The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills Part 16

"In what department?"

"We started in the cinder pits, sir."

"Hm-m! How long did you work in the pits?"

"Not quite a day," answered the Iron Boy, flushing.

"Oh! What happened to you then?"

"We were discharged."

"For what reason?"

"Because an untruthful pit boss accused us of blowing up a cinder pit, either through carelessness or with design," answered Rush truthfully.

"There was not a word of truth in it. If you will give us a place we will show you that we are all right, and can be trusted to do our work quickly and well."

"So you tried to blow up the mill in order to learn the steel business, eh? And now you want us to give you a chance to learn at our expense?"

"Not at your expense; no, sir."

"Bring me a letter from your employer verifying what you say and I will see what we can do for you."

"I wouldn't care to ask it," replied the boy promptly.

"Nor would I care to take you, under the circ.u.mstances," answered the superintendent, with equal promptness. "Good day. I have no time to waste."

The executive hurried out of the office on his way to the mills, leaving Steve standing there with flushed face, uncertain just how he ought to proceed.

Some of the men standing about were grinning at the boy's discomfiture.

Rush turned on his heel and left the office, fearing to trust himself, for fear he might say something unpleasant. He walked proudly away, not stopping until he was well out of the mill settlement. Then he sat down on a rock and thought matters over. This getting a job, after one had been discharged, was not the simple matter that he had thought it. The situation was getting serious.

"But there are others. Surely, I shall be able to find something to do in one of the mills."

Rush studied his list, and decided to visit the Grey works next. That meant a tramp, unless he wanted to wait nearly two hours for a steam train to take him around the base of the mountains, so he set out on foot again, for a straightaway five-mile tramp.

It was late in the afternoon when Steve reached the place. He learned that the superintendent was out of town. The a.s.sistant superintendent was in the mills, so the boy sat down to wait for him. Hours pa.s.sed, but still the Iron Boy sat reading a paper that he had found.

Shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon the a.s.sistant entered the office. The mills were closing then; that is, the day shift was coming off and the a.s.sistant was in a hurry to get home.

Steve caught him before he got into his private office and stated his business.

Very much the same conversation ensued as had been the case at the Republic mills, save that the questions were shot at him at rapid-fire rate. He answered them fully as promptly, so that but a few minutes were consumed in the conversation.

"We have no place for you," answered the a.s.sistant. "You may be telling the truth, and you may not. I haven't the time to inquire whether you are or not. Go back and tell your story to your own superintendent, and if you are any good he will put you to work again. That's all."

Once more Rush walked from a mill office beaten, although he did not realize his defeat. He was tired, though not out of the race yet. He did not even consider the advisability of taking a train back to Steelburgh.

Instead he started out bravely at a swinging gait. A few miles more or less was nothing to this strong-limbed, athletic lad.

It was after dark when Rush, covered with dust, grimy and tired, swung into the village and strode to their boarding place.

Jarvis was waiting for him anxiously.

"Well, thank goodness you are back!" said Bob, with evident relief. "I thought something had happened to you."

"What's new?" interrupted Rush.

"Nothing. Oh, by the way, Ignatz has been here."

"He has, eh?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing much, but he looked as I imagine the last rose of summer did when the cool nights came along in the fall," laughed Bob.

"Is he all right?"

"No; I told you he didn't look very scrumptious."

"Did he say what happened to him last night?"

"Yes, said he got kicked by a horse. But, Steve, I guess that horse story will bear looking into," laughed Jarvis.

"That is what I was thinking. Had he been in a fight?"

"I shouldn't be surprised. His face didn't show it, but he looked pretty seedy. How many jobs did you get to-day?"

"None," answered Rush rather dolefully.

"Why not?"

"They didn't want us, Bob; that is, not without a recommendation from our last employer."

"Meaning the Honorable Mr. Watski Kalinski?"

"Exactly," answered Rush dryly.

"I should enjoy reading the recommendation that Watski would give us. It wouldn't be worth much, would it, now?"

"I guess not," agreed Steve thoughtfully. "Is Ignatz coming in this evening?"

"He said he might, though he had to go down town on business, but he wouldn't say what."

"That rascal is up to something, Bob," said Steve, with emphasis.

"He surely is."