The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-05-20
The Firm Of GiTdleStOne
A. CONAN DOYLE
no attempt to conceal.
BY ~1


"See here now, Girdlestone this is
Miss Letitia Snackles, of snackleton,
a cousin of old Sir Joseph" The
major tapped his thumb with the
silver head Of his walking stick ia
represent the maiden Snackles. She
married Crawford, of the Blues
one o. the Warwickshire Crawforls.
that's him"-here he elevated his
stubby forefnger land here's their
three children, Jemima, Harold and
John" Up went three other fingers.
"Jemima Crawford grows up, and
then Charley Clutterbuck runs away
with her. This other thumb O. mine
will stand for that young divil Char
ley, and then my fingers"
"Oh, hang your fingers" Girdlestone
exclaimed with emphasis. Its very
interesting, major, but it would be
more intelligibe If you wrote it
out"
"And SO shall, me boy!" the major
cried enthusiastically, by no means
abashed at the sudden Interruption.
III draw 1t up on bit O. foolscap
paper. Let's see. Fenchurch street,
eh? Address to the offices of course.
Though for that matter, 'Girdlestone,
London would foind you was
spakin' of ye to Sir Musgrave Moore,
of the Rifles, the other day, and he
knew you at the first instant
'Girdlestone?' says he. The same
says l. I'd be proud to meet him.
says he. And you shall says l.
He's the best blood of county Water
ford"
more blood than money, suppose"
the young man said, smoothing out
his crisp black mustache.
"Bedad, you've about hit it there.
He went to California, and came back
with five and twenty thousand pounds.
1 met him in Liverpool the day he
arrived. This is no good to me,
Toby he said. Why not? l asks
Not enough, says he just enough
to unsettle me. What then?' says l.
Put it on the favorite for the st.
Ledger says he. And he did, too,
every penny of it, and the horse was
beat on the post by a short head.
He dropped the lot in one day. A
| fact, sir, pen my homer! Came TO me
next day. Nothing lefty says he
'Nothing?' says l. Only one thing,
says he. 'Suicide?' says l. Marri-
age says he. Within a month he
was married to the second Miss Shut
| tloworth, who had five thouand to her
own right, and FIVE more when Lord
Dungeness turns up hls tees"
'Indeed?" said his companion Ian
guidly
Fact 'pon my honor! BY the way
-ah, here comes Lord Henry Rich
ardson. How dye do, Richardson,
how dye do? Glad, remember Rich
ardson when he was tow headed boy
| at Clongowes, and | used to lam him
with a beot-jack for his cheek. All,
| yes; l was going to say--it seems a
demned awkward incidental! hal
| ridiculous, but annoying, you know
The fact is, me boy, coming away
in a hurry from me little place !
left me purse on the drawers in the
bedroom, and here's Jorrocks up in
the billiard room after challenging me
to play for a tenner - but | won't
without having the money In my
pocket Tobias Ciutterbuck may be
poor, me dear friend but. t."-and here
he puffed out his chest and tapped
on it with his round sponge-like fist
hes honest, and Lays his debts OF
honor on the nail. No. sir, there's ne
one can say a word against Tobias
except that he's a half pay old fool
with more heart than brains. How
ever he added, suddenly dropping
the sentimental and coming back to
the practical "if you, me dear boy
can oblige me with the money until
tomorrow morning, I'll play Jorrocks
with pleasure. There's not many men
that I'd ask such favor of, and even
from you I'd never accept anything
more than a mere temporary convani-
ence."
you may stake your life on that, :
Ezra Girdlestone said with a sneer
looking sullenly down and tracing fig.
ures with the end of his stick on the
stone step. you'll never get the
chance. l made a rule never to lend
any one money, either for short OIL
long periods"
And you won't let me have this
throifing accommodation"
No." the young man said decisive
ly.
For a moment the majors brick
colored, weather beaten face assumed
an even darker tint. aud his small
dark eyes looked out Gngrily from
under his shaggy brows at his youth
full companion. He managed to sup.
press the threatened explosion, how.
ever, and burst into a loud roar OF
laughter. "Pon my soul, he wheez.
ed, poking the young man in the ribs
with his stick, an implement wEiel
he had grasped a moment before as
though he meditated putting it to 8
less pacific use, you young d!vils oi
business men are too much for pool
old Tobias Cad, sir, to think OF
being stuck in the mud for the want
Of paltry tenner! Tommy Heath,
cote will laugh when he nears Of 1t
You know Tommy of the S1st? He
gave me good advice; Always sew q
fifty pound note into the lining Of
each waisteaat von've got. Then YOU
can't go short Tried It once, ard