The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-23

i apologetically. T was working only for the best. I wanted to insure oul contract with the government. As i is, you see, we do not begin work fol | two months, and )there'n be a lot o1 ! wire pulling and hauling first" Durant nodded.
 "Yes, if they find gun they like ! better they can countermand our or 1 der"l
 Pinckney hesitated. He felt he haG | to go cautiously, but it would not dc to let MT. Durant guess his hand. Yes" he said slowly, "this fellow ] Sommers is here to have gun forged l that he's invented. He's got some pull at Washington, I'm certain of that.'' Don't see what difference that makes" replied the steel man.
 "Oh," protested the manager, "sup- pose after they test the Sommers gun they give it preference over the Rhine strom gun and countermand our or der"
 Durant nodded, pleased. q wish they would," he said. "We could still get the business and not gouge the government. Sommers is an officer in the navy and can claim no royalty. It would reduce the cost of every twelve inch gun $12,OOO."
 Pinckney bowed in agreement, then suggested:
 'You are partly right, MT. Durant, but if they took his gun there would be no certainty about our getting the order We would have to compete in the open, and some one might under bid us.''
 we can't help that" replied his chief. 3Is Sommers' gun better than ours?"
 Pinckney looked up indignantly.
 'Of course not" he exclaimed, "but Sommers has influence, and I do not trust him. I think he'd be capable of any dirty trick to have our gun turned down."
 Durant laid his hand on the young managers arm in kindly fashion.
 "Now, now, Edward" he said mean ingly. 'I like your enthusiasm; it's good for the business, but you must not let your enthusiasm lead you to foolish hatred. This young Sommers seems to me to be very decent sort of young fellow. never saw him be- fore topights but was quite favorably impressed. Frances also seems to like him very much"
 >"So you've noticed that, too, have you?" sneered the manager.
 Frances father looked up sharply.
 Yes; have you?" he asked.
 Again Pinckney hesitated. It was time for careful work now. He could not afford to make an open rupture or say anything about direct explana tion, so he began using all his diplo- macy, suggesting by look and gesture rather than by open accusation what he meant.
 "Yes, I have noticed it, MT. Durant," he said. q hoped I was mistaken. I would hate to see anything like that, because you know my interest in ev- erything that concerns you, and par ticularly in Frances" He hesitated for a moment, wondering just how to go on.
 Yes, I understand your interest" said Durant kindly. q understand that"
 Thank you, sir" exclaimed Pinck- ney gratefully. tsYou know, then, how hard it~is for me to see her associated with such a fellow as Sommers and what a blow it would be if he were to make her fond of him.
 Durant looked at the younger man keenly.
 "Do you mean there's anything against this young fellow" he asked "any reason why Frances should avoid him?''
 "II'd rather not say, MT. Durant," hesitated Pinckney
 Durant was straightforward old fighter who liked to have people come right out.
 ''If you can't say right out, why do you intimate, Edward ?' he demanded sternly. "I don't like people who beat about the bush. If you have anything on this young fellow, come right out and say so. Be prepared to prove it and don't beat about the bush and suggest all sorts of things against him merely because he's paying attention to Frances
 Pinckney rose and drew himself up to his full height.
 '1'm very sorry, MT. Durant, that you should think me capable of such a thing" he said with dignity. 'I thought my interest was too well proved for you to think that would do anything underhanded I say noth- ing against this fellow Sommers now, because I'm not prepared to prove it; but, remember this, Mr. Durant, he's no good, and sooner or later you'll find it out. I only hope it won't be too late" Durant looked at his young manager 1eenly. He had no reason to suspect | that Pinckney would lie or do any hing maliciously underhanded merely | to put rival out of the way. He had | known Edward from a boy and found | him always apparently devoted to the | DuraTit interests. All this made him | Judge kindly when from another man | he would not have tolerated mere | 1ackbiting. "All right, Edward" he said kindly. | You've proved yourself devoted to l