?''
Not very much" confessed the girl.
"but | do know something about it.
Edward taught me the rudiments, and
then | went to work myself. | got
some of the men up from the shops.
and they rugged up station for me at
the top of the house. Father did not
know a thing about it until one day
brought him up there and showed him.
He didn't think it was very nice for
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 it a good one?" in
CURED 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 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 workroom," the girl in
sisted-"nothing foolish about it. I'm
not as good yet as Edward at sending
and taking. but then have more time
to practice. and if he doesn't hustle
I'll beat him."
"You fatter me-" said Pinckney.
REALLY. Mr.. Sommers. she can beat
me. | think. but we do have great
fun working over it."
Eyes; Edward and l are more or
less partnership this" agreed Frances.
"PartnersY'
Sommers tried to keep his tone light
" unpersonal. but 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 bill 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 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