Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-28

would not for worlds have staid there to
abash the young creature who had given
him that mistaken caress; but he was
thrilled by it, lifted up to a heaven of bliss
so slight are the conditions necessary to
such heaven for lover who scarcely yet
realizes that he is in love.
Could Carol have known how reverently
he thought of her, some of her own hurt
constituencies must have been soothed
away.
81 shall always be a friend of theirs" he
thought ga true friend, for her sake, to
her brother"
Now, to explain how Norris came to be
there, for Norris it was. That interview
with his uncle had had the effect of sending
him, in likes company, to take another look
at the express car when the empty train
stood in the sheds between trips. 1t was
nearly midnight, and the light of the brake
mans lantern flashed hither and thither
through the gloom. Some freight trains
were being shifted out in the yard, but here,
the empty coaches occupying the tracks
seemed quite deserted.
Norris took the light and crept under the
express car, keenly examining every inch
of frame and beam and axle which lay near
the spot where the aperture had been cut
through the floor. Ike took lively inter-
est from his place between the wheels,
where he stood bent nearly double, with his
hands braced on his knees, while his pale
blue eyes followed the others movements.
"Don't reckon you'll find much that got
away from the detectives he observed.
''One of them went so far as to try ride on
the truck, but l tell you he was sick of his
job. They've mended the floor; you can see
where the boards JONI"
"Yes," said Norris, looking at the spot.
He was recalling the exact appearance of
the cut as he carried it in his mind-the
KEN saw strokes of a skilled hand and the
piece perfectly fitted in it's place-and it was
not until his eyes had rested upon it for a
moment or two, that he was attracted by a
nail which protruded from the flooring, the
end of which seemed covered by thick,
red rust.
He put up his finger to touch it, then felt
for his knife, while he called Ike to hold the
lantern.
SCOT something's" asked the brakeman,
curiously.
s'It looks like bit of hair matted with
dried blood. A man. 'cramped up under
here, could easily throw up his head and
give it an ugly scrape against that nail. I'll
put this under microscope and see what
| can make of it,
| He carefully folded the scrapings he had
made in bit of paper torn from his note
| ct of the same.
| As the two scrambled out of their uncom-
| Portable quarters, Norris fancied he heard
| footsteps receding, and there seemed to be
| a movement among the shadows near the
| end of the she'd
"Who is that.' he asked, quickly. ''Not
! one of the hands; there is nothing to bring
them here at this time"
''More likely tramp in search of anight's
| lodging" suggested Ike.
They hurried in that direction, but the
| figure, if there was one, had disappeared.
On the following day Norris Bergman had
! a strange visitor
| His landlady tapped at his door and
! handed him card, which bore the name of
Hiram Ingot, and in the thick-set, heavy
featured man who followed close after Norris
Immediately recognized the offensive indi-
vidual who had proclaimed himself friend
of the Childers. Mr.. Ingot himself totally
| ignored any previous meeting between
them. He made his business known after
a few preliminary remarks.
'srve heard of you, Mr.. Bergman, through
| our mutual friend, Frost. He tells me that
his company has given you the bounce and
| it came to me that we might do each other a
| good turn. am ook-keeper in the Ever
] leigh bank; amt In as good state of health
as look to be, and Tn thinking of taking
an assistant to tighten my work for month
or so. Mr.. Everleigh is willing, so if you
care to take the place till something better
offers, I'll take it as favor. You'll work
under me and I'll have all the responsibility
| For wages-wel, won't be small as
mean to let You take the heft of the job, SC
we'll say that you get twenty dollars out OF
| my thirty-tive week"
sAre you aware that the express company
dismissed me. as the saying is, under O
| cloudr'
81 heard Frost's story, tell you, and his
word is good enough for me.''
81 don't see why you should come to me
Mr.. Ingot."
"Well, to be frank with you, think you
| are a chap who would give me my moneys
worth of service, and that's MORN some Of
them do Nowadays" returned the other
| with laugh. by the bye, Lyman Childel
| Is our cashier"
| He threw in that announcement casually
| not at all as If he expected it to have any
| weight, and rising from his chair sauntereS
over 70 the little table by the window nea'