The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills; or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits
CHAPTER X
SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE BOSS
The next day was a repetition of the previous one so far as Steve'sfinding a position was concerned. At every place he was met by one oftwo answers. Either they were not in need of any extra men, or else theywished a letter from the corporation mills, giving the facts of thedischarge of the Iron Boys.
Rush was beginning to think hard. He had discovered that getting on inthe world was not all smooth sailing; still he was not disheartened.
In the meantime Ignatz Brodsky had not been idle. He had gone to hiswork and had stood the abuse of Foley, and occasionally that ofKalinski, though not in the latter's department, without making anyretorts. Ignatz's face was stolid and emotionless.
That evening, however, having recovered from the kick he had received,he went out first in search of Superintendent Keating. The generalsuperintendent, he learned, was in New York, and might return the nextday or he might not.
Disappointed, but still stolid, Ignatz betook himself over much thesame route that he had followed the night before. He did not meetKalinski, however, and after a while went home to supper. Shortly afterfinishing his meal he left the house. The widow Brodsky thought he wasgoing over to see the Iron Boys. Ignatz had no such intention. He keptwalking up and down the streets, keeping a sharp lookout. At last hissearch was rewarded. He espied Kalinski standing on a street corner,talking with another man.
The Polish boy smiled again and started slowly toward Kalinski. But thistime Kalinski saw him coming. The brow of the pit boss wrinkled, thoughhe did not for a moment think the boy would dare come near him after theexperiences of the previous night.
Ignatz kept on coming, just the same, though he was not looking at theboss; rather were his glances fixed reflectively on the pavement. Theboy came to a halt right in front of Kalinski and looked up with aninnocent expression on his face.
"Well, what do you want? Looking for more trouble? Git out of thisbefore I lose my temper and do something to you."
"All liars!" announced Ignatz, with the same calmness as before.
"What!" fairly howled the boss. "You little yaller dog, I'll beat thedaylight out of you. What do you want here?"
"This!" answered the Polish boy, smiting the boss a terrific blow on thenose. It was the same nose and the same spot on the nose that had feltthe fist of Ignatz once before.
Kalinski staggered back under the force of the blow, howling with rageand pain. Ere Brodsky could follow up the advantage thus gained the bosswas upon him.
No one interfered, for Kalinski was a bad man when enraged andbystanders knew he would brook no interference. When finally he backedaway Ignatz's face was a sorry sight. The pit boss had given the boy abrutal beating.
"All, all liars!" he gasped, then turned and staggered off toward home.But not a word could the widow Brodsky obtain from him as to the causeof the disfigurement. Next day Ignatz was not seen at the mill. Heremained at home, moulding his face back into the semblance of itsformer self.
Steve was late that night, as before, but he had fared a little better.He had found a job in a mill for himself and Bob. It was not much of ajob--merely carrying water for the men in the tube mill at fifty cents aday.
The Iron Boy did not agree to accept the proffered employment, but saidthat in case he found nothing better he would report for duty on thefollowing Monday morning if this would be satisfactory. It was, and sothe matter was left.
Jarvis was out on the street again. The bandages were off his hands, buthe still wore one over the upper part of his face. The lad had gone out,hoping to meet Steve and walk home with him. All at once Jarvisdiscovered Brodsky walking ahead of him. As usual the Pole was lookingabout him keenly.
"He is hunting for some one," muttered Bob. "I think I will see what thelittle rascal is up to. I'll bet he's up to some mischief."
Ignatz led Jarvis quite a chase, and it was nearly nine o'clock when thePole halted. Kalinski was just coming out of the post-office. The bossstopped short when he saw Brodsky, and Brodsky stopped short as hecaught sight of the pit boss.
"Hello! I begin to smell a rat," chuckled Bob. "I wonder what he and theboss can have in common?"
Jarvis edged up a little closer. Brodsky and the pit boss were slowlyapproaching each other. Bob was almost trembling with excitement. Thevery air vibrated with trouble.
"I actually believe that little runt is going to pick a fight with thebig fellow. Well, of all the nerve I ever heard of! Why, Kalinski willeat him alive."
Bob waited to see what would happen.
"All liars!" howled Brodsky, both feet leaving the ground as he leapedstraight at the boss. Kalinski's fist grazed the Polish boy's cheek, andthe lad, with a quickness that would not have been thought of him,planted his own fist in the face of Kalinski.
There followed a quick exchange of blows, Brodsky fighting in close withdogged determination. Every time he landed a blow the boy would shout,"All liars!"
This seemed to enrage Kalinski more than anything else, and led him torenewed efforts to down his antagonist. It could end but one way. BobJarvis saw that as he stood clenching and unclenching his hands,muttering to himself: "It's a fair fight; you can't interfere. It's afair fight; you can't interfere!"
The Iron Boy was doing his best to keep out of it, but he wished fromthe bottom of his heart that Kalinski would turn on him, thus giving Boban excuse to even up old scores.
A big crowd had gathered and was urging on the combatants, jeering,shouting in a chorus of discordant yells. Suddenly Ignatz Brodskytoppled over backwards, his arms waving feebly as he fell. He struckthe ground heavily and lay there moaning.
With a shout of triumphant rage Kalinski sprang forward and begankicking the prostrate boy with his heavy boots. The pit boss was besidehimself with rage, for Brodsky had goaded him to the point ofdesperation. The crowd apparently had no inclination to interfere withthis brutal act, for they continued their shouting and jeering.
There was one, however, who did propose to interfere. Such a scene wasmore than Bob Jarvis could witness without taking a hand.
With a roar he hurled himself into the centre of the circle that hadbeen formed about the combatants. A firm hand was laid on the arm of theboss, and ere he knew what was occurring he was thrown flat on his facein the dirty street.
The crowd was not exactly sure whether it approved of this or not, and,deciding that it did not, began to hiss.
"He's a coward!" shouted Bob. "He, a full-grown man, to thrash a boy,then kick him after he is down! I am surprised that you loafers couldstand here and see it done without offering to interfere."
"Look out! He's coming for you!" warned a friendly voice.
But Jarvis did not need the warning. He had been watching the bossnarrowly while scoring the crowd, and he was ready for the next move. Asa matter of fact Bob did not believe Kalinski would fight him. In thishe was wrong, for the Pole's rage blinded his better judgment. Hisbrutal instincts were in full control. Kalinski was on his feet almostinstantly, and with a yell of rage he rushed the Iron Boy.
Jarvis stepped nimbly to one side, tripped the man and once more threwhim on his face.
The crowd jeered. This wasn't fighting. They wanted to see blood flow.Their desires were soon gratified, for no sooner had Kalinski jumped tohis feet again, and made a vicious swing at Jarvis, than the bossreceived a stinging blow on his sore nose from Bob's right, and anotheron his right eye from Bob's left fist.
After that it was give-and-take. Neither man gave ground in theslightest, but it was plain that, while possessed of great muscularforce, the Pole lacked the science of the Iron Boy. When the former didland it jarred Bob Jarvis from head to feet, sometimes sending himstaggering backward, gasping for breath.
But Jarvis was full of pluck. Brodsky, at this juncture, got unsteadilyto his feet and elbowed his way into the circle about the combatants.
"All liars!" he cried, whereat the crowd picked him up bodily and threwhim out over the heads of thos
e at the rear.
By this time Kalinski was getting slower in his movements, and thestrong fists of the Iron Boy were beating a tattoo on the pit boss'sface and ribs. The crowd, seeing that Kalinski was getting the worst ofit, set up yells of disapproval.
"Throw him out! Put him in the river!"
With one common purpose the idlers surged forward. At that moment someone began pushing and elbowing through the crowd. Then Steve Rush strodeinto the ring where the man and the boy were battling for a finish.
Steve had been on his way home from his day's tramp in search of aposition when the shouts of the crowd attracted his attention. Hehurried on to learn what was going on. His surprise was great when hesaw the bandaged head of Bob Jarvis bobbing up and down in the centre ofthe ring.
"Bob's at it again!" groaned Steve. "Will he ever learn to keep out oftrouble?"
Steve quickly noted the sinister attitude of the crowd. He knew that ina moment they would fall upon Jarvis, and it was a foregone conclusionthat the lad would be roughly handled. Perhaps both boys would beroughly treated, but this did not deter Rush from springing to therescue of his companion.
"Stand back!" Steve shouted, as he leaped into the narrowing space aboutthe fighters. "Stand back, every one of you. It's a fair fight. Let themhave it out. I don't know what it is all about, but I know nobody isgoing to interfere unless he wants to fight me!"
"Throw him out!" howled a voice. The cry was quickly taken up by othervoices. Steve Rush was now the object of their disapproval.
"Men, I tell you to stand back! It will be the worse for you if youdon't."
Uttering a yell the idlers rushed the plucky Steve.