The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-02-19

that job?'' MI us.
Smith," replied the witness. W.
'sWas he drunk?" ~
Marsh hesitated, looking weakly
from Sommers to Pinckney.
Eyes, sir, he was," came the admis.
sion at last frankly.
Bradley's smile did not change as he
asked his next question in the same
pleasant tone.
''Why. then, was he allowed to be in
charge"
"Weu, we were all there to keep
watch of him." he faltered at last.
The questioner looked puzzled.
"Whom do you mean by we?' he
asked.
''Mr. Pinckney and me and"- The
witness faltered, and Pinckney ended
for him sharply:
"And Mr.. Sommers."
Eyes. and Mr.. Sommers," agreed
Marsh eagerly.
The smile had left Bradley's face
when he turned coldly to Pinckney.
II am not questioning you, Mr.
Plnckney. 1 may question you short
~, and hope when l do you'll be as
eager to answer. Then he turned
back to the ratified witness. ''Was
Smith discharged"
I'll think So" faltered the head
draughtsman. HE was drunk, and he
was discharged. because Mr.. Durant
fever allows that"
when was he discharged
II don't remember exactly"
"But he's working in Meadvilie in
your new plant now, isn't he?" came
the next sharp question that brought a
startled surprise to Mr.. Durant, be-
cause one Of the cardinal rules Of the
Durant works was never to take back
a man discharged for ineficiency or
drunkenness.
The steel man turned in his chair to
look sharply at Pinckney, for Pinckney
was also acting manager of the Mead
vile plant. The question had thrown
Pinckney into a secret panic, while
Marsh was openly flustered. If this
detective had found Smith carefully
hidden away under an assumed name
in the Meadville plant what might he
not know?
IL heard he, was in Meadville, -
faltered the conspirator under fire.
he looked appeahngly at Pinckney.
but Bradley, the imperturbable, gave
him no rest.
"What time Of day did that gun go
into the furnace, Mr.. Marsh?'
Again Marsh looked hopelessly for
the help that could not be given.
IT don't know, SIR" he said at last.
Bradley lifted his eyebrows, sur.
: prised.
"But you told Lieutenant Sommers
it was going in at 6 o'clock" he said
sternly. Didn't you tell him that?'
The witness was in panic now. He
did not know which way to turn.
Mr.. Durant was looking at him
sharply. The shrewd steel man was
beginning to realize that there was
something back Of all this, something
discreditable, and be sat there, his
face getting grimmer and grimmer and
his jaws setting harder with each SHARP
question and faltering reply-sat there
sternly waiting to administer justice
so soon as guilt could be proved
II think I did," admitted Marsh al
last.
But you don't know?' persisted
Bradley.
mot for sure" the witness faltered
The detective said nothing to that
but his smile spoke volumes. Pinck'
ney saw it and moved uneasily
Marsh caught it, and cold chill be-
gan to race up and down his spine
But apparently Bradley was satisfied
along that line, for the next question
branched to another side.
IF the gun had gone in the furnace
at 6, when was it to come out, Marsh p
"About e.
"And it came out at a quarter past
II, so it must have gone in between
3 and 4, mustn't it?'
Eyes, sir, I suppose; believe II
must SIR" faltered the witness pain.
fully.
The next question was put like q
shot.
did you ever invent gun?'
Marsh's mouth dropped open. His
face became chalky. His eyes rolled
about the room piteously, seeking fol
aid, but none was there. He saw only
the grim, stern face of Mr.. Durant, the
hard eyes Of Pinckney, with terrible
contempt and fear in back Of them; the
eager, determined look of Sommers,
the anxious fearfulness of Frances,
and, lastly, the cold, calm, deadly smil.
ing man who questioned him. With q
gasp and gulp he managed to collect
himself.
mo, SIR" he said firmly.
"What? You mean to tell me you
never invented gunT' demanded
Bradley sternly.
Marsh thought he caught a hint OF
disappointment In the tone. and it gave
him courage.
But the disappointment, il there was
any, was hidden promptly by the
sneering smile of the secret service