“That is a good idea,” said Ben.
They were so interested in their mutual work till noon, that both for the time being forgot their suspicions and fears.
“I’ll have to ask you to do an errand for me, Ben?” said Mr. Hardy after dinner.
“What is that, father?”
“I need some headless screws of a certain pattern. None of the hardware stores in town keep them. I won’t ask any favors of the Saxton people.”
“No, no, don’t be under any obligations to Mr. Saxton, father.”
“I think you can get the screws from the Diebold works. At any rate, you see my friend, John Earle, the superintendent at Martinsville, and tell him what I want. If he hasn’t got them, he can probably tell you where you can get them.”
Mr. Hardy gave Ben a sample of what he wanted. Ben started on foot for Martinsville. He reached the Diebold plant and was received in a friendly fashion by the superintendent. Mr. Earle asked about his father. He drew enough out of Ben to guess that there was some trouble at the Saxton works. He told Ben to inform his father that he was coming over to Woodville to see him in a day or two.
“As to the screws, we haven’t got the size,” explained the superintendent. “I am sure you can get those at Satterly’s shop, in Auburndale. Our wagon is going there in a few minutes, and you can ride over.”
“Thank you, Mr. Earle,” said Ben, and ten minutes afterward he was posted on the seat of the factory wagon beside the driver. It was six miles to Auburndale. Ben planned to return to Woodville by the railroad.