The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-09-09
CHAPTER XIII.-CoSrINUEp),

of course. Shall we say two years? l
should think that you rave a full two
years before you"
"In two years you pension would
bring you in 81. go. Now / will do my
very best for you Admiral, / will ad-
vance you e.. 900 and you can make over
to me your pension for your life. 1t
is pure speculation on my part. If You
die tomorrow / lose my money. IL
the doctors prophecy is correct l shall
still be out of pocket. If you live a lit
tie longer. then 1 may see my money
again. 1t is the very best / can do for
you"
Then you wish to buy my penslon?"
Yes, for two thousand down."
And If / live for twenty years?"
"0h. 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 a thousand at once.
The other thousand should expect you
to take in furniture"
I'm furniture?"
yes, Admiral. We shall do you a
beautiful houseful at that sum. 1t is
the custom of my clients to take half
in furniture"
The Admiral sat in dire perplexity.
He had come out to get money. n 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. 1t was so much that he surren-
dered, and so little that he received.
Little, and yet something. Would it
not be better than going back empty
handed? He saw the yellow backed
ch~eque-book upon the table. The
moneylender opened it and dipped his
pen into the ink.
Shall l fill it up?" aid he.
II think, Admiral" remarked West
macott. that we had better nave a lit
tie walk and some luncheon before we
settle this matter"
"Oh. we may as well do it at once. 1t
would be absurd to postpone 1t now"
Metaxa spoke with some heat, and his
eyes glinted angrily from between his
narrow lids at the im%perturbable
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
WI oNiAChti Tic IdlClCSc oil WilkCI
the agent had assumed.
You're quite right. wesmacott," said
he, Wen have a little walk before we
settle it,"
But 1 may not be here this after
noon"
Then we must choose another day."
But why not settle it now?"
Because / prefer not said the Adj
miral shortly.
Very well. But remember that my
offer is only for to-day. 1t is off unless
you take it at once"
Let 1t be eff, then"
There's my fee." cried the doctor.
How much?"
"A guinea"
The Admiral threw a pound and a
shilling upon the table. Come, West
macott," said he. and they walked to-
gether from the room.
II don't like it," said Charles, when
they found themselves in the street once
more; II don't profess to be a very
sharp chap. but this is a trifie TOO thin.
What did he a to go out M speak
TO the doctor for? And how very con-
venient his tale of a weak heart was!
l believe they are a couple OF rogues,
and In league with each other"
"A shark and a pilot fish," sale the
Admiral.
I'll tell you what I propose. sir.
There's a lawyer named McAdam who
does my aunt's business. He is a very
honest fellow, and lives at the other side
of Poultry. Well go over to him to-
gether and have his opinion about the
whole matter"
How far is Ii to his place."
''Oh. a mile al least. We can have a
cab"
"A mile? Then we shall see IL there is
any truth in what that swab OF a doc
tor sa,S, Come, my boy, and clap on all
SAIL, aAd see who can stay the longest"
Then the sober denizens OF the heart
of business London saw a singular
sight as they returned from their lunch
cons. Down the roadway, lodging
mons cabs and carts. ran a weather.
stained elderly man, with wide Tapping
black hat. and homeiy suit of tweeds.
With elbows braced back, hands
lenched near his armpits, and chest
protruded, he scudded along, while
close at his heels numbered a large
limbed. heavy. yellow mustached young
man, who seemed to feel the exercise a
good deal more than his senior. On they
dashed, helter-skelter, until they pulled
up painting at the office where the law
yer OF the Westmacotts was to be found.
There now!" cried the Admiral in
triumph. What dye thin Of that?
Nothing wrong In the engine-room, eh?"
You seem At enough. SIR"