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 ma-
