When Ignatz let go his fist the other man was caught wholly off his guard. He had no time to raise his own fists in defense, though he was just preparing to administer a kick to the boy who had involved him in an argument. Kalinski struck the ground sideways. The pit boss was on his feet in a few seconds, uttering a roar of rage. Ignatz calmly knocked him down again, this time the blood spurting from the boss's nose in a tiny crimson stream. The next time Watski came up there was blood in his eyes, as well as on his face and nose. Ignatz knew full well that, unless he turned and ran, the tables would be quickly turned on him, for on equal ground he was no match for the brawny pit boss. "You loafer! You----" Watski made a rush for the boy, which Ignatz dodged clumsily, hitting Kalinski in the side as the latter passed him. "All liars!" taunted Brodsky. Kalinski wheeled sharply. Brodsky was off his balance, but his fists were up ready to defend himself. Yet he was not prepared for the tactics adopted by the unscrupulous pit boss. Watski suddenly let go a vicious kick. It caught Ignatz in the abdomen, doubling the boy up and sending him moaning to the ground, after which Watski started away on the run. CHAPTER IX STEVE MEETS WITH DISAPPOINTMENT Early on the following morning Steve Rush started out with a list of the other mills in that vicinity, first having called at the Brodskys to get the names of the other foremen that Ignatz had promised to procure for him. Ignatz was not at home. He had not been home all night and Mrs. Brodsky was greatly worried. So was Steve. He knew that the boy had intended to go directly home and help his mother. "I'll tell you what I will do. I will see if I can find him. I was going on some matters of my own, but they can wait." Mrs. Brodsky was profuse in her thanks as Steve started away to look for the missing boy. Outside, the Iron Boy halted, wondering where he should look. It was quite possible that Ignatz had gone to the mills to work, and in that case Rush would not be able to see him, for the Iron Boy would not be allowed to enter the yards unless he did so secretly, for the guard would stop him now that his name was not on the list of employés. Steve thought of the hospital. He hurried there at once. The lad knew all the surgeons and nurses, having become well acquainted with them while he was in the accident department. "Have you seen anything of a boy named Ignatz Brodsky?" was his first question on meeting one of the ambulance surgeons. "Brodsky? Brodsky? Seems to me that was the name of the young fellow I picked up in the street last night." "Yes; that was the name," remarked one of the young doctors present. "Oh, that's too bad. Was he hurt?" "Yes, he was unconscious when we brought him here in the ambulance, but----" "What was the matter--had he been hurt?" questioned Rush excitedly. "Yes, he had been----" "How?" "When he woke up he said he had been kicked by a horse."