"Thank you, sir."
Steve's face glowed happily.
"I am going to take you off the Spooner contract and give you another place to work. I have taken a keen interest in you, and I want you to learn all about the workings of the mine."
"That is what I am going to do, sir," answered Rush in a quiet but firm tone.
"I have decided to place you at the main chute on the same level where you have been working. Your duty will be to dump the cars as they come in. You will be right by the tally-boards and you will learn how we count up there, besides many other things. It is an important point, the central point of each level. After you have become familiar with the operations at that point, perhaps I may be able to transfer you to some other."
"I thank you very much, sir. May I ask where Bob Jarvis is going to work? He said he was to be transferred to-day."
"Yes; I have put him on the Spooner contract to fill the place you had."
Steve smiled. He could well imagine what would happen if Spooner treated Bob as he had treated Steve. Bob was too hot tempered to endure the contractor's insults without resenting them.
Mr. Penton seemed to understand what was in Steve's mind.
"It will be good for the boy," he nodded. "Every boy needs a certain amount of hard knocks. They make a man of him."