The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills; or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits

  CHAPTER XXII

  DIRECTORS GET A SHOCK

  On the following morning the plans of the furnaces were taken to theoffice of the general superintendent, where he and the chief engineerwent into earnest consultation. The result of the conversation was thatdraughtsmen were called in, and the plan made as clear to them aspossible, so that they might prepare rough drawings of the proposedchange.

  These rough drawings were submitted late that afternoon, and Rush wassent for to report at the superintendent's office. Together the threewent over the plans in detail.

  "Have you anything to suggest?" asked the engineer, after explaining thedrawings.

  Steve had some slight changes to suggest, but in the main his ideas hadbeen fairly well followed out by the draughtsmen. He did suggest,however, that the action should be not hasty; that perhaps defects woulddevelop if they should take more time for consideration.

  Both officials agreed that this was wise, and besides it was thoughtbest to lay the whole matter before the directors for their approval ordisapproval.

  A week passed, during which time many changes were made and new drawingsand blueprints prepared. Steve had gone back to his work at the furnace,where he and Bob worked faithfully, becoming more and more familiar withthe particular branch of the steel industry with which they wereconnected. The meeting of the directors was to take place at the end ofthat week, and Mr. Keating requested Steve to be present. This Steve didnot wish to do. It seemed to him like crowding himself on the attentionof the president of the steel company, as well as the other officialswho would be present.

  The superintendent, seeing how reluctant the boy was to attend themeeting, withdrew his request, as there was no real necessity forSteve's being there. Mr. Keating had hoped to do just what Rush did notwish him to--call the attention of the officials sharply to the IronBoy.

  "You are too modest, young man," said Mr. Keating with a laugh. "But Ishall see that you lose nothing by being so. I am going to tell thedirectors plainly that you are wholly responsible for the plan, of whichnone of us ever had thought, and I am going to suggest that you beappointed to a place worth while."

  "Not until I have earned it," answered Steve with emphasis.

  "It strikes me that you have already earned promotion, young man."

  "I do not mean it in that way, I mean that I do not wish promotion untilI have passed through all the successive stages and learned the steelbusiness from the bottom to the top. I expect I shall be about ready todie by that time," added the boy, with a faint smile. "There is a greatdeal more to learn that I had the least idea of."

  "You are making rapid progress, I must say."

  "If you wish to transfer me to some other department on the first of themonth I shall appreciate the favor. I am, to a certain extent, familiarwith the furnaces and I want to keep moving, sir."

  "It shall be done. I had intended to do so without your request. I amglad, however, to have you make even a small request of me."

  The meeting of the directors was a lengthy one. Their interest wasaroused at once when the chief engineer rose and told them of the plansfor utilizing the waste gas from the furnace stoves. He was assailed byquestions from all sides. The directors were progressive men, and theyquickly realized the value of the suggestion if it could be applied.

  The question of the cost was taken up and this Mr. Phillips had figureddown to the minutest detail. He was enabled to tell them that, barringaccidents, the cost of the construction and material would reach acertain figure.

  After listening, the directors adopted the suggestions entire. One ofthem rose and proposed a vote of thanks to the chief engineer and to thesuperintendent.

  Mr. Keating was on his feet at once.

  "Gentlemen, while we appreciate your kindness it would be unfair for Mr.Phillips and myself to assume the credit for the plans you have passedupon this afternoon. Mr. Phillips will verify what I say when I tell youthat the suggestion did not come from us. Frankly, we had never thoughtof it; perhaps never should have thought of it. The credit belongs tosome one else."

  "Who is he?" asked one of the directors.

  "A young apprentice in the mills. His name is Rush, Stephen Rush. Thewhole idea is his own almost exactly as has been adopted by yourselves.He is a furnace man at number four, he and his friend, a boy namedJarvis, also a remarkable young man."

  "Then we must do something for this young fellow. His suggestion is agood one. Do you think he realizes how valuable it is?"

  "Oh, yes," answered Mr. Keating with a smile. "He was well aware ofthat before he made the suggestion. It was its value to the mills thatled him to offer it."

  "How much does he want?" questioned the director.

  "Nothing, so far as I know. He is not that kind."

  "Then I will propose," said the director rather pompously, "that we makethe young gentleman a present of fifty dollars in gold. That ought to bea whole lot of money for him."

  "Oughtn't we to make it more than that?" asked another of the board. "Itseems like a rather small sum for the service rendered, seeing that weshall save thousands of dollars a year by the process."

  "No; it is a great plenty. That's the way to spoil these young fellows.They get an exaggerated idea of their importance."

  "I beg your pardon; these boys do not," interrupted the generalsuperintendent, though it was not his place to interfere. "It will takemore than fifty dollars in gold to spoil either of them."

  "It's enough. It is a very fine present, and the boy will be delightedwith it, you see if he isn't."

  The directors voted to make Steve Rush a present as proposed by themember of the board who had fixed the amount. Mr. Keating glancedsignificantly at the chief engineer, and the chief engineer glancedsignificantly at the superintendent.

  It was decided that the work should be begun at once. All the materialfor the purpose was in stock in the mills, save the cement for theconcrete abutment out in the middle of the river. It was necessary toconstruct this to hold up the heavy pipe that was to convey the gasacross the river to operate the gas engines.

  Practically all of the further details were left to Mr. Keating and Mr.Phillips, for the two men possessed the entire confidence of the board,as was naturally the case. They would not have been in their responsiblepositions had they not been tried and true men.

  The superintendent was ordered to hand Steve Rush the money as voted bythe board, and for the purpose of carrying out his orders Mr. Keatingsummoned Steve to the office after the board meeting.

  The lad reported. He was called in to the private office before all thedirectors had left. The president of the corporation was there, thesecretary and two directors. They looked at the manly young fellow withmore than ordinary interest. Mr. Keating introduced Steve to them.

  "What, that young gentleman a furnace hand? Impossible!" exclaimed thepresident. "Why, he appears like a man of culture and education. Iwonder how he will take the fifty dollar proposition?"

  He was soon to learn. Mr. Keating rose and proceeded to express thethanks of the board of directors for Steve Rush's great service to thecompany, to all of which the boy listened attentively, but withoutemotion, looking the superintendent steadily in the eyes.

  "I am instructed by the board, Rush, to ask you to accept a slight tokenof their appreciation. Here are fifty dollars in gold that the board hasvoted to you. I hope you will take it in the same spirit in which it isoffered."

  Steve never knew whether the superintendent meant to be sarcastic ornot, but the boy was inclined to think not under the circumstances. Rushdrew himself up, his shoulders squared back a little further than wastheir wont, while a faint color suffused his cheeks.

  "I thank you, gentlemen, but I cannot accept it."

  "Not accept it?" demanded the secretary. "Perhaps it is not enough tosuit you, sir?"

  There was sarcasm in the tone of the secretary, certainly. Hisassociates gave him a glance of disapproval. Steve turned toward himwith the same steady gaze that he
had fixed on the superintendent duringthe latter's remarks.

  "Sir, were I the kind of man who was looking for that sort of reward,fifty dollars certainly would be considered inadequate when oneconsiders that the new plan will save your company thousands ofdollars."

  The directors started back in surprise. Such words as these, from anemploye, were unusual to say the least.

  "Then--then you want more money, eh?" almost shouted the secretary. "Sothat's where the shoe pinches, is it?"

  "No, sir; the shoe doesn't pinch at all. I am paid by this company formy services, paid the same as my fellow-workers are paid. If, in thecourse of my employment, I am able to make any improvements or tosuggest improvements that will better the service, I consider that suchsuggestions or improvements are wholly the property of my employer. I amneither entitled to nor wish additional pay for them. Believe me,gentlemen, I should not be backward about asking for what I thoughtrightfully belonged to me. I hope none of you will misunderstand me. MayI retire, sir?" he added, turning questioningly to Mr. Keating.

  The superintendent nodded. Steve's bold stand had frustrated Mr.Keating as well as the others. For a few seconds after Rush's departureno one spoke; then, all at once the president burst out laughing.

  "That's the time you met your match, I am thinking, Conkling."

  "An impudent young rascal!" exploded the secretary. "To think he woulddare stand there and insult us in that fashion. It was the mostoutrageous thing I ever heard of."

  "Wait; hold on, Conkling," protested the president.

  "I demand his discharge. We don't want a man like that in our employ."

  "Now don't get excited. Are we going to let a monkey-man from furnacefour involve this board in a fight?" The president's eyes twinkledmerrily. He was enjoying the situation.

  "I--I don't care; he must be discharged."

  "On the contrary, Conkling, he will stay. That young man is just thekind of man we want here."

  The superintendent spoke with considerable emphasis.

  "What he says is true, Conkling, so far as the fifty dollars isconcerned," continued the president. "Had I known what sort of boy wehad to deal with I certainly should have insisted on your voting himmore money or else none at all."

  "He would not have accepted it under the circumstances," interrupted Mr.Keating.

  "No; that is quite evident, and I respect him for his position. You mustadmit, gentlemen, that Rush's viewpoint is somewhat unusual these days.How much is he earning, Keating?"

  "His wages are a dollar a day."

  "Then promote him at once."

  "I have offered to, but he doesn't want it. He is working his way up,and desires to follow the same course that any one does in going throughthe mills. Mr. Carrhart is responsible for his being here. He takes avery keen interest in both boys."

  "Oh, he does, eh?"

  "Yes, sir. The young men are not in want. Each of them own severalthousand dollars worth of stock in this company."

  "What?" almost shrieked the secretary who had not yet recovered hisequilibrium.

  The president laughed uproariously.

  "This is too good. Here we've been voting a paltry fifty dollars to aman who is practically entitled to call us to account for so doing. Weare his employes as much as he is ours. This is too good! I shall haveto tell that story at the club," and the president indulged in anotherburst of laughter.

  No one enjoyed the discomfiture of the secretary more than Mr. Keatingand Mr. Phillips. The faces of both men bore smiles that they wereunable to hide. The directors left soon after that. In going out, thepresident approached the superintendent.

  "Keating, I hope you will look out for that young man."

  "You may depend upon my doing so. I already have taken a great interestin both of them."

  "I suppose I ought to order you to dismiss him, for if we men don't lookout he'll be grabbing our own jobs some of these days."

  The president went away, chuckling at his own witticism. After they hadgone the two dignified men, namely, Superintendent Keating and ChiefEngineer Phillips leaned back in their chairs and indulged in a goodlaugh at the directors' expense.