CHAPTER IV
LAYING HANDS ON THE BOSS
IT was Foley's place to order the pit boss to let the boys alone and attend to his own business. Instead, Foley turned and walked away. He did not go far, however. He made his way to one of the open-hearth furnaces, where, unobserved, he peered around the corner of the red-hot pile of brick.
Rush saw that an encounter was unavoidable. He was sorry, but he decided quickly to avoid coming to blows if possible.
Kalinski had stooped over to pick up a shovel. In his rage he was going to attack the boys with it. Steve was out of the pit in a flash.
"Keep out of this, Bob, unless the others mix in. I'll take care of that fellow."
When Watski straightened up he found the Iron Boy standing over him with a pleasant smile on his face.
"I wouldn't do that, were I in your place, Kalinski. I tell you it was an accident, and I am sorry I threw the cinders over you. I give you my word that it was an accident."
Watski dropped his shovel, and uttering a yell of rage, struck at Steve. The blow, had it reached its mark, would have knocked Rush backward into the hot cinder pit. He dodged the blow, however; then suddenly Watski Kalinski found his wrists in a grip that made him writhe. The Iron Boy's thumbs were pressing on sensitive nerves.
"Ouch! Ouch!" howled the Pole.