Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-12-05
, Few years ever ~ a weIl-preaarvea

man."
"Do you mean to insinuate that am
not a well-preserved MANI"
"Well, Admiral, It Is a trying life al
sea. Sailors In their younger days are
gay dogs and takelt out Of themselves,
Then when they grow older they are
still hard at 1t, and have no chance OF
rest or peace. l do not think sailors
life good one"
"Ill tell you what sir" said the Adj
mral 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, Paul's, and my friend
here will gee fair. I'll let you see
whether I'm an old man or not"
"This Is beside the question" said the
money-lender with a deprecatory shrug.
"The point Is that If you died to-mor-
row where would be the security thenT'
II 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
hundred year. That would hardly
suit your book.
"Well, sir, what do you intend to pro-
poser" asked the Admiral.
IL might, to accommodate you, work
1t In another way. / should send
for 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 a very clever doctor In the
street here. Proudie Is his name. John,
go and fetch Doctor Proudle." 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 large, fat, greasy-loollng man,
clad in a much worn frock-coat, and a
very dilapldated top hat
Doctor Proudle, gentlemen" said Mr..
Metaxa.
The doctor bowed, smiled, whipped off
his hat, and produced his stethoscope
from It's 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 walstcoat!
You need not undo your collar. Thank
you! A full breath! Thank you! Ninety
nne Thank you! Now hold your
breath for a moment Oh, dear, dear,
what is this hear?"
"What is 1t then?" asked the Admiral
coolly.
tut! tut! This is great pity. Have
you had rheumatic fever?"
Never"
"You have had some serious illness"
Never"
"Ah, you are an admiral. You have
been abroad, tropics, malaria, ague-I
know"
~ have never had days illness"
mot to your knowledge; but you have
inhaled unhealthy air. and it has left
It's effect You have an organic muir
mur-slight but distinct"
us 1t dangerous?"
ut might at any time become so. You
should not take violent exercise"
ooh, indeed. 1t would hurt me to run
half mile?"
ut would be very dangerous"
"And 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
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.
I 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 bust
ness. am most anxious to be Of use to
you. How long do you think, doctor,
that this gentleman will in all proba-
blllty llve?"
"Well, well, It's rather delicate ques-
ton to answer" said Mr.. Proudie, with
a show of embarrassment.
''Not a bit, sir. Out with I'll have
faced death too often to finch from 1t
now, though saw it as near me as you
are"