The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-08-19
.6r 4. CONAN DOYLE

.
Five thousand!' exclaimed the ad-
miral. reckoning in his own mind
"Lemme see! That's twenty-five pounds
commission. A nice days work, upon
my word. 1t is a very handsome order.
ma'am."
We'll. I must pay some one. and why
not him.
'I1l tell him, and I'm sure he'll lose
no time"
"Oh. there is nc great hurry. BY the
way. 1 understand from what you said
Just now that he has a partner"
Yes. my boy is the Junior partner.
Pearson Is the senior. / was introduced
to him years ago, n he offered Har-
old the opening. OF course we had a
pretty stiff premium to pay"
Mrs. Westmacott had stopped. and
was standing very stiffly with her red
Indian face even grimmer THAI usual.
Pearson" said she. Jeremiah
Pearson?"
The same"
Then it's all on she cried. you
need not carry out that investment"
Very well. ma'am.'
They walked on together side by side,
she brooding over some thought of her
own. and he a little crossed and disap-
pointed at her caprice and the lost COM
mission for Harold.
Il tell you what, admiral" she ex-
claimed suddenly, IF / were you I
should get your boy out Of this part
nership."
But why, madam"
Because he is tied TO one OF the deep
est. slyest foxes in the Who'll city Of
London"
Jeremiah Pearson, ma'am? What
can you know of him? He bears a good
name"
mo one in this world knows Jeremiah
Pearson as l know him, admiral. I
warn you because | have a friendly
feeling both for you and for your son.
The man is a rogue and you had best
avoid him."
But these are only words, ma'am. Do
you tell me that you know him better
than the brokers and jobbers in the
city?"
Man." cried Mrs. westmacott, will
you allow that / know him when I tel;
you n a my maiden name was Ada
Pearson. and that jeremiah Pearson is
my only brother?"
The admiral whistled. "wheww cried
he. Now that 1 think Of 1t, there Is q
likeness
He Is a man OF iron. admirale man
without a heart. l should shock you
II l were to tell you wnat 1 have en-
dured from my brother. My fathers
wealth was divided equally between us.
His own share he ran through in five
years. n he has tried since then by
every trick Of a cunning, low-minded
man. by base cajolery. by legal quib-
bles. by brutal intimidation, to juggle
me out Of my share as well. There is
no villainy Of which the man is not ca
pable. Oh. l know my brother. Jere-
miah. I know him and l am prepared
for him."
This Is all new to me. ma'am. Pom
my word. l hardly know what to say to
1t. l thank you for having spoken so
plainly. From what you say this Is a
poor sort Of consort for a man to sail
with. Perhaps Harold would do well TO
cut him adrift."
Without losing a Gay"
We'll. we shall talk 1t over. You may
be sure OF that. But here we are at
the station. SO / will just see you into
your carriage and then home to see
what my wife say to the matter"
AS he trudged homeward. thoughtful
and perplexed. he was surprised to hear
a shout behind him. and to see Harold
running down the road after him
why. dad" he cried. IT have Jus.
come from town. and the first thing I
saw was your back as you marched
away. But you are such a quick walker
that I had to run to catch you"
The admiral's smile Of pleasure had
broken his stern face into a thousand
wrinkles. you are early to-day" said
he.
Yes, I wanted to consult you"
Nothing wrong?"
"Oh no. only an inconvenience"
What Is 1t. hem"
How much have we in our private
account"
Pretty fair. Some eight hundred. I
think"
"Oh. half that will be ample. 1t was
rather thoughtless Of Pearson"
What them"
We'll. o see. dad, when he went
away upon this little holiday to Havre
he left me to pay accounts and so on.
He told me that there was enough at
the bank for all claims. / had occasion
on Tuesday to pay away two cheques,
one for ESQ n the other for f120, and
here they are returned with a bank no.
tice that we have already overdrawn to
the extent of some hundreds"
The admiral looked very grave.
What's the meaning of that. them" he
asked.
"Oh, 1t car easily be set right. You
see Pearson invests all the spare cap
ital and keeps as small a margin as