CHAPTER XXIII
AN UNLOOKED-FOR PROMOTION
SEVERAL days later, Steve and Bob were invited to the home of the chief engineer to spend the evening and to take dinner with him. They were greatly surprised at the invitation. At the same time they were informed that permission had been obtained from the superintendent for them to remain away from their work.
The Iron Boys were pleased, yet they did not exactly like the idea of losing a night's work. They were not there for social reasons; they were at the mills for a well-defined purpose—a purpose with which nothing must interfere.
The boys talked over the invitation for some time before finally deciding to accept. Steve thought that perhaps it were best. Mr. Phillips had taken such a kindly interest in them. The boys valued the friendship of the chief engineer and the superintendent, and they were beginning to look to the latter for advice and suggestions relating to their personal affairs.
"All right; we will go," decided Rush. "Behave yourself, Bob," he warned.
"Don't I always?" demanded Jarvis.
"You're open to suspicion, at times."