Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-01-25
CHAPTER XIII.
N STRANGE WATERS.

N STRANGE WATERS
When DR.. Walker had departed, the
admiral packed all his possessions back
into his sea chest with the exception of
the little brass bound desk. This he un-
bcked and took from it dozen or SC
blue sheets of paper al noUpied over
with stamps and seals. with very lxrgs
V. r. printed upon the heads OF them.
He tied these carefully into small bun
die. and placing them in tie inner pock-
ct Of his coat he esi-ed his stick and hat.
"Oh, John, don't do this rash thing,
cried Mrs. Csnver. laying her hands up
on his sleeve. Il have seen so little Of
you. John. Only tilsee years since you
left the service. Don't leave me again.
know it is weak Of me. but | cannot
bear it"
There's my own brave lass" said he.
smoothing down the gray shot hair.
We've lived in honor together. mother,
and please God in honor we'll die. No
matter how debts are made, they have
got to be met, and what the boy owes
we owe. He has not the money. and
how is he to find it? He can't find it.
What, then? 1t becomes my business.
and there's only one way for it
But it may not be so very bad, John
Had we not best wait until after he sees
these people tomorrow"
They may give him little time. lass,
but I'll have care that l don't go so far
that | can't put back again. Now, moth
er, there's no use holding me. It's got
to be done, and there's no sense in shirk-
ing it" He detached her fingers from
his sleeve. pushed her gently back into an
armchair and hurried from the house
In less than half an hour the admiral
was whirled into Victoria station and
found himself amid 0 dense busting
throng, who jostled and pushed in the
crowded terminus. His errand, which
had seemed feasible enough in his own
room. began now to present difficulties
in the carrying out, and he puzzled over
how he should take the first steps. Amid
the stream of business men, each hurry
ing on his definite way, the old seaman
in his gray tweed suit and black soft hat
strobe slowly along, his head sunk and
his brow wrinkled in perplexity. Sud
denly an idea occurred to him. He
walked back to the railway stall and
bought daily paper. This he turned
and turned until certain column met
his eye. when he slnoothed it out and
carrying it over to seat proceeded to
read it at his leisure.
And indeed as man read that col
umn it seemed strange to him that there
should still remain any one in this world
of ours who should be in straits for want
of money. Here were whole lines of
gentlemen who were burdened with
surplus in their incomes. and who were
loudly calling to the poor and needy to
come and take it off their hands. Here
was the guileless person who was not
professional money lender, but who
would be glad to correspond, etc. Here,
too, was the accommodating individual
who advanced sums from e10 to 10000
without expense, security or delay.
THE money actually paid over within
few hours ran this fascinating adver-
tisement, conjuring up vision of swift
messengers rushing with bags of gold to
the aid of the poor struggler. A third
gentlemen did all business by personal
application, advanced money on any
thing or nothing. The ightest and air
lest promise was enough to content him
according to his circular, and finally he
never asked for more than per cent
This struck the admiral as far the most
promising, and his wrinkles relaxed and
his frown softened away as he gazed at
it. He folded up the paper, rose from
the seat and found himself face to face
with Charles Westmacott.
''Hullo, admiral!'
''Hullo, Westmacottr Charles had al
ways been a favorite of the seamans.
what are you doing here?"
"Oh, have been doing little bust
ness for my aunt. But have never seen
you in London before"
81 hate the place. 1t smothers me-
There's not breath of clean air on this
side of Greenwich. But maybe you know
your way about pretty well in the cityF'
Well, Il know something about it.
You see, I've never lived very far from
it, and | do good deal of my aunt's
business"
Maybe you know Bread street,"
1T is out of Cheapside."
"Well, then, how do you steer for it
from here? You make me out course. |
and I'll keep to it."
why, admiral, have nothing to do.
I'll take you there with pleasure"
will you, though? Well, I'll take it |
very kindly if you would. have bust
ness there. Smith & Hanbury. financial
agents, Bread street."
The pair made their way to the river
side, and so down the Thames to st. |
Pauls landing-a mode of travel which
was much more to the admiral's taste
than bus or cab. On the way he told
his companion his mission and the causes
which had led to it. Charles Westma-
colt knew little enough of city life and
the ways of business. but at least he had
more experience in both than the admi-
raj. and he made up his mind not to
leave him until the matter was settled.
fro BE CONTINUED.