Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-11-25
CHAPTER XVI.

In an Office which overlooks the gray
stone courthouse in Louisville sat a
youngish mar Of somewhat engaging
countenance. In the small anteroom
of his sanctum was a young woman
who hammered industriously on a type
writer and told most of the visitors
who called that Mr.. Trevor was out.
That al because most of those who
came bore about them the unmistak-
able hallmark of creditors. MI. Ire
vor's list of creditors would have made
as long a scroll as his list of business
activities.
Yet for all these cares Mr.. Trevor
was just now sitting with his tan
shoes propped on his broad desk, and
his face was untroubled. He was one
of these interesting gentlemen who
give a touch of color to the monotony
of .humdrum life. Mr.. Trevor was a
soldier of fortune who sold not his
sword, but the very keen and flexible
blade of his r~esourceful brain.
Roger Malcolm of Philadelphia knew
him only as the pleasant chance &C
quaintance Of an evening spent in a
New York club.
He had impressed the fastener as
a most fascinating fellow who seemed
to have engaged in large enterprises
here and there over the face of the
| globe. So when Mr.. Malcolm present
ed his card in the office anteroom the
young woman at the machine gave him
one favoring glance and did not say
Mr.. Trevor was out.
80 you are going to penetrate the
wilds Of the Cumberlands, are your
inquired Mr.. Trevor in his pleasing
voice, as he grasped his visitors hand.
TELL me just where you mean to go
and I'll tell you how to do it with the
least difficulty. The least difficult down
there is plenty"
"My objective" replied Mr.. Malcolm,
lis a place at the headwaters of a
creek called Tribulation, some thirty
miles from a town called PERIL"
II know the places-and their
names fit them. I'd offer to go with
you, but I'm afraid l wouldn't prove a
benefit to you. I'm non grata with Bad
Anse Havey, Esquire, and Mr.. Milton
McBriar, who are the local d%ictators.'
Mr.. Malcolm laughed.
'In passing" he said, Il dropped in
to talk over the coal development
proposition which you said would in
terest me-"
Mr.. Trevor reached into his desk
and brought out several maps.
1.-THE tentacles Of the railroads are
reaching in here and there" he begar
with the promoters suave ease of man
ner. ut is a region which enterprise
can no longer afford to neglect, ant
the best field of all is as yet virgin ant
untouched"
"Why did you drop the enterprise
y~ourself?" inquired his visitor.
II didn't have the capital to swing
it. Of course, If it interests you ant
your associates it a be pu
through"
Malcolm nodded. 81 am going pr
marily by way of making a visit" h
said. Il meant to go before you rouse'
my interest in your proposition, and !
occurred to me that | might combin
business with pleasure"
The promoter looked up with a shad
Of surprise.
"You have friends out there in tina
God-forsaken tangle?" he inquired
God help them!"
"a lady whom l have known for
long while is establishing a schoc
there"
With the mention of the lady Ma
coins voice took on an uncommunict
! tive note, and Mr.. Trevor at ono
I changed the topic to coal and timbeI
, CTo BE CoNT1NUED)