EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
January 1, 2000, by and between Robert J. Marischen ("Employee") and Huntco
Inc. (the "Company").  In consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions
contained herein, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
                                    ARTICLE I
                                    EMPLOYMENT

1.1  Employment.
---------------
(a) In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by Employee and the Company, the
Company agrees to continue to employ Employee, and Employee accepts continued
employment, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(b) Employee shall adhere to the Company's policies, ethical practices and
standards of care and competence.  Employee shall devote his full business
time and attention and best efforts to the affairs of the Company, and
Employee shall not engage in any other business duties or pursuits, or
directly or indirectly render any services of a business, commercial, or
professional nature to any other entity or person, whether for monetary
compensation or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Chairman
of the Board of Huntco Inc.; provided, however, that Employee may participate
in charitable and other civic functions so long as such other activities do
not adversely affect Employee's ability to perform his responsibilities
hereunder.

(c) Employee affirms and represents that he is under no obligation to any
former employer or other party which is in any way inconsistent with, or which
imposes any restriction upon, Employee's acceptance of employment hereunder
with the Company, the employment of Employee by the Company, or the Employee's
undertakings pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement,
including, but not limited to, Sections 1.1(b), 1.1(c) and 5.5, Employee's
past, current and prospective business duties relating to his position as an
officer and director of Huntco Enterprises, Inc., including any of its
subsidiaries and affiliates, are specifically acknowledged and shall in no
event be considered a violation of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

1.2  Term.
---------
This Agreement shall be effective as of January 1, 2000, and shall, unless
otherwise terminated as provided herein, terminate on December 31, 2000 (the
"Initial Term").  The Initial Term shall automatically be extended, for
additional one year periods, on each subsequent January 1, commencing January
1, 2001, unless the Company notifies Employee to the contrary in writing at
least 30 days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, or of any such
additional one year period.  (Each such additional one year period is referred
to as a "Renewal Term" and the period from the effective date of this
Agreement until the termination of this Agreement as provided for herein is
referred to as the "Term").

                                   ARTICLE II
                            COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

2.1  Compensation and Benefits.
------------------------------
(a) Base Salary.  As compensation for rendering service to the Company under
this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee during the Term, a base
salary ("Salary") of not less than $350,000.00 per year, payable at the
Company's customary pay periods, or at such other time or times as the Company
and Employee shall mutually agree.  The Board of Directors or any authorized
committee or officer of the Company shall review Employee's overall annual
compensation at least annually with a view to the adequacy thereof.

(b) Bonus and Incentive Compensation.  Employee shall be eligible to receive
such incentive or performance bonuses as may, pursuant to delegated authority
or in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee or
officer of the Company, be awarded or granted.  Employee shall be entitled to
receive a bonus for any quarter, or portion thereof, in which Employee is
actively employed by the Company, even if his employment has been terminated
for any reason at the time that the bonus is actually paid.  Employee is not
entitled to receive a bonus for any quarter, or portion thereof, in which he
is not actively employed by the Company.

(c) Benefits.  Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, Employee
shall be eligible for participation in, and shall be covered by, any and all
such medical, disability, life and other insurance plans, and all other
employment benefits, as are generally available to other employees of the
Company in similar employment positions, on the same terms as such employees,
subject to meeting any and all applicable eligibility requirements.

(d) Employment Taxes.  All payments to Employee made under this Agreement
shall be made subject to such federal, state, and local payroll and
withholding deductions as may be required by applicable law.

                               ARTICLE III
                       DUTIES AND EXTENT OF SERVICE

3.1  General Duties and Responsibilities
----------------------------------------
Employee shall serve the Company at its headquarters office located in the St.
Louis, Missouri metropolitan area, in an executive capacity as its Vice
Chairman and President. The duties and responsibilities of Employee include
those described for employee's particular position in the Bylaws of Company,
or other documents of Company, and such other or additional duties as may be
assigned to Employee from time to time by the Chairman of the Board of the
Company. Employee shall do and perform, and shall have the authority to do and
perform, all services, acts and other things necessary to perform the duties
and responsibilities of his position.

Employee acknowledges and agrees that he owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty,
fidelity, and allegiance to act at all times in the best interests of the
Company and to do no act which would injure the Company's business, its
interests or its reputation.

                                 ARTICLE IV
                                 TERMINATION

4.1  Termination.
-----------------
The following sets forth the bases on which Employee's employment under this
Agreement may or shall terminate:

(a) End of Term: The expiration of the Term shall occur.

(b) Termination Due to Death: The death of the Employee shall occur. Upon a
termination due to death, Employee's estate shall be entitled to receive an
amount equal to three times his then current Salary, payable in equal
installments over a three year period at the Company's customary pay periods.

(c)Termination Due to Disability: The Company shall have the right to
terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement if Employee is unable to
perform his duties hereunder by reason of any mental or physical disability or
incapacity for a period of 60 consecutive days, or if Employee otherwise
becomes disabled such that he is no longer reasonably able to perform his
duties as contemplated by this Agreement.  Upon the termination due to
disability, Employee shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to three
times his then current Salary, payable in equal installments over a three year
period at the Company's customary pay periods.

(d) Termination for Cause: The Company shall have the right at any time to
terminate Employee's employment for "Cause."  As used herein, "Cause" shall
mean any of the following:  If Employee (i) violates any material provision of
this Agreement; (ii) fails to perform the services required of him pursuant to
this Agreement; (iii) takes action (or fails to take action) in bad faith that
Employee knew, or reasonably should have known, was likely to materially
damage the business of the Company; (iv) engages in fraud, embezzlement or any
other illegal or wrongful conduct substantially detrimental to the Company or
the Company's reputation, regardless of whether such conduct is designed to
defraud the Company or others; (v) is indicted, convicted of, or pleads guilty
or "no contest" to a crime other than a routine traffic violation; (vi) is
grossly negligent in the performance of, or willfully disregards, his
obligations hereunder.  If Employee is terminated "for Cause" as described
herein, Employee shall not be entitled to receive any further salary or
benefits under this Agreement other than payment for that part of Employee's
Salary that would otherwise be payable to Employee through the last date of
his employment with the Company.  Upon such payment, all obligations in any
manner whatsoever of the Company to the Employee shall be fully satisfied.
Employee is not entitled to receive any bonus if his employment is terminated
as provided in this section.

(e) Termination Without Cause: In the event that Employee's employment with
the Company shall be terminated for any reason, except as set forth in
Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(c), 4.1(d), 4.1(f), or 4.1(g) hereof, such termination
deemed to be "Without Cause". Upon Employee's termination Without Cause,
Employee shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to three times his then
current Salary, payable in equal installments over a three year period at the
Company's customary pay periods. If Employee's employment is terminated as
provided in this section, Employee shall also be entitled to receive the
bonus, if any, which is earned or accrued during the quarter in which his
employment is terminated Without Cause.  Employee shall not be eligible for
any other bonus following his termination Without Cause. Employee shall also
be entitled to remain on the Company's medical and dental insurance program at
Company's expense for three years following termination of Employee's
employment pursuant to this section. Upon payment of the final monthly
compensation due hereunder, all obligations in any manner whatsoever of the
Company to the Employee shall be fully satisfied.  The parties further
expressly agree that, during the period after Employee's termination Without
Cause, in which period Employee will be paid pursuant to Section 4.1(e),
Employee will not have any authority to act on behalf of the Company.

(f) Change of Control: If at any time during the Term there is a Change of
Control of the Company, as defined below, Employee shall have the option of
resigning his employment with the Company, or its successor, for any reason,
or for no reason, at any time up to one year following the date of the Change
of Control. If Employee's employment is involuntarily terminated by the
Company within one year following a Change of Control, or if Employee resigns
his employment pursuant to this section within one year following a Change of
Control, the Company will pay to Employee an amount equal to three times his
then current Salary, in a lump sum, within fifteen days of such involuntary
termination or resignation. If Employee's employment is terminated as provided
in this section, Employee shall also be entitled to receive the bonus, if any,
which is earned or accrued during the quarter in which his employment is
terminated. Employee shall not be eligible for any other bonus following his
termination. Employee shall also be entitled to remain on the Company's
medical and dental insurance program at Company's expense for three years
following termination of Employee's employment pursuant to this section.

The Company will pay Employee a "Tax Gross-Up" payment if a tax is imposed on
Employee pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as
amended, or any successor provision, with respect to any excess parachute
payment in connection with a Change of Control of the Company.  The amount of
the Tax Gross-Up payment will be equal to (i) the amount of such tax, divided
by (ii) 1 minus the blended marginal federal and applicable state income tax
rates in effect for the applicable period for Employee.  The Company shall pay
any Tax Gross-Up amount promptly to enable Employee to timely pay income taxes
for the applicable tax period, estimated or otherwise.

Upon payment of the lump sum payment provided for herein and the "Tax Gross-
Up" payment, if any, and the medical and dental benefits herein described, all
obligations of the Company to the Employee hereunder shall be fully satisfied.
The parties further expressly agree that, during the period after Employee's
termination during which period Employee will receive payments or benefits
hereunder, Employee will not have authority to act on behalf of the Company.

For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" means the occurrence of
any of the following events: (i) a merger, consolidation or reorganization of
the Company in which the Company does not survive as an independent entity;
(ii) a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company in which the
Company does not survive as a publicly held company; (iii) a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iv) the first purchase of
shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer for more than 20% of the Company's outstanding shares of Class A Common
Stock; or (v) any change of control of a nature that, in the opinion of the
Board of Directors, would be required to be reported under the federal
securities laws; provided that such a change of control shall be deemed to
have occurred if: (A) any person other than the `Hunter Affiliates' as that
term is defined in Article III, Section B.6(b)(iv) of the Company's Restarted
Articles of Incorporation, or the `Hunter Group' as that term is defined in
Article III, Section B.6(b)(ii) of the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation (x) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities, or (y) through a
shareholders' agreement, voting trust, other contractual arrangement, or
otherwise, acquires or obtains the right to vote securities or to direct
another to vote securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (B)
during any period of two consecutive years from January 1, 2000 through the
expiration date hereof, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board of Directors of the Company cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof unless the election of any director, who was not
a director at the beginning of the period, was approved by a vote of at least
70% of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning
of the period.

For purposes of this Section 4.1(f)(v)(B), a director shall be considered to
be a director at the beginning of such two year period if the director's
election was approved either (i) during the lifetime of B.D. Hunter by the
`Hunter Affiliates' as that term is defined in Article III, Section B.6(b)(iv)
of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, or, if after the death of
B.D. Hunter, the `Hunter Group' as that term is defined in Article III,
Section B.6(b)(ii) of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, or
(ii) by a vote of at least 70 percent of the directors then still in office
who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period, or who would be
considered pursuant to this sentence to be a director at the beginning of the
two-year period.

(g) Resignation of Employee: Employee may resign and terminate his employment
at any time by giving no less than 30 days' written notice to the Company.  If
Employee resigns prior to the end of the Term pursuant to this section, this
Agreement shall terminate immediately.  Except as provided for in Section
4.1(f), Employee shall not be entitled to receive any further salary or
benefits under this Agreement, other than payment for that part of Employee's
Salary that would otherwise be payable to Employee through the last date of
his employment with the Company.  Upon such payment, all obligations in any
manner whatsoever of the Company to the Employee shall be fully satisfied.
Employee is not entitled to receive any bonus if his employment is resigned as
provided in this section.

4.2  Continuing Obligations to Remain in Effect.
-----------------------------------------------
The termination of this Agreement for any reason, including termination due to
a Change of Control, shall not relieve Employee of any continuing obligations
expressly provided in this Agreement, including without limitation each of
those set forth in Article V herein below.

                                  ARTICLE V
COVENANTS REGARDING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, COMPANY PROPERTY AND INVENTIONS,
NONSOLICITATION, AND NONCOMPETITION

5.1  Confidentiality.
--------------------
Employee recognizes and acknowledges that he will have access to certain
confidential information and trade secrets of the Company.  Such confidential
information includes, but is not limited to: customer names and customer
lists, contracts, trade secrets, financial information, product plans,
marketing plans, systems, manuals, training materials, forecasts, inventions,
improvements, ideas, business strategies, formulas, product ideas, computer
programs and software, software designs and documentation, source codes, data
and data bases, techniques, schematics, information relating to confidential
or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or materials of the
Company, and its business and marketing plans, product and service
development, market development, manuals written by the Company, marketing and
financial analysis, plans, research, programs, and related information and
data, corporate books and records, and other similar intellectual property and
confidential information.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that this
confidential information constitutes valuable, special and/or unique property
of the Company.  Employee shall, at all times, both during Employee's
employment by the Company and thereafter, keep all such confidential
information in confidence and trust and will not use or disclose any
confidential information or anything relating to it to any person, firm,
corporation, association, or other entity for any reason or purpose without
the written consent of the Company.

5.2  Return of the Company's Property and Documents.
---------------------------------------------------
Employee recognizes that all confidential information, however stored or
memorialized, and all identification cards, keys, access codes, marketing
materials, samples, tape recordings, notes, tools, documents, records,
apparatus and other equipment or property which the Company provides to or
makes available to Employee are the sole property of the Company.  Employee
shall use such property solely for the benefit of the Company and for no other
purpose.  Upon the termination of Employee's employment with the Company,
Employee shall (i) refrain from taking any such property from the Company's
premises, (ii) immediately return to the Company any such property which may
be in Employee's possession or control (including any and all copies thereof),
(iii) immediately return to the Company any copies, notes, or excepts thereof,
all records, data, memoranda, and all documents or materials made or compiled
by Employee which are in the possession or control of Employee and which
relate to Employee's employment or to the business, activities or facilities
of the Company and any of its employees, agents, owners, officers, executives
and directors, and (iv) certify in writing that Employee has complied with
this Section 5.2.

5.3  Assignment of Inventions to the Company.
--------------------------------------------
Employee will promptly disclose to the Company all improvements, inventions,
formulas, ideas, works of authorship, processes, techniques and trade secrets,
whether or not patentable, made or conceived or developed by Employee, either
alone or jointly with others, during Employee's employment (collectively
"Inventions").  All Inventions, and all patents, copyrights, trade secret
rights and other intellectual property rights related thereto shall be the
sole property of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law and, to
the extent permitted by law, shall be "works for hire."  Employee hereby
assigns to the Company any rights Employee may have or acquire in all
Inventions and agrees to perform, during and after employment with the
Company, all acts necessary or desirable by the Company to permit and assist
the Company, at the Company's expense, in obtaining and enforcing patents,
copyrights, trade secrets or other intellectual property rights with respect
to such Inventions.  Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the
Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Employee's agents and
attorneys-in-fact to act for and in Employee's name and stead, to execute and
file any applications or related filings and do all other lawfully permitted
acts to further the prosecution and issuance of patents, copyrights, trade
secret rights or other intellectual property rights with respect to any
Inventions with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Employee.

5.4  Non-Solicitation of Customers and Clients.
----------------------------------------------
During the Term of this Agreement and for three years thereafter, Employee
will not, on behalf of any person or entity other than the Company, directly
or indirectly solicit, divert or attempt to solicit or divert any customer or
client of the Company, or any prospective customer or client of the Company,
at the time of Employee's termination or for one year prior thereto, on behalf
of any other person or entity competitive with the Company.

5.5  Non-Solicitation of Other Employees.
----------------------------------------
During the Term and for three years thereafter, Employee will not encourage,
solicit, induce, or attempt to encourage, solicit or induce any other
employee, agent or representative of the Company to leave his or her
employment with the Company for any reason, and Employee will not hire or
attempt to hire, for any position with any other business, any person who is
an employee, agent or representative of the Company at such time or who has
been an employee, agent or representative of the Company at any time within 90
days preceding such time.

5.6  Non-Interference.
---------------------
During the Term of this Agreement and for three years thereafter, Employee
will not directly or indirectly hire, engage, send any work to, place orders
with, or in any manner be associated with any supplier, contractor,
subcontractor or other business relation of the Company if such action by him
would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, or financial
condition of the Company, or materially interfere with the relationship
between any such person or entity and the Company.

5.7  Non-Competition.
--------------------
During the Term of this Agreement and for three years thereafter, Employee
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or
indirectly own, manage, finance, operate, join, control or participate in the
ownership, management or operation of, or be employed, provide services to or
otherwise be connected in any manner with, any person or entity competitive
with the Company. This prohibition encompasses any and all services, duties,
and employment of the same nature as the services, duties, and
responsibilities which Employee performs under this Agreement.

For the purposes of this Agreement, a person or entity is "competitive with
the Company" if such person or entity conducts, operates, carries out or
otherwise engages in the development, production, marketing or servicing, in
any state or market in which the Company transacts business, or was
contemplating the transaction of business at the time of Employee's
termination, of any product of the Company (i) with which Employee was
involved in the course of his employment with the Company, or (ii) which the
Company is developing, producing, marketing, or servicing, or plans to
develop, produce, market or service and of which Employee gained any knowledge
in the course of his employment with the Company.

5.8  Representations by Employee.
--------------------------------
In connection with the above covenants, Employee represents that his
experience, capabilities and circumstances are such that the covenants
contained herein will not prevent him from earning a livelihood.  Employee
further agrees that the limitations set forth in such covenants do not impose
a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the confidential information,
customer goodwill, and other business interests of the Company.  Employee also
agrees that the limitations and covenants are reasonable and properly required
for the adequate protection of the current and future business of the Company.
Employee also agrees that, if any provision of the covenants set forth above
are found to be invalid in part or whole, the Company may elect, but shall not
be required, to have such provision reformed, whether as to time, scope of
activity, or otherwise, as and to the extent required for its validity under
applicable law, and, as so reformed, such provisions shall be enforceable.

5.9  Injunctive and Other Relief.
--------------------------------
It is understood and agreed that the covenants made by Employee in this
Article 5 shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law for any breach or
threatened breach of the provisions of this Article 5 would be inadequate, and
therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled as a matter of right to
injunctive relief in addition to any other available rights and remedies in
cases of such breach or threatened breach; provided, however, that nothing
contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing
any other rights and remedies available for any such breach or threatened
breach, including the recovery of damages and attorneys' fees from Employee.

                                  ARTICLE VI
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

6.1  Successors and Assigns.
---------------------------
Except as otherwise provided herein, the rights and obligations of the Company
under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon
the successors and assigns of the Company.  Except as otherwise provided
herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon Employee and his agents, heirs,
executors, administrators and legal representatives.  The rights and
obligations of Employee shall not be assignable by Employee.

6.2  Governing Law.
------------------
Subject to Section 6.9, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri.  The parties hereto consent
to the jurisdiction and venue of the Circuit Court in and for St. Louis
County, Missouri and of the Federal District Court of the Eastern District,
Eastern Division of Missouri with respect to any action brought in equity for
the breach of the provisions of Article V.

6.3  Counterparts.
-----------------
This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute one instrument.

6.4  Entire Agreement.
---------------------
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties pertaining to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, and there are no other
warranties, representations, covenants or agreements among the Company and
Employee in connection with the subject matter hereof.

6.5  Amendment.
--------------
Employee's obligations under this Agreement may be amended, supplemented,
modified and/or rescinded only through an express written amendment executed
by both Employee and the Company.

6.6  No Waiver of Employee Breach.
---------------------------------
The waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by
Employee shall not operate or be construed as a waiver by the Company of any
subsequent breach by Employee.

6.7  Severability.
-----------------
If a court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge to be invalid any clause,
sentence, subparagraph, paragraph, or section of this Agreement, such judgment
or decree shall not affect, impair, invalidate, or nullify the remainder of
this Agreement, but the effect thereof shall be confined to the clause,
sentence, subparagraph, paragraph, or section so adjudged to be invalid.

6.8  Survival.
-------------
Employee and the Company expressly acknowledge and agree that the ongoing
obligations and covenants set forth in this Agreement, including without
limitation, those contained in Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(c), 4.1(e), 4.1(f), 5.1,
5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7 hereof, shall survive the termination of
Employee's employment under this Agreement.

6.9  Arbitration.
----------------
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Agreement other
than an action brought in equity for the breach of the provisions of Article V
shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in St. Louis County,
Missouri.  A single arbitrator may be selected by the unanimous agreement of
the parties to the dispute, but if the parties to the dispute fail to agree on
and appoint an arbitrator within thirty (30) calendar days of the receipt by
any party of notice of the existence of a dispute, then the dispute shall be
settled in St. Louis County, Missouri in accordance with the commercial
arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. The
arbitration shall be governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C.
Sections 1-16 and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be
entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof and the parties hereto
consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the Circuit Court in and for St.
Louis County, Missouri and of the Federal District Court of the Eastern
District, Eastern Division of Missouri for the entry of judgment relating to
any award of the arbitrator.

6.10 Opportunity to Review.
--------------------------
Employee hereby represents and warrants that he (a) has been given a
meaningful opportunity to review this Agreement, and (b) has been encouraged
by the Company to receive  the advice of counsel with respect to the meaning
and effect of each Section of this Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that he
has voluntarily entered into this Agreement of his own free will based only
upon the terms and conditions included in this Agreement.

6.11 Agreement Not to be Construed Against Either Party.
-------------------------------------------------------
Employee and Company expressly acknowledge and agree that this Agreement was
the product of arms length negotiation between the parties, and that this
Agreement shall be construed fairly and without prejudice to either party as
the drafter of this Agreement, regardless of whether one party physically
prepared this Agreement.

6.12 Notices.
------------
All notices and other communications which are required or permitted hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and received
when delivered personally, when sent when mailed by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or when sent by a
nationally known overnight delivery service, or when sent by telephone
facsimile confirmed by overnight delivery service, to the parties at the
addresses or facsimile numbers indicated below (or at such other address as
shall be specified by notice).

      EMPLOYEE:                           COMPANY:
      ROBERT J. MARISCHEN                 "CHAIRMAN"
      335 HAMPSHIRE HILL LANE	            HUNTCO INC.
      TOWN & COUNTRY, MO 63141            14323 SOUTH OUTER FORTY
                                          SUITE 600N
                                          TOWN & COUNTY, MO 63017
                                          (314) 878-4537

                                          With a copy to:
                                          Craig A. Adoor, Esq.
                                          Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP
                                          720 Olive Street, 24th Floor
                                          St. Louis, MO 63101
                                          Fax: (314) 345 - 6060

Each party is responsible for informing the other party of any change in
address.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.

            THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION
                     WHICH MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES
EMPLOYEE                                  The COMPANY
                                          Huntco Inc.
   /s/ Robert J. Marischen             By:      /s/ Anthony J. Verkruyse
------------------------------             ---------------------------------
       Robert J. Marischen             Its:       Vice President & CFO
                                           ---------------------------------