"Yes; they must have had a meeting out at the lake. I wish I knew whether they have organized or not. I am inclined to believe that they have not, though. But, if not, they are getting perilously close to doing so."

"Should we not tell Mr. Penton?"

"I had thought of that, but we talked this matter over once before and decided not to do so. He probably knows more about what is going on than we do. However, if we see it is going on to a finish, perhaps it would be our duty to give him a hint of what we know. I dislike to carry tales of any kind. Again, I doubt if this is any of our business. We know what we shall do; we'll fight the proposed union at every opportunity if the men are going to strike. I believe it would be the worst thing that could happen to the men, short of a mine disaster, and the company, to which we owe full allegiance, would suffer greatly."

"What are the men going to do when they become organized?" asked Bob.

"Judging from what the two men said, I should judge they would demand higher wages and shorter hours."

Bob uttered a grunt of disapproval.

"Next thing we know they'll be wanting the bosses to lay them off and pay them double wages while they are off. I never saw anything like the cheek of some people."

"The laboring man is ent.i.tled to some consideration," mused Steve. "But there is a limit. We will lie low and attend to our own business until something else develops."

Something did develop later in the week. The word had been pa.s.sed quietly about that there was to be a meeting of the miners of the day shift to take up the question of organizing. The meeting was to be held in a bowling alley over the only livery stable in the place. Only those were invited of whom the organizers were sure.

Bob Jarvis got wind of the meeting through overhearing two of the men in his shift discussing it. He told Steve at the first opportunity. The latter thought over the matter all the rest of the day.

"Bob," he said, that night, "I am going to attend that meeting. Will you come along?"

"Where you go, I go," answered Jarvis, laughingly. "But won't they put us out?"

"I guess not. If they do, it won't help their cause any. They will be glad to have us there if they think they can convert us. At least, we shall know what is going on, and we may be able to do something for the company."

"Do what?"

"I don't know. We shall see," Steve replied enigmatically. "Leave it to me. Don't do anything rash, but let me engineer this thing. I may bring trouble down upon my head, but I have an idea."

Bob agreed to "be good." The meeting was scheduled to be held that night, and nine o'clock was the appointed hour.

The boys delayed their walk that evening. They did not leave the house until long after eight o'clock, by which time nearly all the men from the boarding house had dressed themselves in their best and hurried away.

"You see, they are all going to attend the meeting," nodded Rush. "That shows you how far this thing has advanced."

"It certainly looks that way. I didn't think it was anything like this, did you, Steve?"

"No; I did not. We had better be starting now."

On the way the lads were hailed by Mr. Penton.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, lads?" he called.

"We are going out for the evening," answered Steve. "I have been thinking about labor unions to-day, Mr. Penton. Are you opposed to them?

Are they a factor for good or otherwise?"

The superintendent laughed.

"Older heads than yours have disagreed on that subject. I hold rather p.r.o.nounced views. There are unions that are ably managed by upright, intelligent men. Such unions are a good thing. The difficulty is that many others are managed by unscrupulous men, working to serve only their own ends, no matter what the cost to the employer. Such unions are a menace, both to the men and to their employers. That is my position."

"Then, Mr. Penton, if you were to have a union, say in your mines here, honestly managed and directed by upright men, you would not object to it?"

"Most a.s.suredly not."

This was a new point of view for Steve Rush. It gave him a broader insight into the question.

"Are you thinking of organizing a union, my boy?" asked the superintendent, with a smile.

"Well, not exactly, sir. If I were to join a union would it prejudice you against me?"

"Not at all. I know you--know your honesty too well. It would be a good thing for any union to have such men as yourself and Jarvis with it."

"Thank you, sir," answered Steve.

The boys bade the superintendent good-bye and went on their way to the meeting place.

"What in the world did all those questions of yours mean?" demanded Bob after they had gotten out of ear shot of the superintendent.

Steve did not answer. He was thinking deeply.

"You have something in mind, Steve Rush."

"Yes, I have, Bob. In fact, I have partially changed my mind."

"About what have you changed your mind?"

"I will tell you later."

Reaching the hall where the meeting was to be held, the chums found the place packed with miners. As the boys made their way to the rear of the room, where they saw an unoccupied window seat, the miners recognized them and set up a loud cheer.

Driscold and Cavard occupied seats on the platform. The men exchanged significant glances when they saw the boys enter the hall. They were not quite sure whether they approved the presence of the Iron Boys. But, in view of the att.i.tude taken by the miners, the two men could not well object to Steve and Bob remaining.

Mr. Driscold soon after called the meeting to order. He stated very briefly the purpose of the organization, which was, in short, he said, to guard the men from oppression and to look out for their general welfare. He gave figures to show how many of the miners of the country already belonged to unions, and urged the men to form a union before leaving the hall.

"How many of you are in favor of doing this?" he demanded. "All in favor will rise."

Nearly every man in the hall rose to his feet, though the Iron Boys sat quietly in their places.

Next Mr. Driscold proposed Mr. Cavard for president of the local union, which was to include all the mines on the range, and from all of which representatives were present. Cavard was elected unanimously. Steve caught the faint flicker of a smile as it swept over the face of the Duke. Rush nudged his companion.

"The next thing," continued Mr. Driscold, "will be the election of a secretary. This should be done before any other business is transacted.

After that you will all sign your names to the roll. I have a charter already made out for you. Who will you have for your secretary?"

"Steve Rush!" shouted a voice.

"Rush, Rush, Rush!" shouted voices from all parts of the hall, until the demand became one insistent roar.

"I move we elect Steve Rush our secretary," cried a man, springing to a chair.