Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-01-22

was nearly distracted, and found ii
even harder To make both ends meet
than when working for fifteen dollars
u 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 II friendly broker. who
knew the circumstances OF Aldens
will, and who readily took Joslah'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 short time" he ar
gued. Mr.. Alden cannot live much
longer, then | 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
the broker about one thousand dollars
When he borrowed his last instalment
his friend said:
How long do you think old Alden
will last?'
Il do not know, He is now eighty
five years of age, and certainly should
not last very much longer"
Il do not know about that" said
the broker. Il was talking with life
insurance agent Il few days ago, and
he said that according to the mortality
tables of the insurance company man
of eightytiye years could expect to
live for five years"
What" groaned Josiah, "do you
think Mr.. Alden will live to be nine
tyf"
According to the table he can"
said the broker, producing series of
tables compiled by one Z. e. Chase
Josiah looked eagerly at the book. Yes,
there it was:
Expectancy of Life eighty We
years-5.1S years
80 Mr. Alden will live to be nine
ty," he said, looking blanky at the
broker.
80 it seems" said his friend, calm
ly lighting cigar.
"And what am | to do, run into debt
furnish me with money! and Josiah
wetted his lips anxiously.
II will wait" said the broker, "but
you will have to pay me larger rate
of interest"
Anything at ALL" eagerly responded
Josiah. Il cannot go back now but,
oh, wish this suspense We're over.
Why will he not die and leave his
money where it will do some good"
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
thought intruded itself and rang in his
ears with monotonous insistence-nine-
ty years, ninety years. When he
reached his home he savagely repulsed
the children who came to him with
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 We're happy and con
tented on fifteen dollars Il week In
the privacy of his own room Josiah
gazed once more at the insurance Ia
Bile. The figures stared at him.
Expectancy of Life - eighty five
years-5.lS years.
Yes. he will live to be over ninety"
he said, bitterly. Glancing down the
column. his eye fell upon the figure
ninety with cry of anguish; he read
Expectancy of Life-nlnety years
4 l6 years.
Great heavensr' 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. Feyerishly 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 I.ife-ninety seven
years-three years
Josiah dropped the book. his face
blanched to the color of its leaves.
Il see it all now" he exclaimed, in
hollow voice. this man can never
die; | might continue this column on
indefinitely, but there would always
be something left. He shall always
live to mock me with the anticipation
of wealth shall never obtain"
Next morning the old man was