"No, Mr. McNaughton, superintendent of the open-hearth furnaces. He's the boss of this department," grinned the messenger.
"Will I have time to wash?"
"You'd better be coming along, if you know what's good for you."
"Very well, but I must first report to the pit boss."
"He isn't here. He knows where you are going."
"All right, I'll take your word for it. What does Mr. McNaughton want with me?"
"He'll tell you when you see him," answered the boy.
Steve thought that the summons had something to do with the explosion in the pit. He had no idea that he was to be involved in any way, so he walked confidently along with the messenger, out at the rear door and on to a low, rambling building just across the tracks from the open-hearth building. This was the office of Superintendent McNaughton. Steve did not remember to have seen this superintendent before. The messenger, after entering with Rush, opened a door leading into a large office, and shoved Steve in.
A sandy-haired, rugged-faced man sat at a desk, while around the room were several men from the shops. Among them were Bill Foley and Watski Kalinski. The latter grinned when he saw Steve.
"What's your name?" demanded the man at the desk gruffly.