Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-07-25

tion. 1 WINS eiaoOTouh6 IL On INA way
down town in my electric. II shows
how badly Anita was erippling my
brain, that not until | was almost at
my office did it occur to me: That
was a tremendous luxury Roebuck in
dulged his conscience in last night.
1t isn't like him to forewarn a man,
eve when he's sure he can't escape.
Though his prayers we're hot in his
mouth, still, it's strange he didn't try
to fool me. In fact, it's suspicious.
In fact"
Suspicious? The instant the idea
was fairly before my mind, l knew
had let his canting fool me once
more. I entered my offices, feeling
that the blow had already fallen; and
| was surprised, but not relieved,
when I found everything calm. But
fall it will within an hour or so-be-
fore | a % to, avert It." said ]
to myself.
And fall IT, did. At eleven o'clock,
just as l was setting out to make my
first toward heating old Gallo
ways heels for the war-path, Joe came
In with the news: "A general lock-
outs declared in the coal regions. The
operators have stoleusa march on the
mel who, SC they allege, were secret
ly getting ready to strike. By night
every coal road will be tied up and
every mine shut down"
Joe knew our coal interests we're
heavy, but he did not dream his news
meant that before the day was over
we would be bankrupt and not able
to pay fifteen cents on the dollar.
However, he knew enough to throw
him into a fever of fright. He watched
my calmness with terror. Goal stocks
are dropping like a thermometer in
a cold wave," he said, like a fireman
at a sleeper in a burning house.
Naturally" said /, unruffled, appar-
emily. What can we do about it,"
I'VE must do something" he ex.
claimed.
"Yes, we must" l admitted. For
instance, we must keep cool, espe-
cially when two or three dozen peo-
pie are watching us. Also, you
must attend to your usual, routine"
What are you going to do?" he
cried. For Gods sake, Matt, don't
keep me in s%uspense!"
go to your desk" | commanded.
And he quoted down and wc1t. l
hadn't been schooling him in the fire
drill for fifteen years in vain.
l went UP the street and into the
great banking and brokerage house Of
Galloway and Company. made my
way through the small army of guards,
behind which the old beast Of prey
was ~intrenched, and into his private
den. There he sat, at a small, plain
table, in the middle of the room with
out any article of furniture in it but
his table and his chair. On the table
was a small inkstand, perfectly clean,
attached to 1t. And that was all
not a letter, not a scrap of paper, not
q sign Of work or of intention to
work. 1t might have been the desk
of a man who did nothing; in fact.
1t was the desk of a man who had so
much to do that his only nope of es-
cape from being overwhelmed was
to despatch and clear away each mat
ter the instant it was presented to
him. Many things could be read from
the powerful form, bolt upright in that
stiff chair, and from the cynical, mas
terful old face. But to me the chief
quality there revealed was that quail,
ity of qualities, decision-the great.
est power a man can have, except
only courage. And old James Gallo
way had both.
He pierced me with his blue eyes,
keen as a youths, though his face WAS
scanned with scars of seventy tumul-
tuous years. He extended toward me
over the table his broad, stubby white
hand-the hand of a builder, of a con
structive genius. How are you,
B~lacklock?" said he. What can |
do for you?" He just touched my
hand before dropping it, and resumed
that idol-like pose. But although
there was only repose and ~delibera-
ton in his manner, and not a sugges.
ton of haste, l, like every one who
came into that room and that pres
ence, had a sense of an interminable
procession behind me, a procession
of men who must be seen by this
m~aster-mover that they might submit
important and pressing affairs to him
for decision. 1t was unnecessary for
; him to tell any n to be brief and
pointed.
Il shall have to go to the wall to.
day." said !, taking a paper from my
, pocket, unless you save me. Here
is a statement Of my assets and liza.
: bilities. l call to your attention my
Coal holdings. I was one of the
eight men whom Roebuck got round
him for the new combine-it is a Sc.
cret, but l assume you know all about
It,"
He laid the paper before him, put
or his noseglasses and looked at 1t,
. Ito be Continued.)