Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-28

HAS he ever been at the works. Mr..
Marsh?"
Marsh looked about again wildly.
81 don't know he blurted at last.
"Ah, very interesting" smiled Brad
ley. "You don't know Mr.. Rhine
strom? You've never seen him? You
don't know whether or not he's ever
been at the works? You've never in
vented a gun yourself, of course. And
the one thing you do know is that Mr..
Rhinestrom is the inventor of the gun
you are in charge of forging. You are
sure of that, aren't you. Mr.. Marsh2
Take your time. Don't be in a hurry
with your answer. All we want is
the truth. Now. you know Mr.. Rhine
strop is the inventor of the gun. don't
your"
There was so much satirical con.
tempt in the way the question was
put that the cold sweat broke out on
Marsh. He looked helplessly at Pinck-
ney and in his hard eyes read despera-
ton, but not despair. Pinckney, crook
ed though he might be. still had all
the courage of the really big villain.
The sight of his courage helped Marsh
to falter out his answer.
"Yes. SIR"
The next question was entirely un-
expected.
what royalty does Rhinestrom re-
ceive for the gun. Mr.. Marsh"
There was a long pause. Marsh
looked about helples5ly. Quite OBJ
siously he was going to pieces. Pinck-
ney knew that question must not be
answered. 1t meant everything. If
Marsh told what he thought the real
royalty might come out and the true
inventor. in desperation and anger,
would blurt the truth. 1t must be
stopped. Pinckney sprang to his feet.
This is ridiculous" he exclaimed.
'"These questions are all silly. What
does Marsh know about all this? How
can Marsh know anything about roy
alties?'
Bradley turned to the owner of the
works.
MIR. Durant. will you kindly tell
Marsh what royalty you pay this
Rhinestrom?"
The steel man looked puzzled. angry.
LIZ h4d HUI \ toho thC NAhh VI Nh0
questioning. He had not the slightest
suspicion that Marsh was the real in
ventor of the Rhinestrom gun. and SO,
quite naturally, he looked on the ques-
tons regarding royalty as entirely I'M
necessary prying into a business secret.
For a moment he did not reply. and
Bradley repeated his question. Then
Pinckney broke In angrily.
II thought Mr.. Bradley came here
to inquire into the Sommers gum" he
sneered.
The secret service man kept his tenn
per as he turned to Mr.. Durant. to
speak in a tone of polite regret.
"You invited me here. Mr.. Durant,
to ask such questions as l saw fit to
get at the facts concerning the de-
struction-o of a guns Do | understand
you refuse to answer the first ques-
ton? y
Mr.. Durant hesitated.
"But this is a private business mat
ter" he protested at last. II see no
bearing In that question on the matter
In hand"
Bradley shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm sorry" be said regretfully. "I
ask it only for Mr.. Marsh's informa-
ton"
what has Marsh got to do with
what l pay for patents?' exclaimed
Durant angrily.
Bradley. still unruf1ed, turned to
Marsh with a smile.
Suppose you tell him, Marsh" he
suggested.
Nothing at all, sir" the inventor
muttered hastily.
Pinckney would have broken in
again. but the detective stopped him
sharply with a gesture.
"Wait! Marsh, can you tell me
straight to my face that it would mean
nothing to you to know that Mr.. Du-
rant pays a royalty for the Rhinestrom
gun of a thousand dollars an inchY
An expression Of amazement swept
over the face of the badgered witness.
zone thousandw be gasped; then he
stopped short. looking at Pinckney
venomously. The chief conspirator
caught the look and realized it's dam
ger.
"Marsh won't believe" he cried has
tily. But again Bradley cut in, step
ping between Pinckney and the wit
ness so that neither could see the
other.
Keep quiet, Mr.. Pinckney," he de-
manded sternly. II can prove what I
say. Now, Marsh, what do you say to
q royalty of a thousand dollars an
inch?"
The little man was past the stage Of
fear now. He saw the whole trick.
He realized how he had beer duped.
He had only to tell the truth and ruin
both Pinckney and himself, but then
he hesitated. To tell the truth-what
would that mean? 1t would mean
state prison possibly and disgrace.