Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-01-22

va" hS"lly u~lSlracleu, II FOUND 1t
even harder to make both ends meet
than when working for fifteen dollars
a week. Pride would not allow him
to recede from his position, and by
hook and by crook he managed to
make things come out nearly right:
but was obliged to borrow a few hun
dreds from a friendly broker. who
knew the circumstances of Alden's
Will, and who readily took Josiah's
note.
Months went on thus, outwardly
pleasant to all, but Josiah found him
self steadily getting into debt to the
friendly broker On whom he had to call
to keep up his credit and appearance.
1T is only for a short time" he ar
gued. "Mr. Alden cannot live much
longer. then 1 will have the whole
store and all his money"
Thus Josiah went on, calculating on
the death Of his benefactor, till from
calculating he grew to thinking.
What is the good of his living? He
Is Of no use to himself or others, and
only stands in the way of my advance
ment. Well, he cannot last much
longer, for he grows weaker day by
day"
A year had passed and Josiah owed
h broker about one thousand dollars.
When he borrowed his last installment
his friend said:
How long do you think old Alden
will last?"
Il do not know. He is now eighty
live years of age, and certainly should
not last very much longer"
II do not know about that" said
the broker. 81 was talking with a life
insurance agent a few days ago and
he said that according to the mortality
tables of the insurance company a man
of eighty-tive years could expect to
live for five years"
WHAT" groaned Josiah, "do you
think Mr.. Alden will live to be nine
typ
According to the table he cam"
said the broker, producing a series of
tables compiled by one P. e. Chase.
Josiah looked eagerly at the book. Yes,
there it was:
Expectancy Of Life - eighty-five
years-5.1S years.
80 Mr.. Alden will live to be nine
ty," he said, looking blankiy at the
broker.
$50 it seems" said his friend, calm
ly lighting a cigar.
And what am l to do, run into debt
all this time. Will you wait and still
furnish me with money!" and Josiah
wetted his lips anxiously.
II will wait" said the broker. "but
you will have to pay me a larger rate
of interest"
Anything at ALL" eagerly responded
Josiah. 81 cannot go back now, but,
oh, l wish this suspense were over!
Why will he not die and leave his
money where it will do some goodT
Josiah went home gloomy and
thoughtful; he did not notice the many
respectful %salutations he received; his
mind was filled with but one idea; one
thOu6ht ~ uuSu ltbCll anu TdDS III LIS
ears with monotonous insistence--nine-
ty years, ninety years. When he
reached his home he savagely repulsed
the children who came to him with a
recently learned timidity; snarled at
his wife, and fastened to his room.
This manner had become habitual
with him and had caused Maria many
tears, as her mind reverted to the
time when they were happy and con
tented on fifteen dollars a week. In
the privacy Of his own room Josiah
gazed once more at the insurance ia
bic. The figures stared at him:
Expectancy Of Life eighty-five
years-5.18 years."
"Yes, he will live to be over ninety"
he said, bitterly. CHANGING down the
column, his eye fell upon the figure
ninety with a cry of anguish; he read:
Expectancy of Life-ninety years
Ale years."
Great heavens!' he exclaimed,
"then he will not die till he is ninety
four" As If directed by an external
power, his eye followed down the col
umn of figures till he reached ninety
four. There he read:
Expectancy Of Life-ninety-four
years-3.49 years."
He groaned aloud. Feverishly he
once more scanned the column.
HE will be ninety-seven," he
moaned.
Once more the figures scared them
selves upon his brain.
Expectancy Of Acknowledgements
years-three years"
Josiah dropped the book, his face
blanched to the color of its leaves.
al cnn IL oil nn,rO ln nvnlninnnI L.