The Redwood gazette., 1909-12-01
swing here. Mr.. Durant r
The owner of the works nodde'
ktN.oxrr Marsh xrb0 xroc G in cha

was ne drunk:
Marsh hesitated. looking weakly
from Sommers to Pinckney.
"Yes. sir, he was" came the admis-
sion at last frankly.
Bradleys smile did not change as he
asked his next question in the same
pleasant tone.
"Why, then, was he allowed to be in
charger"
"Well, we were all there to keep
watch of him." he faltered at last.
The questioner looked puzzled.
"Whom do you mean by WEI" he
asked.
"Mr Pinckney and me and"- The
witness faltered, and Pinckney ended
for him sharply:
"And Mr.. SommerS."
"Yes. and Mr.. Sommers." agreed
Marsh eagerly.
The smile had left Bradley's face
when he turned coldly to Pinckney.
II am not questioning you. Mr..
Pinckney. l may question you short
ly, and l hope when l do you'll be as
eager to answer Then he turned
back to the ratified witness. WAS
Smith disc scharged?"
"I-I think so." faltered the head
draughtsman. He was drunk. and he
was discharged. because Mr.. Durant
! never allows that"
when was he discharged?"
II don't remember exactly"
But he's working in Meadvil;e in
your new plant now. isn't he?" came
the next sharp question that brought a
startled surprise to Mr.. Durant, be-
cause one of the cardinal rules of the
Durant works was never to take back
a man discharged for inefticiency or
drunkenness.
The steel man turned in his chair to
look sharply at Pinckney, for Pinckney
was also acting manager of the Mead
vile plant. The question had thrown
Pinckney into a secret panic, while
Marsh was openly flustered. If this
detective had found Smith carefully
hidden away under an assumed name
in the Meadville plant, what might he
not know?
IL heard he was in Meadville,' -
faltered the conspirator under fire.
He looked appealingly at Pinckney,
but Bradley, the imperturbable, gave
him no rest
what time of day did that gun go
into the furnace, Mr. Marsh?"
Again Marsh looked hopelessly for
the help that could not be given.
81 don't know. SIR" be said at last.
Bradley lifted his eyebrows. sur
prised.
But you told Lieutenant Sommers
it was going in at 6 o'clock" he said
sternly. Didn't you tell him that?'
! The witness was in a panic now. He
did not know which way to turn.
! Mr.. Durant was looking at him
sharply. The shrewd steel man was
! beginning TO realize that there was
/ something back of all this, something
discreditable, and be sat there. his
face getting grimmer and grimmer and
his jaws setting harder with each SHARP
question and faltering reply-sat there
sternly waiting to administer justice
so soon as guilt could be proved.
81 think | did" admitted Marsh al
last.
But you don't know?' persisted
Bradley
mot for sure" the witness faltered
The detective said nothing to that
but his smile spoke Volumes Pinck
ney saw it and moved uneasily
/ Marsh caught it. and a cold chill be-
gan to race up and down his spine
But apparently Bradley was satisfied
along that line, for the next question
branched to another side.
IF the gun had gone in the furnace
at 6, when was it to come out, Marsh?
About %
"And it came out at a quarter past
II, so it must have gone in between
and 4, mustn't it?'
Yes, sir. | suppose; l believe il
must SIR" faltered the witness pain
fully.
The next question was put like 6
shot
did you ever invent gun?"
Marsh's mouth dropped open. Hi;
face became chalky. His eyes rolled
about the room piteously, seeking fol
aid, but none was there. He saw only
the grim, stern face of Mr.. Durant, the
hard eyes of Pinckney. with a terrible
contempt and fear in back of them; tht
eager, determined look of SOmmers
the anxious fearfulness of Frances
and, lastly, the cold, calm, deadly snlil
ing man who questioned him. With {
gasp and gulp he managed to collec
himself.
mo sir" he said firmly.
What? You mean to tell me yol
never invented gun" demanded
Bradley sternly.
Marsh thought he caught a hint O.
disappointment in the tone. and it gav'
him courage.
But the disappointment, if there wa
any, was hidden promptly by th'
sneering smile of the secret service
man as he said: