Category: Tom

O but cupid’s arrow fell short as all were swept up in the tides of rising Romanic love Mr. Hill had set his sights on another. With this rebuff Miss Grant in one stroke restacked the deck dealt a harsh blow to the house of Hill

She by means sublet and untraceable made it known a particular piece of female apparel was in the possession of Evans. The engagement broken Miss Hill would never marry and in an act of selfless gentlemanly bravado Ford proposed to your grandmother.

Little love of that union would grow but purpose sought purpose gained.

“The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men. Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy”

For Master Ford returning from same Oxford and in trio also with friends Jones and Evans did truly overturn the apple cart with love. Miss Hill fell madly in love with Mr. Evans and her sister’s heart went to Mr. Jones.

The Grants seeing an opportunity for speeding their family control of the firm offered Miss Grant’s hand to Mr. Hill the younger. To this new plan the senior Hill was agreeable seeing the end outcome as the same.

“Good Mr. Adams I mean no slander. When all is heard you must be the judge of your grandmother’s virtue. Facts are facts and time may indeed lessen the force of the blow, but Miss Grant a blow did strike and its fruits may be your untimely end.”

It was Mr. Hill’s will his daughter Charity Hill be married to Maxus Ford and his son Solomon Hill to marry Temperance Ford. An affront to the Grants only appeased by a promise that their grandson would marry, producing a heir to their empire which locked the three powerful families as one

It is the story of three Oxford men who at the turn of the century, theirs not ours, set out on a great gamble to make their fortunes. Armed with Pascal’s excellent advice on gaming “Be the House,” they set out to corner the market on the tools of gambling.

Hill Grand and Ford formed a triumvirate though equal in wealth and responsibility, Mr. Hill exerted the greatest control in their financial endeavors. Your namesake was quite comfortable with this arrangement, but Jedidiah Grant planted seeds of resentment that took full bloom in his daughter your grandmother.

“Thread lightly sir.”

Holmes handed Adams the red and white ribbon and a stillness crossed his visage that drew down a sorrow so deep it even moved the stone hearted detective.

“I’m sorry for your loss. You are in grave danger.

“How?”

“In the commission of an unsuccessful murder attempt.”

“Impossible, Hasid is Sufi.”

“But steadfastly loyal to at least one in your firm who proved less loyal to him.”

“I do not understand.”

“If I may I would tell the tale of your family tree that wound about the roots of The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards like constricting ivy.”

“I do not wish to hurry that moment. I love my Grandmother dearly; hope many more years are hers. Our firm is quite guarded in the identity of our office staff your ability proceed you, but alarming all the same. I fear you know us all a good deal deeper that we wish, but of course that is why you’re here.”

“Yes its my purpose to prove you killer or one who draws the killer to them.”

“Holmes. Lightly”

“No need Dr Watson; I expect the rigorous of tests.”

“Would it shock you the Turk lies expired on my ottoman?”

A door opens, light pours into the black. A man in his mid 20s beckons the doctor and the detective into the foyer up the staircase to the upper floor. Watson carefully took in the framed playing cards, all the ace of spades. The pressures of Mycroft’s words rang in his ears.

“It is the custom for each Master of our firm to have his image placed in the center of the ace of spades. This is my grandmother,” explained Mr. Adams.

“This last frame is empty,” stated Holmes, “the next master would be Mr. Grant the first vice president?”