The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-02-10

Marsh. He looked helpleSsly at Pinck-
ney and in his hIrd eyes read despera-
lion but not despair Pinckney crook
ed though he might be. still had all
the courage of the really big villain.
The sight cf his courage helped Marsh
10 fal'ar out his answer.
"Ycs sir"
The next question was entirely un-
,xpc ted
What ROYALTY does Rhinestrom re-
, Give for the gun Mr.. Marsh?"
There wrr long pause Marsh
looked nho'" hplnlesslv QUE oh
viously he was going to pieces. Pinck-
ney knew that qursriun must not be
answered. u mcaut everything. II
Marsh told what hr thought the real
royalty might rOnC out and the true
inventor In desperation and anger
would blurI the truth. 1t must b
stopped. rinckucy Spraug to his fee,
This Is ridiculous" he exclaimed.
These questions are all silly. What
does Marsh know about all this ? How
can Marsh know anything about roy
altips?"
Bradley turned To the owner of the
works.
"Mr Durant. will you kindly tell
Marsh what royalty you pay this
RhiDestromy"
The steel man looked puzzled. angry.
He did not understand the drift OF the
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-
tions regarding royalty as entirely un.
necessary prying into business secret.
For a moment he did not reply. and
Bradley repeated his question. Then
Pinckney broke In angrily.
IL thought Mr. Bradley came here
to inquire into the Sommers gun" he
sneered
The secret service man kept his tenn
per as he turned to Mr.. Durant, to
speak 10 tone OF polite regret.
"You invited me here, Mr.. Durant.
to ask such questions as | saw At to
get at the facts concerning the de-
struction OF gun. DO ! understand
you refuse to answer the first ques-
tion?''
Mr.. Durant hesitated.
But this is 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" he said regretfully. az
ask It only for Mr.. Marsh's informa-
ton"
"What has Marsh got to do with
what | pay for patentsT exclaimed
Durant angrily.
Bradley. still unruffled. 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 II would mean
nothing to you to know that Mr. Du-
rant pays royalty for the Rhinestrom
gun of a thousand dollars an inchT'
An expression Of amazement swept
over the face OF the badgered witness.
zone thousandw he gasped; then he
stopped short, looking at Pinckney
venomously. The chief conspirator
caught the look aud realized it's dan
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. 81 can prove what !
say. Now, Marsh, what do you say to
a 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 been duped
He had only to tell the truth and ruin
both Plnckney and himself. but then
he hesitated. To tell the truth-what
would that mean? II would mean
state prison possibly and disgrace
And Marsh was not big enough to take
great revenge. Finally he looked
down.
Nothing" he said at last.
"Nothingw demanded Bradley.
Again Mr.. Durant interfered.
"Mr. Bradley" he exclaimed sharp,
ly, II see no reason for your ques,
tions or your attitude. l can't for the
life OF me see what you are getting
at"
81 can" supplemented Pinckney
sneering. "I've had experience with
Mr.. Bradley's style of bluff"
Bradley paid no attention to the gen
eral manager, but turned. speaking to
Mr. Durant. but looking at Marsh.
II will explain, Mr.. Durant. Lieu
tenant Sommers Is an honest man. II
is to him and the girl he loves that Mr.
Pinckney and your wife and and a
score OF others owe our lives. TomOr.
row he is to answer In Washington for
an accident In which two men were
killed and others manned and crippled
! for life. One man is totally blind" A