Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-23
CHAPTER xxll-contlnued.

Jim fleteher, a mountain man VINO
had for years drifted between Tribula-
ton and Winchester trading in cattle
and timber. made a Journey through
the hills that spring. and was every
where received as 'home folks" For
him there we're no bars of distrust,
and he was able for that reason to buy
land right and left. Though he had
paid for II a price above the average,
II was a price far below the value OF
the coal and timber II contained
and Jim had picked his land.
Anse Havey and his associates knew
that Jim Fletcher had been subsidized;
that the money he spent so lavishly
was not his own money; and that he
came as a stalking,horse, but they did
not know that he had been to Louis
vile and had conferred there with MIR.
Trevor. Neither did they know at
once that he had visited the cabins of
every malcontent among both the for
mer factions, and that he was a mis-
chiefmaker adroitly laying here in the
hills the foundations for a new feud,
Jim had a bland tongue and a per-
suasive manner, and he talked to the
mountain men In their W speech.
but he was m the less the advance
agent OF the new enemy from down
below; the personal fulhllment of
Juanita's prophecy to Roger Malcolm,
Juanlta did mot realize how much
she was leaning on the strength OF
Anse Havey, how she depended on
him for counsel and encouragement,
which he gave not in behalf Of the
school, but because he was the school
teachers slave. She saw the little
hospital rise on the hill and thought
of what 1t would do, and she believed
that Anse Havey must be. in his heart,
converted. even though his mountain
ohstinacy would not letlhim say so,
Then, while the hillsides were joy.
GUS with spring, came a squad Of lads
with transit and chain, who began
running a tentative line through the
land that Jim Fletcher had bought,
Anse Havey watched them grimly
with folded arms, but said no word
until they reached the boundary of his
OWL place.
There he met them at the border.
Boys" he said, "ye mustn't cross
that fence. This is my land, an ! for
bids ye."
Their foreman argued.
I'VE only want to take the measure,
ments necessary to complete our line,
Mr.. Havey. We won't work any in
jury"
Anse shook his head,
Come in, boys, an eat with me an
make yourselves at home" he told
them. but leave your tools outside"
Men from the house patrolled the
boundary with rifles and the young
men were forced to turn back,
But later they drew neal the house
of old Bob McGreegor. and he, steal
ing down to the place in the thicket OF
rhododendron. saw them perilously
near the trickling stream which ever
then bore on its surface little kernels
of yellow corn. Deeply and violently
old Bob swore as he drank from his
little blue keg. and when one day he
saw them again he asked counsel of
no man. He went down and crept
close through the laurel, and when his
old rifle spoke a schoolboy from the
Blue Grass fell dead among the rocks
of the water course,
After that death, the first murder OF
-, tNnNnopN lpYtgflAN fhA xuaN xuhlah
Anse Hayey had SO long f~oreseen
broke furiously and brought the or.
ders of upland and lowland to the
grip of bitter animosity.
Old McGreegor's victim had been
young Roy Calvin, the son of Judge
Calvin of Lexington, and the name Of
Calvin in central Kentucky was one
associated with the states best ira
ditions.
Ii had run in a strong. bright thread
through the pattern OF Kentucky
achievements, and when news OF the
wanton assassination came home. thu
state awoke to a shock OF horror. The
infamy Of the hills was screamed il
echo to the mourning. and the name
OF Bad Anse Havey was once more
printed in large type,
The men whose capital sought 4
wrest profit from tho hills, and who's
employee had been slain. were quiol
TO take advantage OF this hue and or.
OF calumny.
They hurled themselves into tn,
fight for gaining possession OF coveteI
land and were not particular as t
methods.
Jim Fletcher came and ven cor
stantly between the lowlands an
highlands. He was all things to a.
men, and In the hills he cursed tn
lowlander, but in the lowland b
cursed the hills. Milt and Jeb an
Anse rode constantly from cabin
cabin in their Efforts to circumver
the adroit schemes OF the mountai
Judas who had sold his soul 70 tn
lowland syndicate,
Fletcher sought a foothold for can
tai to pierce fields acquired at ii
price OF undeveloped land and the
70 take the profit Of development
Anse sought to hold title until Il
sales could be on a fairer basis. ar
so the issue was made up.
Capitalists. like Malcolm. who sat
directors. rooms launching a legii
mate enterprise, had no actual know