hey did not enjoy the Elmwood tanneries quite as much as the
home works at Milburn, and perhaps they longed a little for their term
of service there to be completed. Nevertheless they made friends,
learned much that they were anxious to know, and had their motor rides
over and back each day together.

With so many of his ambitions reaching fulfilment it began to seem to
Peter as if life were a very smooth sea, and it was not until June when
he and Nat were transferred to the patent leather factory that he had
his first experience in navigating rough waters. This storminess came
about through Tolman, a sharp-tongued foreman who did not hesitate to
announce that too much favoritism had been shown Peter Strong in the
past.

"I bet if he ever comes to the patent leather factory and I get the
chance I will take some of the starch out of him," Tolman had been heard
to declare.

Unluckily he held just enough authority to be able to carry out his
threat. Power had hitherto been to him an unknown weapon. He had been
given the position of acting foreman of the new patent leather factory
only because of his long term of service with the company. It was
understood that he was to hold the post until a skilled and competent
foreman could be found; but while he enjoyed the distinction of "boss"
he made as arrogant use of his sovereignty as he could.

From the first he blocked the way for Peter and Nat, not only by
refusing to pass on to them any information, but by influencing the
other men to follow his example. Whether he feared Peter Strong might
usurp the vacant foremanship, or whether he simply cherished a grudge
toward the lad because of his previous good fortune, it was impossible
to discover. Whichever the case, his attitude was, from the moment the
boys set foot in the new tannery, one of complete antagonism. Had it not
been for Peter's agreement not to intrude his personal grievances at
home it would have been easy to appeal to his father to straighten out
the difficulty. But Peter would not for a moment consider this means of
escape. Therefore he and Nat struggled on by themselves, picking up what
scraps of information they were able. Try as they would they could wring
from the workmen only the most meager facts about making patent leather.

They did succeed in finding out that the shiny varnish which gave it its
finish was compounded in an isolated brick house in the factory yard
where, after the ingredients had been