The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1895-09-20
N a. CONAN DoXZH

tuie' anu starring BlOOHllly ut II, US DelHS
the Grly thing he could stare at, was a
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 imp
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"
well. then, Is he in?"
mo. he's not"
when will he be back?"
Cant tell. I'm sure. He's gone tc
lunch. Sometimes he takes one hour
and sometimes two. It'll be two today
1 'spect. for he said he was hungry
afore he went"
Then / suppose we had better cal
again." said the Admiral.
Not a Bit" cried Charles. IT know
how to manage these little imps. Sec
here. you young varmint. here's shil
ling for you. Run off and fetch you,
master. II you don't bring him here ir
five minutes I'll clump you on the sid,
OF the head when you get back. Shoe
Scat!" He charged at the youth, who
bolted from the room and clatteret
madly downstairs.
He'll fetch him." said Charles. lie
us make ourselves Mt home. This soft
does not feel over and above safe. 1
was not meant for fifteen-stone men
But this doesn't look quite the sort Of
place where one would expect to pick W
money"
Just what was thinking" said TIL
Admiral, looking ruefully about him.
'Ah. well! have heard that TIL
best furnished offices generally belon|
to the poorest firms. Let's hope 1t
the opposite here. They can't spent
much on the management anyhow
That pumpkin-headedb boy was the stan
1 suppose. Ha, by Jove. that's hi
voice. and he's got our man. think!|
As he spoke the youth appeared Il
the doorway with small. brown. dried
up little chip of man at his heels. I'll
was clean shaver and blue-chinned
with bristling black hair, and keel
brown eyes which shone out vert
brightly from between pouched underI
lids and dropping upper ones. He adj
Nauftup httuly but VI
the other of his visitors, and slowlI
rubbing together his thin. blue-veinel
hands. The small boy closed the dodl
behind him. and directly vanished.
II am Mr.. Reuben Metaxa." said til
moneylender. WAS 1t about an at/
vance you wished to see me?'
YES"
For you. presume?" turning d
Charles Westmacott.
NO for this gentleman"
The moneyiender looked surprised
How much did you desire?"
Il thought of five thousand pounds.
said the Admiral.
And on what security"
II am a retired admiral of the Bri.
ish navy. You will find my name In tn
Navy List. There is my card. / hav
here my pension papers. / get 1850
year. l thought that perhaps II 20,
were to hold these papers 1t would b
security enough that I should pay you
You could draw my pension. and repaj
yourselves at the rate. say. OF $500
year, taking your five per cent interes
as WE'LL
what INTEREST,"
Five pei cent per annum."
MI. Metaxa laughed. per annum!
he said. Five per cent a month";
"a month, That would be sixty pc
cent year"
Precisely
But that Ii monstrous.''
II don't ask gentlemen TO come to me
They come OF their own free Will. Thos
are my terms. and they can take 1t o
leave H."
''Then shall leave IT, The Ad
mIral rose angrily from his chair.
But one moment, sir, Just sit dow
and we shall chat the matter over
Yours IL a rather unusual case and "
may find some other way OF doing wha
you wish. OF course the security while
you offer Is no security at all. and n
sane man would advance 1--WE thousan
pennies on H."
mo security? Why not. sir2"
"You might die tomorrow. You ar
not a young man. What age are you?
"Slxty-thrcc."
Mr.. Mctaxa turned over long col
umn OF figures. Here Is an actuary'
table," said he. al your time OF III
the average expectancy OF life Is oni
a few years even In n well-preserve
man.
DO you mean to insinuate that NJ
not a well-preserved man?'
well. Admiral. II Is a trying life d
sea. Sailors In their younger days NJ
gay dogs. and takcit out OF themselves
| Then when they grow older they ar
still hard at II. and have no chance q
rest or peace. I do not think sailor
| life good one
I'm tell you what, SIR said the Ad
miral hotiy. III you have two pairs q
gloves I'll undertake to knock you on
under three rounds or III race yo
/ from here to St Pnuis. and my frlcn
here Will zee fair. I'll let you Sc
whether I'm an old man or not"
This II beside the question" said tn
moncy-londer with n deprccatory shru.
THE point il shat II you died to.mol
/ row where would be the security them
II could Insure my life. ana make IN
policy over to YOU"
"Your premiums for such n sum.
any Office would have you, which yer
much doubt. would come to close on Nv
hundred n year. That would hnrdl
suit your book.
well. sir. what do you intend to pre-
poser" asked the Admiral.
II might. to accommodate you, wor
/ II In another way, should sen
for medical man. and have an opinlo
upon your life. Then I might zee wha
could be done"
THAT Is quite fair I have no obJeC
ton TO that"
"Therc In u very clever doctor In III
street here. Proudic In hts name. JOIN
20 and fetch Doctor Proudic." TIL
Youth was dispatched upon his crrnn'
while Mr, Mctnsa sat at his desk. trim
filnR his nails. ana shooting out litti
comments upon the weather. Present.
icct were heard upon the stairs, III
noneyicndcr hurried out. there was
sound OF whispering, and he returne
with large. fat. sreasy.iooklng MAJ
clad In a much worn frock'cont. and
| very diinpliatod top hat.
Doctor proudlc. gentlemen" said NJ
] N,taNa