Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-27
CHAPTER TX.

| O"elI DeulIlu q Hlgnly pOllSueu tduIe Al tnS
neatest and snuggest of offices.
| "My dear SIR" said he, when he had
listened to the Admiral and Charles, "any
friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is friend oi
mine. Try pinch. I wonder that you
should have gone to this man Metaxa- His
advertisement is enough to condemn him.
But now we must see what we can do fol
you. Of course what Metaxa said was per.
| fectly right The pension is in itself nc
security at II, unless it were accompanied
| by life assurance which would be an in
come IN itself. 1t is no good whatever.
His clients faces fell
''But there is the second alternative. You
might sell the pension right out. Specu-
lative investors occasionally deal in such
things have one client, a sporting mar,
who would be very likely to take it up if
we could agree upon terms. Your price, /
understand. is e5, 600. can communicate
with Mr.. Elberry, my client, and let you
know whether he cares to touch the matter.
Meanwhile you can leave your pension
papers here and will give you receipt for
them"
every well. I should like the money
soon."
''That is why am retaining the papers.
If I can see Mr.. Elberry to-day we may let
you have O check tomorrow. Try an
other pinch. No? Well, goodbye. am
very happy to have been of service" Mr..
McAdam bowed them out, for he was very
busy man, and they found themselves in
the street once more with lighter hearts
than when they had left 1t.
Next day brought the Admiral a cheque
for 000 from Nv Ma 1oun and q
stamped agreement by which he made over
his pension papers to the speculative in
vestor. 1t was not until he had signed and
send it off that the full significance of all
that he had done broke upon him. He had
sacrificed everything. His pension was
gone. He had nothing save ouly what he
could earn. But the stout old heart never
auailed. He waited eagerly for a letter
from the St. Lawrence Shipping Company,
and in the meanwhile he gave his landlord
a quarters notice. Hundred pound year
houses would in future be luxury which
he could not aspire to. A small lodging in
some inexpensive part of London must be
the substitute for his breezy Norwood villa.
So be it then. Better that thousandfold
than that his name should be associated
with failure and disgrace.
On that morning Harold Denver was to
meet the creditors of the firm and to explain
the situation to them. 1t was hateful task,
degrading task, but he set himself to do it
with quiet resolution. AT home they waited
in intense anxiety to learn the result OF the
meeting. 1t was late before he returned,
haggard and pale, like man who has done
and suffered much.
"What's this board in front of the house?"
he asked.
"We are going to try little change of
scene," said the Admiral. ''This place is
neither town nor country. But never mind
that, boy. Tell US what happened in the
city"
'God help mel Ny wretched business is
driving you out of house and home" cried
Harold, broken down by this fresh evidence
of the effects of his misfortunes. SIT is
easier for me to meet my creditors than to
see you two suffering SO patiently for my
sake"
'Tut, tut!'' cried the Admiral. 'There's
no suffering in the matter. Mother would
rather be near the theaters. That's at the
bottom of it, isn't it, mother? You come
and sit down here between US, and tell US
all about it."
Harold sat down with loving hand in
each of his.
'It's not so bad as we thought" said he,
'fand vet it is bad enough. 1 have about
ten days to find the money, but L don't
know which way to turn for it. Pearson,
however, lied, as usual, when he spoke of
SIS, 900. The amount is not quite 81, ,000
The Admiral clapped his hands. 'T
knew we would weather it after ALL Hur-
rah, nv boy Hip. hip, hip, hurrah"
Harold gazed at him in surprise, while
the old seaman waved his arm above his
head and beloved out three stentorian
cheers. "Where am to get $1,000 from,
dad?" he asked.
'Never mind. You spin your yarn"
"Weil, they were very good and very
kind, but of course they must have either
their money or their moneys worth. They
passed vote Of sympathy with me, and |
agreed to wait ten days before they took |
any proceedings. Three of them, whose |
claim came to G3, 500, told me that if I |
would give them my personal L o. o., and |
pay interest at the rate of 8 per cent, their |
amounts might stand over as long 1 wished |
That would be charge of e175 on my in |
come, but with economy 1 could meet it, |
and it diminishes the debt by one-half
Again the Admiral burst out cheering
"There remains, therefore, about e3, 200,
which has to be found within ten days. No
man shall lose by me. L gave them my
word in the room that if l worked nv soul
"
be paid. I shall not spend a penny upon
myself until it is done. But some OF them
can't wait. They are poor men themselves
and must have their money. They have is
sued warrant for Pearson's arrest. But
they think he has got away to the States
"These men shall have their money"
said the Admiral.
''Dadp'
eyes, my boy, you don't know the re-
sources of the family. One never does know
until one tries. What have you yourself
low?"
81 have about e1 600 invested.
cali right. And 1 have about as much
nore There's a good start. Now, mother,
t is your turn. What is that little bit OF
paper OF yours?"
Mrs. Denver unfolded it and placed it
lpon Harold's knee.
"Five thousand pounds" he gasped.
"Ah, but mother is not the only rich one
Iook at thisp' And the Admiral unfolded
lis check, and placed it upon the other
nee.
Harold gazed from one to the other in be-
yilderment "Ten thousand pounds" he
ried. ''Good heavens! where did these
ome irom?"
"You will not worry any longer, dear
nurmured his mother, slipping her arm
ound him.
But his quick eye caught the signature
Ipon one OF the checks. doctor WalkerP'
. cried, flushing. "That Il Clara's doins