Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-06

lroch coa1 anu u very dllapldated top hal
CDR. Proudie, gentlemen" said MI
Metaxa.
The doctor bowed, smiled, whipped OF
his hat and produced his stethoscop
from its interior with the air of a con
juror upon the stage. (which of thes
gentlemen am to examined" he asked
blinking from one to the other of them
"Ah, it is you! Only your waistcoat
You need not undo your collar. Thanl
you'll A full breath! Thank you! Nine
ty-nine! Thank you'll Now hold you,
breath for a moment. Oh, dear, dear
what is this l hear?"
"What is it, them" asked the admiral
coolly.
"Tut, tut! This is great pity. Have
you had rheumatic fever?'
Never"
"You have had some serious illnessY"
Never"
"Ah, you are an admiral. You have
been abroad, tropics, malaria, ague-I
know"
Il have never had days illness"
"Not to your knowledge, but YOU
have inhaled unhealthy air, and it has
left its effect You have an organic
murmur-slight, but distinct"
"Is it dangerous"
at might at any time become So
You should not take violent exercise"
"Oh, indeed. 1t would hurt me to
run half miller
sit would be very dangerous"
"And miller
Would be almost certainly fatal"
"Then there is nothing else the mat
teri"
mo. But if the heart is weak then
everything is weak, and the life is not a
sound one."
"You see, admiral" remarked Mr.. Me-
taxa as the doctor secreted his stetho-
scope once more In his hat, my remarks
were not entirely uncalled for. am
sorry that the doctors opinion is not
more favorable, but this is matter of
business, and certain obvious precau-
tions must be taken"
"Of course. Then the matter is at an
end"
"Well, we might even now do bust
ness. am most anxious to be of use to
you. How long do you think, doctor,
that this gentleman will in all proba-
bility liver
"Well, well, it's rather delicate oues
tion to answer" said Mr.. Proudie, with
show Of embarrassment.
mot bit, sir. Out with it! l have
faced death too often to finch from it
now, though / saw it as near to me as
you are"
"Well, well, we must go by averages
OF course. Shall we say two yearsP
should think that you have full two
years before YOU"
I'm two years your pension would
bring you in $1,000. Now will do my
very best for you, admiral / will ad-
vance you $4,000, and you can make
over to me your pension for your life.
1t is pure speculation on my part. If
you die tomorrow, lose my money. If
the doctors prophecy is correct, / shall
still be out of pocket. If you live lit
tie longer, then l may see my money
again. 1t Is tho very best can do for
you"
"Then you wish to buy my pension?
Eyes, for $4,000 down."
"And if l live for 20 years?"
"Oh, in that case of course my specu-
latlon would be more successful. But
you have heard the doctors opinion"
"Would you advance tho money in
,tantlyp"
"You should have e1 900 at once. The
'ther Ell 900 should expect you to take
n furniture"
SIN furniturep"
"Yes, admiral. We shall do you a
beautiful houseful at that sum. It is
he custom of my clients to take half in
urniture."
The admiral sat in dire perplexity. He
lad come out to get money, and to 90
pack without any, to be powerless to
lelp when his boy needed every shilling
o save him from disaster, that would be
'ery bitter to him. On the other hand.
was so much that he surrendered and
o little that he received. Little, and
-et something. Would it not be better
han going back empty handed2 He saw
he yellow backed checkbook upon the
able The money lender opened it and
tipped his pen in the ink.
Shall fill it up?"
81 think, admiral" remarked West
nacott, that we had better have a little
walk and some luncheon before we set
10 this matter"
"Oh, we may as well do it at once. 1t
you'd be absurd to postpone 1t now,"
1etaxa spoke with some heat, and his
yes glinted angrily from between his
arrow lids at the eimperturbable Charles.
he admiral was simple in money mat
'rs, but he had seen much of men and
ad learned to read them. He saw that
enomous glance, and saw, too, that in
'nse eagerness was peeping out from
eneath the careless air which the agent
I'd assumed.
You're quite right, Westmacott,"
I'D he. "We'll have little walk be-
re we settle it."
But l may not be hero this after
oon."
"Then we must choose another day."
"But why not settle it now2" :
Because | prefer not" said the ad-