Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1903-08-07
6Y Il. CONAN DONZA

| Paurs landing-a mode of travel which
was much more to the Admiral's taste
! than bus or cab. On the way he told
his companion his mission and the
causes which led to It, Charles West
macott knew little enough Of city life
( and the ways Of business. but at least
/ he had more experience in both than
the Admiral. and he made up his mind
not TO leave him until the matter was
settled
These are the people said the Ad-
miral. twisting round his paper. and
pointing to the advertisement which bad
seemed TO him the most promising. 1T
sounds honest and above board does II
not? The personal interview looks as
il there were no trickery, and then no
one could object 10 five per cent"
mo, 1t seems fair enough"
1T is not pleasant TO kave to go hat
in hand borrowing money. bst there
are times. as you may find before you
are my age Westmacott when a man
must stow away his pride. But here's
their number. and their plate is on the
corner of the door,
A narrow entrance was hanked on
either side by row OF brasses, ranging
upwards from the shipbrokers and the
solicitors who occupied the ground
floors. through a long succession Of
West Indian agents, architects. survey
ors, and brokers, 10 the firm of which
they were in quest A winding stone
stair, well carpeted and rallied at first
but growing shabbier with every land
ing. brought them past innumerabie
doors until, at last. just under the
ground-glass roofing. the names Of
Smith & Hamburg were TO be seen
painted IN large white letters across
panel. with a laconic invitation to push
beneath it. Following out the sugges-
ton. the Admiral and his companion
found themselves in a dingy apartment.
I'll lit from a couple of glazed windows.
An ink-stained table. Uttered with pens,
papers, and almanacs, an American
cloth sofa, three chairs of varying pat
terms and a much-worn carpet, con-
stituted all the furniture save only
very large and obtrusive porcelain spit
toon, and a gaudily framed and very
| somber picture which hung above the
fireplace. Sitting in front Of this pic
ture. and staring gloomily al it, as being
the only thing ne could stare at. was
small sallow-faced boy with a large
head, who in the intervals of his art
Us Mr. Smith or Mr.. Hamburg in2"
asked the Admiral
There amt no such people," said
the small boy.
But you have the names on the
door"
'Ah. that is the name OF the firm, you
see. It's only name. It's Mr.. Reuben
Metaxa that you wants"
well, then, lie he IMP
mo, he's not
when will he be back?''
Cant tell I'm sure. He's gone TO
lunch. Sometimes he takes one hour.
and sometimes two. tn be two today.
1 'spect, for he said he was hungry
afore he went"
"Then I suppose we had better call
again. said the Admiral
Not a Bit cried Charles. 1T know
how to manage these little imps See
here. you young varmint. here's shil-
ling for you Run of 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,
Scatr' 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. It
was not meant for ffteen-stone men.
But this doesn't look quite the sort of
place where one would expect TO pick up
money
Just what 1 was thinking" said the
Admiral. looking ruefully about hiri
"Ah. Welt 1 have heard tn the
best furnished offices generally bong /
TO the poorest firms. Let's hope il IS {
the opposite here. They can't spend (
much on the mana cement anyhow
That pumpkin-headed boy was the stan. I
suppose. Ha. by Jove. that's his +
voice. and he's got our man. I thinkl'
AS he spoke the youth appeared in
the doorway with a small. brown. dried
up little chip of a man at his heels. He
was clean shaver and sblue-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. glsncins keeniy 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.
II am Mr.. Reuben Metaxa." said the
Was it about an ad-
vance you wished 10 see me?"
Yes"
For you. I presume?" turning to
Charles Westmacott.
mo. for this gentleman"
The moneyiender locked surprised.
How much did you desire?''
II thought OF nve thousand pounds"
laid the Admiral
And on what security.
Il am retired admiral OF the Brit
sh navy. You will md my name in the