The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-01-20
Of the I,hinestrom gunYo

The Durant steel works control
them" core, ted the general manager.
And you have large government
order for the Rhinestrom gun now
that the S,mIners gun is out of the
way?" PERSISTED the unruttled ques-
toner.
Pinckney had beeu losing more and
more of bis self control as each sue
cepdiug home thrust struck him.
81 don't ike what that question im-
plies. sir" he exclaimed angrily.
Bradley made slight conventional
nod.
I'm sorry" be said indiffcreuty.
The cons traitor had begun to real
ize he was fencing strong. shrewd
antagonist and II would not do to lose
his temper. so he hastened to explain.
I'VE had the EhinestrOm order be-
fore the Sommcrs gun was forged"
who is IihinestrUmT" commanded
Bradley. with sudden sternness that
took the general manager completely
by surprise. pinckney had not antici-
pated that question. For moment
he hesitated. repeating blankly after
the government agent:
who is he!"
Bradley's manner had changed alb
ruptly from bland curiosity to stern
determination to know.
Yes he said sharply, who Is
RhinestromY Where does he come
from? Where is he now? Whom did
you deal witbY'
Pinckney hesitated.
"Why. | have no idea who his friends
are"
Does Mr.. Durant known" asked the
detective.
Sill Pinckney fenced.
I'll couldn't say, really. Better ask
Mr.. Durant."
81 did" retorted Bradley shortly.
Pinckney saw it was time to end
this cross questioning If he was to get
away safe. The government agent
was shrewder than he thought. and
this thin spot in his defense-the iden.
tity Of RhinestrOm-seemed perilously
weak. The only thing to do was to
end 1t at once.
81 haven't time to talk to you fur
ther," he said.
Bradley made a restraining gesture.
Just moment more. Mr.. Pinckney.
Has Rhinestrom ever been at your
works."
mo, sir" returned the general man
ager promptly.
"Then how does Marsh know himY'
demanded the government agent stern
ly.
1t was pure bluff, but Plnckney had
no idea of that, and he took the bait,
hook, sinker and all.
Marsh! he exclaimed blankly.
"Why, Marsh doesn't know him."
For the first time Bradley permitted
himself sneering smile.
81 can only go by what Marsh says"
he declared "Do you mean to tell
me, Mr. Pinckney, that Marsh, the
draughtsman of the Durant steel
works, does not know the inventor of
the Rhinestrom gun"
Pinckneys face was brick red with
anger now. but inside there was
quiver Of apprehension that Marsh had
talked. If so, all was up Anyway
this questioning must stop.
I'm not going to talk to you fur
ther, sir" he declared angrily. your
manner is distasteful to me-"
Again there came that mockipg, sa-
tirical apology.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. But, Mr.. Pinck
ney, you don't mind admitting that the
man in charge of forging the Sommers
gun was drunk?'
Pinckney hesitated.
81 do admit that" he said, "but he
did his work properly. l was there
myself to watch him. Mr. Sommers
was there too"
Instantly the secret service agent
turned on Sommers.
"Were you in the furnace room, Lieu
tenant Sommers, at the time the gun
went into the bath?"
"Yes, sir" admitted the naval Off
Ger, 81 was"
"Did 1t go in at the right tempera-
tureY
1t was Sommers' time to hesitate.
hOh hhOnt hN dhlhllltus
didn't see it,"
"You were in the furnace ROOM"
exclaimed the secret service man, "and
you did not see your own gun go into
the tempering bath?"
There was quarrel with the fore
man." said Sommers hesitatingly.
"What were you quarreling aboutT
asked Bradley.
1t was the one question that Som
mers could not answer. How could he
bring Frances into It? Bradley was
waiting impatiently for his reply.
II can't explain the cause of that
quarrel" finally declared the naval
officer firmly, and Pinckney permitted
himself his first smile of satisfaction.
After ALL there was a chance Of
this young fool, through insane chiv-
airy, permitting himself to overlook
his only means of vindication.