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Show iBWgiWW W--.-h 7 STORYfO, There is a very clever doctor, in CM street here. Proudie is his name. John, The go and fetch Doctor Proudie." youth was dispatched upon his errand, while Mr. Metaxa sat at his desk, trimming his nails, and shooting out little comments upon the weather. Presently feet were heard upon the stairs, the moneylender hurried out, there was a sound of whispering, and he returned g man, with a large, fat. clad In a much worn frock-coa- t, and a hat. very dilapidated top Doctor Proudie, gentlemen. said Mr. Metaxa. The doctor bowed, smiled, whipped of! his hat, and produced his stethoscope from its Interior with the air of a conjuror upon the stage. "Which of these gentlemen am I to examine? 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-ninThank you! Now hold your breath for a moment. Oh, dear, dear, is this I hear? what "What is it then?" asked the Admiral greasy-lookin- A. CONAN QQY ft ors, and brokers, to the firm of which they were in quest. A winding stone stair, well carpeted and railed at first but growing shabbier with every landing, brought them past innumerable doors until, at last, just under the ground-glas- s the names of roofing, Smith & Hanbury were to be seen painted in large white letters across a panel, with a laconic Invitation to push JNTERWTHML PRESS ASSOCIATION! beneath it. Following out the suggestion, the Admiral and his companion CHAPTER XIIL found themselves in a dingy apartment, ill lit from a couple of glazed windows. HEN Dr. Walker An table, littered with pens, had departed, the papers, and almanacs, an American Admiral packed all cloth sofa, three chairs of varying pathis possessions back terns, and a much-wor- n carpet, conInto his sea chest, stituted all the furniture, save only a with the exception very large and obtrusive porcelain spittoon, and a gaudily framed and very d of one little This somber picture which hung above the desk. he unlocked, and fireplace. Sitting In front of this pictook from It a dozen ture, and staring gloomily at it, as being or so blue sheets of the only thing he could stare at, was a boy with a large paper all mottled small sallow-face- d over with stamps head, who in the Intervals of his art studies V. munched R.s sedately at an apple. very large Is Mr. Smith or Mr. Hanbury In?" He printed upon the heads of them. tied these carefully Into a small bundle, asked the Admiral. "There ain't no such people, said and placing them In the inner pocket of his coat, he seized his stick and hat. the small boy. But you have the names on the Oh, John, don't do this rash thing," cried Mrs. Denver, laying her hands door. so Ah, his little seen that Is the name of the firm, you sleeve. "I have upon of you, John. Only three years since see. Its only a name. It's Mr. Reuben you left the service. Dont leave me Metaxa that you wants. "Well, then, is he in? again. I know it is weak of me, but I cannot bear It. No, he's not. "When will he be back?" There's my own brave lass, said Can't tell, Im sure. Hes gone to hair. he, smoothing down the grey-shWeve lived in honor together, mother, ,lunch. Sometimes he takes one hour, and No sometimes two. Itll be two today, die. and, please God, in honor we'll matter how debts are made, they have I 'spect, for he said he was hungry got to be met, and what the boy owes afore he went. we owe. He has not the money, and Then I suppose we had better call how is he to find it? He can't find it. again," said the Admiral. "Not a bit, cried Charles. "I know What then? It becomes my business, how to manage these little and theres only one way for it. imps. See "But it may not be so very bad, John. here, you young varmint, heres a shilfor we Had Run off and fetch your not best wait until after he ling you. master. If you dont bring him here in sees these people tomorrow? five minutes lass. I'll They may give him little time, clump you on the side But I'll have a care that I don't go so of the head when you get back. Shoo! far that I can't put back again. Now, Scat! He charged at the youth, who mother, theres no use holding me. It's bolted from the room and clattered got to be done, and theres no sense In madly Hell fetch him, said Charles. Let shirking it." He detached her fingers from his sleeve, pushed her gently back us make ourselves at home. This sofa does not feel over and above safe. r, Into an and hurried from the It was not meant for fifteen-ston- e house. men. In less than half an hour the Admiral But this doesnt look quite the sort of was whirled Into Victoria Station and place where one would expect to pick up found himself amid a dense bustling money. Just what I was thinking, said the throng, who Jostled and pushed In the crowded terminus. His errand, which Admiral, looking ruefully about him. had seemed feasible enough in his own Ah, well! I have heard that the room, began now to present difficulties best furnished offices generally belong to the poorest firms. Lets hope it Is In the carrying out, and he puzzled over how he should take the first steps. the opposite here. They can't spend on the management anyhow. much each Amid the stream of business men, d pumpkin-headeThat old on the his definite way, boy was the staff, hurrying seaman in his grey tweed suit and black I suppose. Ha, by Jove, thatB his soft hat strode slowly along, his head voice, and he's got our man. I think!" As he spoke the youth appeared in sunk and his brow wrinkled in perplexity. Suddenly an Idea occurred to the doorway with a small, brown, dried-u- p little chip of a man at his heels. He him. He walked back to the railway stall and bought a dally paper. This was clean shaven and he turned and turned until a certain with bristling black hair, and keen column met his eye, when he smoothed brown eyes which shone out very it out, and carrying it over to a seat, brightly from between pouched underlids and drooping upper ones. He adproceeded to read it at his leisure. And, indeed, as a man read that vanced, glancing keenly from one to column, it seemed strange to him that the other of his visitors, and slowly there should still remain any one In this rubbing together his thin, world of ours who should be in straits hands. The small boy closed the door for want of money. Here were whole behind him, and directly vanished. I am Mr. Reuben Metaxa, said the lines of gentlemen who were burdened with a surplus in their incomes, and moneylender. Was it about an adand to were vance the who poor you wished to see me?" loudly calling oft their it to come Yes. and take needy Here was the guileless person For you, I presume? turning to hands. who was not a professional moneylendCharles Westmacott. er, but who would be glad to corre"No, for this gentleman. The moneylender looked surprised. spond, etc. Here, too, was the accommodating individual who advanced sums "How much did you desire? from ten to ten thousand pounds withI thought of five thousand pounds. The said the Admiral. out expense, security or delay. a few over within money actually paid And on what security? hours, ran this fascinating advertise"I am a retired admiral of the Britof swift a vision ment, conjuring up ish navy. You will find my name in the messengers rushing with bags of gold Navy List. There is my card. I have to the aid of the poor struggles A here my pension papers. I get 850 a third gentleman did all business by per- year. .1 thought that perhaps if you sonal application, advanced money on were to hold these papers it would be and security enough that I should pay you. anything or nothing; the lightest airiest promise was enough to content You could draw my pension, and repay him according to his circular, and finally yourselves at the rate, say, of 500 a he never asked for more than five per year, taking your five per cent Interest cent. This struck the Adihlral as far as well." the most promising, and his wrinkles What interest? relaxed, and his frown softened away Five per cent per annum. as he gazed at It. He folded up the Per annum!" Mr.Metaxa laughed. paper, rose from the seat, and he said. Five per cent a month. found himself face to face with Charles A month! That would be sixty per Westmacott. cent a year. Hullo, Admiral! Precisely. Charles had Hullo, Westmacott! But that Is monstrous. always been a favorite of the seamans. I don't ask gentlemen to come to me. here? What are you doing They come of their own free will. Those "Oh, I have been doing a little busiare my terms, and they can take It or ness for my aunt. But I have never leave it. seen you In London before. The Ad"Then I shall leave It. I hate the place. It smothers me. miral rose angrily from his chair. Theres not a breath of clean air on this But one moment, sir. Just sit down But maybe you and we shall chat the matter over. side of Greenwich. know your way about pretty well In the Yours is a rather unusual case and we city? may find some other way of doing what Well, I know something about 1L you wish. Of course the security which Tou see I've never Mved very far from it, you offer is no security at all, and no and I do a good deal of my aunts busi- sane man would advance five thousand ness. pennies on it. No security? Why not, sir? Maybe you know Bread Street 7" It is out of Cheapslde. "You might die tomorrow. You are "Well then, how do you steer for It not a young man. What age are you? from here? Tou make me out a course Sixty-threand Ill keep to It Mr. Metaxa turned over a long coldo. to Here is an actuarys umn of figures. Why, Admiral, I have nothing Til take you there with pleasure. table, said he. At your time of life "Will you, though? Well, Id take It the average expectancy of life is only very kindly If you would. I have busia few years even In a ness there. Smith & Hanbury, financial man. agents, Bread Street. Do you mean to Insinuate that I am The pair made their way to the riverman? not a side, and so down the Thames to St Well, Admiral, It is a trying life at Pauls landing a mode of travel which sea. Sailors In their younger days are was much more to the Admiral's taste gay dogs, and take it out of themselves. than bus or cab. On the way he told Then when they grow older they are his companion his mission and the still hard at it, and have no Chance of tt causes which led to It. Charles rest or peace. I do not think a sailor's knew little enough of city life life a good one. and the ways of business, but at least Ill tell you what, sir,, said the Adhe had more experience in both than miral hotly. If you have two pairs of the Admiral, and he made up bis mind gloves Ill undertake to knock you out not to leave him until the matter was under three rounds. Or Ill race you settled. from here to St. Pauls, and my friend These are the people, said the here will see fair. Ill let you see twisting round his paper, and whether Im an old man or not. Pointing to the advertisement which had "This Is beside the question," said the seemed to him the most promising. It money-lendwith a deprecatory shrug. sounds honest and above board, does It The point is that if you died not? The personal interview looks as where would be the security then?" if there were no trickery, and then no I could insure my life, and make the one could object to five per cent. policy over to you. No, it seems fair enough. Your premiums for such a sum, If "It is not pleasant to have to go hat any office would have you, which I very n hand money, but there much doubt, would come to close on five are times,borrowing as you may find before you hundred a year. That would hardly are my age, Westmacott, when a man suit your book. must stow away nis pride. But here's Well, sir, what do you Intend to their number, and their plate is on the asked the Admiral. corner of the door. I might, to accommodate you, work A narrow entrance was flanked on It In another way. I should send either side by a row of brasses, ranging for a medical man, end have an opinion upwards from the shipbrokers and the upon your life. Then I might see what solicitors who occupied the ground could be done. , floors, through a long succession, of That is quite fair. 1 have no objec-tNWest Indian agents, architects, survey- to that. brass-boun- down-stair- s. A Cash Combine. Professional Advice, Charleys Mathematics. Like a good many men of genloa," "Is there a beer trust in this town? Im troubled with cold Wederly said young Mrs. Torkins, complacent- asked the stranger within the gates. feet, doctor. What would you advise ly, Charley is very bad at figures. No, replied the native, sadly; me to do? "I never heard it before, said the only spot cash goes here. Dr. GraSem "Get a divorce. Intimate friend. I never observed it myself until the other evening. But be doesnt seem to know the multiplication table. He advances the theory that coolly. three fives amount to more than two "Tut! tut! This is a great pity. Have tens. you had rheumatic fever? Never. Moat Annoying. You have had some eerlous illness?" Tess Yes, my engagement ring is Never." Ah, you are an admiral. You have lovely, but the jewelers came isnt been abroad, tropics, malaria, ague I on the box it came In. know." Jess That doesnt signify that it I have never had a day's Illness. isn't a genuine diamond or "Not to your knowledge; but you have Tess Of course not, but If I dont Inhaled unhealthy air, and it has left Its effect. You have an organic murmu- know the jeweler's name how am I to find out bow much George paid for r-slight but distinct." It? Philadelphia Press. Is It dangerous?" "It might at any time become so. You should not take violent exercise. Then He Stopped Saying. Oh, Indeed. It would hurt me to run Of course, said Mr. Stay late, a half mile? there are some things that always go It would be very dangerous. without saying And a mile?" Yes, and worse still, Interrupted Would be almost certainly fatal. "Then there is nothing else the mat- Miss Patience Gonne, yawning at the ter? clock, there are some others that do No. But If the heart Is weak, then Just the opposite. Philadelphia everything Is weak, and the life Is not a Press. sound one. Mr. You see. Admiral, remarked He Had to Labor. Metaxa, as the doctor secreted his stethHungry Higgins She gimme a pie oscope once more in his hat, my remarks were not entirely uncalled for. she bad just made, but I had ter work I am sorry that the doctors opinion Is before I got a chanst to eat it not more favorable, but this Is a matter Weary Walker Git out! of business, and certain obvious preHungry Higgins Sure, I had ter Mr. Shyboy This time I expect to be far away. cautions must be taken. do top crust oft meself. pry Of course. Then the matter Is at an Miss Flirty Not much, farther than you are now, I hope. end. Not Exactly What She Meant Well, we might even now do busiAll Knew the Answer. Information for the Young. she said proudly, we Oh, yes, ness. I am most anxious to be of use to The teacher was telling her class Pa, whats an imbroglio? How long do you think, doctor, can trace our ancestry back to to . you. A fight in which people don't de- things not found In the that this gentleman will In all proba- Well, I dont know Just who, but we've been descending for centuries. bility live?" When anything Is repeated by many pend entirely on their fists. "Well, well, its rather a delicate quespersons It gets to be called a saytion to answer, said Mr. Proudie, with A GREAT IMPRESSION. Now, when a thing ing, she said. a show of embarrassment. Is repeated and accepted as a fact by Not a bit, sir. Out with it! I have faced death too often to flinch from it everybody, what do we call it? now, though I saw it as near me as you The Intelligent pupils answered in are." chorus, A chestnut! e! blue-vein- e. West-tnaco- Ad-tnir- er ?" m Golfers Paradis. Uttls when I'm dsad wo As reoompana tor No golden crown uponsarthly my Mad, No harp to waary handa and toes; No halo would I wear, indeed. No purple robe beyond my mi 1 only ask a well rolled mead. With eighteen boles and putting k oaddy with a iynx-llk- e ays, And wings upon his shoulder tips. Shall watch me whack the ball than To follow on their airy trip; And when I come on gentle wing Hell hand me then, the watchful A putter at for prlnca or king Thats guaranteed tq make tha The tees shall be the sort from which One drives 200 yards at least, While over hurdle, bunker, ditch The balls shall rtae as though of yeaaC The niblick, mashle, and the desk Shall never miee or make a slip, While only those who Scottish apeak Shall have a card of membership. j Here on this field ot perfeot strokes , Ill play a winning gam with all Who beat me when on earth, tha folk Who say I cannot hit the ball; , And. beet ot all, the game between When o'er my nectar I am heard Mv triumphs to recount, I ween. There'll not be one to doubt my worAj . William Wallace Whtteiock. in Life Memento of Cromwell. Recently at a sale of old and historic silver a rare relic of Oliver Cromwell was brought to light Thi is the Lord Protectors silver mounted! "black Jark, which is said to hwvwi been carried by him during his many wars, Cromwell's name and quality are engraved upon a silver plat OUvarlus, Del Gra., Reip. Angllaw Scotiae et Hlbernlae." A black Jack, be it known,' la capacious drinking cup, formerly mad of waxed leather, as in this Instance from thin but now manufactured metal-thoutside' being japanned, black, except the edge, which is left, A Forerunner of Loquacity. There's no use for ms to suggest bright in imitation of the ancient' to my wife that its time to go home. leathern black jaclts with sllvert rims. Shell talk for two hours yet" Cromwells drinking vessel is small- What makes you think so?" "Didnt you hear her remark when er than the ordinary receptacle of the kind and, although it has necessarily she started the argument? suffered from time and wear. It ia was what it?" "No; well preserved. New-YorShe said, Theres very little to say remarkably Herald. , " on side. text-book- RIVERS OF THE DESERT. Some of the Strange Pranks They Play Now and Then. A large contractor Is authority for tha statement that In proportion to the number of streams, there are more bridges In arid regions than In any other section of the country. Of course, he only referred to such bridges as span what were formerly or are now the well defined channels of running water. In parts of the southwest creeks and rivers often appear and disappear so quickly that It Is not known whence they come nor whither they go. Sometimes a stream vanishes and leaves no signs; sometimes its disappearance Is marked by an Increase of water in the neighboring river; sometimes It cuts for Itself a nice channel, but whatever becomes of it the old bed is usually left perfectly dry. These changes generally take place after a flood and necessitate the construction of new bridges. On little rivulet In southern California has required the building of five distinct bridges. About two years ago the Southern Pacific railroad lost a stream called the Whitewater river, .which had never been known to fail before. During the wet season It became an angry, turbulent and destructive flood, bul when the rain ceased, It gradually and left no traces of its future course. A young explorer was sure that ha could find the mouth ot any stream, and so selecting one whose outlet was not known, he began his tour of invesAfter riding many hours tigation. through the heat and sand, his attention was for a short time attracted by, other objects, when suddenly he remembered his mission, and looked for his river, but not a drop of water was he exclaimed, I in sight. Well, found that the darned thing went into the ground anyhow. An old timer says that many of the smaller streams of the desert have no headwaters or outlets, hut simply an initial and a final ending. CLEAN STREETS. a City Necessity If the Death Rate Has to Be Kept Down. They Are , -- , e (TO BS CONTINUED, arm-chai- d, A I ask but either Willie and Sallle. Whats the matter, Willie? You dont seem to enjoy the new pudding Hen Thlevei on Motor Cars. The bicycle and the fast light motor tricycle such as smart shops have for sending out their parcels) I baked. are scientific Inventions ot which It looks all right, Sallie, but Its has not been slow to avail it-- ? taste causes me to wonder if your crime self. ; cook hook did not contain some typoThe great Increase of suburban,, errors. Roller Monthly, graphical fowl stealing which is troubling the police from Epping round by South- -' One Way to Rise. gate to Hendon and Harrow, and Old Jones made a rise In the from Kingston round by Wimbledon world at last to the borders of Kent, is traced by You dont say so? one and all concerned to the fact that "I do. Theyre swingin him to that the thieves can get away so quickly-withell git hickory limb yonder, an In fact, It Is on the their spoil; thar, if the rope dont break!" Atlan- market by 6 a. m., and distributed r ta Constitution. thence to suburban shops by the time tbat the suburban housekeeper begin Great For Exercise. or the goods ordered overHe I hope I made an impression on the girl I Just danced wivfl, You say you take automobile rides shopping are sent out. night She You must have; shes still limping. for the sake of exercise? The wholesale central shops are not Certainly. able to detect crime, because the So Interesting. Where Theres a Will. "But where does the physical ex- thieves always have In their league exclaimed Bah Jove! Jhck She hasnt said yes, has she? ercise come in? suddenly bona fide poultry farm, run by a Dick Not yet. She still thinks she Cholly Borem, after a lull In the conGetting out to see what the mat- breeder. of is lawst to me. this the isnt going ter is. versation, day marry The farm he runs Is not really cajK June, Isnt it? able of producing perhaps 20 per cent Miss Patience. "Yes, replied ILL TREATED. of what his men deliver, and th Why? men would not be found o the farm Why, if it was the lawst day of by a chance caller. But the wholeof would instead it June September sale buyer can only verify the original be my birthday. reference, and be is often In complete Ignorance Until apprised by tha Both Wrong. police. London Graphic. Isnt It ridiculous to call sleeping cars sleepers? McCullough's Last Yes, thats 'way off. The last complimentary ticket that "Because it isnt the cars that are the late John McCullough signed Is sleepers, but the people who occupy one of the valued keepsakes of Mrs. them. James Macey, 885 Hancock avenue, Thats where youre way off. Chicago. It was given to her by Mg, Evidently yon never tried to sleep In one. , h ' View Feminine. "Man wants but little here below, sighed the aimless man with the baggy trousers. "What man wants, said the square-jawemother-in-laof the party aforesaid, "is a woman to set him an example in the act of getting a move on himself. The death rate In this city has been lower this summer than in any year since the grip made its appearance here, said Dr. Roger S. Tracy, the new register of vital statistics, the other, t day to a New York reporter. Do you mean to say that the grip causes many deaths in summer? he , Those Preliminary Skirmishes. Mrs. Gadby Why, it's been only a was asked. Not many deaths are dlrectlyi week since the wedding and they're caused by the grip in warm weather, acting like old married people. he replied, but we have found that the! Mrs. Glibly Yes; they quarreled o much before their marriage that It mortality Indirectly caused by an epl-- j demic of the Influenza continues all, wasn't any change to them at all. summer. How does influenza indirectly cause Two of Her. "Beast! she exclaimed as he stagdeath? Thats what you would be By weakening the constitution and gered in. making a person susceptible to a fatal if you were always as you look now. Zhat sho? he replied. disease. "Well, How do you account for the low mdear, if you were alwaysh as you look now Id be a bigamish. death rate this summer? Partly by the cool weather and partSatisfying the Thirsty Soul. ly by the condition of the sreets, which She They say the eyes are the are cleaner than I have ever known them to be. Much of the summer mortality windows of the soul, I believe. He Yes, and when a man goes Is caused by dlarrhoeal diseases, and those diseases are the result either of Into drug store and shuts a window heat or of fermentation In food. In the quickly the clerk knows just about tenement house districts many people what the poor soul wants. are obliged to keep milk and other articles of food exposed to the atr much Cant Feaze Him. of the time. If the streets are clean I see, remarked the mental dysthere Is lesB dirt in the air and less peptic, that the coffin supply in New dirt gets into the food. Consequently York is very short ; there is likely to he less sickness. Oh, well," replied the Cheerful Idiot, Id rather live than die there, Hand Filters anyway. Wouldnt you? An object lesson in water filtration In proposed at Pittsburg, Pa., by the CitiHis Natural Preference. zens league. A small sand filter about 8tatloner Yes, sir. Here Is an elediameter is to be put in opsix feet in deck of cards for 20 cents, eration where the public can examine gant I should prefer paying a 8tranger it, with an attendant to explain its nickel more. Being a naval officer, I workings. River water will be filtered. prefer a quarter. d naturally The Congressman Ever since I got Smith a government position a tarn years ago, he hasnt spoken to me. . The Senator Great ingratltudm The Congressman No; he was daad sore. A good salary went with tha Job, but he had to work. Most Satisfactory Results. Kingley You've been to these literary clubs and metaphysical things for two or three years now, and what does your culture amount to? Mrs. Kingley Dont I know everybody? Town and Country. 8tlll Too Young. And ! supmy birthday. pose you feel as young as you ever did? No; I dont believe Im quite old enough yet to feel as young as I ever did. Town aad Country. "This Is Profitless Whats Jinks Settin still an world. Business. of now? growlin at the "What for? Well, the world won't rise up an make a living for him. Wary. Mrs. Farmer Here, poor man, are some cold sausages. Weary Willie Scuse me, mum, hut don't your sign say, Beware of the deg ?' Judge. McCullough in the afternoon of Sept. In the evening of the sam 29, 1884. day he was carried from the stage, a raving madman. It was probably th last time tne noted actor ever wroto hi name. Bear as a Watchdog. Is used in lien of a watchdog by Gottlieb Weest ot Lelperville, Penn., The animal 1 owned by Frank Green, who captured Unendurable. May Did you ever meet a man you it while on a gunning expedition la one of the western states. At night just possibly endure? bruin is chained in the yard. At th Fay Yes, one. approach of a stranger he growls and May Who was he? Fay A man I tried for a week to tugs at his chain. During the day th bear amuses passers-bmake propose, and couldnt. doing turns, such as dancing and walking soldier fashion with a broomstick. Ingenuity. "I hear that the old bagpipers Postoffices of the World. lungs failed him. I suppose he had The United States possess th to stop playing. number of postoffices, over "No, he goes around playing the greatest 78,000. Germany follows with 45,628 bagpipe with a bicycle pump." and Great Britain with 22,400. Russia has only 6,200 prstoffices for a Hard Lines. population of over 100,000,000. Mrs. Hauskeep I dont suppose you bas more pillar boxes than any ever think of looking for work? other country, 123,008, and Germany Weary Walker Oh, yes, I do, comes also first with the number ot ma'am; but my great trouble Is that persons employed In her postoffice, Im farsighted. When I git real close 233,176. to It I cant see It Eskimo Bible. Th Eskimos now have their own Always Broke. of the Bible, which ha Blobbs Harduppe reminds me of translation taken 150 years to complete. The Northe Ten Commandments. wegian pastor, Hans Egede, who went 81obbs In what way? Blobbs Hes always broke. Phila- to Greenland In 1721, began the work, which Is completed and published by delphia Record. th Bible Society of Denmark. large black bear y Gef-man- y |