Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

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isses. Before the furnaces, other men, goggles, protecting their faces with .ields of blue glass, opened the doors, f.erzd in, and closed them quietly again. In front of furnace number two, Jhich Pinckney had designated as that hich contained the Sommers gun, the .ing foreman, Smith, staggered about, >j jiouting crazily and giving vociferous fders. Continually he snatched the shield of lue glass from the man on watch, slung pen the furnace door, and slammed it riut again after a short, leering scruny. Catching at the chain of a travelig crane behind him, he called to his ang to attach it to a slab of steel from urnace number one, and shrieked the :rder to carry it off. Then he turned, aw the three who had entered, and taggered toward them. Frances was about to repeat her exlamation to Pinckney ; but Dick now nticipated her. "That is the foreman you sent for o put in charge of the gun, Mr. Pinckley?" he asked quietly. "Obviously, lieutenant !" "He appears to be rather dangerously Irunk." "Drunk or sober, Mr. Sommers, he's jdie best foreman in America. He was <k little sick when I sent for him this ifternoon — I wished particularly to give ,'ou the best possible man on this job. 5o I gave him something to steady him ap a little. You see, Frances?" The girl looked to Dick to make a ■eply for her. "I should scarcely describe the effect jas steadying, sir," was all the officer .said. "I can't help that." "But you need not leave him in charge." "I have stayed here myself and have kept Marsh here, also, Mr. Sommers, to make sure that everything was going right. Marsh !" he called. "Marsh, Lieutenant Sommers seems to be unsatisfied with things here," he continued, when the little man had come up. "You have been following the furnace temperatures ? Good ! Show them to Mr. Sommers. "They are satisfactory, lieutenant?" he asked finally, as Dick glanced over the sheet which Marsh handed him. "Quite !" The officer closed his lips and turned away. "You are quite satisfied, too, Frances?" Etherington asked. The girl did PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY not have time to reply before Smith had come up. Pinckney turned to him quickly. "Smith, this gentleman is Lieutenant Sommers, from the Philippines, designer of the gun you have there, in number two." "Well, what does he want here?" growled the foreman. "He's come to see his gun, from the finishing furnace into the bath, Smith." "Why? Think I don't know my business? Think he has to come from F'lippines — tell me how to do my work? Who's that with him? The foreman's confused eyes rested upon Frances' figure, disguised under the coarse cape. "Marsh, you'll look after Miss Durant and Lieutenant Sommers for a moment?" said Etherington. "And you both will excuse me, I know, while I take this man away. "See here, now, Smith !" He faced his drunken foreman after pushing him away from the others. "You remember what I told you this afternoon, and — you have the money, haven't you?" "Course I remember, Mr. Pink-inkney." "Then you remember that that man there — that officer from the Philippines who's come to tell us how to do our work — is not to see that gun when it comes out of the furnace. He's not to see it at any cost — you understand?" "Sure, I understand ! At any cost — not !" "He won't, then?" "He won't, if I have to sling him into the furnace !" "Get your gang for taking out the gun, then, Smith ; it'll soon be time." "Take signal whistle, will you, Mr. Pink-eny?" Smith tore the cord from his thick neck with a jerk. "What for?" "I want you — give signal — put gun in bath." "Why?" "I'll be busy then, maybe, seeing that — that tin soldier won't see. See?" "I see, Smith." Pinckney took the whistle. "I'll give the signal, then. Get after your men now. Marsh!" He turned and called the little man away from the others. "What is it, sir?" Marsh came up, shaking a little. "Follow Smith and see that everything is ready, and hurry the hoist when you hear this whistle. But — what's the matter with you?" 25 "Mr. Pinckney, I'm afraid he suspects us !" "What difference does that make? Get that gun into the bath with him here, but not seeing it, and no matter what story he tells afterward we can beat him. No one will listen to his excuses when his gun fails." "Mr. Pinckney — Marsh !" Dick ran up to them. "Will one of you stay with Miss Durant a few moments, please? The gang appear to be getting ready to take out the gun. I want to put on some of those old clothes outside and be with them to see to the tempering when she comes out." "You'll see all there is to see from here, lieutenant," Pinckney replied. "You'll only find yourself in the way down there. I wouldn't make any objections, of course," he explained, "but you've seen yourself the state Smith is in." "That's why I asked to be there myself, Mr. Pinckney. "Look after Miss Durant, please !" He hurried away. "Give the signal now, Mr. Pinckney !" Marsh was agitated. "I tell you a baby could see that the gun's green when she comes out ! Give it while he's away." "No ; we must do it while he's here. But he won't see it— don't worry ! Smith's promised me that." "Smith!" ejaculated the little man distrustfully. "He's in fine shape to give promises. Look ! What's he doing now to Miss Durant?" "Smith, come here !" cried Pinckney, in quick alarm, as he noticed the big, blustering foreman lurching threateningly toward Frances. "What are you up to?" "Aren't you on, Pink-inkeney ?" The drunken man stumbled back against the tall superintendent. "That navy guy'll be back here in a minute," he whispered, in drunken confidence. "The men are all ready and waiting for your whistle. You blow it when he comes, and I'll— see that — don't see nothin' o' that gun !" "But, Smith, you must " "Say, save your breath for that whistle when you see him. Here he comes ! Blow !" He bellowed delightedly as, with the shrill blast of the first signal whistle, there came the quick rush of the gun gang. The great, blazing mouth of Furnace Two swung open. The foreman stumbled forward, trying to follow his gang as the gun was being attached to the hoists.