Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-02-03

Smith" replied the witness.
"Was he drunk"
Marsh hesitated. looking weakly
from Sommers to Pinckney.
eyes, sir, he was" came the admis-
sion at last frankly.
Bradley's smile did not change as he
asked his next question in the same
pleasant tone.
"Why, then, was he allowed to be in
charge"
"Well. we We're all there to keep
watch of him" he faltered at last.
The Questioner looked puzzled.
Whom do you mean by we?" he
asked.
"Mr. Pinckney and me and"- The
witness faltered, and Pinckney ended
for him sharply:
And Mr.. Sommers,"
Eyes. and Mr.. Sommers," agreed
Marsh eagerly.
The smile had left Bradley's face
when he turned coldly to Pinckney.
Il am not questioning you, Mr.
Pinckney. | may question you short
~, and ! hope when | do you'll be as
eager to answer. Then be turned
back to the ratified witness. WAS
Smith diScharged:"
IL think So" faltered the head
draughtsman. He was drunk. and be
was discharged. because Mr.. Durant
never allows that"
when was he discharged?"
81 don't remember exactly"
But he's working in Meadvilie 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 inefficiency or
drunkenness.
The steel man turned in his chair tC
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 f1ustered. 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 &C
into the furnace, Mr.. Marsh?"
Again Marsh looked hopelessly foi
the help that could not be given.
Il 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" be 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 he 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.
Il think l did" admitted Marsh at
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 2"
And it came out at a quarter past
II, so it must have gone in between
3 and 4. mustn't it,"
Yes. sir, | suppose; l believe it
must SIR" faltered the witness pain
fully.
The next question was put like a
shot.
did you V invent a gun?'
Marsh's mouth dropped open. His
face became chalky. His eyes rolled
about the room piteously. seeking for
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; the
eager, determined look Of Sommers.
the anxious %fearfulness Of Frances,