Steve never knew whether the superintendent meant to be sarcastic or not, but the boy was inclined to think not under the circumstances. Rush drew himself up, his shoulders squared back a little further than was their wont, while a faint color suffused his cheeks. "I thank you, gentlemen, but I cannot accept it." "Not accept it?" demanded the secretary. "Perhaps it is not enough to suit you, sir?" There was sarcasm in the tone of the secretary, certainly. His associates gave him a glance of disapproval. Steve turned toward him with the same steady gaze that he had fixed on the superintendent during the latter's remarks. "Sir, were I the kind of man who was looking for that sort of reward, fifty dollars certainly would be considered inadequate when one considers that the new plan will save your company thousands of dollars." The directors started back in surprise. Such words as these, from an employé, were unusual to say the least. "Then--then you want more money, eh?" almost shouted the secretary. "So that's where the shoe pinches, is it?" "No, sir; the shoe doesn't pinch at all. I am paid by this company for my services, paid the same as my fellow-workers are paid. If, in the course of my employment, I am able to make any improvements or to suggest improvements that will better the service, I consider that such suggestions or improvements are wholly the property of my employer. I am neither entitled to nor wish additional pay for them. Believe me, gentlemen, I should not be backward about asking for what I thought rightfully belonged to me. I hope none of you will misunderstand me. May I retire, sir?" he added, turning questioningly to Mr. Keating. The superintendent nodded. Steve's bold stand had frustrated Mr. Keating as well as the others. For a few seconds after Rush's departure no one spoke; then, all at once the president burst out laughing. "That's the time you met your match, I am thinking, Conkling." "An impudent young rascal!" exploded the secretary. "To think he would dare stand there and insult us in that fashion. It was the most outrageous thing I ever heard of." "Wait; hold on, Conkling," protested the president. "I demand his discharge. We don't want a man like that in our employ." "Now don't get excited. Are we going to let a monkey-man from furnace four involve this board in a fight?" The president's eyes twinkled merrily. He was enjoying the situation. "I--I don't care; he must be discharged." "On the contrary, Conkling, he will stay. That young man is just the kind of man we want here." The superintendent spoke with considerable emphasis. "What he says is true, Conkling, so far as the fifty dollars is concerned," continued the president. "Had I known what sort of boy we had to deal with I certainly should have insisted on your voting him more money or else none at all." "He would not have accepted it under the circumstances," interrupted Mr. Keating.