The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-09-01
IFrom All the Year Round.l
A SOUND INVESTMENT.
CHAPTER u,-CONTINUED.

Not Bit said Sheldon; 'doyo sup
pose L did not think over sucha point as
that the very first thing? Our man has
only been i'll very short time, we must
stick to that story. 1t is galloping
consumption, of course, and as the
policy will be more than a year old be-
fore the doctor sees him. he will have
had time to catch dreadful cold, last
October, which settled on his lungs,
getting much worse all through the Win
ter, and this very trying spring. Oh!
that's all right | asked good many
questions, but Jem was ready on every
point, and could not find flaw in his
plan. 1t was Indispensable that should
do something to pull myself round, and
nothing had previously offered so bust
ness-like, prompt and straightforward
as this. Before | left, l had agreed to
join him; promised to raise a couple
of hundreds on the houses, which, as
you must know, Sam, were well worth
a thousand; was to get this at once, as
the premium must be paid without de-
lay, while in the meantime he was to
look after a suitable representative. We
shook hands at parting, both being in
high spirits, which was natural enough
with sucn prospect / was especially
delighted, for / was really glad to see
at last tangible business opening, for
felt that was sadly wasting my time.
1t did not take me long to raise the
money, and the premium was paid all
right; then by appointment met Skel-
don, who said he had his eye upon two
or three likely parties, but, having to
proceed with considerable caution, had
done nothing yet. We had, as l have
told you, an observation-disclosures in the
city, but L had given him my address,
in case of any emergency, and few
nights after this last interview found a
note from him at my lodgings. 1t con-
tanned only few words, but they were
important. BE at the old place to-
morrow morning; have made move
You may be sure l kept this appoint
ment, and so did SHELDON. Its all
right he said in whisper; L have got
the man. thought had, when last l
saw you, but did not like to tell you so
for fear of disappointment. A very re-
spectacle, well-educated chap, almost
too quick for us, but that is good
fault How do you mean. Jem,' /
asked. l mean that he saw nv drift
before l meant him to see it, returned
Shelton; but it turned out to be a good
JOB. l was uncertain how much |
should tell him, and his quickness saved
me a lot of awkward explanation. l
have taken room for him close to my
own place; come and see him. This l
could not refuse to do, but l really did
not like the task: there was something
in it so much like butcher inspecting
the sheep he was thinking of buying, in
the idea of my going to appraiSe this
poor wretch, TO see if he was near
enough TO death to make it worth my
while to buy him. However, Skel-
don had been obliged to see a great deal
of him. so l could not refuse; accord
ingly went. Jem took me to a quiet
house in a street off the City road, and
on being admitted i heard a hollow
cough, followed by a groan. That's
him. exclaimed Skeldon, as we halted
in the passage. Him., Of course, l
knew it was him. l never heard such
an appalling sepulchral cough in my life,
and my reluctance to see the poor fellow
increased. Not so with SHELDON; his
face was quite beaming with smiles, and
met mine. We entered the back parlor
MIR. Tobbs-my friend Anstream, who
has come TO see YOU l shook hands
with the stranger, who was lying on the
sofa, and said | hoped he felt better.
He said yes he thought he did, and
the exertion of speaking brought on
cough which L feared would have shak-
en- him to pieces, and left him so ex-
hausted and painting that SHELDON held
bottle of ammonia to his nostrils to
revive him. At last he recovered
little, but even then lay ON the sofa for
some time without speaking, and every
minute or SO coughed in miserable,
hacking way, that was painful to hear.
Such a specter! l never saw the ike in
NV life. His face was almost as flesh
less as a skeletons: his eyes were IN
naturally prominent; his cheeks were
drawn in as if he were sucking them,
while pale as he was, his straight black
hair, by the contrast, made him look