"I am sorry to see that you are making such a poor return to the company for its kindness to you. It is unfortunate all around. But we cannot have the rules of the tannery broken. Mr. Coddington will, I am sure, agree with me there." "Undoubtedly, Tyler. Any person who is at fault should be punished. In this particular case, however, just who _is_ at fault? If, as the lads say, they have nowhere to go at noon, is the fault wholly theirs if they seek a remedy from their discomfort? Suppose we suspend their sentence until we investigate the conditions and simply caution them not to repeat the offense. Had these empty cases not been left here by some negligent persons seclusion would have been impossible. Somebody beside the boys was to blame. Order the boxes removed and drop the matter." Without another word Mr. Coddington stalked toward the elevator and the men who accompanied him had no choice but to follow. Peter and Nat breathed a sigh of relief. There had been but a hair's breadth between them and a discharge from the tannery! To Peter the danger was not a very real one, but Nat, who was in ignorance of the true facts, was pale with fright. "Whew, Peter! That was a close call," he stammered. "A narrow squeak! But for Mr. Coddington we should both have been fired. I don't know what I should have done if I had lost my place. It was mighty good of him to give us another chance, wasn't it?" "Mr. Coddington is all right, you can bet your life on that!" agreed Peter heartily. "It was lucky, though, that he was here." Still aglow with excitement, the boys flew down over the stairs and took up their work, making no further allusion to the incident. But that night when Peter got home his father called him into the library and motioning to a chair before the open fire, observed dryly: "Your friend Strong had a narrow escape to-day, Peter." "Yes, sir. But for you he would have lost his job." "I'm afraid so," the president nodded. "Since noon I have been thinking the matter over. What Strong said brought things before me in an entirely new light. I don't think I ever realized before some of the conditions at the tanneries." Peter waited. "If it were possible--mind, I do not say it could be done--but if a scheme could be worked out to make a big sort of rest room where the men could go at noon do you think that would obviate the difficulties of my employees? Would it prevent them from converting packing-cases into lunch rooms?" "You mean a big room with tables and chairs where the men could go and eat their lunch, Father?" "Something of the sort. Perhaps there could be magazines and books there, too." "Hurrah! It's a splendid plan. When will you do it, Father?" cried Peter.