The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-01-15

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( And Paul Armstrong !
Copyright. 1908. by Frederic Thompson
y All Rights Reserved
Frances turned, and Smith stepped
back aghast.
"Miss Durant!' he exclaimed. EEK
cuse me, miss. I thought you was
Lucy"
THAT'S all right, Smith," exclaimed
Pinckney hastily. mo trouble now,
remember" And he turned back to
frances. "Come to the Office, Frances.
Come away from here. I win explal.
everything to you fully"
Puzzled and bit uncertain as to
Pinckney's real attitude, the girl ODE
diently followed him up a short fight
Of steps and into little overseer's
Office that jutted out into the furnace
room. Pinckney closed the door after
him.
"Mr. Sommers' gun is just going
into the tempering BATH" he said.
HE is here experimenting it. So you
understand all must be right. Just
wait here few moments, and then
you can see Sommers himself"
The suggestion seemed reasonable
Frances nodded acquiescence.
"All right. I will watt" she said.
Outside in the furnace room a fu-
rious hustle followed the closing of
the little Office door. Smith gave the
signal, and the big gun, caught in the
chains from the traveller, began to
rise slowly out Of the trap furnace
and hung suspended, huge mass Of
white hot steel.
Hustle it up, quick, into the bath!''
yelled Smith, for already Sommers
he'd appeared at the end Of the long
furnace room aid was coming quickly
toward him.
The men, dri n on by their drunk
en- boss, worked desperately fast. The
huge traveller carrying the Sommers
gun moved slowly toward the waiting
oil bath. 1t was halfway there when
Smith, the iron bar still in his hand,
met Sommers.
$50 you're coming to take charge of
this Job, are your he sneered.
The naval officer tried to push by,
but Smith. got in front Of him.
"See here" exclaimed Sommers an
gr1ly, "wait until you are sober before
you talk to- me. Now, get away and
attend to your work"
The order enraged Smith all the
more.
"Who are you giving orders to-" he
yelled. Come on now; get out OF
here! You'd better beat it up In the
Office" He jerked his thumb toward
the little overseeing Office. "Get in
there and talk to Pinckney. He's lock-
ed up there with lady friend of
yours"
Sommers' quick temper had begun
to flare at the 1nsolence Of the fore.
man. He had not come out from the
Office in time, and he did not know
was slowly bearing to the waiting
oil bath. He saw only in front Of him
m 1nsolent, drunken workman, who
should be discharged for coming on
duty in such condition.
"You drunken BLACKBOARD! III see
Pinckney, and If he doesn't discharge
you I'll kick you out Of here myselfv'
He flung the foreman aside and, run.
ming up the steps to the Office, tried
the door. 1t was locked, and his knock
brought no response.
Down below the men looked at each
other and, taking the cue from Smith
laughed at the navy man. Slowly
sommers came down the steps. What
was wrong? He could not make out
exactly. He saw Marsh,. who had
been standing uneasfly far in the back
ground, and mottoned to him.
The head craftsman came slowly
He knew how important it was tt
keep Sommers diverted from the main
object and was nerved to play his
part until the gun should be disposed
of.
Il wouldn't 60 in there II I were
you, Mr.. Sommers," he suggested
Mr.. P1nckney's in there with girl.''
Sommers had been about the works
long enough to know Pinckney's repu.
tation among the men, but this open
Haunting in their very faces was worse
than anything he had imagined.
who is it," he asked contemptuous
y.
Il think it's Smiths daughter. Lu
cy," hesitated Marsh. D.. 4
q: Sommers' face famed with anger
He understood now, he thought, why
Pinckney had been willing to leave
Smith on the job, even though he was
drunk. 1t all seemed simple, Smith
must buy immunity from punishment
In this shameful fashion. ~, -. ~,
Contempt for Pinckney and rage thai
he should run the risk Of being ruined
by the dirty work Of such men reused