Sure Pop and Uncle Jack were sprawled out side by side on the green
river bank, talking over old times. Bob and Betty were hanging on every
word.
"My first few months of Safety work among American factories and mills,"
Sure Pop was saying, "was largely planting. I planted the Safety First
idea and gave it time to grow. I began with the steel mills; then I
turned to the railroads, then to the wood-working shops, and so on."
Uncle Jack gazed thoughtfully at the sparkling river. "Well," he said
at last to Sure Pop, "what results and how?"
"How?" repeated the little Colonel. "First, by putting the idea, Safety
First, into the mind of every workman we met. Second, by whispering in
his ear new ways of cutting out accidents--_after_ the Safety First idea
had had a chance to sink in. Results? Three fourths of the deaths and
injuries in the steel mills were cut out entirely in six years' time; in
the railroads, the number of accidents was cut squarely in two in three
years' time; in other kinds of work--all except one--big reductions all
along the line."
"Great!" There was no mistaking the admiration in Uncle Jack's voice.
"What about the one exception--what line was that?"
"It's a certain class of mills that is practically controlled by one
man, a very able man, but exceedingly self-willed and stubborn. He owns
a chain of mills from coast to coast, and the rest of the manufacturers
in his line follow his lead in everything. He has fought the Safety
First idea from the start--calls it 'one of these new-fangled
notions'--will have nothing at all to do with it--and he has held back
the Safety movement in his whole line of work."
"Hm-m-m! Hard nut to crack, eh? What's the old codger's name?"
"Bruce. He's done more to handicap Safety work than any other man in
the country--and I do believe he's proud of it," said Sure Pop, grimly.
"Bruce--isn't that the man your father works for, Bob?"
Bob nodded. "He has a heart, though"--and he told them how the mill
owner had come to Chance Carter's aid, and how like a different man he
had seemed when little Bonnie threw her happy arms around him.
"Queer mixture, isn't he?" said Uncle Jack.
"Yes, he is. But don't you suppose our patrol could do something to
change his mind?"
Uncle Jack waved the idea aside. "Forget it, Bob, forget it! Don't lose
sight of what the Colonel told you Scouts yesterday about the right way
to go at things. Well, the right way to go at Bruce is to leave him
alone for a while. If he's as prejudiced as all that, interfering would
only make him worse. He'll come around by and by, won't he, Colonel?"
"All in good time," said Sure Pop. "Your work is cut out for you, Bob,
as I told you yesterday. Get the Safety First idea well rooted in the
homes, and then we'll begin on the streets, and get folks in the habit
of thinking Safety every time they cross the street."
Uncle Jack yawned and stretched himself.
"Can you spare these twins of ours for the day, Colonel? I've a frolic
of my own I want to borrow them for, if I may."
"Sure pop! Go ahead, sir."
Uncle Jack stepped across the street to a telephone, and the first thing
Bob and Betty knew, a big red automobile drew up beside them. "Jump in,
folks--look out for my arm, please. Now--we're off! Goodby, Colonel."
"My, but isn't this glorious!" Betty nestled closer to her uncle as they
sped along toward the shopping district. "Is this your car, Uncle Jack?"
"For today it is," laughed her uncle. "Today we'll just make believe I
own the mint. Careful there, driver!"
Forgetful of his lame arm, he jumped to his feet and waved his hand in
warning. They had been running smoothly along the car tracks, and
another automobile had cut in ahead of them from around the corner. A
tow-headed lad of about Bob's age, who was stealing a ride on it,
holding himself on by main strength as the automobile jounced along over
the crossing, had just made up his mind he would ride no farther and was
getting ready to jump. Down he came, kerflop, in the street, stubbing
his toe as he tried to catch his balance.
Uncle Jack's chauffeur, warned by his shout, gave the steering wheel a
quick turn--and cleared the boy by a hand's breadth! Uncle Jack sank
back on the cushions, his eyes flashing.
"Reckless young rascal! Trying to make murderers of us, is he? What are
you Safety Scouts going to do about the boys' hitching on like that,
Bob?"
Bob pulled a notebook out of his pocket. "Here's how Sure Pop has
summed up our patrol reports on street accidents. He calls it--