The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-04-01

the firm In question. Close to the
corner of a broad and busy street.
within a couple of hundred yards of
Fenchurch street Station. a narrow
, doorway opens tnto long white
washed passage. On one side of this
is brass plate with the inscription
"Girdlestone and Co., African Mer-
: lchauts," and above is a curious hero
lglyphic supposed to represent hui
man hand in the act of pointing
Following the guidance of this some
Iwhat ghostly emblem, the wayfarer
finds himself in small square yard
surrounded by doors, upon one of
which the name of the firm reappears
an large white letters, with the
word push" printed beneath it. If
he follows this laoonic invitation he
will make his way into long, low
apartment. which is the counting
house Of the African traders.
I On the afternoon of which we
speak things were quiet at the Offices.
EThe line of pigeon holes in the wire
curtain was deserted by the public,
though the linoleum covered floor
bore abundant traces of busy MORN
ang. Misty London light shone haz-
sly through the glazed windows and
cast dark shadows in the corners. On
a ht~h perch in the background a
weary-faced, elderly man, with NUT
fering lips and tapping fingers, cast
up endless lines of figures. Beneath
HIM In ne 4u,.~ ehf ;,,or
mahogany desks, half a score of
young men, with bent heads and stoop-
ping shoulders, appeared to be riding
furiously, neck and neck, in the race
for life. Any haIbitue of London
office might have deduced from their
relentless energy and incorTuptibae
diligence that they were under the
eyes of some member of the firm.
The member in question was broad
shouldered. bullnecked young man,
who leaned against the marble man
telpiece, turning over the pages of
an almanac, and taking from time to
time a stealthy peep over the top of
It at the toilers around him. Com
mand was imprinted in every line of
his strong, square-set face and erect,
powerful frame. Above the medium
size, with vast spread of shoulder,
q broad aggressive jaw, and bright
bold glance, his whole pose and ex-
20 the verge of obstinacy. There WAS
something classical In the regular OIL
Ave tinted features and black, crisp,
curling hair fitting tightly to the
well rounded headl Yet, though
classical, there was an absence of
spirituality. 1t was rather the profile
i of one of those Roman emperors,
hacking those subtle softnesses of eye
and mouth which speak of an inner life.
The heavy gold chain across the
Iwaistcoat and the bright stone which
blazed upon the fingers were the
natural compliment of the sensuous
lip and curving chin. Such was Ezra,
the only child of John Girdlestone,
and the heir to the whole of his vast
business. Little wonder that those
who had an eye to the future bent
over their ledgers and worked with a
Nigor calculated to attract TIE atten-
4ion Of the junior partner, and to
impress him with a due sense OF
their enthusiastic regard for the in
terests of the firm.
1t was speedily apparent, however,
that the young gentleman's estimate
OF their services was not entirely bas-
ed upon their present performance
with his eyes still fixed upon the al
manac and a sardonic smile upon his
dark face he uttered a single word:
'Parker!"
A fiaxen-haired clerk, perched at the
further end of the high glistening desk
gave violent start, and looked VI
with a scared face.
''Well, Parker who won?" asked the
Junior partner
"Won, sir!" the youth stammered.
"Yes, who won!" repeated his en-
ployer.
II hardly understand you, SIR" the
clerk said, growing very red and con-
fused.
"oh, yes you do, Parker" young
AOAhAai hCut tapping nlb
manac sharply with the paper knife
"You were playing odd man out will
Robson and Perkins when 1 came in
from lunch. AS / presume you wer'
at It all the time was away, hav'
q natural curiosity to know who
won.
The three unhappy clerks fixed theil
eyes upon their ledgers to avoid tn,
sarcastic gaze of their employer. HI
went on In the same quiet tones:
you gentlemen draw about thirt,
shillings a week from the firm.
believe am right In my figures, Mr
Gilray," addressing the senior clerl
seated at the high solitary desk apar
from the others. 'Yes. thought SO
Now, odd man out is, no doubt, [
very harmless and fascinating game
but you can hardly expect US to en-
courage It 80 far as to pay so mucl
an hour for the privilege Of having
It played In our counting g-house,
shall, therefore, recommend my faith
or to deduct FIVE shillings from TN
sum which each of you will receiv
upon Saturday. That will cover thu
time which you have devoted to you
awn amusamanfa during fhA week 70