"I suppose I'm in for it," thought the young lumberman dismally.
He found the lumber merchant seated at the window, reading a lumber journal as before. When Ulmer Balasco saw who his visitor was his face darkened a trifle.
"So you've come to report at last, eh?" he said abruptly. "What have you got to say for yourself, young man?"
"I didn't know you wanted to see me until an hour ago," answered Owen. "Up to to-day I haven't felt able to go to work."
"I suppose not—by the looks of you. But, come, what have you to say for yourself? Don't you know that that accident has cost this company a neat penny?"
"I'm sorry for that, Mr. Balasco."
"I am told that you and Bradford fastened the chains that gave way."
"We did; and we fastened them exactly as all the other chains were fastened."
"Quite likely," sneered the lumber merchant. "If they had been properly fastened they would have held. We have never had an accident of that sort here before."
"The chain was rather rusty. I haven't seen it since the accident. Did the links give way, or was it the fastening alone?"