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

& Squire was a highly polished man who
dwelt behind highly polished table il
the neatest and snuggest of offices. HI
was. white haired and amiable. with 6
deep lined aquiline face, was addicted tt
low bows and indeed always seemed tC
carry himself at half cock, as though just
descending into one or just recovering
himself. He wore high buckled stock,
took snuff and adorned his conversation
with little scraps from the classics.
my dear SIR" said he when he had
listened to their story, "any friend OF
Mrs. Westmacott's is friend of mine.
Try pinch. wonder that you should
have gone to this man Metaxa. His ad-
vertisement is enough to condemn him.
Habet fenum in cornu. They are all
rogues."
The doctor was a rogue too. | didn't
like the look of him at the time"
''Arcades ambo. But now we must
see what we can do for you. Of course
what Metaxa said was perfectly right
The pension is in itself no security at
all unless it We're accompanied by life
assurance which would be an income in
itself 1t is no good whatever"
His clients faces fell.
''But there is the second alternative
You might sell the pension right out.
Speculative investors occasionally deal
in such things. | have one client, a
sporting man, who would be very likely
to take it up if we could agree upon
terms Of course | must follow Me
taxa's example by sending for a doctor. "
For the second time was the admiral
punched and tapped and listened to.
This time, however. there coald be no
question of the qualifications of the doc
tor. well known fellow of the College
of Surgeons, and his report was as favor
able as the others had been adverse.
He has the heart and chest of man
of 40" said he. Il can recommend his
life as one of the best of his age that ]
have ever examined.
'sThat's well, said Mr.. McAdam, max
ing a note of the doctors remarks, while
the admiral disbursed a second guinea
Your price, l understand. is e5,00O !
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"
Very we'll l should like the money
soon"
That is why | am retaining the pa
pers. If can see Mr.. Elberry today, we
may let you have a check tomorrow.
Try another pinch. No? Well. goodby.
l am very happy to have been of serr-
ice" 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 it.
well, Westmacott. am sure am
very much obliged to you," said the ad-
miral ''You have stood by me when !
was the better for a little help, for I'm
clean out of my soundings among these
city sharks. But I've something to do
now which is more in my own line, and
need not trouble you any more"
"Oh, it is no trouble. l have nothing
to do. never have anything to do. l
don't suppose could do it if had. /
should be delighted to come with you,
sir, if can be of any use -
mo, no, my lad. You go home again.
1t would be kind Of you, though. if you
would look in at No. l when you get
back and tell my wife that all's well with
me and that I'll be back in an hour OF So"
''All right, sir; I'll tell her." Westma-
colt raised his hat and strobe away to
the westward, while the admiral, after a
hurried lunch, bent his steps toward the
east.
1t was long walk, but the old sea-
man swung along at rousing pace,
leaving street after street behind him.
The great business palaces dwindled
down into commonplace shops and
dwellings, which decreased and became
more stunted, even as the folk who filed
them did. until he was deep in the evil
pieces of the eastern end. 1t was land
of huge, dark houses and of garish gin
shops, a land, too, where life moves ir-
and where adventures are to
be gained-as the admiral was to learn
to his cost.
He was hurrying down one of the
long, narrow stone tagged lanes between
the double lines Of crolching, disheveled
women and of dirty children who sat
on the followed steps of the houses and
basked in the autumn sun. AT one side
was a barrowman with load of wal
nuts, and beside the barrow a hedrag-
gled woman with a black fringe and
checkered shawl thrown over her head.
She was cracking walnuts and picking
them out of the shells, throwing out a
remark occasionally to rough man in a
rabbit skin cap, with straps under the
knees of his corduroy trousers, who
stood putting black clay pipe with his
back against the wall What the cause
Of the quarrel was or what sharp sar-
casm from the woman's lips pricked sad
denly through that thick skin may never
be known. but suddenly the man took
mis- pipe in his left hand, leaned forward
and deliberately struck her across the
face with his right. 1t was slapr rather
than blow, but the woman gave a
sharp cry and covered up against the
barrow with her hand to her cheek.