"Promoted to the grade of foremen?" repeated Steve, scarcely able to believe that what he had heard was not a mistake.
"Yes. Something more than that. You are to be general foremen—shift bosses. The ordinary foreman, as you know, has charge of the shift in one drift only. You boys will have several drifts under your charge. You have had sufficient experience so that I think you will have no difficulty in handling the work. The more ore you get out the better the company will be satisfied. What the company wants is results. The man who can give them results is the man that the company wants to promote to higher positions. You have done well in this direction already. I shall expect you to continue to advance."
"You are very kind. We shall do the best we can, but it is a responsible position for a boy," replied Steve thoughtfully.
"For a mere boy, yes. I look upon you two lads as men. You have proved up to the mark, and you have done the work, assuming the responsibilities of full-grown men."
"What pay do we get?" questioned Bob Jarvis, with an eye to business.
Mr. Penton laughed.
"That is a business-like question. I was wondering if you were going to ask that."
"Of course I am, sir. I wish to know."
"I will tell you. You will receive, beginning with the first of the coming week, one hundred and twenty-five dollars each per month. You should be able to lay up some money out of that."
"Indeed we shall," answered Steve. "It is a fine salary, but I shall do my best to earn it, as I know Bob will."