Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-14
TX.

I'd pressing his anger and surprise,
managed to talk casually III the
office. Then he excused him
self on the plea of work and, leaving
Sommers. hurried out to see whether
Smith had followed directions.
I'll be out in a few minutes my
self" said Sommers as the general
manager left. EXPECT there is plenty
of time, though"
"Oh, yes" Pinckney assured him
from the door. There's plenty of
time. Don't hurry. We have our most
responsible la in charge of the job
Out in the furnace oom Pinckney
found Smith moving about in leisurely
fashion. as though he had all the time
in the world ahead of him.
"Have you taken out the Sommers
gun YETI" demanded the general man.
ager eagerly.
Smith hared up.
mo. | can't do everything at once
What do you think am? Wen get to
1t in u few minutes"
Its got to come u now" declared
Pinckney angrily. "Sommers is here
In the office. He thinks we aren't
able to run this job, and he's come to
see his gun go into the bath"
IT, drunken foremSh's face con
vulsed with rage.
"Oh, he has. has he?" he yelled.
"Well. if he comes bothering around
me you know what he'll get? He'll
get what O'Leary got. That's what1l
be coming to him.
Pinckney shook his head.
mo. that won't 40, Smith," he com
handed sharply.
4 Out in the works where he was
Practically boss the foreman could not
~>- So easily eenir ellcd. $3.50
"Oh, it won't do, won't itT" he yell.
ed. "I1l show you whether it'll do or
not
He doubled up n of his big fists.
shaking it ~menacingly. And now
Pinckney let him rage without check.
A daring idea had come to the des.
perate schemer. Perhaps. after all. II
Smith attacked Sommers 1t might not
be 40 bad. 1t would be up to Smith
He would suffer; no one else. At any
rate, Sommers must not see that gun
go into the tempering bath. P~inckney
decided to i~rritate his drunken fore
man a little more.
Better be careful, Smith. He's in
n position to make trouble for us all.
He's an officer of the navy, you know;
has a right to inspect the work. We've
got to treat him well. Besides. this
Sommers is a pretty bad fighter him
self. He's got an idea he can lick
anybody around these works"
That was enough. Smiths fury was
keyed to the lighting stage now. 1t
only needed the presence of Sommers
and a little p%rovocation to start real
trouble.
Thinks he's a fighter. does hep he
roared. Let him come in here-Pll
show him who's a fighter. l don't
have to treat him well. | don't have
to treat you well. Pinckney. l don't
have to treat anybody well. I'm indie
pendent, l am. | don't crawl for no.
body"
Smith, you're drunk" declared the
general manager. You're drunk or
you wouldn't talk that way"
II know I'm drunk" roared the fore
man. But I'm the best man in the
outfit. drunk or sober. Just let that
navy duck show up"
Inside Pinckney was smiling, well
pleased. but he kept a straight, stern
face.
81 know you're the best man, Smith,"
he confessed. But why do you want
to fight with me?"
who's fighting with your buster
ed the bully. There wouldn't be
enough of you to carry away if l was
fighting with you"
Pinckney laughed powerfully.
"All right" he said. Now. remem-
Der, Sommers must not see that gun
come out of the furnace. He's sore on
us, and he'll make a bad report on the
job If he gets a chance. You know
what would happen to you then"
HE tried to get my job" roared the
foreman. TRY to take an honest
mans living away from him? I'll
show him."
He turned to the workman near the
furnace. yelling, Here, take that Som
nlers gun"
Pinckney caught the foreman by the
arm.
wait a minute; wait. Smith" he
commanded. Here's Sommers now"
The naval lieutenant vas coming
down the long furnace room. shielding
ais eyes from the terrific heat aud
glare of the furnaces as he passed.
Smith lurched out to meet him just
as he stopped in front of the furnace
which held the Sommers gun. One