Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-12-05

Smith 81 Hamburg were to be seen
painted In large white letters across a
panel, with laconic invitation to push
beneath It, Following out the sugges-
tion, the Admiral and his companion
found themselves In dingy apartment,
III lit from q couple OF glazed windows.
An ink-stalned table, Uttered with pens,
papers, and almanacs, an American
cloth sofa, three chairs OF varying pat
terms, and n much-worn carpet, con-
stituted all the furniture, save only q
very large and obtruslye porcelain spit
toon, and q gaudily framed and very
somber picture which hung above the
fireplace. Sitting in front Of this pic
ture, and staring gloomlly at 1t, as being
the only thing he could stare at, was a
small sallow-faced boy with large
head, who in the intervals OF his art
studies munched sedately at an apple.
us Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Hanbury IMP"
asked the Admiral.
There amt no such people," said
the small boy.
"But you have the names on tho
door"
"Ah, that Is the name of the firm, you
see. It's only name It's Mr. Reuben
Metaxa that you wants"
"Well, then, is he in?"
mo, he's not"
when will he be baclS?"
Cant tell, I'm sure. He's gone to
lunch Sometimes he takes one hour,
and sometimes two. It'll be two today,
l spect, for he said he was hungry
afore he rent"
Then 1 suppose we had better call
again." said the Admiral
mot h Bit" cried Charles. IT know
how to manage these little imps. See
here, you young varmint, here's a shll-
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. Shoot
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 I was thinking" said the
Admiral, looking ruefully about him.
"Ah, well! I have heard that the
best furnished offices generally belong
to the poorest firms. Let's hope 1t Is
the opposite here. They can't spend
much on the management anyhow.
That pumpkin-headed boy was the staff,
suppose. Ha, by Jove, that's his
voice, and he's got our man, 1 thinkv
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 brlstllng black hair, and keen
brown eyes which shone out very
brightly from between pouched under
lids and dropping upper ones He adj
vanced, glancing keenly from one to
the other Of his visitors and slowly
rubbing together his thin, blue-veined
hands, The small boy closed the door
behind him, and directly vanished.
II am Mr.. Reuben Metaxa," said the
moneylender, WAS 1t about an adj
vance you wished to see me?"
eyes"
"For you, presumed" turning to
Charles Westmacott.
NO. for this gentleman"
The moneylendeE looked surprised.
"How much did you desire?"
II thought of five thousand pounds"
said the Admiral.
"And on what security"
II am a retired ADMIRAL OF the Brit
tnL oo,,, Wo,, min H,d ,,,,y =, a ,,,a T., tha
Navy List. There Is my card. have
here my pension papers, 1 get $3.50 a
year. thought that perhaps II you
were to hold these papers it would be
security enough that I should pay you.
You could draw my pension, and repay
| yourselves at the rate, say, of $500
year, taking your five per cent interest
as we'll"
what INTEREST,""
give per cent per annum."
| r.Metaxa laughed. per annum"
he said. Five per cent a month"
"a month! That would be sixty per
cent a year"
Precisely"
But that is monstrous."
II 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 1 shall leave It," The Ad-
miral 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 OF course the security which
you offer is no security at all, and no
sane man would advance five thousand
pennies on It,"
mo securlty2 Why not, sir2"
you might die tomorrow. You are
not young man. What age are your
"Sixty-three."
Mr. Metaxa turned over a long coll
umn of'figures. Here is an actuary's
table," said he. cat your time Of life
the average expectancy Of life Is only