"Is that all?" demanded Mr. Keating, in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, it is all I can think of just now."
"Hm-m! A desperate pair, eh? McNaughton, I thought you were a better judge of human nature than that."
"I mean, with all due respect to you, that I don't believe a word of this. What did the boys say--what excuse did they offer?"
"Tell me exactly what Foley and Kalinski said in making their charges."
Mr. McNaughton did so. There was a slight flush on his cheeks, brought there by the sharp answers of the general superintendent.
As he finished, Ignatz suddenly came to life again.
"All lies!" he exclaimed, waving his arms over his head, after which he subsided.
"That will do, Brodsky!" commanded Mr. Keating sternly, while his division superintendent flushed violently. "There is something more to this affair than you seem to have learned. These boys came to me with the highest recommendations from President Carrhart. They held responsible positions in the mines and they came here to learn the steel business after having followed the ore all the way down. There is some mistake; depend upon that."
"I do not think there is any mistake, sir. I know a bad boy or a bad man when I see him. These boys are the limit. Why, sir, I hear they made an attack on Kalinski on the street last night, beating him nearly to death."
"Young man, do you know where Rush and Jarvis are?"
"Boys go work in Stevens' mills by Monday," volunteered the Pole.
"Then do so. You need not say what I want of them. Simply that they are wanted at the office of the superintendent immediately."
Ignatz was out of the office on the run. He burst into the house, waving his arms.
"Come by superintendent, quick!" he shouted, dancing about excitedly.
"Yes, what does he want with us?" questioned Jarvis, gazing with suspicion upon the boy.
"Yes, superintendent him wait by the office."
"I guess it is all right, Bob. Our friend has given himself away. I shouldn't be surprised, however, if Mr. Keating were sending for us to express his disappointment at our failure to make good. When did he return from his trip, Ignatz?"
"You seem pretty well posted," laughed Rush, bending a keen glance on the excited face of the boy. "Very well; we will go with you, although I rather dislike to do it. It seems as though we were begging to be taken back, whereas we know that such is not the case."