Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-03-26

The Firm Of
CirdIeStOne
BY
A. CONAN DOYLE
SS-(@S~
CHAPTER VI
A. CONAN DOYLE

Aims finances was a terrible blow to Ezra
Girdlestone To man of his overbear-
ing tempestuous disposition failure aud
poverty were bitter things TO face. All
his life he had reckoned, as a matter OF
course, that when his father passed away
he would be left almost a millionaire. \
single half-hour's conversation had shat
tered this delusion, and left him face to
face with ruin.
He proceeded to qualify himself as a
dealer in diamonds. 1t happened that he
was acquainted with one of the part
ners of the firm of Fugger & Stoltz, who
did the largest import trade in precious
stones Through his kindness he received
practical instructions in the variety and
value of diamonds, and learned to detect
all those little flaws and peculiarlties
which are only visible TO the eye of an ex-
pert, and yet are of the highest impor-
tance in determining the price of stone
With such opportunities Ezra made rapid
progress, and within a few weeks there
were few dealers in the trade who had
better grasp of the subject.
Early one April afternoon the major
was strutting down St. James street,
frock coated and kid gloved, with pro
tuberant chest and glittering shoes which
peeped out from beneath the daintiest of
CATERS. Young Girdlestone. who had been
on the lookout from club window. ran
across and intercepted him.
How are you, my dear major?' he
cried, advancing upon him with out
stretched hand and as much show OF
geniality as his nature permitted.
How dye do? How dye do?" said the
other somewhat pompously. He had made
UP his mind that nothing was to be done
with the young man, and yet he was re-
luctant to break entirely with one whose
purse was we'll lined.
I've been wishing to speak with you
for some days, major" said Ezra. Il
wish to speak to you quietly on a matter
Of business. Can you meet me at Nelson's
Cafe at four o'clock? | know the man
eyer, and he'll let us have private
ROOM
I'D ask you round to me own little
place" the ma jor said, but it's rather too
far. Nelson's at four. Right you are -
1t was clear to him that some service
or other was expected of him, and it
was obviously his game therefore to hang
back and not appear to be too eager to
enter into young Girdlestone's views.
When he presented himself at the eu-
trance of Nelson's Cafe the young mer-
chant had been fuming and chating in
the sitting room for FIVE and twenty min
utes.
I'll tell you why l wanted to have a
chat with you, major" Ezra said, having
FIRST opened the door suddenly and glanc-
ed out as precaution against eavesdrop-
pers. Il have to be cautious because
what l have to say affects the interest of
the firm. l wouldn't for the world have
anyone know about it except yourself We
have a difficult enterprise on which we
are about to embark" Ezra said. 1T is
one which will need great skill and tact
though it may be made to pay we'll il
properly managed. For this enterprise
we require an agent to perform one o!
the principal parts. This agent must pos
sess great ability, and, at the same time
be a man on whom we can thoroughly
rely. You are prepared to put yourselI
at our orders on condition that you arc
well paid for it!'
fast, :" said the major. Let's hear wha
1t is that you want me to do, and ther
I'm ready to say what I'll agree to-"
Thus encouraged. Ezra proceeded t.
unfold the plan upon which the House o
Girdlestone depended. Not word did h
say of ruin or danger, or the reason
which had induced this speculation. Ol
the contrary he depicted the affairs Of tn
firm as being in a most hourishing condi
ton, and this venture as simply a small
insignificant offshoot from their business
undertaken as much for amusement as 70
any serious purpose. Still, he laid stres
upon the fact that though the sum il
question was a small one to the firm, ye
1t was a very large one in other men
eyes As to the morality of the scheme
that was point which Ezra omitted en-
tirely to touch upon. Any comment upol
that would, he felt, be superfuous whe
dealing with such man as his compan
ion.
And now, major" he concluded, "pr1
vded you lend us your name and you
talents to help US in our speculation tn
firm are prepared to meet you in mos
liberal spirit in the matter Of remuners
ton. OF course, your voyage and your ea
penses will be handsomely paid You wi
have to travel by steamer to st. Peters
burg provided that We choose the Urs
Mountains as the scene OF our imaginar
find | hear that there Is high play goin
on aboard those boats, and with you
well-known skill you will no doubt b
able to make the voyage remunerativ
one. We calculate that at the most 20
will be in Russia about three months
Now, the firm thought that 1t would B
very fair IL they were to guarantee 20
two hundred and fifty pounds, which the
would increase to five hundred in case {
success Of course, by that we mean con
plete success such as would be likely
attend your exertions."
When the young man had finished, IN
major stood up with his face to the empt
fireplace, his legs far apart, bis chest il
fated, and his body rocking ponderousl
backwards and forwards.
Let me be quite sure that / undei
stand you," he said. You wish me I
60 TO Russia? You have the goodness
suggest that on me way / should roo
me fsllow-panengers In the boAtT