“Chum of yours, I suppose?”
“Not exactly. But I’m working under his orders. Got something to turn in this morning.”
“Let’s see. What?”
Johnny showed him the connecting-rod made of the strange blue steel. “Made that myself,” Johnny said proudly.
A peculiar smile played about Pant’s lips, but he said never a word.
When Pant had been introduced to the manager, as one of Johnny’s oldest and best friends, who happened to be working at the plant, Johnny produced the connecting rod, and, with trembling fingers, handed it to the manager.
“What’s that?” A puzzled expression came into the manager’s eyes.
“Connecting-rod made of the new-process steel.”
“What! Can’t be! That steel won’t work! Nobody knows how. But—” He paused to look more closely—“but it is! Say! Do you know how to work it?”
“No,” Johnny said regretfully, “I’m afraid I don’t.”