Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-04-02
|. The Firm Of
Cird|eStOne
BY
A. CONAN DOYLE
SS@3~
CHAPTER VII.-(Continued

CHAPTER Nll.-( Continued.)
The old man was pale and nervous
The one weak point in his character was
his affection for his son, an affection
which he strove to hide under an austere
manner but which was none the less
genuine. He had never before parted with
him for any length of time, and he felt
the wrench keenly. As to Ezra. he was
flushed and excited at the thought of the
new scenes which lay before him and the
daring speculation in which he was about
10 embark. He flung himself into chair
and stretched his thick, muscular limbs
our in front of him.
Il know as much about stones" She
said exultantly, "as any man in London.
! was pricing a bag of rough ones at
Van Helmer's to-day, and he is reckoned
a good judge. He said that no expert
could have done it better
You deserve great credit for your
Quickness and perseverance" replied his
father. Your knowledge will be inval-
uabe to you when you are at the fields
You will promise to be careful and to
avoid quarrels and bloodshed"
Il won't get into any rows if l can
help it," his son answered. That's not
my game"
But if you think that there is no mis-
take, if your opponent is undoubtedly
about to proceed to extrenities, shoot him
down at once, my dear lad, before he has
time to draw. 1 have heard those who
have been out there say that in such cases
everything depends upon getting the first
shot l am anxious about you, and shall
not be easy until l see you again"
Blessed If he hasn't tears in his eyes,"
Ezra exclaimed to himself, much aston
ished at this unprecedented occurrence.
when do you go?' his father asked.
my train leaves in an hour or so.
reach the steamer at Southampton about
three in the morning, and she starts with
the full tide a. six. Well, good-by," said
the young man, rising up and holding
out his hand Keep your eye on Dims-
dale and don't trust him."
"Good-by, my son, good-by. -
The old merchant was honestly moved.
and his voice quivered as he spoke. He |
ST ood motonless for minute or so until |
the heavy door slammed, and then he |
threw open the window and gazed sorrow
fully down the street at the disappearing
CAP. Ills WQOle dltlluue expressed SuCl
detection that his ward, who had just en-
tered the room, felt more drawn towards
him than she had ever done before. Slip
ping up to him, she placed her warm,
tender hand upon sssympathetically
.'He will soon come back, dear Mr.. Cir
dlestone." she said. You must not be
uneasy about him"
AS she stood beside him in her white
1ress, with a single red ribbon round ner
neck and a band of the same color round
1er waist, she was as fair a specimen OF
English girlhood as could have been
'ound in all London. The merchants
features softened as he looked down at ,
Ter fresh young face, and he put out his
,and as though to caress her, but some
unpleasant thought must have crossed his
mind, for he assumed suddenly a darker
ook and turned away from her without
word. More than once that night she
'ecalled that strange spasmodic express
ion of something akin to horror which :
lad passed over her guardians features as 9
la gazed at her. ;