Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

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24 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY I say, and keep your nerve — for me, if you can't for yourself." "I'll try to, sir." "How long has that fellow been about here ?" "Bradley? About ten days before you landed, I think." Marsh seemed only the more frightened, rather than steadied. "But I kept him from finding out much. He'd been talking to O'Leary and some of the men, but he got nothing from the offices." "He's — seen Smith ?" "Not that I know of, sir. I — I transferred him as you ordered." "Of course! Well, after you had to let him in — what?' "Not much more, I think, Mr. Pinckney." The little man was trying to convince himself. "I kept him off pretty well." "He asked for the Rheinstrum correspondence ?" "Why — yes, sir, he did." • "Did you give it to him?" "No, sir ; I couldn't find it." "Good! What did Bradley do, then?" "Oh, I think he's a sort of a bluff, Mr. Pinckney," replied Marsh, brightening a bit as he recollected. "When I couldn't find it, and no one about the office could tell him anything about it, he pretended to be pleased. Then he poked through all my designs and drawings ; but I had the originals of the Rheinstrum at home, so he never found them. Then what do you suppose he took ?" "What?" "Why, just some blank sheets of paper that were lying about there." "I guess maybe you're right, and he is a bluff, Marsh," said Pinckney, greatly puzzled. "But — you talked with him about the forging of the gun ?" "Yes, sir ; but I only told him, as you told me, that in our opinion the principle of the gun was wrong, and it was bound to burst." "You emphasized that Mr. Durant himself saw the gun into the furnace, ind that Lieutenant Sommers saw it out and approved the record of temperature all the time between?" "Of course, sir." "That was all he got from you?" "Yes." "Good, Marsh ! Then this sleuth, Bradley, can't prove a thing against us, to save his life. Just stick to what you've said, and don't let him frighten you; and we'll be beginning upon the Rheinstrum order within a week, and making you rich at last ! But wait !" Pinckney seemed to recollect something. "If you want to be a rich, free man instead of a convict in prison, Marsh, don't know anything at all about the Rheinstrum gun, either, if he asks you ! Now come on ; Bradley is over at the Durants', waiting to ask just a few more questions before he takes Sommers on to Washington." "He wants me again — this morning?" "What do you suppose I came down here to see you first for?" He almost lifted the little man from his feet, and hurried him down to the waiting motor. The car dashed off, and in a moment Pinckney was pulling Marsh from the tonneau and striking him encouragingly upon the shoulder as he led the little designer into the great house. Mr. Durant, Frances, and Dick were waiting in the big morning room, brightly and cheerfully lighted by the nine-o'clock sunshine which came in through the half-opened curtains. Bradley, the secret-service man, was standing before this little group, and had evidently been addressing them earnestly before the two entered. As he saw the little designer, he nodded to him kindly. Frances and Dick both greeted him, and thanked him for his stumbling congratulations upon their rescue. Mr. Durant crossed over to shake the little man's hand and put him at ease. "You must not think, Marsh." he said kindly, "that either Air. Bradley or Lieutenant Sommers or myself believes that you have been to blame for the disaster with the gun. Mr. Bradley has just been explaining to us the probable connection of this with matters of even graver importance than the gun disaster. It is to help him in clearing up these points that he wishes to question you now." "Yes, Mr. Marsh," Frances added, "I have just been telling Mr. Bradley how many years we have known you, so " "Marsh is all right, Mr. Durant— Frances," Pinckney cut in, almost rudely. "He has merely been a good deal overworked since we went away, and the methods of Mr. Bradley during the last few days were not calculated to help him much. But he is quite prepared to answer whatever you may ask, sir." He faced the secret-service man: "So, if you are ready to " "Please, father — Mr. Bradley," Frances interrupted. "Just a moment before you begin ! I should like to speak with Lieutenant Sommers." "Really, Frances " Pinckney began to object. But the girl had arisen, and, with a glance at Dick, walked to the end of the room. Dick joined her, and they stood in a recess away from the others. . . "Mr. Bradley leaves for Washington immediately after this?" Frances asked him at once. "Yes." "And you go with him?" "His instructions are to bring me with him. The formal inquiry begins at Washington to-morrow." "Not only about your gun, but for the other charges, too?" "Yes." "After that, they will send you back to the San Juan?" Dick laughed. "I'm afraid, as they can't have seen the San Juan, they may not consider that an adequate sentence." "Please don't laugh at me!" pleaded Frances. "Seriously, please, don't you think Mr. Bradley can clear you as he hopes ?" "From what he has told us so far, I don't see how. Do you ?" "I knew you felt so. And so I wanted to tell you that, however it comes out, and whatever the court at Washington says, it cannot make the slightest difference with — with me !" "Miss Durant !" "Oh, please don't, Dick !" "Frances, then — oh, Frances !" "Yes, please, always ! Isn't there too much between us now for anything else to matter? I mean, I want you to know, before you go into this inquiry, however it comes out, there is too much between us for— for that to make any difference." "But — Frances, don't you understand? It may mean disgrace, degradation, dishonor." "That is why I wanted to say to you again that it cannot make any difference to me." "But it must!" protested Dick. "If I am cleared, it is another thing. But if I am not, promise me you will forget me." "You know that I never can — whatever happens. So I ask you now to come back here — whatever happens." "No, I cannot. Besides, they may imprison me."