CHAPTER XVIII
THE VISIT OF THE OFFICIALS
For a week past there had been a great deal of work done in the CousinJack in the way of cleaning up and putting things in the best possibleshape. The mine was to receive visitors. The annual inspection byprominent officials of the company was to be made, and the visitorsmight be looked for now on almost any day.
It was understood, also, that several New York officials were to be inthe party, and every department head in the mines was ordered to leavenothing undone to have all things under his charge in perfect order.
"We are about the only ones whose work won't show," complained Jarvis.
"Why not, Bob?" demanded Steve.
"Why, a track is a track, that's all. It doesn't show all the work wehave put on it. They'll just walk along on our job while they areadmiring the other fellow's work."
"I think you are in error. The officials of these big corporations areall practical men. Most of them have had personal experience; some ofthem have not. I don't know about the New Yorkers, but I know Mr.Carrhart has been all through the mill. He will notice everything; yousee if he doesn't."
Three days after this conversation the visitors arrived. The Iron Boyswere engaged in other parts of the mine and did not know of the arrival.Along in the early afternoon, however, their duties led them to theseventeenth level. Of course they were on opposite sides of the mine,but as it chanced each was heading for the chutes on that level, wheretheir patrol would end. After a time a bobbing candle appeared far downthe level. A moment later another appeared coming from the oppositedirection.
Two young men came swinging along the tracks. Their step was springy andthere was an alertness about them that at once attracted the observingones. These two were Steve Rush and Bob Jarvis. They approached eachother rapidly and waved their hands in greeting.
"Bob, there are the visitors," said Steve in a low tone.
"Oh, that's so; I hadn't noticed them. When did they come in?"
"I do not know. I had not seen them before."
Eight or ten men were assembled on the platform where the tally-boardwas located. The superintendent was holding an earnest conversationwith them, the visitors keeping up a running fire of questions andcomment. They had been through part of the mine and were discussingconditions and proposed improvements.
The boys had matters of their own to discuss, so they gave littleattention to the gathering, so far as the latter observed. But the ladswere interested, just the same.
"I suppose most of those fellows are millionaires," said Bob, indicatingthe group by a jerk of his thumb in their direction.
"They are not fellows, Bob; they are gentlemen," corrected Rush.
"How do you know they are?" came back the quick question.
"It is reasonable to suppose they are. I know one of them is, for I havemet him."
"Who is that?"
"Mr. Carrhart, president of the company."
"They all look like miners to me. Put a shovel in their hands and theywouldn't be at all different from us. But we mustn't be standing heredoing nothing. While we are here, let's take a look at the tracks overthe chutes. There is a rail a little down at the heels. I shall have toreport it as dangerous. Getting a car off here blocks the whole line. Iwonder when that edge broke down. It was all right when I inspected ityesterday."
Steve took out his memorandum book and made a note of the condition ofthe rail for immediate report to the engineering department.
While the boys were thus engaged some of the party stood looking intheir direction.
"Mr. Penton, who are those young men standing over yonder?" asked Mr.Carrhart.
"They are my track inspectors. They are a pair of likely young fellows.I'll wager there isn't a another pair of their age on the range that canequal them."
At this every one of the party turned to look at the Iron Boys, who, allunconscious of the attention they were attracting, were busy with theirwork.
"The chances are they do not even know you gentlemen are here, soattentive are they to their work."
"Who are they, Penton? I am interested in these prodigies," laughed Mr.Carrhart.
"The taller of the two is Robert Jarvis. The other is Steve Rush, afterwhom the Rush Gravity System is named. You will remember, Rush suggestedthe change to the gravity system."
"Steve Rush?" exclaimed the president. "Why, I was going to ask youabout the young man. I wish to talk with him, and the boy Jarvis, also.Rush is my find, you will remember, Penton."
"I was congratulating myself that I was his discoverer," laughed thesuperintendent.
"No, you will remember my sending him up to you with a letter. You knowI saw that he had good material in him. He was a live wire, even then."
"I give way; the honor is yours," answered Mr. Penton.
The party was in great good humor.
"If you can spare your young friends from their duties, for a fewmoments, I should like to speak with them."
"Surely. Rush!"
"Yes, sir."
The lad straightened up, touching his cap immediately.
"Will you step over here, please?"
Steve strode across the tracks.
"Jarvis, you, too."
"Yes, sir."
"How are you, Rush?" exclaimed President Carrhart, stepping forward andextending a cordial hand.
"How do you do, Mr. Carrhart. I am afraid my hand is not shakeable. Itis grimy with red ore."
"We will shake all the same, lad."
They did so, the president holding to Steve's hand as he gazed keenlyinto the manly face of the boy, Steve returning his gaze, respectfullybut steadily.
"I am glad to see you, Rush."
"Thank you, sir. And I want to thank you also for giving me theopportunity that you did. This is my companion, Bob Jarvis."
The superintendent stepped forward at that juncture, presenting the boysto each member of the party in turn. There were vice-presidents,secretaries and directors--more titles than the boys could remember. Totheir surprise these big men greeted them as if they were equals.
"I hear you already have made a record for yourself, Rush," said Mr.Carrhart.
"I don't know about that, sir. I am just beginning to realize that Ihave a lot to learn."
"I hear also that you have had some exciting experiences. You must learnto safeguard yourself, and remember another thing, make your mine safefor your men and you will always get results. You and your friend are incharge of the tracks?"
"Yes, sir."
"I am pleased to see them in such splendid condition. It is almost likeriding on a rock-ballasted railroad, they are so smooth."
Bob threw his shoulders back ever so little as he heard this.
"My, but those fellows must have eyes all around their heads the waythey take things in," muttered Jarvis. "No wonder they are millionaires!They can see what the fellow behind them is doing as well as they canwhat's going on in front. You can't beat that kind of a game."
"I hope he doesn't see that turned rail there over the chute," thoughtRush.
"I noticed only one bad rail in the entire system, the one there by thechute. I see you have caught that, however."
"Well, what do you think of that?" muttered Bob under his breath. "Inever heard anything like it."
"Yes, sir; but that rail has gone bad within the last twenty-four hours.It was in apparently good condition yesterday. Perhaps I did not examineit closely enough on my last inspection, though."
"No; you can't avoid those things now and then. There might have been adefect in the steel, a blow hole or something of the sort. The principalthing is not to let them get away from you. Catch the deterioration intime, before it causes more trouble--that is all we can expect of you.Gentlemen, this is the young man who invented our gravity system.Perhaps you heard the superintendent speak of it just now. And, let metell you, he will bear watching. One of these days, if you do not keepyour eyes open, he is likely to be found sitting in the chair of o
ne ofthe other of you, either in Duluth, or Pittsburgh, or New York."
The gentlemen joined in Mr. Carrhart's laugh, much to Steve'sembarrassment, though one would have never known, by looking at him,that he was experiencing any such emotion.
"You are doing well, very well; but do not be in too big a hurry anddon't get a swelled head. It is fatal to progress."
"No, sir. If it does not get smashed, I am sure I shall be able to keepit from swelling," replied Steve, with a faint smile, bringing a laughfrom the assembled company.
"Where did that accident occur?" asked the president, turning to Mr.Penton.
"Right where Mr. Gary is standing now."
The gentleman referred to, a vice-president of the company, promptlystepped back, glancing at the floor almost apprehensively. This broughtanother laugh from the visitors.
"Come here, gentlemen," said Mr. Carrhart, "and I will show you wherethis young man fell in. I do not think we should be alive now had webeen through that experience."
The president threw open the door leading into the skip shaft. Theothers had stepped up to him, but as the skips thundered past them,leaping for the surface, faintly outlined monsters as they shot by, themembers of the party instinctively drew back, casting wondering glancesat the keen-faced boy who stood calmly, almost indifferently, lookinginto the shaft.
Mr. Carrhart was explaining to them how the accident had occurred.
"Excuse me," said Mr. Cary. "I think I should prefer to be run over by atouring car on Broadway."
"And so should I," chorused the others, with the exception of Mr.Carrhart, who smiled grimly.
A lunch had been prepared for the guests and they were to eat in themine, on the platform by the tally-boards and the chutes. Tables werebeing set, and by the time the visitors had turned away from the shaftopening they were invited to be seated on the benches drawn up for thepurpose.
Steve and Bob stood talking with Mr. Carrhart, the president asking manyquestions.
"Come, Carrhart," called one of the others.
"I will be with you in a moment. Don't wait for me. Rush, how would youlike to come to headquarters at the end of your year in the mines?"
"You mean to take a position there?"
"Yes."
The lad reflected for a moment.
"Would you advise me to do that, sir?" questioned Rush, looking Mr.Carrhart squarely in the eye.
"So you are putting it up to me, are you, you young rascal?" laughed thepresident.
"You know best, sir."
"The question is, would you like to come into the offices?"
"I am afraid I should not be worth much there. I think, sir, that I likethe activity of this life better, so long as you have asked me. It is arough, hard life, but I am happy here and I hope to learn the businessso well that in time I shall be fit for a higher position."
"I don't think there is any doubt about that, my lad. By all meansremain here. I shall have an eye in your direction, as I have had eversince I sent you up here. Good afternoon, boys; the gentlemen arewaiting for me."
While this conversation was in progress an Italian was making his waydown level seventeen. Over his back he carried a bag, the ends of which,fashioned into a loop, had been fastened in front of him, passing aroundhis neck. The fellow was plodding half sleepily along, his bootsslopping in the water beside the track as he staggered under his heavyburden.
When near the chute a man suddenly appeared behind him, paused aninstant, then walked swiftly away. A few seconds more and the Italianappeared passing the chute.
"Look!" exclaimed Bob. "Great goodness! Look at that!"
Steve Rush did look. One look was enough. With a sudden exclamation hesprang for the slow-moving Italian, leaping the chutes at the risk ofhis life. The lad knew that the lives of every man there were in peril.By quick work only could he save them, and perhaps not then.