Hale prepare you for school?
Who is your father? I do not know your name."

"Hobart! My father is superintendent of the mines at Bitumen."

"I've heard of him, but I have never met him. He's doing good work
there."

"Yes," was the reply. "He hopes by Christmas to have every chamber
supported by new props, and an exhaust engine which will pump out the gas
and make explosions impossible."

"I was not thinking of the mines when I said he did good work," said her
companion, and after a pause, "I think it is time we were getting into our
car. I would not like the train to pull out without us. Look at the
babies! Both asleep. Perhaps I can move them without wakening them." But
already Elizabeth had taken up the baby in her arms and was at the step of
the car. As she waited for a trainman to help her on, she caught bits of
the conversation between two men who stood on the rear platform of the
smoker. They had been discussing the "coal-fields", and were looking up at
the mountain which they had just descended.

"There's plenty there to supply the country for the next ten years. I
wasn't thinking of the supply when I spoke, but of the possibility of not
being able to get it out. You remember how the hard-coal region was tied
up for eight months or more."

"There's little danger here. The miners are satisfied--"

"Yes--satisfied until an agitator comes their way. If I was the Kettle
Creek Mining Company, I'd keep that man out of my community. He's bound to
stir up bad blood."

"But he's left the mining business. He'll not trouble himself."

"Not unless he sees more money in it. Matters have not been going his way
lately. Someone has been dogging his steps, and his business is falling
off. You know there's really little money in that business if a man keeps
within the law."

"Well, I pity that man Hobart if your friend begins his work. Hobart's a
fine fellow, but is not accustomed to deal with men in the underbrush."

"Hobart will take care of himself. He's had his eye on--"

At this moment the porter came to her assistance and Elizabeth heard no
more. She wondered at their talk, but she was not uneasy. She had
unbounded faith in her father, and felt that he would be able to protect
and take care of himself under all circumstances. Entering the car, she
deposited her sleeping burden on the seat. The others followed with the
boy and the wraps.

Landis and Min had finished their lunch. There were several sandwiches,