Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-05-06

NOAA SSAAs L IA SUI e. nc . SoAC "
lunch. Sometimes he takes one hour.
and sometimes two. TIN be two today.
'spect, for he said he was hungry
afore he WENT
Then 1 suppose we had better call
again." said the Admiral.
Not Bit" cried Charles. II know
how to manage these little imps. See
here. you young varmint. here's shil-
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. Shoe!
Scat" He charged at the youth, who
bolted from the room and clattered
madly downstairs.
He'll 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. we'll! I have heard that the
best furnished Offices generally belong
to the poorest firms. Let's hope it is
the opposite here. They can't spend
much on the management anyhow.
That pumpkin-headed boy was the staff.
I suppose. Ha, by Jove, that's his
voice, and he's got our man. I Think"
AS he spoke the youth appeared in
the doorway with small. brown. dried
eup little chip of man at his heels. He
was clean shaver and blue-chinned,
with bristling 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.
81 am Mr.. Reuben Metaxa," said the
moneylender. WAS it about an ad-
vance you wished to see me?"
Yes
.'For you, presume?" turning to
Charles Westmacott.
mo, for this gentleman"
The moneylender looked surprised.
How much did you desire?"
81 thought of five thousand pounds"
said the Admiral
And on what security?"
81 am a retired admiral of the Brit
.ish navy. You will find my name in the
Navy List. There is my card. have
here my pension papers. I get $3.50
year. I thought that perhaps If you
were to hold these papers it would be
security enough that 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.'
Mr.Metaxa laughed. per annum"
he said. Give per cent a month"
"a month! That would be sixty per
cent a year."
Precisely"
%.But that is monstrous."
IT don't ask gentlemen to come to me.
They come Of their own free will. Those
are my terms, and they can take it OF
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 security? Why not, sir?"
you might die tomorrow. You are
not a young man. What age are you?"
''Sixty-three."
Mr.. Metaxa turned over long col
sumn of figures. Here is an actuary's
table," said he. "At your time of life
the average expectancy of life is only
a few years even in well-preserved
man."
do you mean to insinuate that am
not well-preserved MANI"
We'll, Admiral. it is trying life at
sea. Sailors in their younger days are
gay dogs. and takeit out of themselves.
Then when they grow older they are
still hard at it, and have no chance Of
life a good one"
I'll tell you what, SIR said the Ad-
.niral holly. eff you have two pairs of
gloves I'll undertake to knock you out
under three rounds. Or I'll race you
here will see fair. I'll let you see
whether I'm an old man or not"
This is beside the question:" said the
money-lender with deprecatory shrug.
t'The point is that if you died to-mor-
row where would be the security then?'
II could insure my life, and make the
policy over to YOU"
Your premiums for such a sum, if
any office would have you, which l very
much doubt, would come to close on five
hundred year. That would hardly
suit your book.
We'll sir. what do you intend to pro-
pose?" asked the Admiral.
II might, to accommodate you, work
It in another way. I should send
for medical man, and have an opinion
upon your life. Then might see what
could be done"
THAT is quite fair. I have no objec.
ton to that"
There is very clever doctor in the
street here. Proudie is his name. John
go and fetch Doctor Proudie." 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
sound Of whispering, and he returned