Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-12-02
VII.

II OhIl1N Vi The BIG GUN,
~MITH, the foreman in charge of
q the Sommers gun, was raging
~ drunk.
He lurched up and down in
front of the furnaces, cursing the men.
driving them here and there, making
all manner of confusion. apparently
without reason. O'Leary. his assistant.
had done his best to quiet the half
crazed foreman. O'Leary and every
man on the job knew that the Som
mers gun was in grave danger of be-
ing ruined. 1t had been scheduled to
go into the furnace at 9 o'clock. but
Smith shortly after noon had lurched
In, called his men together and showed
the gun into the furnace three hours
ahead of time, Now it was nearly
midnight, and unless the gun came out
shortly every man knew that it would
be completely ruined. 1t must come
out, be brought to the proper tempera-
ture and then thrust into the tempering
bath-a thousand gallons of oil.
The last time Smith had been in
charge OF the job he had put a u
into the bath at too high a temperature
n 1t had burst at the proving ground.
Smith on that occasion had been laid
off and had not been brought back to
work until the casting of the Sommers
gun. Then Pinckney had sent for him
and. after a long talk in his private
office, had placed the disgraced fore
man in nnn,n1ofo ohor~1 - %I;, -ox,
and very important piece of work.
At the casting Of the Rhinestrom u
Pinckney himself had taken complete
charge, staying in the furnace room
until all the work was finished, and
the marked difference In the handling
Of the two jobs had not escaped some
OF the shrewder workmen.
Looks like they don't care a hang
whether this me goes or not" O'Leary,
the assistant foreman, had complained.
tits plain f%oolishness, putting Smith
on the job. It'll just get him in trou-
BILE and won't do any good. That guns
bound to be a failure If we amt care
full"
The men had taken O'Leary's view
OF the matter and were doing all they
could to make this job a success.
sommers during his stay about the
works had become tremendously popu-
lar. They wanted to do their best
for him; also O'Leary expected in
the fall to marry Lucy Smith. the fore
mans daughter. and therefore he had
an interest in putting the job through
right.
was to come down about
l:3o in the morning, when tie gun was
expected to go into the temperins bath.
was the important work. and he
was determined to superintend it.
However. with Smith putting the CUR
In three hours ahead of time there.
seemed every chance that unless Som.
mers should be warned of the change
the gun would be in the bath and ev.
erything Of Importance over before the
navy man should arrive.
In vain O'Leary pleaded with Smith
to do something about the gun.
Its been in toe long already,
Smith," he urged. do you want to
ruin this job? Who'll take care of
you when you ruin another gun?
You'll be down and out for good"
The foreman. swaying from side to
side. looked at his assistant with a
drunken leer.
Who'll take care Of me?' he sneer-
ed. Don't you worry about who'll
take care OF me. Pm the best man
about these works drunk or sober and
don't you forget it,"
O'Leary could not be put off.
Then II you're the best man show
IT, he shouted. SHOW it by tending
to business. That gun III be ruined In
no time!"
Smith. broad. brutal. savage from
drink. aimed 4 blow ut his assistant.
"You Will interferer' he shouted.
"You think you're a better man THAI
am! III show you! I'll lot you know
who's the bsss sf TIN hsss jeSF.