In the meantime Mr. Penton set an inquiry on foot to locate Spooner and Marvin. The men had applied for work in a neighboring mine, he learned, but had failed to get employment there. Neither man had been seen in those parts since. Mr. Penton decided that they had left the range, and he was thankful for it, as it relieved him of an unpleasant duty. However, that day he made a detailed report to the president of the mining company by letter, giving the boys full credit for what they had discovered. Mr. Penton also made report of the promotion he had given them. This was afterwards heartily endorsed by President Carrhart.
Early the next morning the boys went over the mine with an assistant engineer. He gave them a long talk on tracks, Steve asking many questions as they went along. That afternoon the Iron Boys began their work, having laid out a certain number of levels that were to be visited each day. As Mr. Penton had told them, their new position took them to nearly every part of the mine, from the lowest working level to the tram tracks on the surface and far up on the trestle.
By the time that they had been at their new work for several months, each lad had proved that he was worthy of the confidence placed in him by the general superintendent.
Steve had been figuring on a problem in his department for a long time, and one day he went to the superintendent with it, or rather to learn whether the problem were a problem at all.
"I want to ask, Mr. Penton, if the expense of keeping up your motors that draw the dump cars in the mines is very great."
"I should say it is," was the prompt answer. "You see, they draw very heavy loads. Those cars of ore are not light."
"I am well aware of that. You will remember that I had a load dropped on me once," smiled Steve.
"We wear out, I should say, on an average of six motors a year. That runs into money. And the repairs on them, in the meantime, are very expensive."
"Would any arrangement that would tend to lessen the strain on the motors be of advantage to the company?"