Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-02-01
3 couple of glazed windows.

/ furniture, save only very large ana OO-
trusive porcelain spittoOn and gaudily
framed and very somber picture which
hung above the fireplace. Sitting in
front of this picture and staring gloom
ily at il as being the only thing which
he could stare at was small, sallow
gloves. I'll undertake to knock you out
under three rounds or I'll race you from
here TO ST. Paul's, and my friend here
will see fair. I'll let you see whether
am an old man or not"
This is beside the question:" said the
money lender with deprecatory shrug
THE point is that if you died tomorrow
where would be the security them
Il could insure my life and make the
policy over to you"
Your premiums for such a sum, if
any Office would have you, which very
much doubt. wr-ld come to close on
e500 year. Tha,- would hardly suit your
book"
We'll, sir. what do you intend to pro-
pose%' asked the admiral.
Il might, to accommodate you. work
it in another way | should send for a
medical man and have an opinion upon
your life. Then might see what could
be done"
THAT is quite fair. | have no objec-
ton to that"
There is very clever doctor in the
street here. Proudie is his name. John,
go and fetch DR.. Proudie." The youth
was dispatched upon his errand, while
Mr. Metaxa sat at his desk, trimming his
nails and shooting out little comments
upon the weather. Presently feet were
heard upon the stairs, the money lender
| hurried ont, there was sound of whis-
pering, and he returned with a large. fat,
greasy looking man clad in much worn
frock coat and very dilapidated top hat.
''Dr. Proudie, gentlemen" said Mr..
Metaxa.
The doctor bowed, smiled. whipped off
his hat and produced his stethoscope
from its interior with the air of a con-
Juror upon the stage. Which of these
gentlemen am to examiner he asked.
blinking from one to the other of them.
"Ah, it is you! Only your waistcoat!
You need not undo your collar. Thank
you'll A full breath! Thank You! Nine
ty-ninel Thank you. Now hold your
breath for moment. Oh, dear, dear
what is this 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 illnessg'
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-sight, 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"
"It 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
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. l 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 busi-
ness. am most anxious to be of use to
you. How long do you think, doctor,
that this gentleman will in all proba-
bility Eve?"
well, well. it's rather delicate ques-
ton to answer" said Mr.. Proudie, with
a show of embarrassment.
mot bit, sir. Out with it, | have
faced death too often to finch from it
now, though l saw it as near to me as
you are"
"Well, well, we must go by averages
of course. Shall we say two years? l
should think that you have full two
years before you"
''In two years your pension would
bring you in 81 900. Now | will do my
very best for you, admiral. l 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, 1 shall
still be out of pocket. If you live a lit
tie longer, then l may see my money
again. 1t is the very best 1 can do for
you"
"Then you wish to buy my pension?'
"Yes, for 60 900 down"
"And if l live for 90 years."
"Oh, in that case of course my specu-
lation would be more successful. But
you have heard the doctors opinion"
Would you advance the money in
stantly?"
'You should have 81, 900 at once The
other $1,000 should expect you to take
in furniture.
I'm furniture"
Eyes, admiral. We shall do you a
beautiful houseful at that sum. 1t is
the custom of my clients to take half in
furniture"
The admiral sat in dire perplexity. He |
had come out to get money, and to go |
back. without any, to be powerless to
help when his boy needed every shilling
to save him from disaster, that would be
very bitter to him. On the other hand,
it was so much that he surrendered and
so little that he received. Little, and
yet something. Would it not be better
than going back empty handed? He saw
the yellow backed checkbook upon the
table. The money lender opened it and
dipped his pen in the ink.
''Shall fill it up?"
II think, admiral" remarked West
macott, that we had better have little
walk and some luncheon before we set
tie this matter"
'sOh, we may as well do it at once. 1t