BOB JARVIS waited a long time at the chutes for his companion, but Steve did not return. This did not cause Bob any particular worry, as Steve no doubt had been called to some other part of the mine. So Bob deciding to wait no longer, strolled away.
At the close of the day's work, however, when Steve was not at the mouth of the shaft waiting for him, Bob began to wonder. He waited about the shaft for half an hour, then went on to his boarding place. Steve had not returned.
"Where's Rush?" demanded the boarding boss, knowing Steve's habit of punctuality.
"That is what's bothering me. I haven't seen him."
It was the business of the boarding boss to look quickly into any absences and report them to the superintendent or the mine captain. He got busy at once. Calling up the time-keeper's office, he inquired if Steve Rush had checked in.
The information came back a moment later that Steve had not come up from the mine yet; or, if he had, he had failed to report himself.
"Then something has happened to him," was Jarvis' emphatic conclusion. "He left word for me to meet him at seventeen, but when I got there he had gone. I haven't seen him since."
The boarding boss agreed so strongly that he telephoned to the superintendent. The latter had not yet arrived home from his office, so the mine captain was communicated with.
But Bob Jarvis already was out of the house, headed for the shaft at top speed.
"Has Steve Rush come up yet?" he demanded of the cage-tender.