The Yale expositor., 1895-12-27

should think that you have full two
years before you"
I'm two years your pension would
bring you in fl 800. Now l will do my
very best for you, Admiral! / will ad-
vance you e., 900 and you can make over
TO me your pension for your life. IL
is pure speculation on my part. II You
die tomorrow 1 lose my money. III
the doctors prophecy is correct l SHAH
still be out OF pocket. If you live 1T
tie longer, then I may see my money
again. 1t is the very best can do for
you"
Then you wish to buy my pension
Eyes, foe two thousand down."
And If L live for twenty 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 a thousand at once.
The other thousand l should expect you
TO take in furniture"
''In furniture?"
Yes, 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 surren-
dered, and so little that he received.
Little, and yet something. Would 1t
not be better than going back empty
handed? He saw the yellow backed
cheque-book upon the table. The
moneylender opened it and dipped his
pen into the ink.
Shall fill 1t up" said he.
II think, Admiral" remarked West
mscott, that we had better have lit
tie walk and some luncheon before we
settle this matter"
oh we may as we'll do IL at once. 1t
would be absurd to postpone IL now"
Metaxa spoke with some heat, and his
eyes glinted angrily from between his
narrow lids at the imperturbable
Charles. The Admiral was simple in
money matters. but he had seen much
of men and had learned TO read them.
He saw that venomous glance, and saw
too that intense eagerness was peeping
the Ut had assumed.
You're quite right, Wesmacott," said
he. We'll have a little walk before we
settle it,"
But 1 may not be here this after
noon"
Then we must choose another day"
But why not settle 1T now?"
Because I prefer not" said the Adj
iairal shortly.
VERY well. But remember that my
offer is only for to-day. 1t is off unless
you take 1t at once"
LET 1t be off. them
There's my Fee" cried the doctor.
How much?'
"A guinea"
The Admiral threw a pound and
shilling upon the table. Come, West
maeott." said he, and they walked to-
gether from the room.
81 don't like it," said Charles, when
they found themselves in the street once
more; II don't profess to be a very
sharp chap, but this Is trife too thin.
What did he want to go out and speak
to the doctor for? And how very con-
venient this tale Of weak heart was!
I believe they are a couple of rogues,
and in league with each other"
"a shark and a pilot fish," said the
Admiral.
"T'll tell you what / propose, sir.
There's a lawyer named McAdam who
does my aunt's business. He Is very
honest fellow, and lives at the other side
of Poultry. Well go over to him to-
gether and have his opinion about the
whole matter"
How far is il to his place."
"Oh, a mile at least. We can have
cab"
"a mile? Then we shall see IL there Is
any truth in what that swab Of a doc
tor said. Come, my boy, and clap on all
sail, and see who can stay the longest
Then the sober denizens of the heart
of business London saw a singular
sight as they returned from their lunch
cons. Down the roadway, lodging
among cabs and carts. ran weather.
stained elderly man. with wide Tapping
black hat, and homely suit OF tweeds.
With elbows braced back, hands
clenched near his armpits, and chest
protruded, he scudded along, while
close at his heels numbered a large
lhnbed, heavy, yellow mustached young
man, who seemed to feel the exercise q
good deal more than his senior. On they
dashed, helter-skelter, until they pulled
up painting at the Office where the law
yer of the Westmacotts was to be found.
There nowv' cried the Admiral in
triumph. What dye think of that?
Nothing wrong in the engine-room. eh?"
You seem fit enough. sir"
blessed IL I believe che swab was n
certiflcated doctor at all. He was flying
false colors. or am mistaken"
"They keep the directories and regis
ters In this eating house." said westma-
colt. We'll go and look him out"
They did so. but the medical rolls con-
tanned no such name as that of DIR.
Proudie, OF Bread street.
pretty vilpany thisv' cried the Ad-
miral humping his chest "a dummy
doctor and vamped up disease. Well,
we've tried the rogues. Westmacottl Let
US see what we can do with your honest
man"