Bound to be an Electrician/Chapter 12
CHAPTER XII.
A PLOT AGAINST FRANKLIN.
"What's up?"
"Felter is teaching the new fellow a lesson!"
"We don't want him here and we want him to know it!"
"This ain't fair!" shrieked Harry Leclair, as he came limping forward, his shoes once more in their proper places, "He only did what was right. Let him up, you Jackson and Nolan!"
The lame boy forced his way through the crowd to the front. In the meantime Franklin had gotten the best of Felter, and had him down on his back. But Jackson and Nolan were raining blows thick and fast over the young electrician's head and shoulders.
Seeing he could not make the last two named cease their unfair attack, the lame boy was seized with a sudden idea. He caught up his crutch, and without warning struck Jackson and Nolan two blows in quick succession with the shoulder end.
"Oh, murder!" roared the Irish boy, in surprise and pain."Stop that! Do you want to kill me?"
"Get up off him then!" returned Harry. "He did me a good turn and I'm going to stand by him. Get up, quick!"
He struck at Nolan again, and to avoid the crutch the Irish boy was compelled to spring away. Jackson had already retreated and with these two gone Franklin had no difficulty in regaining his feet. Felter rose slowly and painfully, having had the wind knocked completely out of him.
"This is no way to fight," put in one of the workmen from the other shop. "Why don't you go at it man to man?"
"I'm not in favor of fighting," said Franklin. "I was only defending myself. He stole Harry's shoes, and was going to make him walk home barefooted, and I wouldn't allow it."
"You're a good fighter," put in the lame boy, with a grimace. "If I had been you I would have killed him."
Jackson and Nolan wished to have it out with Harry for hitting them with the crutch, but some of the men interfered at this, and the lame boy soon got away untouched, at least for the time being.
Seeing that the men would not allow the others to help him, and being somewhat afraid of Franklin now, Felter did not again attack the young electrician. He muttered something about having to get home and settling it another time, and then gradually moved off, leaving Franklin master of the field.
"I am certainly not going to have an easy time of it in that factory," said Franklin to himself, as he brushed himself off and started for his boarding house, the jeers of half a dozen boys ringing in his ears. "Mr. Brice was right; they are the lowest class of working people, and as long as I refuse to associate with them they will do what they can not only to make it unpleasant, but also to injure me."
On the following morning Franklin went to work as usual. The others said but little to him, but he readily saw that they were but waiting their opportunity. Felter's looks were particularly dark and full of revenge.
Franklin was glad when Saturday night came and he was able to pay a visit to his Uncle Will's home and remain until Sunday night. He found his uncle much improved in health and able to sit up in bed. He was asked how he liked his work, and he replied that it was not just what he desired, but was good enough. He did not mention the quarrels he had had, realizing that this would only worry his relatives without doing any good.
When the young electrician returned to work on Monday morning he found the carpenters and machinists in charge of the shop. Extensive alterations were to be made, and during that time he and his fellow-workmen were to work in a corner of another building belonging to the works, the building which contained nearly all of the heavy machines used in manufacturing the electric fans.
Franklin was not sorry for the change, for he wished to get where he could watch the machines and see how they were handled, especially those which pertained more particularly to electricity.
At noon he struck up an acquaintance with one of the machinists, who was one of the best electricians in the place. This man's name was Darwin, and he saw at once that Franklin was not of the common run of working boys. He questioned Franklin a good deal, and was surprised at the knowledge displayed.
"You ought to be in this department, and not out there boxing motors," said Darwin. "We can use more brains here."
"It is my intention to get here," returned Franklin. "I want to become a thorough electrician."
"Well, stay where you are for the present, and when there is an opening in this department. I'll speak to Mr. Buckman for you," replied Darwin.
Franklin's fellow-workers saw the friendship springing up between the young electrician and Darwin, and it made them more sour than ever.
"He's trying to work his cards to get ahead of us," said Felter to Bob Jackson. "Hang me if I don't wish I could find out some way to get square with him."
"We ought to do something to get him bounced," returned Jackson, and Mike Nolan, who had overheard what was said, nodded approvingly.
"I would rather cripple him, the beggar!" muttered Felter. "I wonder if we can't fix it to have something fall on his foot or knock his arm out of joint, or something like that?"
But this was going to far for Jackson and Nolan. They would have liked it well enough, but did not have the courage to take the risk of such a dastardly proceeding, knowing that if discovered they could be sent to prison for the deed.
"If we get him bounced that will be enough," said Jackson. "He won't find it an easy matter to get another job in the dead of Winter."
"You're right he won't," added Nolan, "especially if he has'nt any recommendation from the firm here."
The three talked the matter over for some time, and finally decided on a plan which they concluded to carry into effect without delay.
Among his possessions Franklin had a highly prized knife, which had been given to him by his cousins on his last birthday. The handle of this affair, which possessed five blades and a file, was of pearl and contained a plate with his full name engraved upon it.
This knife the others in the shop had seen him use on a number of occasions. Once Bob Jackson had tried to borrow it, but Franklin had declined to loan it to the youth, satisfied that he would have considerable trouble in getting it back.
On the day following the talk between Felter, Jackson and Mike Nolan, Franklin, on reaching his boarding house, discovered that his knife was missing.
The young electrician was much worried, for he could remember having used the blade during working hours. He fancied he might have lost it on his way home, and tramped back to the factory through the snow searching for it.
He did not find the knife, and as the factory was locked up he was compelled to return to his boarding house without pursuing his investigations further.
On the following morning Franklin started for work earlier than usual, resolved to devote his spare time to hunting the knife up if it was anywhere around the workshop. The idea that Jackson had stolen it from his pocket had never entered his mind.
When the young electrician entered the main works he saw at a glance that something unusual had happened. A group of men, including Mr, Buckman, were standing around one of the costliest of the machines, talking excitedly.
"It's an outrage!" the superintendent was exclaiming. "An outrage to ruin such a costly machine! I only wish I knew who had done the deed!"
"There is a broken knife here among the cogwheels which has caused the mischief, Mr. Buckman," said one of the workmen, as he brought forth a battered and twisted object. "A common pocketknife—no, quite a fancy one, with a name on the handle."
"Let me see the knife!" cried the superintendent, eagerly. "What's this, Franklin Bell!" he went on as he read the name on the handle. He looked around and espied the young electrician. "Bell, come here and explain this at once!" 
"Bell, come here and explain this at once!" Page 96