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

tai of the firm was embarked. His
son Ezra lOunged in an easy chair
opposite him, looking rather dishev-
eled and dark under the eyes, for he
had been up half the night and the
Nemesis of reaction was upon him.
'Faughl" his father calculated,
looking around at him with disgust.
"You have been drinking already
this morning."
II took a brandy and seltzer on the
way to the Office" he answered care
lessly. Il needed one to steady me-"
"a young fellow of your age should
not want steadying. You have
strong constitution, but you must not
play tricks with II. You must have
been very late last night. 1t was
nearly one before went to bed"
II was playing cards with Major
Clutterbuck and one or two others.
We kept up rather late"
with Major Clutterbuck?"
Eyes"
81 don't care about your consorting
SO much with that man. He drinks
and CANDLES, and does you no good.
What good has he ever done himself2
Take care that ne does not fleece you"
The merchant felt instinctively, as he
glanced at the shrewd, dark face OF
his son, that the warning was a sup
| erfluous one.
mo fear. father" Ezra answered
sulkily. Il am old enough to choose
my own friends"
why such a friend as that?"
| "L like to know men of that class.
You are a successful man, father, but
! you-well, you can't be much nelp to
me socially. You need some one to
show you the ropes, and the major is
my man. When l can stand alone,
I'll soon let him know It,"
well go your own way" said
Girdlestone shortly. Hard to all the
world, he was soft only in this one
direction. From childhood every dis
cussion between father and son had
ended with the same words.
TT is business time." he resumed.
Let us confine ourselves to business.
l see that Illinois was at 112 yester-
day."
"They are at 113 this morning"
What! have you been on Change
already?"
Yes, / dropped in there on my way
to the Office. l would hold on to
those. They will go up for some
days yet"
The senior partner made a pencil
note on the margin of the list.
We'll hold on to the cotton we
have" he said.
mo, sell out at once" Ezra an
swered with decision. Il saw Feather
stone Of Liverpool. last night. or
rather this morning. 1t was hard to
| make head or tail of what the fool
said, but he let fall enough to show
that there was likely to be drop"
Girdlestone made another mark up
on the paper. He never questioned
his sons decisions now, for long ex-
perience had shown him that they
were never formed without solid
grounds. Take this list Ezra" he
said, handing him the paper, and run
your eye over it. If you see anything
that wants changing mark it,"
'I'll do it in the counting house."
his son answered. 81 can keep my
eye on those lazy scamps of clerks.
Giday had no idea of keeping them
in order" AS he went out he can
noned against an elderly gentleman
in a white waistcoat who was being
shown in. and who ricochetted of
him into the Office. where he shook
hands heartily with the elder Cir
dlestone. 1t was evident from the lab
cred cordiality of the latter's greeting
that the newcomer was a man of
some Importance. He was, indeed,
none other than the wal agnown
philanthropist, Mr.. Jefferson Ed
wards. M. p for Middlehurst. whose
name upon a bill was hardly second
to that of Rothschild.
How do, Girdlestone. How do?'
he exclaimed, moppiIg his face with
his handkerchief. He was a fussy
little man. with brusque. nervous
manner. Hard at it as usual. chi
Always pegging away. Wonderful
man. Ha, Ha! Wonderful"
"You look warm" the merchant an.
swered, rubbing his hands. Let ms
offer you some claret. l have soma
in the cupboard"