The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-01-29
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Copyright. 1908. by Frederic Thompson
All Rights Reserved
CHAPTER XIII.
'DoN'T YOU SEE LOVE YOU"

CHAPTER XIII.
"poN'r YOU SEE I LOVE You?"
""WO dead; three mangled; one
blind"--
Slowly, in dazed, mechan-
ical fashion, Sommers repeat
ed the awful summary Of his failure.
Frances face was horror stricken, too,
but with quick, impulsive gesture Of
love and faith she put her hand on his
arm.
1T isn't your fault" she said. Il
know it isn't your fault"
His hand caught hers with quick
grip of thanks for the renewed courage
her sympathy and faith brought him.
"Won't qou leave us now?" he said,
low. "1'll see you and tell you what
he has to say"
Reluctantly the girl bowed and hur-
ried away into the hotel to wait there
alone until her lover could see her.
When she had gone Sommers turned
quickly to Bradley.
The secret service man had been
standing there, his face expression
less, but his shrewd eyes taking in
and his keen brain Analysing all that
had TRANSFERRED.
"Why was I not Informed Of this
before?" asked Sommers, still partly
dazed
"They decided to keep it from you
until you came ashore" replied the
secret service man. "How it all hap
pened will be decided at the court of
inquiry. I have been on the case since
the accident occurred. Your gun stood
the test at the proving ground. It's
my opinion that it was killed in the
tempering BATH" .
A wave Of light swept over Sommers.
He saw everything now. 1t was all
plain. He understood why drunken
foreman had been left in charge Of the
job. he knew why Pinckney had been
SO solicitous. He realized why, finally,
he himself had been assaulted in the
last desperate effort to keep him from
witnessing the transfer of the gun to
the tempering bath.
Finally he understood why Frances
had come there that night. She must
have suspected, and she had come to
save him. The thought Of the bastard
~ trick enraged him.
1T was killed in the tempering bath!
I swear it vast" Sommers exclaimed
f1ercely. "Pinckney was In the room
that night at the Durant works. He's
here-here at this hotel. I'll settle
with himv'
He had taken step when the secret
service man caught him by the arm.
EASY, lad, easyw he cautioned.
"Don't lose your head! I've made In
vestigations in Pittsburg, and I'm 60
ing to question Mr.. Pinckney myself"
With desperate effort under the re-
straining hand Sommers regained his
self control. His mind began to work
again logically, shrewdly. He saw
what he had to do and how he must
help this friendly officer.
MAY I ask when you were in Pitts
burg did you question man named
Marsh?'
"You mean the draughtsman? No."
replied Bradley. do you think he
knew anything Of it?''
Sommers shook his head In puzzled
fashion.
HE may have known something. He
ought to- He was there"
did you ever see Mr.. Rhinestrom
about there?' asked Bradley next.
Sommers still looked puzzled.
"No; didn't see him, but heard a
great deal Of him. Marsh was greatly
interested in the gun Rhinestrom had
invented"
Bradley looked keenly at the naval
officer.
"Oh, Marsh was interested in that
gun? But you never saw Rhinestrom
about there?' he said significantly.
Again there came that startling flash
to Sommers. He began to suspect just
how blind he had been, but before he
could say another word Pinckney came
out quickly from the hotel. The gen.
eral manager stopped, surprised at
sight of the naval lieutenant.
"How are you, Sommers?' he said
coldly.
Sommers bowed with equal GOODNESS
as Bradley stepped in between the two
men.
1--WE been most anxious to see you,
Mr.. Pinckney," the secret service agent
began.
Pinckney looked at him, surprised.
who are your he asked.
United States secret service man
detailed on the Sommers gun case, !"
came the quick reply.
Pinckney suppressed an Involuntary
start.
"Oh, I see," he said. 'I'm down.
right sorry. Most unfortunate affair,
indeed. But what can / dor -
Bradley smiled pleasantly. -. +
"Why, answer a few questions, If
you WILL" he suggested.
The general manager could not keep
down all expression Of annoyance, but
he knew it would never do to com
pletely antagonize the secret service
man on the. case, so he forced an apol.
ogy for smile. g.. -. . u.s.
"Of course, with pleasure. But I'm