Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-01-18
By WINCHEEL SMITH, FREDERIC
THOMDcON ord Dahl ARMSTRON(

The smile had left Bradley's face
when he turned coldly to Pinckney.
Il am not questioning you, Mr..
Pinckney. I may question you shortly,
and / hope when I do you'll be as
eager to answer. Then he turned
back to tine ratified witness. WAS
Smith discharged?"
Il think so," faltered the head
draughtsman. He was drunk, and he
was discharged, because Mr.. Durant
never allows that"
| when was he discharged?"
| II don't remember exactly"
| But he's working in Meadville 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 inefficiency 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 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 ne
not know?
| II heard he was in Meadville," !"
faltered the conspirator under fire.
He looked appealingly 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.
Il don't know, sir" he said at last.
Bradley lifted his eyebrows, sur
prised.
| But you told Lieutenant Sommers
it was going in at o'clock" ne 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 he 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
as soon as guilt could be proved.
| II think 1 did," admitted Marsh at
last
But you don't know?" persisted
Bradley.
Not 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, Marsn?'
I About g."
| And it came out at quarter past
II, so 1t must have gone in between
3 and 4, mustn't it?"
Yes, sir, I suppose; 1 believe it
must sir" faltered the witness pain
fully.
The next question was put like a
shot.
Did you ever invent a gum
| Marsh's mouth dropped open. His
face became chalky. His eyes rolled
about the room piteously, seeking for
aid, but none was there. He saw only
the grim, stern face of Mr.. Durant, the
hard eyes of Pinckney, with a 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 vino questioned him. With a
gasp and gulp he managed to collect
himself.
NO, sir" he said firmly.
| What? You mean to tell me you
never invented gum" demanded
Bradley sternly.
Marsh thought he caught a hint of
disappointment in the tone, and it gave
him courage.
But the disappointment, If there was
any, was hidden promptly by the
sneering smile of the secret service
man as ne said
why, you surprise me, Mr.. Marsh.
Then you don't know Mr.. Rhine
strom?"
NO, sir" he faltered.
Bradley merely smiled.
You've never seen him here, Mr..
Marsh?"
NO, sir" reiterated Marsh more
firmly.
Bradley's next question was still
hurled at the same point
Has he ever been at the works. Mr..
Marsh?"
Marsh looked about again wildly.
Il don't know" he blurted at last.
"Ah, very interesting" smiled Brad
ley. You don't know Mr.. Rhine
don't know whether or not he's ever
been at the works? You've never in
vented a gun yourself, of course. And
the one thing you do know is that Mr.
Rhinestrom is the inventor of the gun
you are in charge of forging. You are
sure of that, aren't you, Mr.. Marsh? ?
Take your time. Don't be in a hurry
with your answer. All we want is the
truth Now, you know Mr. Rhinestrom
Is the inventor of the gun, don't you?'
There was so much satirical contempt
in the way the question was put that
the cold sweat broke out on Marsh
He looked helplessly at Pinckney and
in his hard eyes read desperation. but
not despair Pinckney, crooked though
he might be. still had all the courage
of the really big villain. The sight OF
his courage helped Marsh to falter out
his answer.
Yes, sir"
The next oueStiOn was entirely un-