While they talked, Ignatz, instead of being in the mill, as they supposed, was hanging about the entrance to the company's offices. He had heard, that morning, that the general superintendent had returned from his trip, and young Brodsky was determined to see him, even if he lost a day's pay in his effort to do so.
There were two entrances to the office building, but Ignatz had forgotten this. After waiting nearly three hours he hailed a clerk who came hurrying from the building, with the request to tell him if Mr. Keating were coming down that morning.
"He's in his office now, young man, but he is very busy," was the answer as the clerk hurried away.
Brodsky did not care whether the superintendent were busy or not, for his own business was more important than anything that Mr. Keating could possibly have on hand, according to the way Ignatz reasoned it out.
The Pole climbed the steps leisurely, peered into the corridor through the glass door, and seeing no one there, entered. He saw no one after he got in. Even the Iron and Steel Policeman who usually stood guard in the hall was not there. The man was in the office getting some orders from the superintendent.
Ignatz, who did not know that the regular entrance to Mr. Keating's office was through the main offices, wandered on down the hall, slowly spelling out the names on the doors. At last he reached a door on which the word "Superintendent" had been painted in large letters.
The long word bothered Ignatz, but he labored with it until he managed to convey the sound of it phonetically to his ears.
"Him there," he muttered.
Then Brodsky boldly turned the knob, opened the door and entered.
Mr. Keating glanced up from his desk in surprise.