Neither lad appeared to have heard him, for the rolling and floundering continued a few seconds longer. All at once Steve got a firm grip on the wrist of his antagonist. The office boy uttered a yell as the wrist was bent backwards. Rush swung him over on his face and sat down on him somewhat out of breath. "Is this--is this Mr. Carrhart, sir?" stammered Steve. "It is. But may I inquire what this remarkable performance means?" "I came to see you, sir." "You go about it in a very peculiar manner. Get up!" "I can't, sir; the boy will want to fight me again." "I will attend to the boy. Get up at once!" Rush rose to his feet. As he had predicted, the office boy made another dash for him, but this Steve avoided by stepping to one side. "Oscar, that will do!" said Mr. Carrhart sternly. "You have done your duty as you saw it. You may leave the room." The office boy obeyed, casting an angry glance at the unruffled countenance of Steve Rush as he closed the door behind him. "Now, what is it you want, young man?" questioned the president. "State your business briefly, for I have no time to waste." "I am looking for a position, sir." Mr. Carrhart was about to make a sharp reply, when, chancing to glance into the face of the lad before him, he saw something there that arrested the words he was about to utter. The boy's face showed an earnestness of purpose, a stubborn determination that led the mining president to modify his tone. "You wish a position?" he asked not unkindly. "Yes, sir." "What position are you looking for?" "I wish to go into the iron mines; I wish to learn the business, sir. I am stronger than I look----" "Yes, I have just had evidence of that fact. But why do you come to me?" "Because you are the head of the mines. Should I not go to the head when I am looking for a position?" "Perhaps you are right at that, my lad. What is your name?" Steve gave his name and his age, also adding that he had completed half his course at the high school in Duluth. "Why did you not continue with your school? You should be in school at your age, rather than going to work." "I should like to be, sir, but circumstances have arisen that make it necessary for me to go to work." "What are those circumstances?" "My father died four weeks ago, and I must work to help support my mother," answered the lad, a slight flush suffusing his cheeks. "Does your mother work?" "She is not able to take a position, sir. She does some sewing, and, with what I shall be able to earn in a little while, we shall get along very nicely." "Hm-m-m!" mused the president. "You are very confident." "Yes, sir. Because I am willing to work." "Have you tried to get a position in town? I should think that would be better for a lad of your age than to work in the mines." "No, sir; I have always wanted to be a miner. I want to start at the bottom and learn the business."