Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-07

was told. Now, you let me alone"
Sure. O'Leary. let him alone" urged
the other men. Hell come round,
and we'll get the gun out on time"
Before more could be said an office
boy appeared, coming from the front
office.
They want you in the office,
O'Leary. Hustle up" he said; "it's i'm
portant."
Out in the Office Lucy Smith was ex-
planning vigorously TO the stenogra-
pher, Maize O'Brien. that Smith. in
charge of the Sommers gun. was drunk
on the job, and his wife, fearing some
thing might happen, had sent the girl
over to beg O'Leary to take care of
him.
"Sure. Lucy, that's all right. OF
course O'Leary will do 1t for you" the
good natured stenographer encouraged.
I'm just get out and give you a chance
at him when he comes. When are you
going to get married. anyhow
Lucy blushed and hesitated.
81 don't know exactly" she said.
1--WE haven't talked much about it."
Maize O'Brien smiled.
well. it's about time you're getting
busy with hat line of conversation. 1
think. Don't do to trust any of these
steel hands. Two weeks is long enough
for any girl to be engaged. I'll get
out nov and leave you alone" she
ended as O'Leary, establishment and
worry showing on his begrimed face.
entered the office.
whats the matter, Lucy?' he asked
a%nxiously.
ness.
Its about father. Is he very bad?"
The man hesitated.
well, he's got a few drinks in" he
confessed at last. But there hasn't
been much trouble up to date"
He's pretty ugly. amt he?" asked
the girl.
O'Leary laughed grimly.
You know what your dad is when
he's drunk, Lucy. He's tried to pick
one or two scraps tonight. but the men
are keeping away from him. I'll do
my best to keep down trouble. you
know that, Lucy"
The girl nodded.
Yes, l know, Joe, you're mighty
good" she said, "but if anything hap
pens tonight you know he'll lose his
job sure. I'm awful afraid, and moth
er's worse than l am, so l just came
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 500 the gun II be
no good at ALL"
The girl made a 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?'
II 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?"
O'Leary 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 | could go in and beg him.
Couldn't l do that, Joe?' pleaded the
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
hanging around my house enough
without getting that girl in the officer
1--we 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 you! Look
here, you keep that mug of yours out
go - - TYI I.zAf~ ~ NJ Won