Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-03-05

The Firm Of
Cird!eStOne
BY
A. CONAN DOYLE
NSl@3~

II you liiSlSt On IL, IL must De done. bul
of course, it would make great differen :,
in your salary"
"Eh?"
You are at present getting fifteeI
pounds a month, and five per cent con-
mission. These are exceptional terms II
consideration of any FISK that you may
run. We shall dry dock the Black Eagle
and your salary is now ten pounds 6
month and two and half commission.
''Belay, there, belay!" the sailor shout
ed. His coppery face was shade darker
than usual, and his bilious eyes had i
venomous gleam in them. Don't you
beat me down. ~ he hissed, advancing t.
the table and leaning his hands upon il
while he pushed his angry face forward
until it was within a foot OF that of the
merchant. Don't you try thai game on,
mate, for l am a freeborn British sea-
man, and | am under the thumb of no
man. You'd reduce my salary, would
YET" roared Captain Hamilton Miggs,
working himself into a fury. Me that
has worked for ye. and slaved fer ye, ard
risked my life for ye. You try it OH,
guvnor, just you try it on! Suppose |
let eat that little story o. the painting
out O. the marks-whcre would the firm
of Girdlestone be then? | guess you'd
rather double my wage than nave that
yarn goin' about"
What do you mean?"
What do | mean? You ion't know
what l mean, do you? OF course not. 1t
wasn't you as set Us on to 90 at night
and paint out the government Plims SOL
marks and paint 'em in again higher up.
SO as to be able to overload. That wasn't
you. was it?"
DO you mean to assert that 1t was?'
In course | do" thundered the angry
seaman.
The senior partner struck the gong
which stood upon the table. "Gilray," he
said quietly, go out and bring in po,
liceman.'
Captain Hamilton Miggs seemed to be
somewhat startled by this sudden move
of his antagonist. STEADY your helm.
governor" he said. What are We up to
nowY
I'm going to give you in charge
what for?'
For intimidating and using threaten
Ing language, and endeavoring to extort
money under false pretenses.'
There's no witnesses" the sailor said
In half-cringing. halfdefiant manner.
"Oh, yes, there are" Ezra Girdlestone
remarked, coming into the room. He hal
been standing between the two doors
which led to the counting house, and had
overheard the latter portion Of the ccp-
versation. Don't let me interrupt you.
You were saying that you would blacken
my fathers character unless he increased
your salary"
Il didn't mean no HARM" said Captain
Hamilton Miggs, glancing nervcusly fro-h
the one to the other. He hal been fairly
we'll known to the law in his younger
days, and had no desire to renew the aC-
quaintance.
WHO painted out those Plmscl
marks" asked the merchant
lit was me-"
Did any one suggest it to your
NO"
"Shall | send in the policeman, siri''
asked Glray, opening the door
Ask him to wait for a moment." Cir
dlestone answered. And now, captain,
TO return to the original point, shall we
dry dock the Black Eagle and reduce thn
salary, or do you see your way to going
back in her on the same terms?"
I'll 20 back sad the captain reck-
lessly. When dye want me to start"
when she's unloaded and loaded up
again. Three weeks or a month yet. |
expect that Spender will have come in
with the Maid of Athens by tnat time
Unless some accident happens on the
wav." said Captain Hamilton MIggs, with
we came up the coast. | say he contin-
ued, giving his employer a confidential
nudge with his elbow, suppose we'd gone |
down in the bay this last time, you'd ha' |
been a bit out in your reckohing-eh, |
~hatF'
why so?"
well. we were over-insureI IN our OUT
ward passage. An accident tnen nigh. |
ha' put thousands in your pocket | know.
Coming back, though, the cargo was
worth more than the insurance, reckon.
You'd ha' been out o pocket if we'd foun-
dered."
I'VE take our chance of these things"
the merchant said with dignity.
well, good morning, guv'ner," Cap
tain Hamilton Miggs said brusquely.
As he passed out through the office,
Ezra rejoined his father.
Hes rum chap" he remarked, jerk
ing his head in the direction which Miggs
had taken "A useful servant, though"
"The fellows half a savage himself"
his father said Hes in his element
among them. That's why he gets on 80
well with them"
"IIe doesn't seem much the worse fol
the climate, either"
His body does not, but his ideas are
shockingly immoral! However. to return
to business. l wish you to see the un-
derwriters and pay the premium of the
Black Eagle. If you see your way to if,
Increase the policy, but do it carefully.
Ezra. and with tact. She will start about
the time of the equinOctial gales. If any
thing should happen to her. II would be
as well that the firm should bIve a mar
Yin on the right side"
CHAPTER Ill.
The residence of Major Tohias Clur- |