Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-03-19

The Firm OF
Cird|eStOne
A. CONAN DOYLE
SS-[Gl--S~
CHAPTER V.-(Continued.)


too, that we were at this time, when the
market was in a depressed condition, to
invest several thousand pounds in them
II these rumors of an alleged discovery
turned out to be entirely unfounded, OF
course the value of the stones which we
held would so up once more, and we
might very we'll sell out for double or
treble the sum that we invested, Don,
You see the sequence OF events
There seems to me to be rather too
n nuch of the suppose in it. remarked Ezra
How do We know that such rumors will
get about; aud if they do. how do We
know that they will prove to be un-
foundcd?"
flow are we to know?" the merchant
cried, wriggling his long lank body with
amusement. why my lad, if we spread
the rumor ourselves we shall have pre,ty
good reason to believe that they are I'm
founded. Ell, Ezra Ha ha You see
there are some brains in the Old man
yet"
Ezra looked at his father in consid-
cradle surprise and some admiration
Why" he exclaime Its dishonest. I'm
not sure that it's not actionable.'
dishonest POOH !" The merchant
snapped his fingers. ITS finesse, my bog
commercial fnesse. Who's to trace it.
l should like to know. | haven't worked
out all the details-I want your pop
GRAFTON over that-but here's 1ugh
sketch of my plan. We send man we
can depend upon to some distant part
of the world, Chimborazo. for example,
or the Ural Mountains. 1t doesn't mat
ter where, as long as it Is out Of the
way. On arriving at this place our agent
starts report that ne has discovered a
diamond mine. We should even 90 the
length. If he considers it necessary, of
hiding a few rough stones in the earth,
which he can dig up to give color 70 his
story. Of course the local press would
be full of this He might present one
of the diamonds to the editor of the near
est paper. In course of time a pretty
colored description of the new diamond
fields would find its way to London AMI
thence to the Cape. III answer for it
that the immediate effect is a great drop
in the price of stones. We should have a
second agent at the Cape diamond fields,
and he would lay our money out by buy
ing in all that he could while the panic
lasted. Then, the original scare having
proved to be all a mistake, the prices
naturally go up once more, and we get a
long figure for all that we hold. That's
what mean by making corner in dia
monds.' There is no room in it for any
miscalculation."
1T sounds very NICE his son remark
ed. thouShtfully. I'm not so sure aOout
its working, though"
1T must work we'll. AS far as hum7n
calculation can go there is no possibility
of failure. Besides, my boy, never lose
sight of the fact that we shall be specu
lating with other peoples money. We
ourselves have nothing to lose, absolutely
nothing
Il am not likely to lose sight of IT,"
said Ezra angrily, his mind coming back
to his grievance.
Il reckon that we can raise from forty
to fifty thousand pounds without much
difficulty. My name is, as you know,
as good as that of any firm in the city.
For nearly forty years it has been above
stain or suspicion. If we carry on oar
plans at once. and lay this money out
judciously, all may come right"
Its Hobson's choice" the young man
remarked. I'VE must try some bold
stroke of the sort. Have you chosen the
right sort of men for agents? You should
have men of some standing to set such
reports going. They would have more
weight then
John Girdlestone shook his head de-
spondingly. How am | to get man Of
any standing to do such a piece of busi-
ness?" he said.
Nothing easier" answered Ezra with
a cynical laugh II could pick out
score of impecunious fellows from the
clubs who would be only too glad to earn
a hundred or two in any way you can
mention. | shall go myself to the dia-
mond fields. As to our other agent.
have the very man, Ma jor Tobias Clutter
buck. He is shrewd. cleyer fellow, and
he's always hard up. His social rank
would be a great help to our plan. III
answer for his jumping at the idea"
Sound him on the subject. then"
Il will
81 am glad" said the old merchant,
that you and l have had this conversa-
tiou. Ezra. The fact of my having specu-
lated without your knowledge, and de-
ceived you by a false ledger, has often
weighed heavily upon my conscience, as
sure you. 1t is a relief to me to have
told you ALL
Drop the subject, then" Ezra said,
curtly. 81 must put up with it, for
have no redress. The thing is done and
nothing can undo it, but | consider that
Won have willfully wasted the money"
believe me, have tried to act for the
best. The good name of our firm is ev-
e,rthing to me. | have spent my whole
life in building it up, and if the day
should come when it must go, | trust
that may have gone myself. There is
nothing which l would not do TO pre-
serve il"
IL see they want our premiums" Ezra
said. glancing at the open letter upon the
table. How is il that none Of those
ships 90 down. That would give US help"
"Hush hush ~ John Girdlestone cried.
irploringly. Speak in a whisper when
YOU talk of such things"
~ can't understand you" said Ezra,
oetulantIy. You persistently over-insure