"I joined the union because I believed I could be useful to it, and to our employers as well, and that is the purpose that you must have in view."
"You don't mean that you and I are going to be spies and report everything to Mr. Penton, do you? If that's the case, you may count me out."
"Certainly not. You ought to know me better than that. What sort of speech did I make?"
"Say, it was a dandy! I didn't think it was in you. You ought to have seen how those fellows hung on every word. They were sitting forward on the edges of their seats, every man of them."
"Except Cavard and Driscold," laughed Steve. "I rather think they were on the anxious seat. Well, we shall see. But be careful that Cavard does not draw you into an argument that will cause you to lose your temper. I have an idea he will try to do so, unless he thinks better of it and tries some other plan. I believe that man is a crook, Bob Jarvis. I may be doing him a wrong. If so, time will tell. In the meantime, we shall do what we can for the union. I hope Mr. Penton will not lose confidence in us. He may misunderstand our motive. If he does, we shall have to stand it; that's all."
"It may be the means of losing our jobs," suggested Jarvis.
Steve was thoughtful.
"I may have done wrong, but I did what I believed to be best. Out of the union we should not have so much influence with the men. In it we shall be able to do many things for both sides, being loyal to each."
"We're going to try to please everyone—is that it?" grinned Bob.
"If we are able to do it," replied Steve earnestly.