"What have you ambitions to become, if I may ask?"
"To have as thorough a knowledge of the manufacture of steel as any man in the country," answered Steve Rush boldly.
Mr. Keating gazed at the lad keenly. He saw that the boy meant exactly what he said. The superintendent saw the Iron Boy in a new light, from a new viewpoint as it were. He had been told by Mr. Carrhart, president of the mining company, that these were two unusual boys, and Mr. Keating had found them to be unusual in that they were more efficient than any young men he ever had had under him in the offices. He had not, however, fully realized the extent of the ambitions of the boys. Here was a boy in a nice, easy berth, drawing twelve dollars a week, and the boy was complaining because the work was too easy. He wanted something to do to keep his muscles up!
The superintendent's first inclination was to laugh, but the sober, earnest face of the Iron Boy robbed the situation of its humor.
"I have handled men for many years, my lad, but I am forced to admit that I never had such an unusual demand made upon me."
"I am sorry, sir, if I——"
"It is usually quite the opposite. The young fellows want something easier to do, and at more pay. Let me see; you boys, I understand, were drawing more than a hundred dollars a month in the mines up on our iron ranges?"
"Yes, sir."
"How much did you get on the lakes?"
"The same."