The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills

rk. Bob thought the present job was quite good enough, all but the pay; yet he was

n. He had been informed that they were to work on a trick in number seven section. Foley did not know why the change had been made. He believed that, for some reason, the boys had been reduced to the ranks. The only di

y gr

ork! Everybody in

men that were under him. He understood cleaning the cinder pits, however, and he was kept in his place because of the work that h

eckoned

o boys in num

ight?" gri

you are getting at, but I'll have you understand that these young gen

n spoken in all sincerity, b

happy, Mr. Foley. Do t

l be around later in the day

rs to go to work, surveying them from his beady, red eyes; beady because natu

ur name?"

us

ki r

'll be Rush, for you're going to rush if yo

are going to do that concerns you. Will you please put us to work, or have some one

ki bri

Get somebody to

what I wi

ut

k you

e other ki

ke any liberties with it, unless you've

r the moment it looked as though he would fall upon Jarvis an

to work? We'r

do we work?"

pit there?" lee

es

Got your

N

way, returning a few minutes later with two shovels. He handed

and at the same time kindly tell me exact

cinders. Get them together; shovel the cinders out; then if

ited. He is likely to throw a fit an

o the pit, surveyin

t to me, sir. Is it r

A faint cloud of steam was rising from the pit, on w

he drop was not more than two or three feet to the cinder bed, which was

. No sooner had he done so

g up!" he howled. "Help m

Bob really wa

, if it's

. I'm st

light, sitting down on the cinders with arms about his

pit, and crawling into the pit, used the shovel

lothing was burned and the skin of his shins was bl

rcely control himself, but he was de

on purpose?" d

ry for us to get

lazy louts or I'll do

"You'd better not dock me. I'll h

nded Foley, coming up at that moment.

fraid of ho

ointing to his companion's burned trousers. "I call that

r not," grow

again. We are used to taking care of ourselves, and if we think we ar

directed at Kalinski?" qu

at is, not until afterwards, perhap

idea for you men to get to work?" demande

t will not burn the skin from

s up t

e the Honorable Mr. Watski Kalinski w

me," growled Bob, who had been growing an

This he threw into the pit, then climbed down on it. His shovel threw out a quantity of the hot cinders. Kalinski got them full in the face. It had

boss danced a jig for the next minute or so, slapping his chest, pulling his shirt as far fro

u like it? Got a dose of your own hot stuff

face re

nt. I did not know you were there. I tho

s consuming him and the cinders wer

, it was an

ed the boss. "You-yo

ding to reach the plank. Steve hopped out on the opposit

d for. Watski was getting his punishment without the boys having to

bout the pit, making no effort to hide

collar and the seat of the trousers, and, without any apparent effort, tossed the man out of the

ore?" grumbled Bob. "He hasn't had enoug

e. We shall be in trouble the fi

his legs pained him and there were blisters on his feet where the hot cinders and

atski give you

isn't worth bothering with. Let him alone. We cannot afford to have any

over the ed

oth; I'll have you

"Report the other man.

the pit. "I'll rub his nose in the hot slag, I will! I'll show