Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1903-08-07

yourselves at the rate, say, of 600
year. taking your I'VE per cent interest
ss we'll"
What INTEREST,""
Five per cent per annurn."
Mr.Metaxa laughed Per annumy
Re said. Five per cent month"
"A month. That would be sixty Pc
cent a year"
Precisely"
But that Is monstrous.
II don't ask gentlemen to come 70 me
They come o.. their own free will Those
are my terms. and they can take It o.
leave it."
~Then I shall leave IT," The Ad-
s1irai rose angriIy 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, sir2"
You might die tomorrow You are
not a young man What age are you"
"Sixty-th rec"
Nj. Metaxa turned over long col
umn 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 am
not a well-preserved mann
well. Admiral. 1t is a trying life al
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
rest or peace. I do not think sailors
life good one"
"Ill tell you what, sir" said the Ad-
miraI hotiy IF you have two pairs OF
gloves I'll undertake 10 knock you out
under three rounds. Or III race you
from here to St PauIs. and my friend
here will see fair. I'll let you see
whether I'm an old man OF not
This is beside the question, said the
money-lender with a deprecatory shrug-
THE point is that if you died to-mor-
row where would be the security then
IT could insure my life. and make the
policy over TO you
Your premiums for such sum, II
any office would have you, which very
much doubt, would come 10 close on nve
hundred a year. That would hardly
suit your book
well, sir, what do you intend to pro-
poser" asked the Admiral
L might, 10 accommodate you, work
II in another way. 1 should senc
for 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 10 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 errand,
while Mr.. Aetaxa sat at his desk trim
ming his nails, and shooting out little
comment. upon the weather. Presently
feet were heard upon the stairs. the
moneylsndsr hurried out. there was
sound of whispering, and he returnea
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 on
his hat. and produced his stethoscope
from its interior with the air Of a con-
jurer upon the stage Which OF these
gentlemen am to examiner he asked
blinking from one to the other Of them
"Ah, 1t Is you, Only your waistcoat'
You need not undo your collar. Thank
you, A full BREATH Thank youl Ninety
nine, Thank youi Now hold your
breath for a moment. Oh, dear, dear.
what is this hear?''
What is it them" asked the Admiral
coolly.
tut. tut This is 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
II have never had days Illness"
Not to your knowledge; but you have
inhaled unhealthy air. and it has left
its effect. You have an organic muir
mur-slight but distinct"
rs 1t dangerous
ut might at any time become SO. You
should not take violent exercise
"Oh. indeed II would hurt me to run
a half mile?"
1T would be very dangerous"
and a miles'
would be almost certainly fatal"
Then there is nothing else the mat
ter?~
NO But If the heart is weak, then
everything is weak. and the life is not a
sound one"
You see. Admiral" remarked Mr.. |
Metaxa. as the doctor secreted his steth-
oscope once more in his hat. my re-
marks were not entirely uncalled for |
I am sorry that the doctors opinion is
not more favorable. but this is a matter i
Of business. and certain obvious pre-
cautions must be taken
'Of course. Then the matter is at an
end
wen. we might even now do bust
ness. am most anxious TO be OF use to /