The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-03

over to get you to look out for him.
Is he doing his work all right"
O'Leary shook his head regretfully.
That's what bothers me-" he con-
fessed The Sommers gun S been in
the fire too long now. If it don't come
out of the furnace soon the gun II be
no good at all
The girl made hopeless gesture.
What do you think of that" she
complained. And he's the best man
over here when he's sober. Can't you
do anything. Joe?'
Il am doing all l can" he urged, as
though in justification, but if that
gun s put in the oil bath after being
too long in the fire the tempering will
be bad"
Lucy wrung her hands despairingly.
Lets get Mr.. Marsh,' she begged.
'Mr Pinckney amt here. but Mr..
Marsh can take dad off the job and
keep him from running everything.
Sommers is such a nice man. too, and
Miss Frances likes him. Oh, what
are we going to do. Joe?"
OLeary looked at her blankly. The
situation was too much for him to
manage.
"Marsh's acting funny, too" he COM
planned. He must know how Smith
is. but he keeps away and don't say
nothing to him. Guess he's afraid"
Maybe l could go in and beg him.
I,sf Ia hot n6 40
girl
She turned and started for the door
which led into the works. but before
she could reach it the door was push
ed open and Smith. drunken and more
enraged than ever, lurched into the
Office. At sight of Lucy and O'Leary
together he Strengthened up. caught
hold of the door a moment for sup
port, then burst on them with a tor
rent of anger.
"What are you doing here?" he roar
ed. 'Why did you come in this Of
fee, Lucy? What business you got
here. O'Leary? Amt l seeing you
| without getting that girl in the officer"
"I-Tve got your dinner. father.
brought it over to you" faltered Lucy.
"And why didn't you bring it to me
right?" he shouted. "And why do you
let this fellow in the Office here be
talking to you?"
"Joe's all right, father" the girl
urged. He don't want you to make
no mistake with the Sommers gun.
that's ALL
The drunken foreman turned on his
assistant with fury.
''Oh, you don't. don't your Look
here, you keep that mug of yours out
hearg'
| But Joe O'Leary did not come Of the
race that could be bluffed AS Smith
iurched toward him the assistant
Strengthened into position Of de-
tense, waiting for him.
Don't waste your breath trying to
scare me, Smith," he shouted. You'd
better be getting that gun out Of the
! fire before it spoils."
The sudden opposition sobered the
drunken man for a moment.
Il got fine assistant. amt IT he
sneered. Trying to tell me my bust
ness. know what you're up to. You
sneaked in here to talk to her; that's
what you did. Now, you keep away
from her after this. l tell you. Don't
you come near her or I'll break you
| in two"
|
O'Leary looked the larger man up
and down with fine Irish scorn.
Break me in two"' he Sneered. III
you was to break me in two either
piece of me would get up and knock
your block off. | tell you. if you ever
lay a hand on me I'll kill you"
In a wild fury Smith rushed un-
steadily. O'Leary landed once. stag
gering the big man. and then Lucy
rushed in between them.
"Father. Joe. Don'tv' she begged.
you'll both be discharged"
The Earring. staggering blow had
knocked little of the fight out of the
bully. He still had sense enough to
| know that in an even battle his young,
| strong assistant would have a good
chance. and. like most DULLES, he
didn't care for even battles. The plea
of Lucy gave him a chance to change
| the direction of his anger.
"Dischargedw he yelled. who'll
discharge me? ! can clean out the
| whole works, and r.
| He was lurching about the office,
| swinging his arms wildly in time to
his drunken threats. when the street
door opened and Pinckney came in
hastily. In moment the manager
saw that something was wrong.
WHATS the meaning of this?' he
demanded sharply. stepping forward.
Again the current Of Smiths rage
had found an object to dash against
All sense Of discipline and fear OF
consequences was gone from him
Then. besides. down in his heart he
knew that Pinckney needed him and
would scarcely dare to discharge him