The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-12-20
6T Il. CONAN DONZH


not? The personal interview looks as
IL there were no trickery, and then no
one could object to five per cent"
mo, 1t seems fair enough"
'It is not pleasant to have to go hat
In hand borrowing money, but there
are times, as you may find before you
are my age, Westmacott, when a man
must stow away his pride. But here's
their number, and their plate is on the
corner of the door,"
A narrow entrance was flanked on
either side by a row of brasses, ranging
upwards from the shipbrokers and the
solicitors who occupied the ground
floors, through a long succession of
West Indian agents, architects survey
ors, and brokers. to the firm of which
they were in quest. A winding stone
stair, we'll carpeted and rallied at first
but growing shabbier with every land
ing. brought them past innumerable
doors until, at last, just under the
ground-glass roofing, the names of
Smith g. Hanbury were to be seen
painted in large white letters across
panel, with laconic invitation TO push
beneath 1t. Following out the sugges-
ton, the Admiral and his companion
found themselves in dingy apartment,
Ill lit from couple Of glazed windows.
An ink-stained table, Uttered with pens,
papers, and almanacs, an American
cloth sofa, three chairs Of varying pat
terms, and a much-worn carpet, con-
stituted all the furniture, save only
very large and obtrusive porcelain spit
toon, and a gaudily framed and very
somber picture which hung above the
fireplace. Sitting in front of this pic
ture, and staring gloomily at 1t, as being
the only thing he could stare at, was
small sallow-faced boy with a large
head, who in the intervals of his art
studies munched sedately at an apple.
rs Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Hamburg in?"
asked the Admiral.
There amt no such people," said
the small boy.
But you have the names on the
door"
"Ah, that is the name of the firm. you
see. It's only name. It's Mr.. Reuben
Metaxa that you wants"
We'll then, is he in?"
mo. hes not"
when will he be back?"
Cant tell I'm sure. He's gone 10
lunch. Sometimes he takes one hour,
and sometimes two. It'll be two today.
l 'spect, for he said he was hungry
afore he went"
"Then I suppose we had better call
again." said the Admiral.
Not a bit" cried Charles. 81 know
how to manage these little imps. See
here, you young varmint, here's a shil-
ling for you. Run off and fetch your
master. If you don't bring him here in
five minutes I'll clump you on the side
of the head when you get back. Shoe!
Scat!' He charged at the youth, who
bolted from the room and clattered
madly downstairs.
Hell fetch him." said Charles Let
us make ourselves at home. This sofa
does not feel over and above safe. 1t
was not meant for fifteen-stone men.
But this doesn't look quite the sort of
place where one would expect to pick up
money"
"Just what was thinking" said the
Admiral, looking ruefully about him.
"Ah. well! 1 have heard that the
best furnished Offices generally belong
to the poorest firms. Let's hope it Is
the opposite here. They can't spend
much on the management anyhow.
That pumplIin-headed boy was the staff,
/ suppose. Ha, by Jove. that's his
voice, and he's got our man. 1 think"
AS he spoke the youth appeared in
the doorway with a small. brown, dried
UP little chip of man at his heels. He
was clean shaven and blue-chinned.
with bristling black hair, and keen
brown eyes which shone out very
brightly from between pouched under
lids and dropping upper ones. He adj
vanced, CHANGING kee " from one TO
the other of his WIS., .0rs, and slowly
rubbing together his thin, blue-veined
hands. The small boy closed the door
behind him, and directly vanished.
81 am Mr.. Reuben Metaxa," said the
moneylender "Was IL about an ad-
vance you wished to see me?"
Eyes"
For you. presume?" turning TO
Charles Westmacott.
mo, for this gentleman"
The moneylender looked surprised.
How much did you desire?"
II thought of five thousand pounds"
said the Admiral
And on what security"
II am retired admiral of the Brit
ish navy. You will find my name in the
Navy List. There is my card. 1 have
here my pension papers. / get $3.50 a
year. Il lHOuBnl lnal perhaps il you
were to hold these papers IT would be
security enough that SHOULD pay you.
You could draw my pension, and repay
yourselves at the rate, say, OF $500 q
year, taking your five per cent interest
as we'll"
What INTEREST,""
Five per cent per annum."
Mr.Mstaxa laughed. Per annum"
he said. Five per cent n month"
"a month"; That would be sixty per
cent a year"
Precisely"
but that is monstrous."
81 don't ask gentlemen to come to me.
They come of their own free will. Those
are my terms, and they can take 1t or
leave it,"
Then / shall leave IT." The Ad-
mlral rose angrily from his chair
But one moment, sir. Just sit down
and we shall chat the matter over.
Yours Is a rather unusual case and we
may find some other way OF doing what
you wish. or course the security which
you offer Is no security at all. and no
sane man would advance five thousand
pennies on It,"
mo security Why not. sir?"
You might die ton1Orr0w You are