The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills

other mills in that vicinity, first having called at the Brodskys to get

rs. Brodsky was greatly worried. So was Steve. He knew that

ee if I can find him. I was going on so

d look. It was quite possible that Ignatz had gone to the mills to work, and in that case Rush would not be able to see him, for the Iron Boy wo

e lad knew all the surgeons and nurses, having become well

gnatz Brodsky?" was his first question o

was the name of the young fellow I

e," remarked one of th

too bad. W

when we brought him her

ad he been hurt?" ques

he had

ow

e said he had been

I see

thought, at first, that he had been injured internally, but I guess he di

m. I will go and tell her that he is all right now,"

ught the boy was deceiving her and that Ignatz had been really seriously hurt even if he were not already dead. Th

ased her wailings and began to berate and threaten Ignatz, making

his way home to help his mother. After a time the Iron Boy left the widow in a much pleasanter frame of mind. She even s

r said he had found the boy. Surely he was not on his way home, or he could not have been at that point. Steve was a shrewd boy and he began to reason the thing out. He

or the Lincoln Iron Works, the n

. "Surely I ought to be able to get a jo

ed went directly to the office and asked to see the superintendent. He was requested to state h

the superintendent

you," was the answer from th

e took a short cut over the hill, finally arriving at the Republic mills four miles away, hot and tired. There he wa

companion. The superintendent looked the boy over critica

ed in the mills?" a

r; a sho

he

orporatio

d you do

and so was my friend. From that we went into the mills to work. We

t depar

in the cinde

g did you work

" answered the Ir

happened t

e disch

hat re

r with design," answered Rush truthfully. "There was not a word of truth in it. If you will give us

earn the steel business, eh? And now you want u

ur expense

oyer verifying what you say and I

o ask it," replied

tances," answered the superintendent, with equal

to the mills, leaving Steve standing there with f

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 tho

I shall be able to find somet

unless he wanted to wait nearly two hours for a steam train to take him around the ba

ent was out of town. The assistant superintendent was in the mills, so the boy sat down to

ed the office. The mills were closing then; that is, the day sh

got into his private offi

s, save that the questions were shot at him at rapid-fire rate. He answered them

ay not. I haven't the time to inquire whether you are or not. Go back and tell your story to

out of the race yet. He did not even consider the advisability of taking a train back to Steelburgh. Instead he

dust, grimy and tired, swung into the vi

aiting for h

said Bob, with evident relief. "I t

w?" interr

the way, Ignatz

has,

es

did he

the last rose of summer did when the cool

all r

he didn't look v

t happened to h

ut, Steve, I guess that horse story wi

s thinking. Had he

dn't show it, but he looked pretty see

red Rush rath

y n

at is, not without a recommen

onorable Mr. W

answered

ation that Watski would give us. It w

ve thoughtfully. "Is Igna

had to go down town on busine

something, Bob," sai

urely

ir. He will only get himself into trouble and make it harder for us. If you see him first,

e more he loved you, and he had sharp teeth, too. So has Brodsky. S

may

bout your expe

ttentively until the story came to

r us, as they say in Russia

ve to tramp up and down the valley all the rest of the summer. It will take

k!" replied B

to have you talk even i