The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills; or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder PitsMears, James R.
Philosophy
The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills; or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits
Mears, James R.
Steel industry and trade -- Juvenile fiction
"You are mistaken. I did nothing of the sort," answered Rush, his face
flushing under his effort at self-control.
"You did!"
"Be careful," warned Rush.
"You know what Brodsky would say were he here?" spoke up Jarvis,
thrusting his chin close to the face of the Pole. "He would say 'liar!'
and I reckon he wouldn't be far from the truth at that."
"Look here, what about this thing? What are you getting at, Jarvis?"
demanded Pig-Iron.
"This is the fellow who got us into trouble the other time and he is
trying to get Steve in again. If he was the man driving home the dolly,
whatever he did was done on purpose. Did he put Steve's life in danger?"
"Nearly killed him. So you're the duffer, are you?" growled the melter.
"Git out of this!"
Pig-Iron's voice grew to a roar. He made one leap toward the surly-faced
Pole, planting a ponderous fist squarely between Kalinski's eyes.
"Git up!"
Kalinski did not rise, for the reason that he could not. Pig-Iron jerked
the fellow to his feet, then knocked him clear across the platform.
"Don't hurt him. He has been punished enough," cried Steve.
"It would serve the brute right if I killed him," roared the melter.
Kalinski moaned, stirred, then got to his feet dizzily.
"I'll have you put out of the yards for this," he growled, turning
slowly away.
Pig-Iron's right foot shot out. It caught the Pole fairly, lifting the
fellow clear of the platform, hurling him headlong to the ground ten
feet below.
"There, I guess that will hold him steady for a while. Don't you ever be
caught around these furnaces again, unless you want me to finish the
job," shouted the boss.
Steve's face wore a serious expression. Bob was grinning.
"I wish Ignatz could have been here to see that," Jarvis said. "It was
worth being blown off the roof to see. Say, Mr. Peel, if you ever have
occasion to lambaste Watski again, just call to me. I want to see the
fun. Wouldn't miss it for anything."
"All hands to number three," commanded the melter. "We're losing time.
Daylight will be here almost before we know it now. We have lost one
furnace full and we don't want to repeat the performance."
A few minutes later a cast was being made from number three. This time
Bob worked on the gutters while Steve continued at his post as
monkey-man, toiling in the burning heat, with parched, cracking lips and
burning cheeks. Morning found all hands ready for home and bed.
"I wish I knew whether it would be right to see the superintendent,"
said Steve, as he was walking along with Mr. Peel on the way out.
"What for?"
"I think I have an idea that will perhaps make a great improvement in
the furnace end of the business."
Pig-Iron laughed.
"Boy, there's bigger heads than yours that have been working on all the
problems for a long time. What they haven't thought of you never would.
But, if you think you've got an idea in your head, just go see the
super, and get it off your mind. I know how you feel."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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