Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-02-01

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IN I1N q ne sUBURBs
BY H.coNAk noYLE
eo,rasrr. .s,. .vrross' ALLIANCE AL a,ssu
--Inese are the people, said the ad-
miral, twisting round his paper and
pointing to the advertisement which had
seemed to him the most promising. 1T
sounds honest and above board, does it
not? The personal interview looks as if
there were no trickery, and then no one
could object to 5 per cent"
mo, it seems fair enough"
1T is not pleasant to have to go. hat
in hand, borrowing money, but there are
times, as you may find before you are
my age, Westmacott, when man must
stow away his pride. But here's their
number, and their plate is on the corner
of the door,"
A narrow entrance was ianked on
either side by row of brasses, ranging
upward from the shipbrokers and the So
hcitors who occupied the ground floors,
through long succession of West Indian
agents, architects, surveyors and brokers'.
to the firm of which they were in quest
A winding stone stair, well carpeted and
rallied at first, but growing shabbier with
every landing. brought them past in
Vulnerable doors until at last, just un-
der the ground glass roofing, the names
of Smith & Hanbury were to be seen
painted in large white letters across
panel, with laconic invitation to push
beneath it.
Following out the suggestion, the ad-
miral and his companion found them
selves in dingy apartment, Ill lit from
faced boy, with large head. who in the
intervals of his art studies munched Sc
dately at an apple.
lis Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Hanbury iny'
asked the admiral.
There amt no such people," said the
small boy.
But you have the names on the
door"
"Ah, that is the name of the firm, you
see. It's only name It's Mr.. Reuben
Metaxa that you wants"
well, then, is he in?'
mo, he's not"
When will he be back?'
Cant tell, T. ure Hes gone to
lunch. Sometimes he takes one hour
and sometimes two. It'll be two today,
[ 'pect, for he said he was hungry afora
he went"
Then | suppose that we had better
call again" said the admiral
Not bit, cried Charles. II know
how to manage these little mps. See
here, you young varmint. here's a shil-
ling for you Run off and fetch your
master. If you don't bring him here in
five minutes, I'll clump you on the side
of the head when you get back. Shoe!
Scatr' He charged at the youth. who
bolted from the room and clattered mad
| ly down stairs.
Hell fetch him, said Charles. Let
| US make ourselves at home. This sofa
does not feel over and above safe. 1t
was not meant for 15-stone men. But
this doesn't look quite the sort of place
where one would expect to pick up
money"
"Just what was thinking" said the
admiral, looking ruefully about him.
AL, we'll. nave tIldJ tuc UcSt
furnished offices generally belong to the
poorest firms. Let us hope it's the op-
posite here. They can't spend much on
the management anyhow. That pump
kin headed boy was the staff, / suppose
Ha, by Jove, that's his voice, and he's
got our man, thinkI'
AS he spoke the youth appeared in the
doorway with small. brown, dried mp
little chip of a man at his heels. He
was clean shaven and blue chinned, with
bristling black hair and keen brown
eyes which shone out very brightly from
between pouched underlids and droop-
ing upper ones He advanced, glancing
keenly from one to the other of his visit
ors, and slowly rubbing together his
thin blue veined hands. The small boy
closed the door behind him and discreet
ly vanished.
81 am Mr.. Reuben Metaxa," said the
money lender. WAS it about an ad-
vance you wished to see me?'
Yes"
For you, presume turning to
Charles Westmacott.
mo. for this gentleman"
The money lender looked surprised.
How much did you desire?'
Il thought of e., 600" said the admiral
And on what security"
Il am retired admiral of the British |
navy. You will find my name in the
navy list. There is my card. l have
here my pension papers. get ESQ a
year. ! thought that perhaps if you
were to hold these papers it would be Sc
curity enough that ] should pay you.
You could draw my pension and repay
yourselves at the rate, say. of e50O
year. taking your per cent interest as
we'll"
What INTEREST,""
Five per cent per annum."
Mr.. Metaxa laughed. per annumr'
he said. Five per cent month"