The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-06-03
The Firm Of GirdIeStOne
- BY VI
A. CONAN DOYLE

lay our money out by Duylng In all
that he could while the panic last
ed. Then, the original scare having
proved to be all mistake, the prices
| naturally go up once more, and we
get a long figure for all that we
hold. That's what l mean by making
corner in diamonds. There's no
room in 1t for any miscalculatlon. 1t
is as certain as proposition of Eu-
clid, and as easily worked out"
'It sounds very nice" his son re-
marked, thoughtfully. I'm not so
sure about it working, though"
1T must work well. AS far as hu-
man calculation can go there is no
possibility of failure. Besides, my
boy, never lose sight of the fact that
we shall be speculating with other
peoples money. We ourselves have
nothing to lose, absolutely nothing"
81 am not likely to lose sight OF
It," said Ezra angrily, his mind COM
ing back to his grievance.
'I reckon that we can raise from
forty to fifty thousand pounds with
out much difficulty. My name is, as
you know, as good as that OF any firm
in the CITY. For nearly forty years
1t has been above stain or suspicion.
If we carry on our plans at once, and
lay this money out judiciousls, all may
come right"
TITS Hobson's choice" the young
man remarked. I'VE must try some
! %,;l &c ~
chosen the right sort of men f.. aG-
ents? You should have men of some
standing to set such reports going.
They would have more weight then"
John Girdlestone shook his head
despondingly. How am l to get
man of any staining to do such a
piece of work?" he said.
Nothing easier" answered Ezra,
with cynical laugh 81 could pick
out score of impecunious fellows
from the clubs who would be only tCo
glad to earn hundred or two in any
way you can mention. All their talk
about honor and so forth is very
pretty and edifying, but it's not meant
for every day use. OF course we
should have to pay him"
Them, you mean?"
mo, we should only waLt one
man"
How about our purchaser at the
diamond fields?"
"You don't mean to say" Ezra said
roughly, that you would be so alb.
surd as to trust any man with our
money. Why, l wouldn't let the
Archbishop of Canterbury ouft Of my
sight with forty thousand pounds OF
mine. No, l shall go myself to the
diamond fields-that is, if can trust
you here alone"
"That is unkind. Ezra" said his
father Your idea is an excellent one.
] should have proposed 1t myself but
for the discomforts and hardships OF
such journey"
There's no use doing things b.
halves" the young man remarked. "As
to our other agent, l have the very
man, Major Tobias Clutterbuck. E.e
Is a shTewd clever fellow, and he's a.
ways ha"d up. Last week LIE wanted
TO borrow tenner from me. The
job would be a godsend to him, and
his social rank would be a great
help to our plan I'll answer for his
jumping at the idea"
Sound him on the subject, then
"I will"
'I am glad" said the old merchant
"that you and / have had this con-
versation. Ezra. The fact of my
, having speculated without your know
ledge, aid deceived you by a false
, ledger, has often weighed heavily
, upon my conscience, ! assure you. II
! is relief to me to have told you
, ALL"
Drop the subject, now," Ezra said
curtly. 81 must put up with it, for
| have no redress. The thing is done
and nothing can undo it, but | con
/ slider that you have wilfully wasted
l the mo ey"
| believe me, have tried to act foi
> the best. The good name of our firm
is every thing to me. | have spent
: my who'e life IL building it up, an
If the day should come when it mus
r go, / trust that l may have gone
: myself, There is nothing which
' would not do to preserve IT,"
/ 81 see they we 1T our premiums,
t Ezra said, glancing at the open lette
On the table. How is it that non
Of those ships go down, That woul
give us help"
! "HusA! Hush!" John Girdleston
cried, imploringly Speak in whis
: per when you talk of such things.
!, 81 can't understand yout" Err
9 said, petulantly. "You PERSISTENT
over-insure your ships year after yea
: Look at the Leopard; it is put q
: more than twice what she was wort
as new. And the Black Eagle, daI
S say, ia about the same. Yet you neV
er have an accident with them, Will
[ your two new uninsured clippers ru
Y each other down"
o "Wen, what more can do" replie
I the merchant. "They are thorough
= rotten. have done nothing for thel
: for years, Sooner or later they mu
/. go. I cannot do any more"
n "Id make em go down quick eI
|, ough," muttered Ezra with an oat
= ''Why don't you make old NIgg
a bore q hole in them or Dut a liRl