The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-09-03
tcHAPTER x1n.-Cosr1xurp,.

''Well. well. we must go by averages
Of course. Shall we say two years? I
should think that you have full two
years before you"
I'm two years your pension would
bring you in f1,600. Now I will do my
very best for you, Admiral! will adj
vance you $4,000 and you can make over
to me your pension for your life. It
is pure speculation on my part. II you
Idle tomorrow lose my money. II
the Doctors prophecy is correct shall
still be out Of pocket. If you live lit
tie longer. then may see my money
again. It is the very best can do for
you"
Then you wish to buy my pension?"
"sYes, for two thousand down."
And II I 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 thousand at once.
The other thousand should expect you
to take in furniture"
I'm furniture?"
Yes. Admiral. We shall do you Q
beautiful houseful at that sum. It 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 30 much that he surren-
dered, and 80 little that he received.
Little. and yet something. Would It
not be better than going back empty
handed? He saw the yellow backed
.cheque-book upon the table. The
moneylender opened 1t and dipped his
pen into the ink.
"Shall I'LL It up?" said he.
II think, Admiral" remarked West
macott, that we had better have lit
tie walk and some luncheon before we
settle this matter"
oh we may as well do 1t at once, It
would be absurd to postpone 1t now"
Metaxa spoke with some heat, and his
eyes glinted ansrily from between his
marrow 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
out from beneath the careless air which.
the agent had assumed.
you're quite right, Wesmacott," said
he. We'll have little walk before we
settle it,
But ! may not be here this after.
noon.''
''Then we must choose another day"
But why not settle 1t now?"
Because prefer not" said the Adj
miral shortly.
Every well. But remember that my
offer is only for to-day. It is OF unless
you take 1t at once"
''Let it be OF, then"
There's my fee." cried the doctor.
How much?"
"A guinea"
The Admiral threw pound and q
shilling upon the table. Come. West
macott." said he, and they walked to-
~Eether from the room.
st don't like It," said Charles. when.
they found themselves in the street once
more; 81 don't profess to be very
sharp chap. but this Is tribe too thin.
What did he want to go out and speak
ito the doctor for? And how very con-
.venient this tale Of weak heart vast
4 Oel1SVS IuSy AIS d Coupe VI TOkVS0s
and In league with each other"
"A shark and pilot fish," said the
Admiral.
It'll tell you what I propose. sir.
There's a lawyer named McAdam who
does my aunt's business. He IL very
shonest fellow, and lives at the other side
OF Poultry. Well go over to him to-
gether and have his opinion about the
whole matter
-.dow far is 1t to his placer"
''oh. q mile at least. We can have q
cab"
"a mile? Then we shan see IL there is
any truth in what that swab Of 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 singular
sight as they returned from their lunch.
cons. Down the roadway, lodging
among cabs and carts. ran q weather.
stained elderly man, with wide tapping
black hat. and homely suit Of tweeds.
With elbows braced back, hands
olenched near his armpits, and chest
protruded. he scudded along. while
close at his heels numbered large
umbed, 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 once where the law
yer Of the Westmacotts was to be found.
''There nowg cried the Admiral in
triumph. What dye thinks Of that?
Nothing wrong Ia the enSinesroom, eh?',,
'sYou seem at enough, SIR
BLESSED IL I believe che swab was q
oertificated doctor at Ill. He was Tying
false colors. or I am mistaken"
''They keep the directories and regis
tsrs In this eating house." said Westma-
sott., Wen 90 and look him out" I
They did so,sput the medical rolls con-
tanned no such name AZ that. OF DE-.
sProudie. oftBtadd street. l,fs1S 7
4 pretty ,x5aliany this! cried the "A.
3-oiral. thnmping his chsst. - dummy
doctor and Q vamped up disease. Well.
we've tried the rogues. Westmacotti'fs Lei
- So what We can do With your honest
aban."