Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-28
Continued from last week
CHAPTER XIII.
DON'T you SEE LOVE your"
s- wO dead. thraa anpled ono

ed the awful summary OF his failure.
Frances face was horror stricken, too.
but with a quick, impulsive gesture of
love and faith she put her hand IN his
arm.
'It isn't your fault" she said. 81
know it isn't your fault"
His hand caught hers with a quick
grip of thanks for the renewed courage
her sympathy and faith brought him.
won't you leave us nowT" he said.
low. "I'l see you and tell you what
he has to say"
Reluctantly the girl bowed and bur
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 transpired.
"Why was I not Informed Of this
before?' asked Sommers. still partly
dazed.
"They decided to keep it from you
uutl yOO Gd1lC dohoiCs tCDiiCQ tit
secret service man. How 1t all hap
pened will be decided at the our of
inquiry. | have been on the case since
the accident occurred. Your gun stood
the test at the proving ground. It's
my opinion that 1t was killed in the
tempering bath"
A wave of light swept over Sommers.
He saw everything now. 1t was all
plain. He understood why a 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 ZONE to
save him. The thought of the bastard
~ trick enraged him.
''It was killed in the tempering bath,
l swear it was." Sommers exclaimed
fiercely. "Pinckney was 10 the room
-tt@s' Dieht at the Duuapf works He's
here-here at this hotel. I'll settle
with him.
He had taken a step when the secret
service mar caught him by the arm.
Easy. lad. easy" he cautioned
"Don't lose your head. I've made in
vestigations in Pittsburg. and I'm 60
ing TO question Mt. Pfnckney myself"
With a 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 | ask when you were in Pitts
burg did you question a man named
MarshY'
you mean the dranghtsman? No"
replied Bradley. do you think be
knew anything of itY"
Sommers shook his head in puzzled
fashion.
He may have known something. He
ought to. He was there"
Did you ever see a Mr.. Rhinestrom
about there?' asked Bradley next.
Sommers still looked puzzled.
mo; 1 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 thereT' 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. Sommersy' he said
coldly.
Sommers bowed with equal GOODNESS
as Bradley stepped In between the two
men.
I've 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.
LuShnCy SSScu al mFOiubidiS
start.
"Oh. l see." he said. I'm down.
right sorry. Most unfortunate affair.
indeed. Blu what can | dor"
Bradley smiled pleasantly.
why. answer a few questions. II
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 a smile.
"Of course. with pleasure. But I'm
rather pushed for time. We sail al
most Immediately"
"In that case. I'll begin at once"
he turned to the government agent