Part 19 (1/2)
”Garnett and I will pay,” he said
”Leta typewritten paper froh carefully; then, after one or two protests as to the a:
”No evidence; no pay?”
Gerard looked the old man full in the face, and answered:
”You can add that I proned and witnessed to by Gifford and the old housekeeper, aroused from her sleep for the purpose A fewthe house As they ehts of a motor picked the a blacker darkness behind it
”Did you see those three, Cairns?” asked Denis Quirk, as racing towards ”The Mercury” office in company with his editor ”There's ether”
”Ebenezer Brown has been having a card party,” laughed Cairns ”Cards and wine”
”And light talk? It's a pity there is no law for the destruction of vermin of the human sort!”
”Did you see as in the car?” Garnett asked Gerard
”I think it was Quirk himself and Cairns,” replied Gerard ”Probably they have been writing an article about you; so
Quirk knohere to strike, and he hits hard”
Garnett's co darkness; but his cohed
”I expect to return in six months' time,” said Gerard; ”possibly sooner
Another six weeks later, and 'The Mercury' will probably need a new proprietor Why not buy it yourself and ht do worse”
Outside the first hotel he suggested a drink Gifford refused to enter the bar, and went on towards his home; the others walked into the private bar and called for whisky and soda
”Did you ever see such a miser as Ebenezer Brown?” Gerard asked ”Dry biscuits, dry apples, and that sour stuff! It makes me sick to see a man like him, with all his money He won't enjoy it here--nor hereafter, if there is a hereafter,” he added
Garnett, a strict Calvinist, winced at the remark, but passed it over
Gerard was too useful a man to quarrel with
And so these torthies walked hoether, while Denis Quirk and Cairns were preparing fresh powder and shot for the caainst reaction When Councillor Garnett read the leading article in ”The Mercury” on ”Ways and Means,” after the first irritation he so on for ever We shall wear them out,” he remarked to his wife
There was yet another question in the town, about which the feeling ran high and bitterly The council was desirous of building a ed to Ebenezer Brown
Naturally, he asked twice the just value for it, and, as was now the commonly accepted course of events, Councillor Garnett supported him
Denis Quirk and the councillors, who now followed him, set resolutely to work to prevent this spoliation Had Denis not been there, the public would have gruly accepted the purchase of the land As it was, he roused them to such a pitch of resentment that the price was slowly reduced until it finally rehtful value of the block At this price the council purchased it