The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-08-17

wear. I thought that perhaps If von
were to hold these papers it would ~
security enough that should paw Won
You could draw my pension, and rena,
yourselves at the rate, say, of f50o
year, taking your five per cent interest
as well.
"What INTEREST,""
give per cent per annum."
Mr.. Metaxa laughed. per annumm
he said. Give per cent a month"
"A month! That would be sixty ne,
cent year."
"Precisely.@
"But that is monstrous."
ST don't ask gentlemen to come to mo
They come of their own free will Those
are my terms, and they can take it or
leave it"
sThen I shall leave IT. The Ad.
miraI 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
NAV find some other way of doing what
YOU wish. eOf 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 a long col
| unn 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 a well-preserved
man"
do you mean to insinuate that I am
not well-preserved man?'
| ''Well, Admiral, it is a trying life at
sea. Sailors in their younger days are
cav dogs, and takei out of themselves.
Then when they grow older they are
still hard at it, and have no chance OF
rest or peace. I do not think sailors
life a good one"
"IlI tell you what, SIR said the Adj
miraI holly eff you have two pairs of
| gloves I'll undertake to knock you out
under three rounds. Or I'll race you
| from here to st. Paul's, and my friend
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
.0The point is that if you died to-mor-
row where would be the security then?'
| 81 could insure my life, and make the
policy over to YOU"
"Your premiums for such a sum, if
any office would have you, which very
much doubt, would come to close on five
hundred a year. That would hardly
| suit your book
t"Weu, sir what do you intend to pro-
poser" asked the Admiral.
| 81 might, to accommodate you work
it in another way. I should send
for a. medical man, and have an opinion
upon your life. Then I might see what
| could be DONE"
"That is quite fair. have no objec-
ton to that"
"There is a very clever doctor in the
street here. Proudie is his name. John
go and fetch Doctor Proudie." The
youth was dispatched upon his errandr
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
moneyIender hurried out, there was
sound of whispering, and he returned
with a large, fat, greasy-looking man,
clad in a much worn frock-coat, and a
very dilapidated top hat.
Doctor Proudie, gentlemen" said Mr.
Metaxa.
The doctor bowed, smiled, whipped Off
his hat, and produced his stethoscope
from it's interior with the air of con-
| jurer upon the stage. (Which OF these
| gentlemen am to examiner" he asked
blinking from one to the other OF them
"Ah, it is you! Only your waistcoat
You need not undo your collar. Thank
you! A full breath! Thank you! Ninety
nine! Thank you! Now hold your
| breath for moment. Oh, dear, dear
what is this hear?'
"What is it then?" asked the Admiral
coolly.
Tut! tut! This is a great pity. Have
you had rheumatic fever?"
Never"
"You have had some serious illness?'
Never"
"Ah, you are an admiral. You have
been abroad, tropics, malaria, ague-I
| know"
''I have never had days illness"
mot to your knowledge; but you have
inhaled unhealthy air, and it has lett
it's effect You have an organic muir
mur-slight but distinct"
us it dangerous?
cit might at any time become so. You
should not take violent exercise"
"Oh indeed. It would hurt me to run
a half miller"
'It would be very dangerous"
"And a mile?"
"Would be almost certainly fatal"
''Then there is nothing else the mat
ter?"
mo. But if the heart is weak, then
everything is weak, and the life is not
sound one"
'You see, Admiral" remarked Mr.