Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-05-25
WopyriRhted. 1891, by s. 8. Morton, and pub
Kshec ~ special arrangement

4 q
copyriehtea 1891. by S. 8. Morton. and pub
| Hshec ~ special arrangement
CHAPTER vI1.-CoNrNuEn
North nodded carelcssly and stood
TOR moment contemplatively gazing
out of the window; then, summonine
all his resolution, hequietly approached
the door and entered the private office
| Of North and Wescott.
His first impression was of a rather
luxuriously furnished chamber, with
easy chairs. q whist table, shelf OF
novels and other similar adjuncts to re-
lieve the severely legal aspect Of the
place. But before he could glance crit
ically or comprehensively around the
Office, his attention was arrested, his
faculties were absorbed by a startling
discovery.
Behind one Of the desks, and evident
ly in rightful possession thereof, he
saw an awlwardly bent figure, a famil-
lar shock Of dark brown hair, a familiar
pair Of English whiskers and eye
glasses.
Tossing down his pen after afixing a
few hairline fourishes to the signature
that he had just scrawled on the paper
before him, Mr.. Wescott suddenly
Strengthened up and met North's as
tonished gaze.
"By Jove!" was North's mental ejacu-
lation as he surveyed his brothers part
ner with mingled emotions s'Its Wec!'
"What's the matter, North?' de-
manded that gentleman, leaning for
ward with both elbows on the desk,
resting his chin on one hand and direct
ing keen glance at North through his
Eyeglasses.
''Oh, nothing at all, Wee. thought
I would drop in for o few moments and
see how you were," said North, as he
threw himself into an easy chair oppo-
site Mr.. Wescott and coolly returned
his scrutiny.
"Quite q condescensionw growled
Wee, sarcastically. '::Seen old Archer
this morning?"
''Oh, come now. Wee, why are you
forever thrusting old Archer upon mc?"
began North, waving his hand with an
air Of languid protest.
because you're SO confouadedly
negligent that you'll not attend to any
thing Of the sort unless it is kept be-
fore your mind" retorted Wee, sharply.
''Oh, is that it? You take my in
terests very much to heart, Vice." OBJ
served North with an indolcnt drawl
which, as he perceived with secret salts
faction, was particularly exasperating
to Mr.. Wescott.
sit isn't your interests" returned
Wee, shortly. cts my own, which are
being sacrificed by my business con-
nectson with YOU"
''My dear fellow, you don't say SOL"
exclaimed North, lifting his eyebrows
with innocently amazed inquiry.
'It's fact! You are standing in my
light as well as your own, and say it's
a shame to sacrifice so many important
interests to mere selfish Incidence and
acknowledgement. Here's3 this note to
Archer; no one with any sense would
have Endorsed for Amity, but you
wouldn't listen to my advice, and so
you became surety for man who final
ly rewarded you by running away when
the note fell due and leaving you to set
tie with Archer. It's swindle, pure
and simple, on Amity's part, but since
you've assumed the obligation you
ought to meet it in a-prompt and busi-
ness-1ike way. Instead Of this, you
have put old Archer of from time to
time, always promising to attend to the
matter and never doing it, till now the
note is overdue by goodness knows how
long, and the old fellow is raising the
dickens about it all over town. If you
imagine that you can manage, or rather
mismanage your affairs in this way
without injuring the credit of yourself
and everyone else who is unfortunate
enough to have any business connec-
lions with you, then You are vastly
mistaken. It's an outrage, North, and
protest against i'll"
Mr.. Wescott's temper had gotten de-
cidedlv the better Of him during this
address, and the fact that he could elicit
no response from North only increased
his irritation. With mighty effort
restraining his strong desire to pitch
the senior partner out Of the Office, the
ruffled junior continued in a voice that
trembled with suppressed wrath:
''It's all very well, Mr.. North, for you
to assume this air of indifference-it's
all very well for you to ignore my fire.
c<, but iv,