Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-03-12

him a handsome return, became suddenly
exhausted, and the shares went down o
zero. No firm could stand against such
a run of bad luck, and the African trad
ing company reeled before it. John CIR.
dlestone had not said word yet Of all
this to his son. As claims arose he SOL
tied them in the best manner he could
and postponed the inevitable day when
he should have to give true account
of their financial position. lie hoped
against hope that the chapter of acci-
dents or the arrival of some brilliant car
goes from the coast might set the concern
on its legs again.
From day to day he had been expecting
news of one of his vessels. At last one
morning he found telegram awaiting
him at the office. He tore 1t eagerly opeu
for it bore the Madeira marx. 1t was
from his agent. Jose Alverciras, and an
nounced that the voyage from which he
had hoped so much had been a total fail
ure. The cargo was hardly sufficient to
defray the working expenses. As the mer-
chant read it. his head dropped over the
table and he groaned aloud. Another OF
the props which upheld him from ruin
mao snapped Deneatn MIN.
There were three letters lying beside
the telegram. He glanced through them,
but there was no consolation IN any ot
them. One was from a bank manager
informing him that his account was some
what overdrawn. Another from Lloyd's
Insurance Agency, pointing out that the
policies on two of his vessels would lapse
unless paid within a certain date, The
clouds were gathering very darkly over
the African firm, yet the old man bore
up against misfortune with dauntless
courage. He sat alone in his little room,
with his head sunk upon his breast, and
his matched eyebrows drawn down over
his keen grey eyes. 1t was clear to m
that the time had come when he must
enlighten his son as to the true state Of
their affairs. With his cooperation he
might carry out plan which had been
maturing for some months in his brain.
A moment or two later the green baize
door few open, and the young man came
in, throwing his hat and coat down on
one of the chairs. 1t was evident that
something had rufled his temper.
Good morning." he said brusquely.
nodding his head to his father.
What's the matter with you? You
don't look yourself, and haven't for some
time back"
Business worries. my boy, business
Worries" John Girdlestone answered
YEARLY. II have not got god balance
at the bankers"
Pretty fair pretty fair" his son said,
knowingly, picking up the long thin vol
~ nf UQ
recorded, and tapping 1T against the ta-
BILE.
But the figures there are not correct.
Ezra" his father said, still more huskily.
1--WE have not got nearly so much as
that"
What. :" roared the Junior partner
Hush Don't let the clerks hear you.
We have very little. In facr, Ezra, we
have next to nothing in the bank 1t is
all gone"
For a moment the young man stood mo-
tionless, glaring at his father. The ex-
pression of incredulty which had appear
ed on his features faded away before the
of the other, and was 70
placed by a look of such malignant pas
sion that it contorted his whole face.
You fool :" he shrieked, sprnging for
ward with the book upraised as though
he would have struck the old merchant.
~ see it now. You have hee1 speculat-
ing on your own hook What have you
done with it?" He seized his father by
the collar and shook him furiously in his
wrath.
Keep your hands off !" the senior
partner cried, wrenching himself free
from his sons grasp. II did my best
with the money. How dare you address
me so?'
Did your best ~ Kissed Ezra, hurllng
the ledger down on the table with a crash.
What did you mean by specializing with
out my knowledge, and telling me at the
same time that l knew all that was
done? Hadn't l warned you a thousand
times of the danger of it? Iou are not
to be trusted with money
Remember, Ezra" his father said
with dignity, reseating himself in the
chair from which he had risen, in order
to free himself from his sons clutches. IF
| lost the money, l also made it. This
was a fourshing concern before you were
born. If the worst comes to the worst |
ou are only where | started. But we are
far from being absolutely ruined as yet"
ITO think of it ~ Ezra cried, finging
himself upon the office sofa and burying |
his face in his hands. ITO think of all |
have said of our money and our re-
What will Clutterbuck and tho
fellows at the club say? How can | |
alter the ways Of life that / have learn
,d?" Then suddenly clenching his hands,
md turning upon his father, he broke out
We must have it back father; we must,
~ fair means or foul. You must do il, !
or it was you who lost it. What can
We do? How long have we to do it in?
IS this known in the city? Oh, | shall |
,f>a shamed to show my face on Change"
50 he rambled on half-maddened by the
pictures of the future which rose up in
liS mind.
BE calm, Ezra, be calm. :" his father
aid imploringly. I'VE have many chances
'et if we only make the best of them.
There is no use lamenting the past. I
reely confess that | was wrong in using
his money without your knowledge, but
did it from the best of motives. We
must put our heads together now to re-
rieve our losses, and there are many
Ways in which that may be done. l want
our clear common sense to help me in
he matter"
PITY you didn't apply to that before"
Ezra said sulkily.
81 have suffered for not doing So" the