Mr. Clarke was sitting at his desk, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Well, Lewis," he said, "you've taken your time! Sit down. I want to talk to you."
Dan dropped into the chair opposite and waited.
"Is it true that you have been doing most of the new foreman's work for the past month?"
"Well, I've helped him some. You see, being here so long, I know the ropes a bit better than he does."
"That's not the point. I ought to have known sooner that he could not handle the job. I fired him this morning, and we've got to make some temporary arrangement until a new man is installed."
Dan's face grew grave.
"We can manage everything but the finishing room. Some of the girls have been threatening to quit."
"What's the grievance now?"
"Same thing—ventilation. Two more girls fainted there this morning. The air is something terrible."