Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-03-07
MEXICO MISSOURI, TTIURsDAY. M MAFoTI17 1878.

continued the latter with sinister
impotence, beginning to arrange his
writing materials for letter.
II will give any discount said
the young man, eagerly. ''My pros
poets are good. l can"
sect friend to be security for the
payment of the interest!''
''Of the interest and principal you
mean!"
"Of the interest only--and theE1ife
insurance." added the usurer, with 8
slight peculiarity of intonation that
might have escaped the notice of one
whose nerves were less exalted in
their sensitive power than those of
his visitor.
''And what sum can borrow on
these terms?" said West, gloomily.
"A hundred pounds; more ,if aol
require it. In fact, any amount, .jf
your security be good"
1.-The interest will doubtless be
high?" t,r
mot at all; or 8 per cent. As
mucl is often given for money on
NOR gage of land.
g. Andthe life insurance.
+ You . III insure yourHfe for $500,
md you viii pay the premiums with
the interest
''For five hundred" said West,
hcsitatingly; ''that is, if 1 borrow"
"One hundred. replied the usurer,
sharply, 'EMcn who lend money do
not run risks. You may die, and
four out Of five insurance offices may
fail bat the chances are that the fifth
may pay"
Bat it is not liIsely," began Ber-
nard Nycst. amazed at this outrageous
!tli#plav Of caution.
Il do not say it is likely" snarled
the ualrcr, with a contemptuous sort
Of pity. for his VISITORS dullness of
apprehension. Il say it is possible,
and like t. be on the safe side"
well, and how is the affair to be
anangedf" ..
'.Your see Irity, who Of course,
mist he a person known to have
property, will give bond guarantee
I ina the regular payment Of interest
aft mcmipnt that is al .E
West reelected for some minutes In
tahnee. The faint expression OF hope
! that had for an instant lighted up his
Ec,aaltenance ranisheri. He under
stood the rneney-iender and his propo-
Isition 4 sufficiently v clear remem-
branco of the tables of life assurance
which lac had seen enabled him TO
| perceive that the interest and premi-
Hsl together would aInOunt TO naal1t
| 20 per cent, and the bond engaged
his security TO pay an annuity for his
I f(Nest's) life OF that amount, 1t is
true that, monstrous as were the
terms, he would have accepted ca
geriv still hard0rhones had it simply
depended on his own decision. Bnt
fIleTe -ind ershowfto'ask friend TO
become his bondsman? He ran over
in dSspair tln scanty list of acquain-
tances whom his poverty had not al
ready caused to forget him. He felt
that the thing was impossible, There
was net one he could think of who
would have ever dreamed of entering
into such a compact. He turned des-
perateAy TO tlle noney-lender:
~ have no lriend,' he said, "of
whom I could or would ask such
service. If l had should not be
here. Are there no terms, however
higls, on which you can lend me even
the most triaing sum, for which /
myself alone need be responsible? 2"
"lIone," replied the Insurer, al
ready commencing his letter.
II viii give 80 per cent"
impossible.
"Tifty?"
rhe insurer shook his. head impa-
tiently.
"a hundred--cent. per CONT"
'cNo"'
The strange seeker Of loans at
length rose TO depart. He reached
the door. Suddenly he turned back,
his eyes blazing with the somhre radi-
ancc of despair. lie strobe to the
table, and planted himself, with fol-
ded arms, Immediately in front Of the
usurer.
NIlIk iUt Sitlti w cSls III IL t'ii'
of deep suppressed passion, Ike the
hollow murmur Of the sea before n
storm. "It is question of life or
death with me to get money before
sunset. Lend me only $50, and with
in twelve months will repay you
flOO. will give you every power
which the law can give one man over
another; and will pledge my honor,
which never yet was questioned, to
the bargain!"
The usurer almost smiled, so
strangely sarcastic was the contrac-
ton of his features, as he listened to
the words.
81 do not question your HONOR he
said, icily, "but honor has nothing to
do with business. AS for the law,
there is an old axiom which says: ::
"Out of nothing, comes nothing. !"
BERNARD West regarded the cold,