Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-23

was undated. He was gathering TO
himself deal of this worlds goods;
making money s'hand-over-fist, as he
occasionally told Mrs. Whitney with a
sort of gusto. This fact may have In
some sense smothered his patriotism,
if, indeed, his love of country went
much beyond his own concerns. for
acauisitiveness had grown with much
culture to be his leading trait, though
that he vas misery, mean or greedy
in the lowest level of the term could
not be fairly said of him.
at isn't the destruction of the Gov
eminent that's being attempted" he
was wont to say. Its a partition,
division that's irving to be struck. And
what's it about? Why, the Internal
niger, that's all! And who wants him?
Why, the fellers down South? We
don't! Then, confound it! why can't
thew let 'en have emp" and he would
90 about his affairs.
But it is surmisable that Joel could
reason more cogently than this, shaving
the subject down very near to its mar
row in his mind, but doubtless, seeing
with the well-nigh abnormal keenness
golden chances of the time, his finer
sympathies were dwarfed and swal-
lowed up in his opportunities. AT all
events, he throve wondrously; buying
not a few farms about OpenstOne dur
ing those years, and about the close OF
the war opening bank in Openstone.
Also about this period he began to
identity himself with politics; grad
ually working himself toward the
local leadership. 1t was little doubt
full whom his heart was wholly with,
for principles and moral tendencies
had never chung to Joels feet sufil-
GENTLY to clog his progress much, be.
sides he was, as the term is usually
accepted, pre-eminently practical, and
aimed to be with the fellows who were
successful and had 1.-THE sand as he
put it.
Promptly upon the morning of his
fifteenth birthday, John Earring en-
tered JoeHs office, and hanging his
cap upon the wall, stated that he was
ready for business. Joel turned his
large person about and looked at him
with inquisitive surprise. ooh. yes,
remember" he said. s.Well, SO you
think you want to go to work, dc
youp"
Eyes SIR" said the boy.
Joel stretched out his legs and lean
ing back with half smile looked up
at the ceiling. Lets see, what did
you say the bargain WASP"
81 am to work five years, sir"
Joel looked at the boy. Don't you
want any pay?' he asked:
..Only some books, sir"
Joel poised his watch-fob between
his thumb and finger and looked at it,
the boy regarded him steadily. Give
years." said Joel, .'that's one-third ~
long as you've lived"
Eyes sir.
"And you don't want any thing but
some books?'
That is all. SIR"
$50 YOU think you are in debt to meP'
Eyes, sir, for myself entirely.
'.Do you think five years of work
will pay itP''
Il left that to you, sir. I will work
longer if you wish. y
Il guess five will do What do you
want to work at?''
whatever you think l can do the
best"
"Wel, they need more help in the
store. l guess you can go in there. -"
After John Earling had gone joe
looked fixedly at the columns of fig
ures before him and shook his head.
Its sand,n he said, .'but I'm afraid
it's mixed with iron. Hard to handle
I'm afraid" and he shook his head
again.
| Joers Office was double and built ir
the right hand front of his big retail
store 1t had been originally single
room, with long horizontal window
running its entire length looking in
ward upon the store with perpendicular
windows looking out upon the street
but Joers many affairs had caused hin
to erect partition making private
office for himself opening into The
book-keeper's room. Here the account
ant sat facing the interior through the
| long open window, where at any mo-
ment he might lift his eyes and witnes:
the workings of the place. In the store
was well nigh every thing that could bt
imagined; at least every description O.
merchandise demanded by the town ane
surrounding country. The place gave
employment to quite number O
statesmen, Openstone at that period
being the terminus of the railway tina
came IN from the east, and large
scope of fertile land south and ncrti
and west making the volume OF bust
ness considerable.
One morning, when John Earring
task had progressed year or more
upon coming to the long window will
the proceeds of a sale--the book-keepe
being also cashier-he looked up will
a sort of spirit-shock as he met new
pair of eyes. Very black were tn
eyes; at least there seemed SLOW
black fire burning back of the pupils
giving that effect. Their owner was {
man of medium height, rather pale ant
thin, an almost unnaturally large hea'
and jutting in front, small weak nos
and thin nervous lips. His person wa
scrupulously clad, and about him Their
was an air of indescribable quiet.
did not seem, somehow, the quiet OF
peaceful self-possession, but rather
sort of pent-up agony, or great pail
or rage held forever perfectly still
and motionless. His words were few
and well chosen. His manners gentle
manly, but not of kind to invite init
macy. He seldom smiled or stoppe'
to talk and was wonderfully assiduou
and careful of his trust. He looke'
keenly at John Earling. and the yout
noticed that his thin white hand trem
bled little as he took the money iron
him. While the stranger ran swift
over the money John Earring regarde
him steadily for moment with hi
clear gray eyes a little wide. as If tn