Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-11-11

see the play"
She smiled on him sweetly.
II know how self sacrificing you are.
Edward. about the theater; but, you
see, you need not bother while Mr.
SommerS is here. You have been aw-
fully good to me about it. out now you
can have a long rest, because, you see.
he is devoted to it, and he says he gets
ashore so seldom that he likes to go at
every opportunity. Isn't that nice for
your
"Of course that is all right, Frances"
he agreed stitlly. but any time you do
wish to go it will be Il great pleasure
for me to take you. If l were you |
would not go out too much with this
naval whippersnappcr. You know how
people talk, and you don't want to get
the gossips wagging their tongues
about you and a penniless naval lieu
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
"eAos w "ohA IN tbOSI nc
val officers, but don't you think that Il
man who a invent a new gun is
quite as good as Il man who can mere
ly make one? And then. Edward. dear.
even you might be practically penni-
less if father had not started you"
And. smiling. she left him with his
jaw set tight and every nerve muscle
%quivering with anger.
"Penniless." he muttered at last. "A
man who invents guns as good as Il
man who merely makes them. | am a
puddler or Il mechanic, | suppose, in
her eyes. Might be %penniless but for
her father. Well. we will see"
He wh;rled away from the house
where they had been talking and hnr-
ried down to the works. Upon reach
ing them he Immediately sent for Will
liam Marsh, the head draughtsman.
William Marsh had been with the
Durant works since early manhood.
His whole life vas wrapped up in the
place. Unceasing application had rails
ed him to his present responsible and
nrduous position; but. like many an
other man who gives his life unreserv-
edly to one concern. he had come t
t find himself in the end i'll repaid. II
make matters worse his only child, {
l bright. promising young fellow o
twenty, had died as the result Of q 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 worl
the accident might not have occurred.
: All this had tended toward q breacl
between them. only Ptnckney was on
who cared little for breaches with hi
employees. He was born to rule ant
since becoming manager had riddel
r%oughshod over all opposition. Partic
ularly Marsh. fifty years old, spare
physically weak and essentially
dreamer, in love with his own worl
was little fitted to cope with the fro
willed manager.
Pinckney was still Tuning when tn
head draughtsman arrived.
''Marsh," he said shortly. II have dc
cided definitely to push the Rhinestror
gun. l believe it's a great gun an
will prove very effective"
Its all of that" returned til
d%raughtsman shortly.
81 think so," agreed the manager
land we must hurry the work alon
as fast as possible. BY the way. wha
do you think of this new gun-th
Sommers gun that this dandified navf
lieutenant is here to have cast"
Marsh did not know how eagerly tn
manager was listening for his reply
He paused judicially a moment. the
IS said hesitatingly:
Pm sorry. Mr.. Pinckney. but fror
e what l can make out 1t will make
= pretty good weapon. The fellow ha
hit on something new. II it ma
prove a wonder. Either very good o
- rotten. that is the way l size it up
You mean from the principle o
which it is constructed it will eithe
prove a winner or burst n kill
lot Of people?" questioned the mana
ger cautiously.
: Exactly" agreed Marsh, land
will have to be very carefully made O
= it will burst for sure. We don't wan
8 that"
=, "Then you do not think it is as goo
;. a gun as the Rhinestrom gun?" sug
gested Pinckney.
A dull flush rose in Marsh's pal
y cheeks. His whole body quivered. l
= was the anger of a parent whose chill,
had been attacked.
= There isn't any gun as good as til
;. Rhinestrom gum" he cried hotly. Is
invented it and ! know, and, what
more, while we are on the subject,
want to tell you chat l think you ar
!. doing me a dirty injustice. l have pu
: the best part Of my life on that gun
q and you have patented it and put
Dutch name on 1T. and l don't get
cent Of any credit"
: Ptnckney jumped from his chair. hi
W face red with anger.
= "Look here. Marsh," he cried, 'jus
> a little more like that and I'll fire 70,
out of these works! Who do you thinl
: !. you are? Don't you know that ",