The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-08-24

years before you"
I'm two years your pension would
bring you in 900. Now | will do my
very best for you, Admiral! l will ad-
vance you e., 900 and you can make over
to me your pension for your life. IL
is pure speculation on my part. Ii you
die tomorrow I lose my money. Ii
the doctors prophecy is correct shall
still be out of pocket. If you live 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 pension?'
eyes, for two thousand down."
''And if I live for twenty years?'
ooh 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?"
''Tou should have thousand at once.
The other thousand L should expect you
to take in furniture"
I'm furniture?"
eyes, Admiral. We shall do you a
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 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
cheque-book upon the table. The
moneylender opened it and dipped his
pen into the ink.
Shall [ fill it up?" said he.
st think, Admiral" remarked West
macott that we had better have a lit
tie walk and some luncheon before we
settle this NATTER
"Oh, we may as we'll do it at once. 1t
would be absurd to postpone it now"
Metaxa spoke with some heat, and his
eyes glinted angrlly from between his
narrow lids &C 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. 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 I prefer not" said the Adj
miral shortly.
Every we'll. But remember that my
offer is only for to-day. 1t is off unless
you take it at once"
Let it be off, then"
There's my fee," cried the doctor.
"How much?"
"A guinea"
The Admiral threw a pound and
shilling upon the table. Come, West
macott," said he, and they walked to-
gether from the room.
81 don't like it," said Charles, when
they found themselves in the street once
more: II don't profess to be very
sharp chap, but this is a trif1e too thin.
What did he want to go out and speak
to the doctor for? And how very con-
venient this tale of weak heart was!
1 believe they are a couple of rogues,
and in league with each other"
"A shark and pilot fish," said the
Admiral
''Ill tell you what / propose, sir.
There's lawyer named McAdam who
does my aunts business. He is 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 it to his placer"
ooh, a mile at least. We can have
cab
"a mile? Then we shall see if 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 a singular
sight as they returned from their lunch
cons. Down the roadway, lodging
among cabs and carts, ran a weather
stained elderly man, with wide Tapping
black hat, and homely suit Of tweeds.
With elbows braced back, hands
clenched near his armpits, and chest
protruded, he scudded along, while
close at his heels numbered large
limbed, heavy, yellow mustached young
man, who seemed to feel the exercise
good deal more than his senior On they
dashed, helter-ske1ter, until they pulled
up painting st the Office where the law
yer of the Westmacotts was to be found.
'aThere nowi' cried the Admiral in
triumph. what dye think of that?
Nothing wrong in the engine-room, eh?"
s'You seem fit enough, sir"