The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-12-20
a few years even In a well-preser,ea

a few years even In a welI-preseryet
man."
do you mean to insinuate that am
not a well-preseroed MANI"
'Well. Admiral. 1t is a trying life at
sea. Sailors I'm their younger days are
gay dogs. and takeit out of themselves.
Then when they grow older they are
still hard at it. and have no chance OF
rest or peace. / do not think sailors
life a good one"
I'll tell you what, sir" said the As-
miral hotly. "If you have two pairs OF
gloves I'll undertake to knock you out
under three rounds. Or I'll race you
from here to St Paups, and my friend
here will see fair. I'll let you see
whether I'm an old man or not"
"This is beside the question" said the
noney-lender with a deprecatory shrug.
1.-THE point is that If you died to-mor-
row where would be the security them"
1T could insure my life, and make the
policy over to YOU"
your premiums for such a sum, II
any office would have you, which very
much doubt, would come to close on five
suit your book.
w ell, Sir WHAT YOU ~ Pr
pose?" asked the Admiral
II might, to accommodate you, work
II in another way. 1 should send
for a medical man. and have an opinion
upon your life Then 1 might see what
could be done"
THAT is quite fair. I have no objec-
ton to that"
"There is a very clever doctor in the
lie y Inhn.
go and fetch Doctor ProuGe." The
youth was dispatched upon his errand,
while Mr.. MetaXa sat at his desk, trim
ming his nails, and shooting out little
comments upon the weather. Presently
feet were heard upon the stairs, the
moneylender hurried out, there was a
sound of whispering, and he returned
with a large, fat, greasy-looking man,
clad in a much worn frock-coat, ana a
very dilapidated top hat.
Doctor Proudie, gentlemen" said MT.
Metaxa.
The doctor bowed. smiled, whipped off
his hat, and produced his stethoscope
from its interior with the air of con-
jurer 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! A full breath! Thank you! Ninety
nine! Thank you! Now hold your
breath for a moment Oh, dear, dear,
what is this hear?"
What is it then?" asked the Admiral
coolly.
Tut! tut! This is a great pity. Have
you had rheumatic fever?"
Never"
You have had some serioss illness?"
Never"
"Ah, you are an admiral. You have
been abroad, tropics, malaria, ague-1
know"
IT 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 muir
mur-slight but distinct"
us it dangerous?"
at might at any time become so. You
should not take violent exercise"
"Oh, indeed. 1t would hurt me to run
a half miller"
at would be very dangerous"
And a mile?"
"Would be almost certainly fatal"
"Then there is nothing else the mat
ter?"
mo. But IL the heart is weak, then
everything is weak, and the life is not a
sound one"
You see. Admiral" remarked Mr..
Metaxa, as the doctor secreted his steth-
oscope once more in his hat, my re-
marks were not entirely uncalled for.
1 am sorry that the doctors opinion is
not more favorable. but this is matter
of business. and certain obvious pre-
cautions 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 live?"
"Well, we'll, it's rather delicate ques-
ton to answer" said Mr.. Proudie, with
a show of embarrassment.
Not bit, sir. Out with 1t! / have
faced death too often to finch from It
now. though saw it as near me as you
are"
ITO BE coNTINuED)