That night found them at Mr. Phillips' home, dressed in their best. Their host was justly proud of his young guests. He introduced them to his family, consisting of his wife and two daughters; and the Iron Boys appeared as much at their ease as though quite used to going out in society. They surprised even Mr. Phillips. Bob Jarvis never had appeared to better advantage, though he had not yet grown a fresh crop of eyebrows since his entanglement with the hang-over at the top of number four. After dinner the boys were invited to the engineer's library, where the blue prints of the new plan lay spread out on a flat-top desk. Steve recognized them at once, and he drew the swift conclusion that their invitation there that evening had to do with the proposed improvements. Cigars were brought out and offered to the boys, which they politely declined, whereat Mr. Phillips nodded approvingly. "There are a few questions I should like to ask you about certain phases of this work," he said sitting down and drawing the blue prints toward him. Steve and Bob stepped up to the desk. Mr. Phillips asked them how they would guard against this or that contingency; how many men could work to advantage, and questions that Steve Rush knew very well the chief engineer could answer better than they possibly could. "He's putting us out on the firing line for some reason," thought the boy. "He is getting at something. I wonder what it is?" Jarvis was beginning to arrive at the same conclusion, for Bob was a shrewd boy, too, and could read between the lines, if the lines were not too close together. Other questions of a similar nature were asked, all of which the boys answered, discussing the work intelligently and to the point. From that the engineer went on to a discussion of the mines where the Iron Boys had been employed before coming to Steelburgh. Little by little he drew out the story of their work and experiences on the iron range in the north country. He became deeply interested, and before the lads realized that they had done so, the story of their career, up to the present, had been told. "Then you both have had experience in managing men?" he asked. "Yes, sir," answered Steve. "I am glad of it, for it makes easier what I wish to do. My invitation to-night was not wholly without purpose." "I am aware of that, sir," smiled Rush. "Oh, you are, eh?" "Yes, sir." "What is my purpose?" "I am sure I don't know. I knew you were drawing us out for some reason. I did wonder what it was." "You are shrewd. Yes, I have been drawing you out, partly because I knew your story was an interesting one, and also because it might have a bearing on what I had in mind." "Yes, sir." "Would you lads consider dropping your mill work for a time?" "What to do, sir?"