When the contractor returned to his drift he was more subdued than any of his regular shift had ever before seen him. They could not understand the sudden change. There was one there, however, who did understand. That one was Bob Jarvis. Bob was leaning against the "shore" just outside of the vein the men were working. He was doing nothing in particular. Some moments passed before Spooner discovered this. "Get in there, you, before I shove you in! Get hold of a shovel! What do you think I'm paying you for? What are you trying to do--hold up the wall? The lagging will do that without your help. Get to work." "I am working," answered Bob coolly, making no effort to obey the order of the contractor. "You are working, eh?" "Yes." "May I inquire what you are working at?" "Yes, I'm working for the company. My particular business at this moment is watching you." "Watching me?" "Yes, sir; I am here to check you up. I am not working for you to-day. As I said, I am working for the company. Don't let me disturb you, sir. I'll try not to get in the way." "Do you know why you are doing this?" "Yes; because I am ordered to do so." "Is that all you know?" "It may be, and then again it may not be." With a growl, Spooner turned and began to abuse his men, while Bob remained leaning against the wall, checking each car as it was filled. In the meantime, when Marvin returned to his station on the level below, he stepped to the tally-board and relieved the man who had been placed there to act during the regular man's absence. As Marvin was looking over the boards Steve stepped up, touching him on the shoulder. The tally-man's face flushed angrily. "What do you want?" "Merely to say to you that I have had orders to check you up, to see that you check every car properly." "I won't stand it. I'll----" Steve shrugged his shoulders. "That is a matter with which I have no concern. You will have to fight that out with the superintendent. I shall obey my orders and it will be better for you, I should imagine, to submit without trying to make matters uncomfortable for me. I shall do what I have been told to do, just the same. When a train draws up you will plug only when you see that I am looking at the board, please. I'll dump the cars after you have done that and I shall know if you have moved the plugs when I am not looking." Marvin's face twitched nervously, but he made no reply. There was nothing of triumph in Steve's attitude. The lad was attending to business to the best of his ability. He discovered, after a time, that Marvin was watching him narrowly. As he watched, the tally-man's face grew blacker and blacker. "I wonder if he suspects?" thought Rush.