Mr. Baxter was again silent for a thoughtful moment.
"Well?" Tom demanded.
Mr. Baxter's face gave a faint suggestion that a struggle was going on within. Then his little smile came out, and he said:
"Permit me to be the first to congratulate you, Mr. Keating, on having won the strike."
Chapter XXXII
THE THORN OF THE ROSE
Shortly after lunch Mr. Driscoll called Ruth into his office. "Dr. Hall has just sent me word that he wants to meet the building committee on important business this afternoon, so if you'll get ready we'll start right off."
A few minutes later the two were on a north-bound Broadway car. Presently Mr. Driscoll blinked his bulging eyes thoughtfully at his watch. "I want to run in and see Keating a minute sometime this afternoon," he remarked. "He's just been doing some great work, Miss Arnold. If we hurry we've got time to crowd it in now." A pudgy forefinger went up into the air. "Oh, conductor—let us off here!"