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diff --git a/36393-h/36393-h.htm b/36393-h/36393-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af9005e --- /dev/null +++ b/36393-h/36393-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10741 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta content="The Best Policy" name="DC.Title"/> + <meta content="Elliott Flower" name="DC.Creator"/> + <meta content="en" name="DC.Language"/> + <meta content="1905" name="DC.Created"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen (1.12) generated Jun 11, 2011 09:15 PM" /> + <title>The Best Policy</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {text-align:left; font-weight:normal;} + h1 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h2 {font-size:1.2em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + .larger {font-size:larger;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + div.center>:first-child {margin: .5em auto 0 auto;text-align:center;} + div.center p {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;} + .toc {font-size:larger; text-align:center; margin-bottom:.5em;} + hr.tb {border:none; border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 20px auto; width:35%} + td.c1 {padding-right:3em;} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Best Policy, by Elliott Flower + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Best Policy + +Author: Elliott Flower + +Illustrator: George Brehm + +Release Date: June 12, 2011 [EBook #36393] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEST POLICY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i001' id='i001'></a> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="“Mrs. Vincent, I have found the insurance policy” Page 114" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“Mrs. Vincent, I have found the insurance<br/>policy” <em>Page 114</em></span> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.4em;'>The Best Policy</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><em>By</em> ELLIOTT FLOWER</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'><span class='sc'>Author of</span></span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>“The Spoilsman,” “Policeman Flynn,” etc.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='sc'>Illustrated By</span></p> +<p>GEORGE BREHM</p> +<p> </p> +<p><em>A. L. BURT COMPANY</em></p> +<p><em>Publishers New York</em></p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span class='sc'>Copyright 1905</span></p> +<p><span class='sc'>The Bobbs-Merrill Company</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='sc'>October</span></p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>TO THOSE</p> +<p>FOR WHOSE BENEFIT I HAVE</p> +<p>INSURED MY OWN</p> +<p>LIFE</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p class='toc'>THE BEST POLICY<br />INCLUDING</p> + +<table summary='toc' style='margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;'> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Comedy</td><td align='right'><a href='#c1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Question</td><td align='right'><a href='#c2'>25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Tragedy</td><td align='right'><a href='#c3'>47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Speculation</td><td align='right'><a href='#c4'>73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Favor</td><td align='right'><a href='#c5'>99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Error</td><td align='right'><a href='#c6'>123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Failure</td><td align='right'><a href='#c7'>149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Scheme</td><td align='right'><a href='#c8'>167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Courtship</td><td align='right'><a href='#c9'>187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Sacrifice</td><td align='right'><a href='#c10'>207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Discovery</td><td align='right'><a href='#c11'>229</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c1'>An Incidental Grievance</td><td align='right'><a href='#c12'>251</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<h1><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span>THE BEST POLICY</h1> +<h2><a name='c1' id='c1'></a>AN INCIDENTAL COMEDY</h2> +<p> +Naturally, when Harry Beckford married he began +to take a more serious view of life. If there is +anything at all of thoughtfulness and consideration +in a man, marriage brings it out: he begins to plan. +He has some one dependent upon him, some one for +whom he must provide. That he should trust to luck +before was solely his affair; that he should trust to +luck now is quite another matter. +</p> +<p> +In the case of Beckford, as in the cases of most +other young men, this feeling was of gradual growth. +He was optimistic and happy; his future looked long +and bright; he had ample time in which to accumulate +a comfortable fortune; but—he wasn’t even beginning. +He and his wife so enjoyed life that they were +spending all he made. It wasn’t a large sum, but it +was enough to make them comfortable and contented, +enough to give them all reasonable pleasures. Later—he +thought of this only in a hazy, general sort of +way—they would begin to save. There was plenty of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +time for this, for they were both young, and he had +proved himself of sufficient value to his employer to +make his rapid advancement practically certain. The +employer was a big corporation, the general manager +of which had taken a deep personal interest in him, +and the opportunities were limitless. +</p> +<p> +But the feeling of responsibility that came to him +with marriage gradually took practical form, perhaps +because the girl who sat opposite him at the breakfast-table +was so very impractical. She was loving, lovable, +delightfully whimsical, but also unreasoningly impractical +in many ways. Before marriage she never +had known a care; after marriage her cares were much +like those of a child with a doll-house—they gave zest +to life but could be easily put aside. If the maid +proved recalcitrant, it was annoying, but they could +dine at a restaurant and go to the theater afterward, +and Harry would help her with breakfast the next +morning. Harry was so awkward, but so willing, that +it all became a huge joke. Harry had not passed the +stage where he would “kiss the cook” in these circumstances, +and an occasional hour in the kitchen is not so +bad when there is a fine handsome young man there, +to be ordered about and told to “behave himself.” So +even marriage had not yet awakened Isabel Beckford +to the stern realities of life. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span> +</p> +<p> +It was her impracticalness, her delightful dependence, +that finally brought Harry to the point of serious +thought. What would she do, if anything happened +to him? Her father had been successful but +improvident: he would leave hardly enough for her +mother alone to live in modest comfort; and, besides, +Harry was not the kind of youth to put his responsibilities +on another. He began to think seriously about +cutting expenses and putting something aside, even +at this early day. The really successful men had begun +at the beginning to do this. Then there came to +his notice the sad case of Mrs. Baird, who was left +with nothing but a baby. Baird had been a young +man of excellent promise and a good income, but he +had left his widow destitute. He had put nothing +aside, intending, doubtless, to begin that later. +</p> +<p> +“Just like me,” thought Harry, as he looked at his +girl-wife across the table. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t it frightful?” she asked, referring to the +little tragedy contained in the item he had just read +to her from the morning paper. “Every one thought +the Bairds were so prosperous, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Every one thinks we are prosperous,” he commented +thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s different!” she exclaimed. “You +mustn’t talk like that or you’ll make me gloomy for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> +the whole day! Why, it sounds as if you were expecting +to die!” +</p> +<p> +“Not at all,” he replied, “but neither was Baird.” +</p> +<p> +“Please don’t!” she pleaded. “I shan’t have another +happy minute—until I’ve forgotten what you +said.” +</p> +<p> +He laughed at the ingenuousness of this and blew +her a kiss across the table; but he did not abandon the +subject. +</p> +<p> +“Baird was a young man,” he persisted, “but, with +a little care and forethought, he could have left things +in fair shape.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps we ought to be saving a little,” she admitted +in a tone of whimsical protest. “I’ll help you +do it, if you just won’t make me blue.” +</p> +<p> +“He hadn’t even life insurance,” he remarked, “and +neither have I.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, not insurance!” she cried. “I wouldn’t like +that at all.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Why—why, think how much you could do with +the money you’d be paying to the old life insurance +company!” +</p> +<p> +“Wouldn’t it be just the same if you were saving +it?” he argued. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no; not at all,” she asserted. “Why, you can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> +get money that you’re saving whenever you want it, +but life insurance money is clear out of your reach.” +</p> +<p> +“A policy has a cash surrender value,” he explained. +“Every cent paid in premiums adds to its +value, if you want to give it up.” +</p> +<p> +“But then you lose the insurance,” she argued with +feminine inconsistency. +</p> +<p> +“Of course,” he admitted, “just as you lose your +savings when you spend them.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, but you can get at your savings easier, and +it’s easier to start again, if you happen to use them,” +she insisted. +</p> +<p> +“The very reason why life insurance is better for +us,” he said. “I want to make sure of something for +you that we’re certain not to touch while I live.” +</p> +<p> +But she took the unreasonable view of insurance +that some young women do take, and refused to be +convinced. +</p> +<p> +“If I should die first,” she said, with a little shudder +at the very thought of death for either of them, +“all the money you’d paid the company would be +wasted.” +</p> +<p> +“Not necessarily,” he returned. “There might +be—” +</p> +<p> +“Hush!” she interrupted, blushing so prettily that +he went over and kissed her. Then he dropped the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +subject temporarily, which was the wisest thing he +could have done. She had the feminine objection to +paying out money for which she got no immediate return, +but she wanted to please her husband. She was +capricious, imperious at times and then meekly submissive—a +spoiled child who surrendered to the emotion +of the moment, but whose very inconsistencies +were captivating. So when she decided that victory +was hers, she also decided to be generous: to please +him she would make a concession. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve changed my mind about insurance,” she told +him a few days later. As a matter of fact, she had +changed her mind, but not her opinions: she was not +convinced, but she would please him by accepting his +plan—with a slight modification. +</p> +<p> +“I knew you would see the wisdom of it!” he exclaimed +joyously. +</p> +<p> +“How much insurance did you plan to get?” she +asked, with a pretty assumption of business ways. +</p> +<p> +“Ten thousand dollars,” he replied. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’ll divide it,” she said, “and each get five +thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean that you’ll be insured, too?” he asked +doubtfully. +</p> +<p> +“Of course. Isn’t my life worth as much as +yours?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +</p> +<p> +“More! a thousand times more!” he cried, “but—but—” +</p> +<p> +Her eyes showed her indignation, and he stopped +short. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t want me to be insured!” she exclaimed +hotly. “You don’t think I’m worth it!” +</p> +<p> +“Why, dearest,” he protested, “you’re worth all the +insurance of all the people in the world, but it isn’t +necessary in your case. It’s my earning capacity +that—” +</p> +<p> +Unfortunate suggestion! There was an inference +that she considered uncomplimentary. +</p> +<p> +“Haven’t I any earning capacity?” she demanded. +“Don’t I earn every cent I get? Isn’t the home as important +as the office?” +</p> +<p> +“Surely, surely, darling, but—” +</p> +<p> +“Doesn’t a good wife earn half of the income that +she shares?” she persisted. +</p> +<p> +“More than half, sweetheart.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say ‘sweetheart’ to me in the same breath +that you tell me I’m not worth being insured!” she +cried. “It’s positively insulting, and—and—you always +said you loved me.” +</p> +<p> +Her voice broke a little, and he was beside her in +an instant. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t understand,” he explained. “Insurance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +has nothing to do with your value to me or my value +to you, but there is a more worldly value—” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you’re of some account in the world and I’m +not!” she broke in, her indignation driving back the +tears. +</p> +<p> +“Isabel, you’re simply priceless to me!” +</p> +<p> +“But, if I hadn’t happened to meet you, I suppose +I’d be a nonentity!” she flashed back at him. “I’m +just a piece of property that you happen to like, and—why, +Harry Beckford, men insure property, don’t +they?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course, but—” +</p> +<p> +“And I’m not worth insuring, even as property!” +she wailed. “Oh, I didn’t think you could ever be so +cruel, so heartless! You might at least let me think +I’m worth something.” +</p> +<p> +The young husband was in despair. He argued, +pleaded, explained in vain; she could only see that he +put a value on his life that he did not put on hers, +and it hurt her pride. Besides, they were partners in +everything else, so why not in insurance? +</p> +<p> +“But I wouldn’t want the insurance on your life,” +he urged. +</p> +<p> +“Do you think I’m any more mercenary than you?” +she retorted. “I don’t want the insurance, either; I +want you—when you’re nice to me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +</p> +<p> +“We’ll think it over,” he said wearily. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve thought,” she returned decisively. “If it’s +such a good thing, I think you’re mean not to let me +share it with you.” Then, with sudden cheerfulness: +“It would be rather jolly and exciting to go together, +just as we go to the theater and—and—all other +amusements.” +</p> +<p> +He laughed at her classification of life insurance +among the pleasures of life, and then he kissed her +again. Her unreasoning opposition distressed him, +but resentment was quite out of the question. There +was momentary exasperation, and then a little love-making, +to bring the smiles back to her face. All else +could wait. +</p> +<p> +It is a noteworthy fact, however, that life insurance +takes a strong hold on a man the moment he really decides +he ought to have it, and opposition only adds to +his determination. He who finds that, because of some +unsuspected physical failing, he can not get it, immediately +is possessed with a mania for it. So long +as he considered it within his reach, he turned the +agents away; now he goes to them and lies and pleads +and tries desperately to gain that which he did not +want until he found he could not get it. +</p> +<p> +Thus, in a minor degree, the opposition of Beckford’s +wife served only to impress on Beckford’s mind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +the necessity and advantage of some such provision +for the future. Perhaps the explanation of this is that +in trying to convince her he had convinced himself. +At any rate, the subject, at first taken up in a desultory +way, became one of supreme importance to +him, and he went to see Dave Murray. Dave, he was +solemnly informed by a friend who claimed to know, +probably had been christened David, but the last syllable +of the name had not been able to stand the wear +and tear of a strenuous life, in addition to which Murray +was not the kind of man to invite formality. He +was “Dave” to every one who got past the “Mr. Murray” +stage, and it never took long to do that. “Anyhow,” +his informant concluded, “you have a talk with +him. There isn’t a better fellow or a more upright +man in the city. The only thing I’ve got against him +is that he’ll insure a fellow while he isn’t looking and +then make him think he likes it. But if you want insurance, +go to him.” So Beckford went, and presently +he found himself telling Murray a great deal more +than he had intended to tell him. +</p> +<p> +“The fact is,” he explained, “my wife was violently +opposed to the idea at first.” +</p> +<p> +“Not unusual,” said Murray, and then he added +sententiously: “Wives don’t care for insurance, but +widows do.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +</p> +<p> +Beckford smiled as he saw the point. +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t do a widow much good to care for insurance, +if she objected to it as a wife,” he suggested. +</p> +<p> +“It may,” returned Murray. “It isn’t at all necessary +that a wife should know what’s coming to her +when she becomes a widow. She may be provided for +in spite of herself.” +</p> +<p> +“That would be rather difficult in my case,” said +Beckford, “for my wife knows just what my salary is, +and we plan our expenditures together. It’s a pretty +good salary, but we have been living right up to the +limit of it, so I can’t provide for premiums without +her knowledge, although I can do it easily with it.” +</p> +<p> +“That complicates matters a little,” remarked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Besides,” Beckford added, “we have been so frank +with each other that I should be unhappy with such +a life-secret, and, if I acted on my own judgment and +took the policy home to her, she says she would tear +it up and throw it away.” +</p> +<p> +“I knew a woman to do that once,” said Murray reflectively. +“Her husband insured his life before going +on the excursion that ended in the Ashtabula disaster. +A few days later her little boy came in to ask if anything +could be done about the policy that she had destroyed.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think Isabel would really destroy it,” said +the troubled Beckford, “but it would distress her very +much to have me go so contrary to her wishes in a +matter that we had discussed.” +</p> +<p> +“It would distress her very much to be left penniless,” +remarked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I think,” said Beckford thoughtfully, “I really +think, if I had known that she was going to take this +view of the matter, I would have insured myself first +and talked to her about it afterward. Then the situation +wouldn’t be so awkward. But I thought that all +women favored life insurance.” +</p> +<p> +“Not at first,” returned Murray, “but usually there +comes a change.” +</p> +<p> +“When?” asked Beckford hopefully. +</p> +<p> +“When they begin to think of the needs and the +future and the possible hardships of the first baby,” +replied Murray, whereat Beckford blushed a little, +even as his wife had done a few days before, for +young people do not consider and discuss prospective +family problems with the same candor that their elders +do. +</p> +<p> +“Woman, the true woman,” Murray continued, “is +essentially unselfish; she thinks of others. Careless for +her own future, she plans painstakingly for those she +loves. The insurance premium that is for her own +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +benefit she would rather have to spend now, but you +never hear her object to the investment of any money +that is to benefit her husband or children, even when +she has to make sacrifices to permit it.” +</p> +<p> +“But that doesn’t help me,” complained Beckford. +“I don’t want any insurance on her life; I don’t need +it, and there is no reason to think that I ever shall +need it. It’s for her that I am planning, but she won’t +listen to anything but this dual arrangement.” +</p> +<p> +“I quite understand the situation,” returned Murray. +“What insurance you are able to take out must +be to protect her.” +</p> +<p> +“Precisely; and I never knew before that a woman +could be so unreasoningly wilful in opposition to her +own interests.” +</p> +<p> +“My dear sir,” said Murray, with some feeling, +“you have a great deal to learn about women. I have +more than twenty thousand dollars charged up to +them in commissions that I have lost, after convincing +the men interested. But if I can help you to provide +for this one perverse sample of femininity, in spite +of herself, I shall feel that I have taken a Christian +revenge on the whole sex.” Beckford rather objected +to this reference to his wife, but there was nothing of +disrespect in the tone, and somehow the quaintness of +the sentiment made him smile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wonder,” Murray went on, “if we could refuse +the risk without frightening her.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid not,” returned Beckford, “but”—and +a sudden inspiration lighted his face, “couldn’t you +put in some restrictions that would frighten her +away?” +</p> +<p> +Murray leaned back in his chair and gave the +matter thoughtful consideration. Somehow he had +become unusually interested in this young man’s effort +to do a wise and generous thing for his wife in +the face of her opposition. If the man had been seeking +to gain some benefit for himself, Murray would +not have listened to even a suggestion of deceit. But +the aim was entirely unselfish, and Beckford had +brought a letter of introduction that left no doubt +as to his responsibility and integrity. Then, too, the +situation was amusing. Here were two business men +plotting—what? Why, the welfare of their opponent, +and that only. +</p> +<p> +“So many women have beaten me,” said Murray +at last, “that I should really like to beat one of them, +especially when it’s for her own good. Bring your +wife up here, and I’ll see what I can do.” +</p> +<p> +But here again feminine capriciousness was exemplified. +Having apparently won her point, Isabel +Beckford began to wish she had lost it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid,” she said. “Suppose I should find +that something frightful was the matter with me? +Those insurance doctors are awfully particular, and—and—I’d +rather not know it, if I’m going to die +very soon.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, very well,” acquiesced her husband. “We’ll +go back to my original plan and put the whole ten +thousand dollars on my life.” +</p> +<p> +“No, no, no!” she protested. “It would be even +worse, if I learned that there was anything wrong +with you. I couldn’t bear it, Harry; I couldn’t, really! +There wouldn’t be anything left in life for me. +Let’s not go at all.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s foolish, Isabel,” he argued. “I’m all right, +and the very fact that I am accepted as a good risk +will remove every doubt.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s so,” she admitted. “We’ll be sure, then, +won’t we?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course.” +</p> +<p> +“Then we’ll both go,” she announced, with a sudden +reversal of judgment. “I hadn’t thought of it +that way, but I’ll feel a lot better and stronger when +I’m insured, because the companies are so particular, +and it will be comforting to know that you are all +right. It’s worth something to find that out, isn’t it? +And sometimes a family physician won’t tell you the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +truth, because it won’t do any good and he doesn’t +want to frighten you. We’ll go right away and see +about it now.” +</p> +<p> +“Hardly this evening,” he answered, smiling, although +he was sorely troubled. “We’ll go to-morrow +afternoon.” +</p> +<p> +“But it’s so long to wait until to-morrow,” she +pouted. +</p> +<p> +He regretted the delay quite as much as she did, +for his experience up to date led him to think that +there might be another change. First she had refused +to consider the matter at all; then she had insisted +they should go together; after that she had backed +out; next she had demanded he should give up the +idea, also; and now she was again determined it should +be a joint affair. +</p> +<p> +“No man,” he muttered, as he dropped off to sleep, +“knows anything about a woman until he marries, and +then he only learns enough to know that he knows +nothing at all.” +</p> +<p> +Then he mentally apologized to his wife for even +this mild criticism, and dreamed that, through some +complication, he had to insure the cook and the janitor +and the grocer’s boy before he could take out a policy +on his own life, and that, when he had attended to +the rest, he had no money left for his own premiums, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +so he made all the other policies in favor of his wife +and hoped to thunder that the cook and the janitor +and the grocer’s boy would die a long time before he +did. +</p> +<p> +However, she was still of the same mind the next +day, so they went to see Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Of course,” she said, as they were on the way, “if +this thing wrecks our happiness by showing that the +grave is yawning for either of us, it will be all your +fault.” +</p> +<p> +That made him feel nice and comfortable—so nice +and comfortable that he heartily wished he never had +mentioned life insurance. Still, he cheered up a little +when Murray took charge of matters in a masterly, +confident way. +</p> +<p> +“I understand, Mrs. Beckford,” said Murray, “that +both you and your husband wish to have your lives +insured.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” she replied, “and for some reason he has +selfishly wanted to put all the insurance we can afford +on his own life.” +</p> +<p> +“So he has told me.” +</p> +<p> +“What right had he to discuss family matters with +you?” she demanded with asperity. +</p> +<p> +Thus Murray was jarred out of his air of easy +confidence the first thing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +</p> +<p> +“Why—why, he didn’t exactly tell me,” he explained, +“but my experience enabled me to surmise +as much. Most men are like that.” +</p> +<p> +“I never thought Harry would be,” she said, looking +at him reproachfully. “But it’s all right now,” +she added. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it’s all right now,” repeated Murray. He had +intended to argue first the advisability of accepting +her husband’s plan, but he deemed it unwise. He had +suddenly lost faith in his powers of persuasion, so he +resorted to guile. “Of course, you understand that +life insurance is hedged about by many annoying restrictions,” +he went on. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t know it,” she returned. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes,” he said glibly, with a wink at Beckford. +“Do you use gasoline at all?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, I have used it occasionally to take a spot +out of a gown,” she admitted. +</p> +<p> +“Barred!” asserted Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t do even the least little mite of cleaning with +gasoline!” she exclaimed in dismay. +</p> +<p> +“None at all! It’s dangerous! Might just as well +fool with nitroglycerin. People who handle it at all +become careless.” +</p> +<p> +There were indications of a rising temper. That a +mean old insurance company should have the audacity +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +to tell her what she could or could not do was an outrage! +</p> +<p> +“And you can’t use street-cars,” added Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Can’t use street-cars!” she cried. “What will +Harry do?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that rule doesn’t apply to men,” returned +Murray calmly, “for men don’t get off the cars backward +and all that sort of thing. Street-cars are considered, +in our business, a danger only for women.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s a hateful, insulting, unfair business!” +she cried, rising in her indignation. “I wouldn’t let +such a contemptible lot of people insure me for anything +in the world.” +</p> +<p> +“But please don’t blame me,” urged Murray insinuatingly. +“I want to do the best I can for you.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I don’t blame you,” she returned magnanimously. +</p> +<p> +“I admit that it sounds unfair,” Murray persisted, +“but there was a time when we wouldn’t take risks on +women at all, so, even with the restrictions, it’s quite +a concession.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, very likely, very likely,” she admitted, “but +I have too much pride to accept any such humiliating +conditions. Harry can do as he pleases,” with +dignity, “but nothing could induce me to be insured +now. I’m going home.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +</p> +<p> +Harry took her to a cab, and then returned to Murray’s +office. +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s settled,” said Murray, with a sigh of +relief. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it’s settled,” returned Beckford, “but I don’t +feel just comfortable about it.” +</p> +<p> +“She sort of bowled me over the first thing,” commented +Murray. “I haven’t quite recovered yet. But +it’s her welfare that we’re considering. Better put in +your application and take the examination before +there are any more complications.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps that’s wise,” admitted Beckford gloomily, +for he was not at all at ease about the matter. She +had said he could do as he pleased, but there had +been something in her tone that was disquieting; she +might think there was disloyalty in his patronage of +a company that had so offended her. And this was +the first cloud that had appeared in the matrimonial +sky; in all else there had been mutual concession and +perfect agreement. +</p> +<p> +He was thinking of this when he went home—and +found her in tears. +</p> +<p> +“I know what’s the matter,” she wailed. “I didn’t +think of it at first, but I did afterward, and I’ve been +crying ever since. I have heart trouble; that’s why +he didn’t want to give me a policy.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense!” he protested vigorously. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I know it! I know it!” she cried. “He didn’t +want to tell me, so he put in all that about street-cars +and gasoline. But it’s heart trouble or consumption! +Those insurance men are so quick to see things that no +one else notices. Why, I could see that he was worried +the very first thing!” +</p> +<p> +Beckford got on his knees beside the bed on which +she was lying and tried to comfort her, but she was +inconsolable. He insisted that she was the strongest +and healthiest woman of her size in the world; that +he knew it; that Murray himself had commented on +it later; that the company physician, who happened +to be in the outer office as they passed through, had +spoken of it; that even the clerks were impressed; but +he failed to shake her conviction that she had some +fatal, and hitherto unsuspected, malady. Finally, assuring +her that he would have that matter settled in +thirty minutes, he rushed to the nearest cab-stand and +gave the driver double fare to run his horse all the +way to Murray’s house. +</p> +<p> +Murray was just sitting down to dinner, but Beckford +insisted that he should return with him immediately. +</p> +<p> +“You’ve got to straighten this matter out!” he told +him excitedly. “You’ve got to give her all the insurance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +she wants without any restrictions! Make it fifty +thousand dollars if she wants it! I’ll pay the premiums, +if we have to starve!” +</p> +<p> +“But I can’t give her a policy to-night!” protested +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“You can tell her about it to-night, can’t you?” +demanded Beckford. “And you can take her application +to-night, can’t you? Why, man, she has convinced +herself that she’s going to die in a week! We +can settle the details later, but we’ve got to do something +to-night.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, well, I’ll come immediately after dinner,” said +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“You come now!” cried Beckford. “If you talk +dinner to me, I’ll brain you! Insurance has made a +wreck of me already.” +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t been getting much joy out of this particular +case myself,” grumbled Murray, but he went +along. +</p> +<p> +The moment he reached home, Beckford rushed to +his wife’s room. +</p> +<p> +“It’s all a mistake!” he exclaimed joyfully. “You—you +mustn’t cry any more, dearest, for it’s all +right now. Mr. Murray didn’t understand at first—thought +you were one of these capricious, careless, +thoughtless women that do all sorts of absurd and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +foolish things on impulse—but he knows better now. +There aren’t any more restrictions for you than for +me, and he’s waiting in the parlor to take your application +for all the insurance you want.” +</p> +<p> +“Really?” she asked, as the sobs began to subside. +</p> +<p> +“Really.” +</p> +<p> +“And there isn’t anything the matter with me?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course not, sweetheart.” +</p> +<p> +“Well,” she said, after a pause, “I can’t see him +now, because my eyes are all red, but I wish he’d write +that out for me. I’d feel so much more comfortable.” +</p> +<p> +“Indeed he will,” asserted Beckford, “and we can +fill out the application in here, and I’ll take it back to +him.” +</p> +<p> +Hopefully and happily the young husband returned +to Murray and told him what was wanted. +Murray sighed dismally. He had missed his dinner +for a woman’s whim, and the woman was merely humiliating +him. Still, he felt in a measure responsible +for the trouble; he ought never to have resorted to +duplicity, even for so laudable a purpose. So he +wrote the following: “Investigation has convinced +me that the restrictions mentioned this afternoon are +unnecessary in your case, and I shall be glad to have +your application for insurance on the same terms as +your husband’s.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Beckford read this over carefully. Then she +read the application blank with equal care. After that +she wrote at the bottom of the note: “Insurance has +almost given me nervous prostration now, and I don’t +want to have anything more to do with it. If Harry +can stand the strain, let him have it all.” +</p> +<p> +“Give him that, Harry,” she said, “and get rid of +him as soon as possible, for I want you to come back +and comfort me. I’m completely upset.” +</p> +<p> +Murray lit a cigar when he reached the street, and +puffed at it meditatively as he walked in the direction +of the nearest street-car line. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter with nervous prostration for +me?” he muttered. “One more effort to defeat a +woman who is fighting against her own interests will +make me an impossible risk in any company; two more +will land me in a sanatorium.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span><a name='c2' id='c2'></a>AN INCIDENTAL QUESTION</h2> +<p> +Dave Murray, general agent, leaned back in his +chair and looked thoughtfully at the young man before +him. +</p> +<p> +“So you have run up against an unanswerable argument?” +he remarked. +</p> +<p> +“It seems so to me,” said the inexperienced Owen +Ross. +</p> +<p> +“My dear boy,” asserted Murray, “in the life insurance +business the only unanswerable argument is a +physician’s report that the applicant is not a good +risk. What is the particular thing that has put you +down and out?” +</p> +<p> +“Faith,” replied the young man; “just plain faith +in the Almighty. Perhaps, some time in your career, +you have run across a religious enthusiast who considers +it a reflection on the all-seeing wisdom of the +Almighty to take any measures for his own protection +or the protection of his family.” +</p> +<p> +“I have,” admitted Murray, “but generally it has +been a woman.” +</p> +<p> +“This is a man,” said Ross; “a sincere, devout man. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +If he were a hypocrite, it would be different, but it is +a matter of religious conviction—a principle of faith—with +him to trust in the Lord. Life insurance he +considers almost sacrilegious—an evidence of man’s +doubt in the wisdom of his Maker, and an attempt, in +his puny insignificant way, to interfere with the plans +of the Great Master. To all arguments he replies, +‘The Lord will provide for His children.’” +</p> +<p> +“And you consider that unanswerable?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“In his case, yes. Even his wife is unable to move +him, although she wants insurance as a provision for +the future of the children and was instrumental in +getting me to talk to him. How would you answer +such a contention as that?” +</p> +<p> +“I wouldn’t answer it; I would agree with him.” +</p> +<p> +“And give up?” +</p> +<p> +“Quite the contrary. While there can be no doubt +that he is right as far as he goes, he does not go far +enough. I would turn his own argument against him.” +Murray leaned forward in his chair and spoke with +earnest deliberation. “The Lord provides for His +children through human instrumentality. Why should +not the man be the human instrument through which +the Lord provides for that man’s family? The Lord +does not directly intervene—at least, not in these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +days. If, in the hour of extremity, an unexpected +legacy should come to relieve the necessities of that +man’s family, he would say the Lord had provided. +But it would be through human instrumentality: the +legacy, and the method and law by which it reached +them would be essentially human. If, when poverty +knocks at the door, some generous philanthropist were +moved to come to their relief, he would hold again that +the Lord had provided; if some wealthy relative +sought them out, it would be through the intervention +of the Lord; if, through his own wise action, they are +saved from want, is he more than the human instrument +through which the Lord provides? May not an +insurance company be the chosen instrument? I say +this with all due reverence, and it seems to me to answer +his objections fully. Is it only in unforeseen +ways that He cares for His children? Has He nothing +to do with those cases in which reasonable precautions +are taken by the children themselves?” +</p> +<p> +Ross, the young solicitor, looked at his chief with +unconcealed admiration. +</p> +<p> +“By George!” he exclaimed, “you’ve got the theory +of this business down to a science. I’ll try the man +again.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s not a business,” retorted Murray somewhat +warmly, for this was a point that touched his pride; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +“it is a profession—at least, it lies with the man himself +to make it a business or a profession, according to +his own ability and character. There are small men +who make a business of the law, and there are great +men who make a profession of it; there are doctors to +whom medicine is a mere commercial pursuit, and +there are doctors to whom it is a study, a science, a +profession. You may make of life insurance a cheap +business, or you may make of it a dignified profession; +you may be a mere annoying canvasser, or you may +be a man who commands respect; but, to be really +successful, you must have, or acquire, a technical +knowledge of the basis of insurance, a knowledge of +law, and, above all, a knowledge of human nature,—and +even that will avail little if you are not temperamentally +suited to the work. You can no more make +a good insurance man of unpromising material than +you can make a good artist.” +</p> +<p> +Ross caught some of the enthusiasm and earnestness +of Murray, and unconsciously straightened up. +</p> +<p> +“You have made me look at the subject from a new +point of view,” he said. “I confess I was rather +ashamed of the soliciting part of the work at first—felt +a good deal like a cripple selling pencils to support +a sick wife.” +</p> +<p> +“And very likely you acted like it,” remarked Murray, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +“in which case the people you approached would +so class you. It isn’t necessary to have the ‘iron nerve,’ +so long identified with that branch of the work; it +isn’t even helpful, for it makes a man unpopular, and +the most successful men are the most popular ones. +You’ve lost ground when you have reached a point +where any man you know is not glad to see you enter +his office. At the same time,”—musingly,—“nerve +and persistence become forethought and wisdom when +time proves you were right. I have known of cases +where a man afterward thanked the solicitor who had +once made life a burden to him; but it is always better +to change a man’s mind without his knowledge.” +</p> +<p> +“Rather difficult,” laughed Ross. +</p> +<p> +“But it has been done,” said Murray. “As a matter +of fact, you are working to save men and women from +their own selfishness or heedlessness. If you think of +that, you will be more convincing and will raise your +work to the dignity of a profession; if you think only +of the commissions, you will put yourself on the level +of the shyster lawyer whose interest centers wholly in +the fees he is able to get rather than in the cases he is +to try. There are pot-boilers in every business and +every profession, but success is not for them: they +can’t see beyond the needs of the stomach, and the +man who works only for his belly never amounts to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +much. He will stoop to small things to gain a temporary +advantage, never seeing the future harm he +is doing; he is the kind of man who hopes to rise by +pulling others down. Remember, my boy, that insinuations +as to the instability of a rival company invariably +make a man suspicious of all: when you have +convinced him that the rival’s proposition and methods +are not based on sound financial and business principles, +you have more than half convinced him that +yours aren’t, either, and that very likely there is something +radically wrong with the whole blame system.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad you spoke of that,” said Ross. “There +have been cases where insinuations have been made +against our company, and I have been tempted to +fight back the same way. A man is at a disadvantage +when he is put on the defensive and is called upon to +produce evidence of what ought to be a self-evident +proposition.” +</p> +<p> +“Never do it, unless the question is put to you +directly,” advised Murray. “You must defend yourself +when attacked, but, in every other case, go on the +assumption that your company is all right, and that +everybody knows it is all right. The late John J. +Ingalls once said, ‘When you have to offer evidence +that an egg is good, that egg is doubtful, and a doubtful +egg is always bad.’ It’s worth remembering. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +Many a man is made doubtful of a good proposition +by ill-advised efforts to prove it is good.” +</p> +<p> +“If that is invariably true,”—with a troubled scowl,—“I +fear I have made some mistakes.” +</p> +<p> +“The man who thinks he makes no mistakes seldom +makes anything else.” +</p> +<p> +Ross brightened perceptibly at this. +</p> +<p> +“You’ve made them yourself?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Lots of them,” replied Murray, and then he added +whimsically: “Once I placed a risk that meant a two-hundred-dollar +commission for me, and my wife and +I went right out and ordered two hundred dollars’ +worth of furniture and clothes. The risk was refused, +and I never got the commission.” +</p> +<p> +Ross laughed. +</p> +<p> +“I’m beginning to develop enthusiasm and pride in +the business—I mean profession.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, call it a business,” returned Murray, “but +think of it as a profession. It’s the way you regard it +yourself that counts, and you can’t go far astray in +that if you stop to think what is required of a good +insurance man. Sterling integrity, for one thing, and +tact and judgment. A man who brings in a good ten-thousand-dollar +risk is more valuable than the man +who brings in one hundred thousand dollars that is +turned down by the physicians or at the home office. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +And the first requisite for advancement is absolute +trustworthiness. There are temptations, even for a +solicitor—commission rebates to the insured that are +contrary to the ethics of the business—and there are +greater temptations higher up. You will learn, as in +no other line, that a man wants what he can’t get, +even if he didn’t want it when he could get it, and he +will pay a high price for what he wants. Collusion +in a local office might give it to him, in spite of all +precautions taken; such collusion might be worth ten +thousand dollars to a man who had no record of refusal +by other companies against him, and ten thousand +dollars could be split up very nicely between the +local agent and the company’s physician. So integrity, +unswerving integrity, is rated exceptionally +high, and the least suspicion of trickery or underhand +dealing may keep a capable man on the lowest +rung of the ladder for all time, even if it doesn’t put +him out of the business entirely. You are paid to protect +your company, so far as lies in your power, and +to get business by all honorable means; if you resort +to dishonorable means, even in your company’s interests, +there is always the suspicion that you will use +the same methods against its interests whenever that +may be to your personal advantage.” +</p> +<p> +Owen Ross pondered this deeply on his way home. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +It gave a new dignity to his occupation. He had +taken up insurance because it happened to be the only +available opening at a time when he was out of employment. +He had been a clerk for a big corporation +that had recently combined two branch offices, thus +materially reducing its office force, and Ross had been +one of those to suffer. His father, a prosperous merchant, +had expressed himself, when consulted, in this +way: +</p> +<p> +“I will give you a place here whenever that is necessary +to enable you to live, but I prefer that you +should complete your preliminary business training +under some one else. No boy can consider himself a +success until he has proved his independence, and no +boy can be sure he has proved that until he has made +a secure place for himself outside the family circle.” +</p> +<p> +So Ross, being wise enough to see the reason and +justice of this, endeavored to show his independence +by securing a position with Murray. And, although +fairly successful from the start, he was only just beginning +to take a real interest in his work. Murray +liked him and encouraged him: there was, he thought, +the making of a good and successful man in him, and +he frequently went to considerable trouble to explain +the theory and practice of insurance. Then, too, he +knew that Ross had married just before he lost his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +other position, and that he was living in a modest +little flat on his own earnings, in spite of the fact that +he had a father who would be much more ready to +assist him financially than he was to take him into his +own office at that particular time. In fact, the elder +Ross was quite willing that his son and his son’s wife +should live with him, holding only that the family +influence should not extend to his first business connections, +but Owen deemed the flat a necessary evidence +of his independence. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll get that sanctimonious optimist to-morrow,” +he mused as he walked along. “He can’t answer those +arguments that Murray gave me. He is content because +the Lord will provide, but why may not I be the +human instrument through which the Lord makes provision? +That sounds presumptuous, but why not? +Hasn’t He provided for others in just this way? +Hasn’t many a man, convinced against his will, protected +the future of those he loved barely in time?” +He laughed quietly at a thought that occurred to him. +“If this man should be insured to-morrow and die the +next day,” he went on, “he would think the Lord had +provided, but if he has to pay the premiums for +twenty years, he’ll think it all very human. I’m beginning +to understand him.” +</p> +<p> +He was still smiling at this quaint conceit when he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +entered his flat and was informed by his wife that Mrs. +Becker had been there to see him. Mrs. Becker was +a woman who did washing and occasional cleaning for +them. +</p> +<p> +“To see me!” he exclaimed. “Why, her dealings +are all with you.” +</p> +<p> +“It has something to do with insurance,” his wife +explained. “She knows you’re in that business, of +course, and she is in deep distress. She was crying +when she was here this afternoon, but I couldn’t understand +what the trouble was. She said she’d come +back this evening.” +</p> +<p> +Ross puzzled over this a good deal during dinner, +and even tried to get some additional information by +questioning his wife closely. Exactly what did the +woman say? Her words might be “all Greek” to his +wife and still be intelligible to him, if only she could +repeat them. +</p> +<p> +“But I can’t,” she insisted. “I was so sorry for her +and so helpless that I really didn’t hear it all, anyway. +I only know that it had something to do with an application +or a premium or a policy, and her husband +is very sick and she needs money.” +</p> +<p> +Ross began to speculate. The ignorant have +strange ideas of insurance, and very likely this woman +thought she could insure a dying husband. His backbone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +began to stiffen at once. Of course such a thing +was actually, as well as ethically, impossible, but it +was going to be a very difficult matter to explain it +to her, and he anticipated a distressing scene. His +wife was interested in the woman, spoke frequently +of her hardships and her courage, and had helped her +to such trifling extent as they could afford. No doubt +the woman had some wild notion that he, being an insurance +man, could do this for her and would do it as +a matter of charity. Ethical questions do not trouble +such people. +</p> +<p> +When she came, he was prepared for a request that +was impossible in honor and in fact, and he was ready +to refuse it with such gentleness as he deemed due to +a weary and desperate woman who did not realize what +she was asking—the gentleness of sympathy coupled +with the firmness of principle. Ross was a young man, +inclined to exaggerate the importance and difficulties +of problems that confronted him, and he was disconcerted +when he found he had made an error in the +basis from which he had reached his conclusion; the +woman did not wish to insure a dying husband, but +to protect insurance he already carried. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, good Mr. Ross,” she wailed, “you must fix it +for me some way. If we don’t pay to-morrow, we’ll +lose everything. And we haven’t the money, Mr. Ross, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +not enough to pay the doctor even, and it’s worrying +Peter more than the sickness. But you can fix it for +us—of course you can fix it for us,”—with appealing +hopefulness. +</p> +<p> +“Sit down, Mrs. Becker, and tell me about it,” he +urged. “I don’t understand.” +</p> +<p> +She sank into a chair, and looked at him with +anxious, tearful doubt and hope. Worn out with work +and watching, she was a prey to conflicting emotions. +Never doubting that he could help her, she feared he +might refuse. Her anxiety was pitiable, and it was +some time before he could get the details of the story +from her. Finally, however, he learned that in more +prosperous days her husband had insured his life for +five thousand dollars, and, even in adversity, had succeeded +in keeping up the payments, until stricken by +this last illness. The sum he had saved up for the +next premium—the one due the following day—had +been used for medicines and other necessaries, and now +he was near death. The doctor held out no hope; he +might live a few days, but hardly more than that, for +he was slowly but surely sinking. Until the previous +night, when there came a turn for the worse, his recovery +had been confidently expected, and his wife +had worried little about the premium; the insurance +company would be glad to take it when he was well. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +</p> +<p> +“But <em>he</em> worried,” she said with unconscious pathos; +“he worried and asked about it until—he couldn’t any +more. He’s too sick to know now. But,”—hopefully,—“he’ll +understand when I tell him it’s all right.” +</p> +<p> +Ross was as much distressed as the woman, but he +could give her little comfort. He could protect the +insurance only by paying the premium himself, and +he was not able to do that. Still, almost all policies +provided for the payment of something proportionate +to the amount paid in, even when the premiums were +not kept up, so—He paused uncomfortably at this +point, for the woman’s attitude and expression had +changed from tearful anxiety to dull, sullen suspicion. +She did not believe him; like all insurance men, he was +ready to seize any opportunity to defraud her; she +was helpless, and a rich company would take advantage +of her helplessness. +</p> +<p> +“You can get the money, Owen,” his wife urged, +almost in tears herself. +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i002' id='i002'></a> +<img src="images/illus-038.jpg" alt="“Perhaps I can arrange it,” he said at last. “In what company is he insured?”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“Perhaps I can arrange it,” he said at<br/>last. “In what company is he insured?”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span></div> +<p> +“I’ll pay it back to you—when he dies!” cried the +woman, and Ross gave her a quick glance. It seemed +heartless, but he saw it was not. The woman was tried +beyond her endurance; she, with her two children, +faced a future that was absolutely devoid of hope; she +was sick, wretched, despairing, and the husband she +had striven so hard to keep with her was already +beyond recall. She spoke of his approaching death +merely as something certain, that could not be prevented, +and that force of circumstances compelled her +to consider. She had to think for herself and children, +plan for herself and children, even at this fearful time, +for there was no one to do it for her, no one to relieve +her of any part of the burden. The problem of the +larder and the problem of burial would confront her +simultaneously; she had to face these cold, hard, +brutal facts, in spite of the grief and sorrow of the +moment. +</p> +<p> +All this Ross saw and appreciated, and he gave his +attention to various possible ways of raising the necessary +money. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps I can arrange it,” he said at last. “In +what company is he insured?” +</p> +<p> +It proved to be his own company. Instantly, his +talk with Murray flashed through his mind. “You are +paid to protect your company, so far as lies in your +power,” Murray had said. Absolute loyalty to its interests +was imperative. Would it be honorable for +him to enter into any arrangement with this woman +that would cost his company money? Had he any +right to do more than the company would do itself? +What would be thought of an employee in any other +line of business who advanced money that was to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +used to the financial disadvantage of his employer, +however proper it might be in the case of some one +else? +</p> +<p> +“I can do nothing,” he announced shortly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Owen!” cried his wife reproachfully. +</p> +<p> +“It is impossible!” he insisted. “If it were a proper +thing to do, Murray would do it for her himself.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Murray doesn’t understand the situation,” +urged his wife. +</p> +<p> +“Murray would understand my situation and his,” +he returned. “We are taking money from this company, +we are its trusted agents, and we can not do +anything that would be to its disadvantage. It is a +matter of business integrity.” +</p> +<p> +The woman did not weep now, but the look she gave +him haunted him all that night. And his wife’s entreaties +and reproaches added to his unhappiness. +</p> +<p> +“Why, Jennie,” he explained, “I stand alone between +the company and a loss of over four thousand +dollars. I know that this man is dying; I know that, +if I pay this premium, the company will have to pay +out the full amount of the insurance within a few +days; I know that the premiums paid to date amount +to only about five hundred or six hundred dollars, +which, under the terms of the policy, the woman will +not wholly lose. For me, an employee, to conspire to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +get the rest of the money for her would be like taking +it from the cash drawer. I won’t do it; I can’t do it +after Murray’s talk to me to-day about business integrity!” +</p> +<p> +“The company can afford it,” persisted Mrs. Ross, +“and the woman needs it so badly.” +</p> +<p> +“There are lots of companies and individuals who +could afford to let the woman have five thousand dollars,” +replied Ross. +</p> +<p> +Still, Mrs. Ross could not understand. If he had +been willing to pay the premium to another company, +why not to his own? +</p> +<p> +“Resign and pay it!” she exclaimed suddenly, feeling +that she had solved the problem; but that was a +greater sacrifice than he was prepared to make. He +was sincerely sorry for the woman; the case was on his +mind all the following morning; but Murray’s talk +had made a deep impression. This was one of the +severe temptations of the business—the more severe +because there was no question of corruption, but only +of sympathy, in it. Such, he had read, were the +temptations that led men of the best intentions astray +in many of the affairs of life. +</p> +<p> +He was thinking of this when he called to see the +“sanctimonious optimist”; he was thinking of it when +he advanced the arguments Murray had given him; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +he was still thinking of it when the man said he was +almost convinced and would telephone him after talking +with his wife. Consequently, this success failed to +elate him. +</p> +<p> +“The law of humanity,” he told himself, “is higher +and more sacred than the law of business.” +</p> +<p> +He had walked unconsciously in the direction of his +father’s office, and, still arguing with himself, he +went in. +</p> +<p> +“Father,” he said, “I want to borrow a hundred +dollars.” The premium was a little more than that, +but he could supply the remainder. +</p> +<p> +“For what?” asked the senior Ross. +</p> +<p> +“There is something I may wish to do,” was the +enigmatical reply. “I will repay it as rapidly as possible.” +</p> +<p> +“Commissions few and small?” laughed the senior +Ross. “Well, a young man never finds out exactly +what he’s worth, while working for a relative or a +friend, so this experience ought to be valuable.” +</p> +<p> +Still undecided, but with the money in his pocket, +Ross left his father’s office and went to his own. He +wanted to pay that premium, but it seemed to him a +very serious matter, ethically and actually. The +woman faced a future of privation; he faced what +seemed to him a crisis in his business career. He revolted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +at the thought of being false to his employer, +but to let the woman suffer would be heartless. +</p> +<p> +“A letter for you, Ross,” said one of the clerks, as +he entered the office. “Your wife left it.” +</p> +<p> +He opened it with nervous haste, and a notice of a +premium due dropped out. +</p> +<p> +“You must find some way to help this woman, +Owen,” his wife wrote. “I went to see her to-day, and +the situation is pitiable. She has used up every cent +she had and is in debt. Her husband is conscious at +intervals, and he looks at you so wistfully, so anxiously, +that it makes your heart bleed. Oh! if I could +only tell him that the insurance is all right! It +would give him peace for the little time that is left to +him on this earth. <em>Owen! resign, if necessary, but do +what I ask!</em>” +</p> +<p> +Ross crumpled the note in his hand and walked into +Murray’s private office. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Murray,” he said, “please accept my verbal +resignation.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I have no time to explain now,” said Ross. “I +want to be released from my obligations to the company +at once.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re excited,” said Murray. “Sit down! Now, +what’s the matter?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +</p> +<p> +Ross hesitated a moment, and then blurted out the +whole story. +</p> +<p> +“You wish to pay this premium?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I’m going to pay it!” said Ross defiantly. “It will +stick the company for more than four thousand dollars, +but I’m going to pay it!” +</p> +<p> +“And you wish to resign to do it honorably?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Pay it!” said Murray. “But your resignation is +not accepted. I wouldn’t lose such a man as you for +ten times four thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“It is all right?” asked Ross, bewildered. +</p> +<p> +“Of course it’s all right,” asserted Murray. “As a +matter of sympathy and justice, it is not only right +but highly commendable; as a matter of financial +profit to you, it would be despicable. Pay that premium, +and I tell you now that the company will never +pay a death benefit with less hesitation than it will pay +this one. What is one risk more or less? We do business +on the general average, and any sum is well invested +that uncovers so conscientious an employee. +Pay it, and come back to me.” +</p> +<p> +Three minutes later, Ross, with the receipt in his +pocket, was at the telephone. +</p> +<p> +“It’s all right,” he told his wife. “The premium is +paid.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Owen!” exclaimed Mrs. Ross, and her voice +broke a little, “you don’t know what comfort you have +given a dying man! If you could only see—” +</p> +<p> +“Get a cab!” he broke in. “He doesn’t know it yet, +and you must tell him. Get a cab and drive like—” +</p> +<p> +He stopped short, but his wife knew what he almost +said, and she forgave him without even a preliminary +reproach. +</p> +<p> +His eyes were bright and his heart was light when +he went back to Murray. Mrs. Becker’s situation was +sad enough, but surely he had lessened the gloom of +it by removing one great source of anxiety. He felt +that he had done something worthy of a man, and it +was a joy that he could do this without transcending +the rules of business integrity and loyalty. +</p> +<p> +“I want you,” said Murray, and there was something +of admiration in his tone; “I want you so much +that I am going to put you in the way of making more +money. You have a great deal to learn about the insurance +business before you will cease making unnecessary +problems for yourself, but you have one quality +that makes you valuable to me.” He paused and smiled +a little at the recollection of what had passed. “I +would suggest,” he went on, “that you bear this in +mind: life insurance is not for one life only or for one +generation only, but for the centuries. Otherwise, we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +could not do business on the present plan. We exist +by reducing the laws of chance to a science that makes +us secure in the long run, although, on the basis of a +single year, there may be considerable losses. And a +good company will no more stoop to shabby tricks +than you will; nor will it seek to escape obligations +through technicalities or petty subterfuges. That’s +why I told you to pay that premium, and I respect +you for doing it.” +</p> +<p> +Murray picked up a memorandum on his desk. +</p> +<p> +“By the way,” he added, glancing at it, “you must +have made good use of the arguments I gave you, for +your sanctimonious optimist telephoned that, if you +would call this afternoon or to-morrow, he would arrange +with you for a ten-thousand-dollar policy.” +</p> +<p> +Grateful as Murray’s praise was to his ears, the +greeting from his wife gave Ross the most joy. +</p> +<p> +“He was conscious for a moment and understood,” +she said, as she put her arms around her husband’s +neck, “and there was such an expression of restful +peace on his face that it made me happy, in spite of +the shadow of death hovering over. It made him a +little better, the doctor said, but nothing can save +him. And I’m so proud of you, Owen!” +</p> +<p> +“To tell the truth, dearest,” he replied tenderly, +“I’m almost proud of myself.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span><a name='c3' id='c3'></a>AN INCIDENTAL TRAGEDY</h2> +<p> +Dave Murray stretched his legs comfortably under +the table, blew rings of smoke toward the ceiling, and +waited for Stanley Wentworth to speak. +</p> +<p> +Having his full share of worldly wisdom, Murray +knew that there was a reason for Wentworth’s most +urgent invitation to lunch with him at his club. While +they had been friends for years and had lunched together +on many previous occasions, there was a formality +about this invitation that presaged something +of importance. So, when they reached the cigars, +Murray smoked and waited. +</p> +<p> +“You win, Dave,” Wentworth announced at last. +</p> +<p> +“I knew I would—when you married,” returned +Murray. “It was only a question of time then.” +</p> +<p> +“Especially after you got the ear of my wife,” said +Wentworth. “You worked that very nicely, Dave. +Do you remember the story you told her about the +man who couldn’t give any time to life insurance during +the busy season and who was on his death-bed +when the date he had set for his examination arrived?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +</p> +<p> +“It was true, too,” asserted Murray. “The man +was a good risk when I went after him, and there +would have been ten thousand dollars for his wife if +he hadn’t procrastinated. There’s no money in the +policy that a man was just going to take out, Stanley.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you win, anyway,” said Wentworth. “We’ve +been jollying each other on this insurance business +for six or eight years, and I’ve stood you off pretty +well, but I can’t stand against the little woman at +home. I was lost, Dave, the day I took you up to the +house and introduced you to her.” +</p> +<p> +“I guess I played the cards pretty well,” laughed +Murray. “I told you at the beginning that I was +going to insure you before I got through, and a good +insurance man doesn’t let a little matter like the personal +inclinations of his subject interfere with his +plans. Why, I’ve been known to put a man in a +trance, have him examined, and abstract the first premium +from his pocket before he waked up. But you +were the hardest proposition I ever tackled. You +ought to have taken out a policy ten years ago.” +</p> +<p> +“I couldn’t see any reason for it,” explained Wentworth. +“I thought I was a confirmed bachelor: had +no family and never expected to have one. That was +at twenty-five, and at thirty I considered the matter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +absolutely settled, but at thirty-five the little woman +just quietly reached out and took me into camp—and +I’m glad of it. Never knew what real life was before. +Still, I hate like thunder to surrender to you after +our long, harmonious and entertaining fight, Dave; +I wouldn’t do it if you hadn’t taken advantage of my +hospitality to load my wife up with insurance ghost +stories. If you want to be fair, you’ll pay her half +the commission.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll do it!” exclaimed Murray; “not in cash, of +course, but I’ll make her a present that will cover it—something +nice for the house. You won’t be jealous, +will you?” +</p> +<p> +“Jealous!” returned Wentworth with a hearty +laugh. “Well, I guess not! Why, I’ll help out by +making the policy worth while: I’ll take out one for +twenty-five thousand. I tell you, Dave, I’m not going +to run any risk of leaving the little woman unprovided +for, and I lost four thousand in the last month.” +</p> +<p> +The conversation had been jocular, with an undercurrent +of seriousness in it, but Wentworth became +really serious with the last remark. Murray saw that +this loss had had more to do with the decision than +any arguments that had been advanced, and he, too, +dropped his bantering tone. +</p> +<p> +“I never could see,” Wentworth went on, “why insurance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +was any better than an investment in good +stock—” +</p> +<p> +“A little more certain,” suggested Murray, “so far +as your wife is concerned. No stock is safe while a +man lives and continues in business. It is too convenient +as collateral and can be reached too easily in +the case of failure. You will take risks with stock that +you will not take with insurance, even when you can; +you will sell stock to get ready cash for a business +venture that may prove disastrous, but it’s like robbing +your own widow to touch life insurance money. +No man ever raised money on his policy without feeling +meaner than a yellow dog, for he is gambling with +the future of the one he loves, or at least should love. +He has taken money that he promised her; money +that she will sadly need in case of his unexpected +death. That she consented to it does not ease his conscience, +if he is any sort of a man, for no woman ever +freely consents to jeopardizing any part of her husband’s +life insurance money; she is led to do it, against +her better judgment, by love and faith, and he knows +that he has demanded of her what may prove to be a +great sacrifice. That is why insurance is a better investment +than stocks for the purpose you have in +mind, Stanley; whatever your business needs, you +never can ask your wife to join you in hypothecating +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +the policy without feeling like a mean heartless +sneak.” +</p> +<p> +“I never looked at in that way,” returned Wentworth +thoughtfully, “but you’re right, Dave. The +policy will have a sacredness that no stock can possess. +To touch it, to risk any part of it in business, +would seem like taking money out of the baby’s bank. +Still,” he added whimsically, “a game in which you +have to die to win never did appeal to me very +strongly.” +</p> +<p> +“A game in which you are sure to win when you +die is better than a game in which you are likely to +lose twice,” retorted Murray, “or one in which you +have to live to win, so long as life is something over +which you have no jurisdiction. With insurance you +win when you lose, but with stocks you may lose both +ways and leave nothing but a reputation for selfish +improvidence. Of course, I am looking at it from the +family, rather than the personal, point of view.” +</p> +<p> +“Surely,” acquiesced Wentworth. “I am thinking +of the little woman and the baby.” He settled back +in his chair and smoked dreamily for a few moments, +his thoughts evidently wandering to the home that +had given him so much of happiness during the last +eighteen months. And Murray was silent, too. The +affair was as much one of friendship as of business +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +with him. It had been largely a joke when he had +first declared that he would write a policy on Wentworth’s +life, although he believed implicitly that +every man should have insurance and should get it +when he is young enough to secure a favorable rate. +At that time Wentworth had no one dependent upon +him, but Murray had kept at him in a bantering way, +telling him that he would surely have need of insurance +later and that he had better prepare for it while +the opportunity offered. Then, when celibacy seemed +to have become a permanent condition with him, he +had married, and thereafter, while still treating the +subject lightly and humorously, Murray had conducted +a campaign that was really founded on friendship. +No one knows better than a man who has been +long in the insurance business of the tragedies resulting +from procrastination and neglect; no one can better +appreciate how great a risk of such a tragedy a +friend may be running. So Murray, jolly but insinuating, +was actuated by something more than purely +business interest when he made whimsical references +to his long campaign in the presence of Mrs. Wentworth +and incidentally, apparently only to tease her +husband, described some of the sad little dramas of life +that had come to his notice. And he had won at last. +</p> +<p> +“Get the application ready,” said Wentworth, suddenly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +rousing himself, “and let me know when your +doctor wants to see me.” +</p> +<p> +That evening Wentworth told his wife that he had +arranged to take out a twenty-five-thousand-dollar +policy, and she put her arms around his neck and +looked up at him in an anxious, troubled way. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t think I’m mercenary, do you, Stanley?” +</p> +<p> +“Indeed, I don’t, little woman,” he replied, as he +kissed her; “I think you are only wise.” +</p> +<p> +“It seems so sort of heartless,” she went on, “but +you know I’m planning only for the baby. There is +something sure about life insurance, and everything +else is so uncertain. Some of the stories Mr. Murray +told were very sad.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Murray was after business,” he said with a +laugh. “He told me long ago that he intended to insure +me, and it’s been a sort of friendly duel with us +ever since. But he has convinced me that he is right +in holding that every married man should carry life +insurance, and, aside from that, I would cheerfully +pay double premiums to relieve you of any cause for +worry. The insurance company is going to get the +best of me, though: I’ll live long enough to pay in +more than it will have to pay out.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course you will!” she exclaimed confidently. +“You’re so big and strong it seems foolish—except +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +for the baby. That’s why we mustn’t take any +chances.” +</p> +<p> +So cheerful and confident was Wentworth that he +failed to notice the solemnity of the physician who +examined him the next day. The doctor began with +a joke, but he ended with a perplexed scowl. +</p> +<p> +“You certainly look as strong as a horse,” he said. +“But you’re not,” he added under his breath. +</p> +<p> +Then he made his report to Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Heart trouble,” he explained. “The man may live +twenty or thirty years or he may die to-morrow. My +personal opinion is that he will die within two years.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was startled and distressed. Wentworth +was his close personal friend, and to refuse his application +after he had striven so hard to get it seemed +heartless and cruel, especially as the refusal would +have to be accompanied by an explanation that would +be much like a death-warrant. Of course, he was in no +way responsible for the conditions, but it would seem +as if he were putting a limit on his friend’s life. +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Positive,” replied the physician. “It is an impossible +risk.” +</p> +<p> +“Did you tell him?” +</p> +<p> +“No.” +</p> +<p> +“And I am to dine with him and his wife to-night,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +said Murray. “They will be sure to ask about the +policy.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was tempted to send word that he could +not come, but it was rather late for that. Besides, the +information would have to be given some time, so +what advantage could there be in procrastinating? +But it came to him as a shock. The news of actual +death would hardly have affected him more seriously, +for it seemed like a calamity with which he was personally +identified and for which he was largely responsible. +He knew that he was not, but he could not +banish the disquieting feeling that he was. He closed +his desk and walked slowly and thoughtfully to Wentworth’s +house, wishing, for once, that he had been +less successful in the “friendly duel.” +</p> +<p> +It was a long walk; he could easily have put in another +half-hour at the office had he chosen to take the +elevated; but he was in no humor for business and he +preferred to walk. It gave him additional time for +thought. He must decide when and how he would tell +Wentworth, and it is no easy task to tell a friend that +his hold upon life is too slight to make him a possible +insurance risk. +</p> +<p> +He would not do it to-night. It would be nothing +short of brutal so to spoil a pleasant evening. Wentworth +would have the knowledge soon enough, even +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +with this respite, and he was entitled to as much of +joyousness and pleasure as could be given him. +</p> +<p> +Murray was noticeably dispirited. He tried to +be as jovial as usual, but he found himself looking +at his friend much as he would have looked at a condemned +man. There was sympathy and pity in his +face. He wondered when the hour of fate would arrive. +Might it not be that very evening? A moment +of temporary excitement might be fatal; anything in +the nature of a shock might mean the end. Indeed, +the very information he had to give might be the one +thing needed to snap the cord of life. If so, he would +feel that he had really killed his friend, and yet he +had no choice in the matter: he must refuse and he +must explain why he refused. If it had been his own +personal risk, he would have taken it cheerfully, but +even had he so desired, he could not take it for the +company in the face of the doctor’s report. +</p> +<p> +“What makes you so solemn?” asked Mrs. Wentworth. +“You look as if you had lost your best friend.” +</p> +<p> +“I feel as if I had,” Murray replied thoughtlessly, +and then he hastened to explain that some business +affairs disturbed and worried him. +</p> +<p> +“But your victory over Stanley ought to make you +cheerful,” she insisted. “Think of finally winning +after so long a fight!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +</p> +<p> +“When shall I get the policy?” asked Wentworth. +</p> +<p> +“Policies are written at the home office,” answered +Murray evasively. +</p> +<p> +“But the insurance becomes effective when the application +is accepted and the first premium paid, +doesn’t it?” asked Wentworth. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” answered Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now that I am at last converted to insurance +I am an enthusiast,” laughed Wentworth. “We won’t +waste any time at all. Get out your little check-book, +Helen, and give Murray a check for the first premium. +I’ll make it good to you to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe I could accept it now,” said Murray +hesitatingly. “There are certain forms, you +know—” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, well, I’ll send you a check the first thing in +the morning,” interrupted Wentworth. “Perhaps it +isn’t just the thing to turn a little family dinner into +a business conference.” +</p> +<p> +“Better wait till you hear from me,” advised Murray, +and his face showed his distress. He wished to +avoid anything unpleasant at this time, but he was +being driven into a corner. +</p> +<p> +“Is—is anything wrong?” asked Mrs. Wentworth +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“There is an extraordinary amount of red tape to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +the insurance business,” explained Murray, and the +fact that he was very ill at ease did not escape the +notice of Wentworth. The latter said nothing, but +he lost his jovial air and he watched Murray as closely +as Murray had previously watched him. It did not +take him long to discover that Murray was abstracted +and uncomfortable; that he was a prey to painful +thoughts and kept track of the conversation only by +a strong effort of will. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Wentworth, too, discovered that something +was wrong, and when the men retired to the library +to smoke she went to her own room in a very unhappy +frame of mind. She was sure that Murray had some +bad news for her husband, but it did not occur to her +that it concerned the insurance policy; it probably related +to some business venture, she thought, for she +knew that her husband had recently lost money and +had still more invested in a speculative enterprise. +Well, he would get the news from Murray, and she +would get it from him. +</p> +<p> +Murray did not remain long, and he went out very +quietly. Usually the two men laughed and joked at +parting, but there was something subdued about them +this time. As they paused for a moment at the door, +she heard her husband say, “That’s all right, old +man; it isn’t your fault.” Then, instead of coming to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +her, he put on his hat and left the house almost immediately +after Murray had gone. +</p> +<p> +It was late when he came back, but she was waiting +for him, and his face frightened her. He seemed to +have aged twenty years in a few hours; he was haggard +and pale and there was something of fear in his +eyes. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” she asked. “You look sick.” +</p> +<p> +“A little tired,” he answered with an attempt at +carelessness. “I’ll be all right to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Murray was troubled, too,” she persisted. +“What’s it all about?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Murray has been unfortunate in a little business +affair,” he explained. +</p> +<p> +“And you’re concerned in it, too,” she said. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” he admitted. “But it’s all right, so don’t +worry.” +</p> +<p> +More he refused to say, but later in the night, +waking suddenly, she heard him in the library, and, +stealing down stairs, found him pacing the floor in his +dressing-gown and slippers. He meekly went back to +bed when she gently chid him, but he was restless and +slept little. +</p> +<p> +The next morning he held her in his arms several +minutes before leaving for the office, and he knelt for +some time beside the baby’s crib. It was such a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +leave-taking as might have been expected if he were going +on a long journey. And she knew that he was withholding +something from her. +</p> +<p> +At the office he shut himself up for nearly the whole +morning. +</p> +<p> +“It must be a mistake,” he kept muttering. “That +doctor is a fool. I’ll try another company.” +</p> +<p> +In the afternoon he put in an application and suggested +that, as a matter of business convenience, he +would like to be examined at once. Two days later he +was politely informed that the company, on the advice +of its physician, felt constrained to decline the +risk. But the man who is condemned to death does +not give up hope: he appeals to a higher court, holding +to the last that an error of law or of fact will be +discovered. Wentworth appealed his case, but the verdict +of the specialist he consulted was the same: he +might live many years, but he might die at any moment. +</p> +<p> +“I would advise you,” said the physician, “to give +up active business and to get your financial affairs in +the best possible shape. If you are to live, you must +take unusual precautions to avoid excitement and +worry.” +</p> +<p> +Avoid worry! What a mockery, when he was deprived +of the opportunities to make proper provision +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +for the little woman and the baby! He was well-to-do, +but only so long as he continued to live and make +money. Some investments he had, but they were +neither numerous nor large, and not of a character +that would be considered absolutely safe. He had invested +to make money rather than to save it in most +instances, so the amount that he had in really first-class +securities was comparatively trifling. +</p> +<p> +“If I continue in business, how long can I expect +to live, Doctor?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“It is problematical,” was the reply. “Frankly, I +don’t think I would give you more than two or three +years of active business life, with the possibility of +death at any moment during that time. Still, if you +are careful, you ought to last two years.” +</p> +<p> +Wentworth shuddered. He had told the physician +to speak frankly, but it was horrible to have the limit +of life set in this way. +</p> +<p> +“Retire from business,” the doctor added, “go to +some quiet place, and you <em>may</em> live as long as any +other.” +</p> +<p> +“But I can’t!” cried Wentworth. “I haven’t the +money, and I must provide for the little woman and +the baby. My God! how helpless they would be without me!” +</p> +<p> +Wentworth went from the doctor’s office to the safe-deposit +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +vaults where he kept his securities. He was a +desperate man now—a man who had deliberately decided +to sacrifice his life for those he loved. He would +continue in business another year—two years, if +necessary and the Lord permitted—and he would +bend every energy to making provision for his little +family. It might—nay, probably would—kill him, +but what matter? To buy life at the expense of their +future would be supremely selfish. And he might succeed +before the fatal summons came: he might get his +affairs in such shape in a year that he could retire +with almost as good a chance of life as he had now—if +he could stand the strain so long. But in his heart +he felt he was pronouncing his own doom. He might +put the optimistic view of the situation in words, but +he did not believe the words. A great fear—a fear +that was almost a certainty—gripped hard at his +heart. +</p> +<p> +“<em>Hic jacet!</em>” he said to himself, as he went over the +securities and estimated the amount of available cash +he could command. He had speculated before and +had been reasonably successful in most instances; he +must speculate again, for in no other way could he +bring his resources up to the point desired within the +time limitations. The moment he reached this point +he would put everything in stocks or bonds that would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +be absolutely safe. Indeed, he would do this as fast +as he got a little ahead of the game. +</p> +<p> +Wentworth had speculated previously only with +money that he could afford to lose; but he was speculating +now with his entire surplus. It had been a +divertisement before; it was a business now. He had to +win—and he lost. No one could be more careful than +he, but his judgment was wrong. When he had given +the markets no particular attention he had taken an +occasional “flier” with success; when he made a study +of conditions and discussed the situation with friendly +authorities he found himself almost invariably in +error. +</p> +<p> +There was something pathetic and disquieting in +the affection and consideration he displayed for his +wife and child during this time. He endeavored to +conceal his own distress, but morning after morning +his wife clung to him and looked anxiously into his +face. He spoke cheeringly, but he grew daily more +haggard, and she knew he was concealing something. +Once she asked for news about the life insurance policy. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s all settled,” he replied, but he did not +tell her how it was settled. +</p> +<p> +Finally she went to see Murray. He had brought +the news that had made this great change in her husband, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +and he could tell her what was worrying him. +Murray had not called since that evening. While in +no sense responsible for it, he had been so closely identified +with this blow that had fallen on his friend that +he felt his presence, for a time at least, would be only +an unpleasant reminder. +</p> +<p> +“I must know this secret,” she told Murray with +earnest directness of speech. “It is killing Stanley. +He is worried and anxious, and he is working himself +to death in an effort to straighten out some complication.” +</p> +<p> +“He mustn’t do that!” exclaimed Murray quickly. +“Work and worry are the two things for him to +avoid.” +</p> +<p> +“Why?” demanded Mrs. Wentworth. +</p> +<p> +Murray hesitated. He knew why Wentworth had +kept this from his wife, but was it wise? The man +was deliberately walking to his grave. Ought not his +wife to be informed in order that she might take the +necessary steps to save him? It would be a breach of +confidence, but did not the circumstances justify it? +Wentworth was his friend, and he had a sincere regard +for Mrs. Wentworth. Surely he ought not to +stand idly by and witness a tragedy that he might +prevent. +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i003' id='i003'></a> +<img src="images/illus-064.jpg" alt="“You—you didn’t insure him?” she said inquiringly" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“You—you didn’t insure him?” she said inquiringly</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span></div> +<p> +“Mrs. Wentworth,” he said at last, “the thing that +is worrying Stanley is the fact that we had to decline +him as a risk.“ +</p> +<p> +“You—you didn’t insure him?” she said inquiringly, +as if she did not quite comprehend. +</p> +<p> +“No.” +</p> +<p> +“He let me think you had.” +</p> +<p> +“Because he did not wish to distress you, and I assure +you, Mrs. Wentworth, I would not tell you this +myself, were it not for the fact that Stanley is doing +the most unwise thing possible.” +</p> +<p> +“I am very glad you did tell me,” she said quietly. +She was not an emotional woman, but the pallor of her +face and something of anxious fright in her eyes told +how deeply she felt. “What must I do?” +</p> +<p> +“Get him out of business and away from excitement,” +replied Murray promptly. “In a quiet place, +if he takes care of himself, he may live as long as any +of us.” +</p> +<p> +When Wentworth reached home that evening, the +little woman, always affectionate, greeted him with +unusual tenderness. She said nothing of her visit to +Murray, but later she brought up the subject of moving +to the country. +</p> +<p> +“I’m dreadfully worried about you, Stanley,” she +said. “You must take a vacation.” +</p> +<p> +“I can’t,” he replied. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +</p> +<p> +“But you must,” she insisted. “You’ve been working +too hard lately.” +</p> +<p> +“Next year,” he said, “I hope to get out of this city +turmoil and take you away to some quiet place, where +we can live for each other and the baby.” +</p> +<p> +She went over and knelt beside him, as he leaned +wearily back in his big arm-chair. +</p> +<p> +“Why not now?” she pleaded. +</p> +<p> +“My God! I can’t, Helen!” he cried. “I want to, +but I can’t! If you only knew—” +</p> +<p> +“I only know that you will break down, if you don’t +take a rest,” she interrupted hastily. It would only +add to his distress to learn that she knew his secret. +“Don’t you suppose I can see how you are overtaxing +your strength? We must go away for a time, anyway.” +</p> +<p> +“Little woman,” he said, putting an arm round her, +“it’s a question of finance, and you never could understand +that very well. When I get things in shape we +will go, but not yet. I have some investments to watch, +and,”—wearily,—“things have gone rather against +me lately. There are lots of things to be done before I +can take any extended vacation, and it is even a more +serious matter to retire permanently. My earning capacity +is about all we have to live on now.” +</p> +<p> +“I thought you had money invested,” she remarked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +</p> +<p> +“I had,” he replied, “but it was not enough, and in +trying to make it enough I made some wrong guesses +on the market.” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind,” she said cheerily. “We’ll make the +best of what’s left. We won’t need much if we get +away from this fearful life. It isn’t money that the +baby and I want, it’s you; and we don’t want you to +die for us, but to live for us.” +</p> +<p> +Wentworth gave his wife a quick glance, for this +was hitting very close to his secret; but he saw in her +only the very natural anxiety of a loving wife, who +knew that her husband was overtaxing his strength. +</p> +<p> +“You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she +knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a +feeling that this question of life insurance was all that +stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to +take. He could get something for his interest in the +business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper +provision for her. He could take up some quiet pursuit +and continue to make a little money as long as +he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income. +And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had +only made them worse. She understood so much. +</p> +<p> +There was an undercurrent of sadness, but still +something beautiful, in the life that followed this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +conversation. All the little sympathetic attentions that +love can suggest, each gave to the other, while each +worried in secret, seeking only to make life a little +easier and more cheerful for the other. +</p> +<p> +But Mrs. Wentworth was becoming as desperate +as her husband, and even more unreasoning. Was +not her husband’s life worth all the money of all +the insurance companies? And were they not condemning +him to death by their action? It was +more than a risk that depended upon life; it was a +life that depended upon the risk. In a little time she +convinced herself that the insurance companies could +save him and would not, failing utterly to appreciate +the fact that, even with the greatest precautions, +the chances were against him; that there +was only a possibility that he might live longer +than a few years, the probability being quite the reverse. +</p> +<p> +Murray was shocked when she called to see him +again. The change in her husband was no greater +than the change in her. Was not the man she loved +committing suicide before her eyes? And was he not +doing this for love of her and the baby? Would not +such a condition of affairs make any woman desperate +and unreasoning? +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Murray,” she said, “if you are as good a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +friend to my husband as he has always been to you, +you will save his life.” +</p> +<p> +“I will do anything in my power, Mrs. Wentworth,” +replied Murray. “Nothing in life ever has so distressed +me as this.” +</p> +<p> +“Then give him the policy he wants.” +</p> +<p> +“Impossible! Why, the doctor—” +</p> +<p> +“You can fix it with the doctor; you know you can! +Or you can get another doctor to pass him! Oh, Mr. +Murray! I am not asking for money; I am asking for +life—for his life! It’s suicide—murder! I want to get +him away! I must get him away! But I can’t while +he fears for our future—the baby’s and mine! He +must provide for us, and he’s losing the little he had! +He can’t stand it a month longer! Give him the policy, +Mr. Murray, and I’ll swear to you never to present +it for payment! It’s only for him that I ask it! You +can give him life—give your friend life! Won’t you +do it?” +</p> +<p> +The tears were running down the little woman’s +cheeks, and Murray could not trust himself to speak +for a moment. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Wentworth,” he said at last, “every cent I +have is at your husband’s disposal, if he needs it, but +what you ask is utterly impossible. The risk would be +refused at the home office, even if I passed it, for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +fact that he has been refused by two other companies +would be reported there.” +</p> +<p> +In the case of another, Murray would have said +more, but he knew that Mrs. Wentworth was quite beside +herself and did not really appreciate that she was +asking him to be dishonest with the company that employed +him. +</p> +<p> +“He wouldn’t touch a cent of the money of such a +friend!” she exclaimed with sudden anger. “He’s not +a beggar, and neither am I! All I seek for him is the +tranquility that means life; all I ask is the removal +of the anxiety that means death. And this little you +will not do for a friend!” She was beside herself with +desperation. +</p> +<p> +It was bitter, it was harsh, it was unjustifiable, but +Murray had forgiven her before she had ceased speaking. +The depth of her feeling and the excitement +under which she was laboring were sufficient to excuse +her. But he felt as if he really were condemning his +friend to death. Yet what could he do? He would +cheerfully give a thousand dollars out of his own +pocket to make things easier for the two suffering +ones, but it was not a matter of ready cash. Wentworth +had enough of that. +</p> +<p> +In the deepest distress Murray was pacing back and +forth when the door opened and Wentworth himself +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +staggered in. Murray was at his side in a moment and +guided him to a chair. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, old man?” +</p> +<p> +“Lost everything,” Wentworth gasped. “Tried to +protect—margined to limit—all gone!” +</p> +<p> +“But your interest in the business?” +</p> +<p> +“Sold it—to protect deal.” He seemed almost at the +point of collapse, but he rallied for a moment. “Insurance!” +he cried. “I must have it! Damn the company! +You must put it through for me! You hear, Murray!” +The man was almost crazy, and he spoke fiercely. +“You’ve got to do it—for humanity’s sake! Can’t +leave them penniless!” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll talk about it to-morrow,” said Murray +soothingly. +</p> +<p> +“You lie, Murray!” the excited man cried. “You +won’t do it at all; you’ll see them starve first, you—you +dog! I’ll kill you, if you don’t—” +</p> +<p> +Wentworth had risen in frenzied fury, as he pictured +the future of his loved ones; he swayed for an +instant, and Murray caught him as he fell. He was +dead before Murray could get him back into the chair. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +Murray did all that anyone could do for the bereaved +woman, and more than any one else would +have done, for the next day he sent her this letter: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Dear Mrs. Wentworth: After a conference with our +physician we decided that a small risk on Mr. Wentworth +would be justified, and the matter was closed up +yesterday afternoon just previous to his death. As a +result of my close personal relations with him, I know +that he left his affairs in rather a complicated condition, +so, as it will take a little time to file the necessary +proofs and get the money from the company, I am +taking the liberty of sending you my personal check +for the amount of the policy, one thousand dollars, +and I hope that you will not hesitate to call on me for +any service that is in my power to render. With the +deepest sympathy, I am, +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>Very sincerely yours,</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'><span class='sc'>David Murray</span>.</p> +<p> +“A lie,” he muttered, referring to the insurance +item; “a cold, deliberate lie, but I feel better for telling +it.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span><a name='c4' id='c4'></a>AN INCIDENTAL SPECULATION</h2> +<p> +Just when the Interurban Traction Company +thought the successful culmination of its plans in sight +it woke up to the fact that there had been a miscalculation +or an oversight somewhere. It had the absolute +or prospective control of all the principal lines +embraced in its elaborate scheme of connecting various +towns and cities by trolley, which means that it had +bought a good deal of the necessary stock and had +options on most of the rest; but there was one insignificant +little road that it had left to the last. This +road had been a losing venture from its inception, and +its stock was quoted far below par, with no buyers. +As a matter of business policy, the more successful +roads should be secured first, for the moment the secret +was out their stocks would soar. They represented the +larger investments, and their stock-holders could hold +on, if they saw the advisability of it, without making +any financial sacrifice; they were in a position to “hold +up” the new company in the most approved modern +style. But the Bington road was weak and unprofitable, +valuable only as a connecting link in the chain. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> +</p> +<p> +“Of course,” said Colonel Babington, who was at +the head of the new venture, “we’re sure to be held up +somewhere on the line, and these people can hold us up +for less than any of the others. They haven’t much as +a basis for a hold-up, and they can’t afford to go on +losing money. We can buy their road cheap the first +thing, but the discovery of the purchase will give our +plans away and add a million dollars to the cost of +carrying them out. Any fool would know that we were +not buying that road for itself alone. Why, the mere +rumor that negotiations were opened would add fifty +or a hundred per cent. to the value of the other stocks +we want. We can’t afford even to wink at that road +until we get control of the others.” +</p> +<p> +So they went about their work very secretly, hoping +so to conceal their design that they would be able to +get the last link at the bed-rock price; but, when the +time came, entirely unexpected difficulties were encountered. +The stock-holders might have been tractable +enough, but the stock-holders themselves had been +fooled. +</p> +<p> +“Why, there was a young fellow here last week,” +they explained, “and he got a sixty-day option on +enough stock to control the road.” +</p> +<p> +“Who was he?” asked the startled Colonel Babington. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +</p> +<p> +“His name is Horace Lake,” they told him. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll have to look Horace up,” remarked the colonel +thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, Horace was congratulating himself on +having done a good stroke of business, and further +amusing himself by figuring his possible profit. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been looking for just such a chance as this,” +he told Dave Murray, the insurance man. +</p> +<p> +“Have you got the money to carry it through?” +asked the practical Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I had enough to put up a small forfeit to bind the +option and convince them that I mean business, and I +don’t need any more,” returned Lake. +</p> +<p> +“Once in a great while,” said Murray, “a man +makes a good lot of money on a bluff, but even then +he usually has some backing. It takes money to make +money, as a general rule. You will find that most successful +men, even those who are noted for their nervy +financiering, got the basis of their fortunes by hard +work and rigid economy. Wind may be helpful, but it +makes a poor foundation.” +</p> +<p> +“This is one of the times when it is about all that is +necessary,” laughed Lake. “I got a little inside information +about the Interurban Traction Company’s +plans in time to secure an option on one link in its +chain of roads, and it has simply got to do business +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +with me before it can make its line complete. For +twenty thousand dollars, paid any time within sixty +days, I can control the blooming little line, and the +option to buy at that price is going to cost the traction +company just twenty-five thousand dollars, which +will be clear profit for me.” +</p> +<p> +“It sounds nice,” admitted Murray, “but, if I were +in your place, I’d feel a good deal better if I had the +money to make good. If they don’t buy, you lose your +forfeit, which represents every cent you could scrape +up.” +</p> +<p> +“They will buy,” asserted Lake confidently. +</p> +<p> +“They may think it cheaper to parallel your line,” +suggested Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I’m not worrying,” returned Lake confidently. +“I’m just waiting for them to come and see me, and +they’ll come.” +</p> +<p> +Lake’s prophecy proved correct. They came—at +least Colonel Babington came, he being the active +manager of the company’s affairs. But Colonel Babington +first took the precaution to learn all he could +of Horace Lake’s financial standing and resources. +This convinced him that it was what he termed a +“hold-up,” but, even so, it was better to pay a reasonable +bonus than to have a fight. +</p> +<p> +“We will give you,” said Colonel Babington, “a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +thousand dollars for your option on the majority stock +of the Bington road.” +</p> +<p> +“The price,” replied Lake, “is twenty-five thousand +dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“My dear young man,” exclaimed the colonel, when +he had recovered his breath, “you ought to see a +specialist in mental disorders. You are clearly not +right in your mind.” +</p> +<p> +“The price,” repeated Lake, “is twenty-five thousand +dollars now, and, if I am put to any trouble or +annoyance in the matter, the price will go up.” +</p> +<p> +“A bluff,” said the colonel, “is of use only when the +opposing party does not know it is a bluff. We happen +to know it. You haven’t the money to buy that +road, and you can’t get it.” +</p> +<p> +“You speak with extraordinary certainty,” returned +Lake with dignified sarcasm. +</p> +<p> +“The road,” asserted the colonel, “is valuable only +to us, and we can parallel it, if necessary. No conservative +capitalist is going to advance you the money +to buy it in the face of such a risk as that, so we have +only to wait until your option expires to get it from +the men who now own it, and I may add that we have +taken a second option at a slightly higher price. +Therefore, your only chance to get out of the deal +with a profit is to let us acquire the road under the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +first option at something less than the second option +price. To avoid any unnecessary delay, we might be +willing to pay you a bonus of two thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“The price,” said Lake, “is now twenty-six thousand.” +</p> +<p> +“Sixty days—less than fifty now, as a matter of +fact—is not such a long time,” remarked the colonel. +“We will wait.” +</p> +<p> +Lake told Murray later that he “had them in a corner,” +but Murray was inclined to be doubtful; fighting +real money with wind, he said, was always a risky +undertaking, and the Interurban Traction Company +had plenty of real money. Lake, however, being in the +“bluffing” line himself, was inclined to think all others +were doing business on the same basis, and he confidently +expected the colonel to return in a few days. +But the colonel came not. +</p> +<p> +Then Lake made another trip to Bington, to look +the ground over, and he was disturbed to find that the +colonel had been sounding the people on a proposition +to put a line through the town on another street. +This was only a tentative plan, to be adopted in case +of failure to get the existing line, but it showed that +the company was not disposed to be held up without a +fight. Fortunately, the people did not take kindly to +the idea. The principal shops were on the line of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +trolley now, and the proprietors did not wish to have +travel diverted to another street. +</p> +<p> +Lake devoted several days to missionary work in +Bington, pointing out the great depreciation of property +that would follow such a move, and he finally left +with a feeling that the company would have an extremely +difficult time getting the necessary legislation +from the town officials. Still, he was not entirely at +ease, for officials are sometimes “induced” to act contrary +to the wishes of the people they are supposed to +represent. But he believed he had made the situation +such that Babington would come back to him. Surely, +it would be cheaper to deal with him than to buy an +entire town board. +</p> +<p> +Thirty of the sixty days slipped away, and Lake +grew really anxious. The Interurban Traction Company +could not be a success without a connecting link +between the two main stretches of its line, and Lake +had not believed that it would dare to proceed with its +plans until this was assured. Consequently, he had expected +all work to stop, pending negotiations with +him. But work did not stop. There were two or three +trifling gaps at other places, and the company was +laying the rails to bridge them, in addition to improving +the road-beds of the lines it had bought. It even +began to build a half-mile of track to reach one terminus +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +of his little road. Clearly, there was no anticipation +of trouble in ultimately beating him. +</p> +<p> +“It’s my lack of money,” he soliloquized. “I’ve got +the basis of a good thing, if I only had the money to +make it good, but I haven’t, and they know it. Murray +was right.” +</p> +<p> +His thoughts being thus turned to Murray, he went +to see him, in the faint hope that he might interest him +in the plan. Murray had money to invest. But Murray +deemed the risk too great in this instance. +</p> +<p> +“They can beat you,” said Murray. “They have +unlimited resources, and they’ll certainly get through +Bington on another street, if you persist in making +your terms too stiff. Very likely, they would have +given you three thousand or possibly even five thousand +for your option when they first came to you, and +they may do it now.” +</p> +<p> +“I tell you, it’s a good thing,” insisted Lake. +</p> +<p> +“If it’s really as good a thing as you think it is,” +said Murray, “you will have no difficulty in getting +somebody with money to take it off your hands at a +good margin of profit to you, but I can’t see it.” +</p> +<p> +In this emergency, Lake recalled a man of considerable +wealth who had known him as a boy and had +taken an interest in him. It was humiliating not to be +able to put the scheme through himself, after all his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> +planning and confident talk, but it was better to turn +it over to some one else than to fail entirely. So he +went to see Andrew Belden. +</p> +<p> +“There is a remote chance of success,” declared +Belden, “but I would not care to risk twenty thousand +on it.” +</p> +<p> +“The company can’t get through Bington, except +on that franchise,” insisted Lake. +</p> +<p> +“That may be so,” admitted Belden, “but I have +learned not to be too confident in forecasting the action +of public officials and corporations. The company +could make a strong point by threatening to cut out +Bington entirely and carry its line to one side of it.” +</p> +<p> +“That would make a loop in their road that would +be costly in building and in the delays it would occasion,” +argued Lake. “They can’t make any circuits, +if they are to do the business.” +</p> +<p> +“Nevertheless,” returned Belden, “their actions +show that they are very sure of their ground.” +</p> +<p> +“Simply because I haven’t the ready cash,” said +Lake bitterly. “Will you loan it to me, Mr. Belden? +If you won’t go into the deal yourself, will you loan +me the money to put it through? I’ll give you the +stock as security, and I think you know me well enough +to know that I’ll repay every cent of it as rapidly as +possible.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +</p> +<p> +“My dear Horace,” exclaimed Belden with frank +friendliness, “I haven’t the least doubt of your integrity, +but I have very serious doubts of your ability +to repay any such sum, and it is more than I care to +lose. You never have had a thousand dollars at one +time in your life, and I may say, without intending to +be unkind, that it isn’t likely you ever will. As for the +security, its value depends entirely on the success of +your plans: if you fail, it won’t be worth ten cents. +Now, if you had any real security, upon which I could +realize in case anything happened to you, I would +cheerfully let you have the money for as long a time +as you wish. Although your plan does not appeal to +me, I am sincerely anxious to be of assistance to you +as far as possible, but I can’t make you a gift of +twenty thousand dollars. Convince me that it will be +repaid ultimately—no matter in how long a time—and +I will let you have it.” +</p> +<p> +Lake departed, discouraged. He had no security of +any sort to offer, and had only asked for the loan as a +desperate last resort, without the slightest expectation +that he would get it. The company, he decided, had +beaten him, just because no one else was clear-headed +enough to see the opportunity, and he might as well +get what little profit he could while there was still time. +With this object in view, he went to see the colonel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> +</p> +<p> +“I have decided,” he said, “to let you have the road +for a bonus of five thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“That is very kind of you,” returned the colonel, +“but we can get it cheaper. You see,” he explained, +with the disagreeable frankness of one who thinks he +holds the winning hand, “the minority stock-holders +were a little disgruntled when they learned of your +deal—thought they had been left out in the cold—and +they were ready to make very favorable terms with us. +As we have a second option on the majority stock, at +a somewhat higher figure, we have only to wait until +your option expires and then take the little we need +to give us control.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll let you have my option for the two thousand +you offered a month ago,” said Lake in desperation. +</p> +<p> +“It’s not worth that to us now.” +</p> +<p> +“One thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, frankly, Mr. Lake,” said the colonel still +pleasantly, “we men of some experience and standing +in the business world don’t like to have half-baked +financiers interfering with our plans, and we aim to +discourage them as effectually as possible whenever +possible.” Then, with a sudden change of tone: “We +won’t give you a damn cent for your option. You +were too greedy.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +</p> +<p> +“Of course, you men of money and high finance are +not greedy at all,” retorted Lake sarcastically. +</p> +<p> +Lake was too depressed to see it at the moment, but +later it began to dawn on him that the colonel, usually +astute, had made a grievous mistake. In his anxiety +to impress upon the young man the futility of his +avaricious schemes, in the face of such wise and resourceful +opposition, he had mentioned the fact that +the minority stock had been brought within their +reach. Had they already bought it, or had they only +secured options on it? If already purchased, the purchase +price would prove a dead loss, unless they were +able to get enough more to secure control. To parallel +the road would be to kill a company in which they +were financially interested, in addition to incurring +the considerable expense necessary for a new connecting +link. +</p> +<p> +Lake went to Bington that afternoon, and returned +the following morning. The game was his, if he could +raise the money; they had bought most of the minority +stock outright, being unable to get options on it. +He was sure of victory now, if he could raise the +money. He no longer wished to turn the deal over to +any one else on any terms: he wished to carry it to +the conclusion himself. But the money, the money! +</p> +<p> +He tried Belden again, but Belden still considered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +the security utterly inadequate for a loan of twenty +thousand dollars. In truth, although Belden considered +the outlook a little more promising now, he +doubted the young man’s ability to handle such a deal, +and it would take very little to upset all calculations. +The company’s investment was not sufficient to prevent +the abandonment of the road in some very possible +circumstances, although it was ample evidence of +a present plan to use it. Murray took the same view of +the situation. +</p> +<p> +“It begins to look like a good speculation,” said +Murray, “but I haven’t the money to invest in it, and +I never was much of a speculator, anyway. I have +discovered that, as a general thing, when the possible +profit begins to climb very much over the legal rate +of interest, the probability of loss increases with it. +However, if you want to take the risk, that’s your +affair, provided you have the money.” +</p> +<p> +“But I haven’t,” complained Lake; “that’s the +trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“Too bad you’re not carrying enough insurance to +be of some use,” remarked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“What good would that do?” asked Lake. +</p> +<p> +“Why, then you’d only have to convince your wife +that you have a safe investment, and it’s always easier +to convince your wife than it is to convince some coldblooded +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +capitalist. Insurance ranks high as security, +but of course the beneficiary has to consent to its use.” +</p> +<p> +“I never had thought of insurance as a factor in +financiering,” said Lake. “I had regarded it more as a +family matter.” +</p> +<p> +“It plays an important part in the business world,” +explained Murray, “and it might even play a part +in speculation. There is partnership insurance, you +know.” +</p> +<p> +“I may have heard of it, but I never gave it any +consideration.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s not a speculation, but a business precaution,” +said Murray. “The partners are insured in favor of +the firm. If one of them dies, it gives the firm the +ready cash to buy his interest from the widow, without +infringing on the business capital. Partnership +insurance may sometimes prevent a failure; it may +prevent several. Many interests may depend temporarily +upon the operation of one man, and his sudden +death might spell ruin for a number of people, +unless they were protected by insurance. The policy +is playing a more important part in the business world +every day. There are lots of strange things that can +be done when you fully understand it.” +</p> +<p> +“But that doesn’t help me,” asserted Lake impatiently. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +</p> +<p> +“No,” returned Murray, “I don’t see how insurance +could help you just now, unless you were to die. A +policy won’t be accepted as security for a sum in excess +of the premiums paid, for you might default.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not the kind of man who dies to win,” said +Lake rather sharply. +</p> +<p> +“Of course not,” replied Murray. “I was merely +considering the financial possibilities of policies.” All +insurance questions being of absorbing interest to +Murray, he straightway forgot all about Lake’s predicament, +and busied his mind with his own speculations. +“There is so much that can be done with insurance,” +he went on, “but I guess it’s just as well the +public doesn’t know it all. Do you remember the case +of Rankin, the banker who committed suicide?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, Rankin couldn’t have done anything with +our company, because the element of premeditation is +assumed if death by suicide occurs within two years +from the time the policy is issued. After that the +manner of death cuts no figure, for the courts have +held that an insurance company takes a risk on the +mind as well as the body of a policy-holder, and, anyway, +competition has cut out the old suicide restrictions. +But there are companies that issue policies incontestable +after the date of issue. Suppose Rankin, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +when he found his affairs in such shape that he no +longer dared to face the world, had gone to one or +more of these companies. A hundred thousand dollars—very +likely less—would have protected his bank +and provided for his family. He had already decided +to kill himself, for his operations had been such that +he could not hope to escape the penitentiary when discovery +came, but he was ostensibly still a prosperous +man. Many men of his standing insure themselves for +extraordinarily large sums, to protect legitimately +their business interests as well as their families. +</p> +<p> +“Not so very long ago we issued a paid-up policy +for fifty thousand dollars on the life of one man, +who died within three years, and we thought nothing +of it. He was taking a risk on his own life +then, for he thought he was going to live long +enough to make a paid-up policy cheaper than the +aggregate of annual payments, whereas there would +have been a saving to his estate of a good many +thousands of dollars if he had followed the other +plan. However, that has nothing to do with this +case; I mention it only to show that a man of Rankin’s +apparent standing could have got insurance to +any amount without creating comment. And, with +an incontestable-after-date-of-issue policy, he could +have protected his business associates and his family +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +by the very culmination of his overwhelming +disgrace. Why, a defaulter could use part of his +stolen money in this way to provide for his family +when the moment of discovery and death shall come, +or a dishonest business man, facing ruin, could use his +creditors’ money to make such provision, for insurance +money is something sacred, that can not be reached +like the rest of an estate. Oh, there are great dramatic +possibilities in this business, Lake—tragedies and +comedies and dramas of which the public knows nothing.” +</p> +<p> +“How does that help me?” demanded Lake gloomily, +and the question brought Murray back to the +realities of the moment. +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t help you,” Murray replied, “but it’s an +intensely interesting subject to one who gives it a little +time and thought.” +</p> +<p> +Yet it did help Lake, although not at that moment. +It was a new field, and Lake liked to explore new +fields. A novelty that taxed his ingenuity appealed to +him especially. True, he had enough to occupy his +mind without entering upon idle speculation, but, +when every other avenue to success seemed closed, his +thoughts would revert to insurance. +</p> +<p> +“If it holds out such opportunities for others, why +not for me?” he asked. “If others have entirely overlooked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +the possibilities, why may not I be doing the +same thing?” +</p> +<p> +He met the colonel on the street occasionally, and +the way the colonel smiled at him was maddening. +There could be no doubt that the colonel considered +the game won, but he was not a man to take chances: +he had Lake watched, and the latter’s every move was +reported to him. Even when Lake made another trip +to Bington and endeavored to arrange a shrewd deal +with some of the majority stock-holders, the colonel +promptly heard of it. +</p> +<p> +“Accept my notes in payment for the stock,” Lake +urged on that occasion, “and I’ll let you in on the +profits of the deal. The traction company has got to +get this road, but you can’t hold it up for a big price, +because you were foolish enough to give it a second +option. I can do it, however. Let me have the stock, +and you can divide up among yourselves half of all I +get in excess of the option price. My notes will be +paid, and you will have a bonus of twelve or fifteen +thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +But the stock-holders were conservative and cautious +men, and the very fact that Lake could not +command the money that he needed made them suspicious. +As matters stood, they were sure of getting +out of a losing venture with a small profit—at least, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +so it seemed to them—and they preferred that to the +risk of losing everything in an effort to secure a larger +profit. Furthermore, they were now on the side of the +colonel, for his option was at a larger price. And the +colonel was very confident—so confident that work was +being rushed on details that would prove valueless +without the Bington road. This was what made Lake +desperately angry; it was humiliating to be treated as +a helpless weakling. +</p> +<p> +As valuable time passed, his mind reverted again to +the insurance field. His opportunity—the opportunity +of a lifetime—was almost lost. The colonel, wishing to +lose no time, had arranged for a meeting with certain +of the majority stock-holders the day the first option +expired. The option expired at noon, and the colonel +would be ready to take over what stock he needed at +one minute after the noon hour. This would not be +very much, in view of the minority stock he already +held, but the sanguine stock-holders did not know this: +they expected him to take all of it. +</p> +<p> +“Some of them are going to find they’re tricked, +just as I am,” Lake grumbled. “If I could only convince +Belden of the ultimate absolute security of a +loan! He wants to help me; he’s ready to be convinced; +but—” +</p> +<p> +People passing saw this moody, depressed young +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +man stop short in the street and his eye light with +sudden hope. +</p> +<p> +“By thunder!” he exclaimed. “Of course, I can +protect him against unforeseen disaster, if he has confidence +in my integrity!” +</p> +<p> +He was almost jubilant when he entered Belden’s +office. +</p> +<p> +“Got the money?” asked Belden. +</p> +<p> +“No; but I know how to get it,” replied Lake. +“You believe in my honesty, don’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“Implicitly.” +</p> +<p> +“You merely doubt my ability?” +</p> +<p> +“Your financial ability,” explained Belden. “You +will do what you agree to do—if you can. I have no +earthly doubt of your willingness, even anxiety, to repay +every obligation you may incur, but, added to +other risks, there is the possibility of accident.” +</p> +<p> +“If I eliminate that?” +</p> +<p> +“You may have the money.” +</p> +<p> +“On long time?” +</p> +<p> +“The time and the terms are immaterial.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll come for it later,” announced Lake, and he +departed, leaving Belden puzzled and curious. +</p> +<p> +Once outside, Lake stopped to do a little mental +figuring before taking up the other details of his plan. +</p> +<p> +“I advanced five hundred to bind the option,” he reflected. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +“That leaves nineteen thousand five hundred +necessary to put the deal through. Twenty thousand +from Belden will give me just the margin I need.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was as much puzzled and surprised by the +change in the man as Belden had been, and Murray, +like Belden, was anxious to help him in any reasonably +safe way. +</p> +<p> +“Am I good for five hundred for thirty days, if I +give you my positive assurance that I know exactly +how I am going to pay it in that time?” asked Lake. +</p> +<p> +“Why, yes,” replied Murray. “On short-time +figuring you’re a pretty safe man.” +</p> +<p> +“Draw me a check for it, and I’ll give you my +thirty-day note,” said Lake, “and my verbal assurance +that it’s a cinch.” +</p> +<p> +Murray noted the confidence of Lake’s tone and +manner, and drew the check. +</p> +<p> +“What are you going to do with it?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Pay a life insurance premium,” laughed Lake. +“Give me an application blank and round up a medical +examiner. I want a twenty-year endowment policy +for twenty thousand dollars, and I want it put +through like a limited express that’s trying to make +up time.” +</p> +<p> +“I suppose you know what you’re doing,” said +Murray doubtfully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +</p> +<p> +“You bet I do!” Lake spoke confidently. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, very well,” remarked Murray. “I don’t see +how I can refuse business for the company, even if I +stand to lose.” +</p> +<p> +“You won’t lose,” declared Lake with joyous enthusiasm. +“I’m going to show you a new trick in the +line of insurance financiering.” +</p> +<p> +After that, Lake haunted Murray’s office, and grew +daily more anxious. He was a good risk, but certain +formalities were necessary, and these took time, although +Murray did his utmost to shorten the routine. +Lake’s nervousness increased; he had Murray telegraph +the home office; he grew haggard, for he had +not counted on this delay; but finally, in the moment +of almost utter despair, the policy was delivered to +him. An hour later he was in Belden’s office. +</p> +<p> +“I want twenty thousand at four per cent., payable +at the rate of one thousand a year, with interest!” he +cried. “I’ll pay it, to a certainty, within sixty days, +but I’m trying to make it look more reasonable, to +satisfy you. You believe I can pay one thousand a +year, don’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“If you live.” +</p> +<p> +“If I don’t,” exclaimed Lake, “there is insurance +for twenty thousand in my wife’s favor, and duly assigned +to you,” and he banged the policy down on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +desk in front of the astonished Belden. “You can +trust me to take care of the premiums, can’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“Your integrity I never doubted,” replied Belden, +“and that obligation should be within your means.” +</p> +<p> +“My rule of life shall be: the premiums first, the +payments on the note next,” declared Lake. “If I fall +behind in the latter, the security will still be good. I +only ask that anything in excess of what may be due +you, in case of my death, shall go to my wife, and she, +of course, becomes the sole beneficiary the moment you +are paid. But, for the love of heaven, hurry!” +</p> +<p> +Instead of hurrying, Belden leaned back in his +chair and looked at the young man with bewildered +admiration. +</p> +<p> +“Such ingenuity,” he said at last, “ought not to go +unrewarded. As a strict business proposition, your +plan would hardly find favor with a conservative +banker, but, as a matter of friendship and confidence—” +He reached for his check-book. “Such a +head as yours is worth a risk,” he added a moment +later. +</p> +<p> +Lake reached the office of the Bington road at +11:30 on the day his option expired. The colonel was +already there, waiting. So were some of the majority +stock-holders. The colonel was confident and unusually +loquacious. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +</p> +<p> +“Now that the matter is practically settled,” he remarked +with the cheerful frankness of a man who has +won, “I may admit that the young man had us up a +tree. He succeeded in putting the other route +through Bington practically beyond our reach, and +forced us to take the risk of doing business with the +minority stock-holders at a possible dead loss. But we +knew he didn’t have the money, so we went ahead with +our plans and our work without delay. A little ready +cash—” +</p> +<p> +It was then that Lake entered and deposited a small +satchel on the long table. +</p> +<p> +“I will take the stock under my option,” he announced +briefly to such of the majority stock-holders +as were present. “I think I have got all I need, with +the exception of what is represented by you gentlemen. +It has been a pretty busy morning for me.” He +emptied the stock certificates already acquired and +some bundles of bank-notes on the table. “Colonel,” +he said with a joyous and triumphant laugh, “you’d +better sit up and begin to take notice.” +</p> +<p> +The colonel’s attitude and air of easy confidence already +had changed, and his look of amazement and +dismay was almost laughable. +</p> +<p> +“Quick, gentlemen,” cautioned Lake, with a glance +at the clock. “I’ve tendered the money in time, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +I’ll feel a little more comfortable when I have the rest +of the needed stock.” +</p> +<p> +Like one in a dream the colonel leaned over the +table and watched the transaction. +</p> +<p> +“Do—do you want to sell some of that stock?” he +asked at last. +</p> +<p> +“No,” replied Lake; “I don’t want to sell some of +it; I want to sell all of it.” +</p> +<p> +“We don’t need all of it,” said the colonel. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” returned Lake +magnanimously. “I’ll sell you all or any part of it +for fifty thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“On the basis of fifty thousand for your entire holdings?” +asked the colonel. +</p> +<p> +“No; at the set price of fifty thousand for whatever +you take.” +</p> +<p> +“Too much,” said the colonel. +</p> +<p> +“As you please,” said Lake carelessly. “The price +of the control of the Bington road goes up one thousand +dollars a day. It’s dirt cheap at fifty thousand +now, but, of course, if you don’t need it, Colonel, the +bargain price doesn’t interest you.” +</p> +<p> +The colonel did need it; in fact, the company, in its +sublime confidence, had put itself in a position where +failure to get it meant a considerable loss. +</p> +<p> +“On second thought,” remarked Lake, “I’ll have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +to add a thousand to compensate me for the indignity +of being called a half-baked financier. Do you remember +that, Colonel?” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll take it,” said the colonel resignedly. Then +he added reflectively: “You’ve made a pretty good +thing out of this, Lake.” +</p> +<p> +“Fair, fair,” replied Lake. “After I’ve repaid the +twenty thousand five hundred that I borrowed, I’ll +have thirty thousand five hundred left, not to mention +an insurance policy for twenty thousand in favor of +my wife, with the first premium paid. You ought to +study the insurance question, Colonel. There are wonderful +financial possibilities in it, and some day, perhaps, +you will wake up to the fact that insurance beat +you in this deal.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span><a name='c5' id='c5'></a>AN INCIDENTAL FAVOR</h2> +<p> +On the same day two women called to see Dave +Murray in regard to the same matter, and that was +the beginning of the trouble. +</p> +<p> +The first was Mrs. Albert Vincent. The obituary +columns of the morning papers had given a few lines +to the death of Albert Vincent, but Murray had not +expected to hear from his widow so promptly, and she +was a little too businesslike to meet his idea as to the +proprieties of the occasion. In fact, there was no indication +of either outward mourning or inward grief. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps you will recall,” she said, without the +slightest trace of emotion, “that I wrote to you some +time ago to ask if the premiums on my husband’s insurance +had been fully paid.” +</p> +<p> +“I recall it,” replied Murray. +</p> +<p> +“And you answered that they had been paid.” +</p> +<p> +“I recall that also,” said Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Well, he died last night,” explained the widow, +“and I would like to know when I can get the insurance +money.” +</p> +<p> +Murray looked at her in amazement. He had had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +to deal with many people whom necessity made importunate, +but never before had he met such cold-bloodedness +as this woman displayed in tone and manner. +Apparently, it was no more to her than a business +investment, upon which she was now about to realize. +</p> +<p> +“There are certain formalities necessary,” he said, +“but there will be little delay after proper proof of +death has been filed. You will, of course, have the attending +physician—” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know who he is,” interrupted the woman. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t know who he is!” repeated Murray in +astonishment. +</p> +<p> +“No. But I will find out and see him at once. It is +important that there shall be as little delay as possible.” +</p> +<p> +Previous experiences made Murray quick at jumping +to conclusions in such cases, and he now thought +he had the explanation of this unusually prompt call. +The woman was stylishly dressed, but that was no +proof that she had the ready cash essential at such a +time. +</p> +<p> +“I think I understand,” said Murray delicately. +“You can not meet the expenses incident to—” +</p> +<p> +“I have nothing to do with any expenses,” the +woman again interrupted coldly. “<em>She</em> looked after +him in life, and she can look after him now.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +</p> +<p> +“She!” exclaimed Murray. “Who?” +</p> +<p> +“The nurse,” replied the woman scornfully. “But +she can’t have the insurance—not a cent of it. And +that’s what she has been after.” +</p> +<p> +“Let me understand this,” said Murray thoughtfully. +“You and your husband have not been living +together?” +</p> +<p> +“Not for five years.” +</p> +<p> +“And this other woman?” +</p> +<p> +“She was an old flame, and she went to him when +he became ill.” +</p> +<p> +“Did he send for you?” +</p> +<p> +“No. He knew better than to do that. But the insurance +is in my name, and I’m going to have it—all +of it. That’s my right, isn’t it?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” replied Murray slowly; “I’m sorry to say +that is your absolute right.” The supreme selfishness +and heartlessness of the woman were revolting to +Murray. “The policy names you as beneficiary, and +when it is presented, with proof of death, the money +will have to be paid to you.” +</p> +<p> +“How am I to get the policy?” asked the woman. +“He had it put away somewhere.” +</p> +<p> +“That is a matter upon which I can not undertake +to advise you,” replied Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Anyhow,” declared the woman defiantly, for Murray’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +words and expression showed his disapprobation, +“I want to serve notice on you that not one cent of the +money is to be paid to any one else. It would be just +like that nurse to try to get it.” +</p> +<p> +“You shall have every cent to which you are entitled,” +replied Murray with frigid courtesy, “but +nothing is to be gained by further discussion.” +</p> +<p> +“I suppose,” exclaimed the woman with sharp resentfulness, +“that your sympathies are with that +shameless nurse.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” returned Murray quietly. “I’m not +at all sure that your husband was not the one who was +most entitled to sympathy.” +</p> +<p> +It was unlike Murray to speak thus brutally, but +the woman irritated him. Many were the examples +of selfishness that had come to his notice, but this +seemed to him a little worse than any of the others. +That she had been living apart from her husband +might be due to no fault of hers, but she impressed +him as being a vain, vindictive, mercenary woman, +with no thought above the rather gaudy clothes she +wore—just the kind to demand everything and give +nothing. Certainly her actions showed that she lacked +all the finer sensibilities that one naturally associates +with true women. No matter what might lie back of it +all, common decency should have prevented her from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +making such a display of her own small soul at such a +time. At least, so Murray thought. +</p> +<p> +“She is the kind of woman who marries a man’s +bank account,” he mused, “and considers the inability +to supply her with all the money she wants as the +first evidence of incompatibility of temper. Some +women think they want a husband when they really +only want an accommodating banker.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was still musing in this strain when the +second woman called. Unlike the first, this woman +gave some evidence of grief and mourning: her eyes +showed that she had been weeping, and her attire, although +not the regulation mourning, was as near to it +as a scanty wardrobe would permit on short notice. +But she was self-possessed, and spoke with patient resignation. +</p> +<p> +“Necessity,” she explained, “has compelled me to +come to see you at this time about Albert Vincent’s life +insurance policy.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” exclaimed Murray thoughtlessly, “you are +the nurse!” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” she replied quietly, after one startled look, +“I am the nurse. I infer that Mrs. Vincent has been +here.” +</p> +<p> +“She has just left,” said Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Her attentions,” said the nurse bitterly, “have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +been confined to an effort to get prompt news of her +husband’s death.” +</p> +<p> +Murray knew instinctively that a little drama of life +was opening before him, but his duty was clear. +</p> +<p> +“Nevertheless,” he said, “the policy is in her name.” +</p> +<p> +“In her name!” cried the nurse. “Why, he told +me—” Then she stopped short. She would not betray +his perfidy, even if he had been false to her. +</p> +<p> +“What did he tell you?” asked Murray kindly. +</p> +<p> +“No matter,” answered the nurse. “I—I only +wanted enough to defray the—the necessary expenses. +That’s why I came. There isn’t a cent—not a cent. +Even the little money I had has been used, and there +are debts—But she’ll pay, of course.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was deeply distressed. Mrs. Albert Vincent +was so bitter—possibly with justification, although +he did not like to believe it—that she would do +nothing; her feeling was simply one of deep resentment +that even death could not allay. But he hesitated +to say so. +</p> +<p> +“Let me understand this matter a little better,” he +said at last. “I am sincerely anxious to be of any assistance +possible, but the circumstances are unusual.” +</p> +<p> +The nurse fought a brief battle with herself in +silence. To bare the details of the story was like uncovering +her heart to the world, but she saw the sympathy in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +Murray’s eyes, and she was personally helpless +in a most trying emergency. She sorely needed a +guiding hand. +</p> +<p> +“Albert and I were engaged to be married,” she +said at last, with simple frankness. “We had some +trifling quarrel, and then this woman came between +us. He was not rich, but he had some property and +excellent prospects, and—well, they were married. It +was an elopement—a matter of momentary pique, he +told me afterward. God knows I never tried to interfere +with their married life, and she had no reason to +be jealous of me. I did not even see either of them, +except at rare intervals, for a long time, but she could +not forget or forgive the fact that we had been a great +deal to each other. And she was selfish and extravagant. +I am merely repeating the judgment of her own +friends in this, for I do not wish to be unjust to her, +even now. After I had forsaken society and become a +trained nurse I heard something of their troubles: +they were living beyond his income, and his income did +not increase according to expectations. Perhaps the +worry of such conditions made him less capable of improving +his opportunities. At any rate, her extravagance +created a great deal of comment, and he has +told me since that they quarreled frequently over +financial matters. Then I heard that they had separated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +and that he had given her nearly all of the little +he had left. I was not trying to keep track of them +or pry into their affairs, but there were mutual friends, +and I could not help hearing what was common gossip. +But I studiously avoided any chance of meeting either +of them—until I heard that he was sick and alone. +Then I went to him and cared for him. It was not +proper, you will say? Perhaps not. It put me in a +false position and invited scandal? Perhaps it did. +But I went, and I would go again; I was there to +soothe his last moments; I was with him when all +others had forsaken him, and there is nothing in this +life that I would not sacrifice for the glory of that +memory!” +</p> +<p> +The light of self-sacrificing love shone in her eyes +as she made this final declaration, and Murray did not +trust himself to speak for a moment or two. The +story had been told so quietly, so simply, that the +sudden emphasis at the conclusion was almost irresistible +in the sublimity of its self-denying love. The +great contrast between the two women made it all the +stronger. +</p> +<p> +“I shall consider it my personal privilege,” replied +Murray, “to see that everything possible is +done.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you,” said the nurse. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +</p> +<p> +“But there are still some points that will have to be +cleared up,” continued Murray. “What made you +think the policy was in your name?” +</p> +<p> +“He told me he would have it changed, so that I +could pay all the bills in case of his death,” said the +nurse. +</p> +<p> +“Possibly,” remarked Murray, “he thought he +could, but to permit a change in the beneficiary without +the consent of the original beneficiary would be a +blow at the very structure of life insurance. It would +put a true and devoted wife at the absolute mercy of +an unscrupulous or thoughtless husband: he could +change the policy without her knowledge; he could +sell it for the cash-surrender value; he could transfer +it to a loan-shark to meet his personal or business +needs—in fact, it would be no more than so much +stock that could be reached by any creditor, and the +trusting wife might find herself penniless. In this +particular case the inability to make such a change +may work injustice, but the ability to make it would +work far greater injustice in practically all other instances. +Mr. Vincent may have thought he could do +this, and it is the very exceptional case when I most +heartily wish it had been possible, but he doubtless +made inquiries and found that it was not. When the +beneficiary can be deprived of her interest without her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +knowledge and consent the value of insurance will be +gone.” +</p> +<p> +“Then that is what he learned,” she remarked, as if +a question had been answered. “He was dreadfully +worried before he became too ill to give much thought +to business matters,” she added by way of explanation. +“I thought it was because I was using my own little +hoard to pay expenses, and, on the doctor’s advice, I +went with him twice in a cab to see about some things +that were worrying him, although even then he had +no business to leave his bed. It was the lesser of two +evils, the doctor said, for his mental distress was affecting +his physical condition seriously. He said he never +could rest until he had provided for those who had +been good to him in adversity. But he didn’t mean +me!” she exclaimed quickly. “He meant the doctor +and some others who had been generous in the matter +of credit. He knew why I—” She paused a moment, +and then added: “But he wanted the others paid, and +there was no one else he could trust.” +</p> +<p> +“I quite understand,” said Murray encouragingly. +</p> +<p> +“He made me stay in the cab both times,” she went +on, “and the second time—when he had me sign his +wife’s name—he seemed—” +</p> +<p> +“Had you sign his wife’s name!” exclaimed Murray. +“To what?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” she answered. “It was a formality, +he said, to straighten out some tangle, so I did it. I +would have done anything to ease his mind and get +him back to bed.” +</p> +<p> +Murray gave a low whistle. He was beginning to +understand the situation. +</p> +<p> +“Pardon me, Miss—” he said. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Bronson—Amy Bronson,” she explained. +</p> +<p> +Murray had heard of Miss Bronson some years before. +She had suddenly given up society to become a +trained nurse, and there had been vague rumors of an +unhappy love affair. Later, her father’s death had +left her dependent upon her own resources, and society +had commented on what a fortunate thing it was that +she had already chosen an occupation and fitted herself +for it. He never had known her, and only a bare +suggestion of the story had come to his notice, but it +was sufficient to make him more than ever her champion +now. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Bronson,” he said, “I fear there are greater +complications here than I had supposed. Did Mr. +Vincent get any money on either of those trips?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. On the second he told me that he closed up +an old deal, and he was more contented after that. +After the first he was so dreadfully disturbed, that I +never dared ask him any questions.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +</p> +<p> +“Do you know where the insurance policy is?” +</p> +<p> +“No. I searched for it before coming here, but +could find no trace of it.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was as considerate as the circumstances +would permit, but he had become suddenly business-like. +Aside from the question of sympathy, the matter +was now one to interest him deeply. He had been +groping blindly before, but with light came the possibility +of action. +</p> +<p> +“You are alone?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Entirely so.” +</p> +<p> +“If you will go back,” said Murray, reaching for +his desk telephone, “Mrs. Murray will be there as soon +as a cab can carry her. I would go myself, but I think +I can be of better service to you for the moment by remaining +here.” +</p> +<p> +As soon as she had gone and he had telephoned to +his wife, Murray made some inquiries of the clerks in +the outer office and learned of a sick man who had +asked about the possibility of changing the beneficiary +of a policy. The visit had been made some time before, +but the man was so evidently ill and in such deep +distress that the circumstances had been impressed on +the mind of the clerk who had answered his questions. +</p> +<p> +“That accounts for one trip,” mused Murray. +“Now for the loan-shark that he saw on the other. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +We’ll hear from him pretty soon, and then there will +be some lively times.” +</p> +<p> +Murray had had experience with the ways of loan-sharks +before, and he was confident that he now had +the whole story. Vincent was out of money and desperate; +he knew that Miss Bronson had been using her +own money, and that not one cent of it would his wife +pay back; he had tried to have the beneficiary of the +policy changed, and had failed. Then, determined to +get something out of the policy, he had gone to a loan-shark. +The unscrupulous money-lender, getting an +exorbitant rate of interest, could afford to be less particular +about the wife’s signature. He would run the +risk of forgery, confident that the policy would be redeemed +to prevent a scandal, no matter what happened. +Indeed, in some cases a loan-shark would a little +rather have a forgery than the genuine signature, +for it gives him an additional hold on the interested +parties and lessens the likelihood of a resort to law +over the question of usurious interest. +</p> +<p> +“The scoundrel will come,” said Murray, and the +scoundrel came by invitation. A formal notification +that he held an assignment of the policy arrived first, +and that gave his name and address and enabled Murray +to telephone him. A loan-shark does not lose much +time in matters of this sort. Neither did Murray in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +this case, for his invitation to call was prompt and imperative, +even to setting the exact time for the call. +And a message was sent to Mrs. Albert Vincent, also. +</p> +<p> +“What’s your interest in that policy?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“A thousand dollars,” replied the money-lender. +</p> +<p> +“A thousand dollars!” ejaculated the startled Murray. +“What the devil did he do with the money?” +</p> +<p> +“That is something that does not concern me,” said +the money-lender carelessly. +</p> +<p> +The confidence and carelessness of the reply recalled +Murray to a consciousness of the situation. He had a +sharp and hard game to play with a clever and unscrupulous +man. +</p> +<p> +“How much did you loan him?” he demanded. +</p> +<p> +“The note is for a thousand dollars,” was the +prompt reply. +</p> +<p> +“How much did you loan him, Shylock?” repeated +Murray, and the money-lender was startled out of his +complacent confidence. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t come here to be insulted!” he exclaimed. +“I hold the policy and the assignment of it as security. +If you can’t talk business, as man to man, I’ll quit and +leave the matter to a lawyer.” +</p> +<p> +“If you put one foot outside of that door,” retorted +Murray, “we’ll fight this matter to a finish, Shylock, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +and we’ll get some points on your business methods. +Come back and sit down.” +</p> +<p> +The money-lender had made a pretense of leaving, +but he paused and met the cold, hard look of Murray. +Then he came back. +</p> +<p> +“Of course, we take risks,” he said apologetically. +</p> +<p> +“Mighty few,” commented Murray uncompromisingly. +</p> +<p> +“If a man has security that is good at the bank he +won’t come to us,” persisted the money-lender. “We +have to protect ourselves for the additional risk.” +</p> +<p> +“By getting a man to put himself in the shadow of +the penitentiary,” said Murray. “I know all about +you people, Shylock. How much did you loan?” +</p> +<p> +The money-lender was angered almost to the point +of defiance—but not quite. Loan-sharks do not easily +reach that point: the very nature of their business +makes it inadvisable, except when some poor devil is in +their power. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, of course, if it’s a personal matter with you,” +he said, “I might scale it a little. The note is for a +thousand dollars, with various incidental charges that +make it now a thousand and eighty dollars. I might +knock off a hundred from that.” +</p> +<p> +“How much did you loan him, Shylock?” repeated +Murray. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +</p> +<p> +“Nine hundred dollars,” answered the money-lender +in desperation. +</p> +<p> +“Shylock,” said Murray with cold deliberation, “I +know you people. If I didn’t, I might ask to see the +canceled check, but that would prove nothing. You +give a check for the full amount, but the man has to +put up a cash bonus when he gets it. How much did +you loan him?” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll stand on the note,” declared the money-lender +angrily. “I know my rights, and I can be as ugly as +you. The note is signed by himself and his wife, and +you’ll have a hard time going back of it.” +</p> +<p> +Murray touched a bell and a boy answered. +</p> +<p> +“Ask Mrs. Vincent to step in here,” said Murray. +</p> +<p> +The money-lender was plainly disconcerted, but he +was not unaccustomed to hard battles, so he nerved +himself to bluff the thing through, it being too late to +do anything else. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Vincent,” said Murray, when the woman appeared, +“I have found the insurance policy.” +</p> +<p> +“Where is it?” she asked eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Shylock,”—with a motion toward the money-lender,—“holds +it.” +</p> +<p> +“Give it to me, Mr. Shylock,” demanded Mrs. Vincent, +who was not a woman to grasp the bitter insult +of the name, and her innocent repetition of it added to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +the anger of the man. Still, the habit of never letting +his personal feelings interfere with business was strong +within him. +</p> +<p> +“I must be paid first,” he said. +</p> +<p> +“Paid!” she cried. “What is there to pay? The insurance +money is mine!” +</p> +<p> +“I hold a note,” insisted the money-lender. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that to me?” she retorted. “Do you think +I’m going to pay his debts? I didn’t contract them; I +wasn’t with him; he left me years ago! Let <em>her</em> look +out for the debts! Give me the policy or I’ll have you +arrested!” +</p> +<p> +The woman was wildly and covetously excited: she +would not rest easy until the actual possession of the +money assured her that there was no possibility of a +slip. The money-lender, too, was anxious. Murray +alone seemed to be taking the matter quietly, for +these two were now playing the game for him, +although the details required his close attention. A +very slight miscalculation might carry it beyond his +control. +</p> +<p> +“It’s assigned to me,” said the money-lender with a +pretense of confidence. “I have your signature.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s a lie!” she cried. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no,” interrupted Murray quietly; “it’s a +forgery.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +</p> +<p> +“That woman!” exclaimed Mrs. Vincent. “She stole +my name as well as my husband!” +</p> +<p> +“That man,” corrected Murray. “He did it for the +woman who did so much for him. He would have given +her all, if he could.” +</p> +<p> +Murray had reason to know that it was the nurse, +but he lied cheerfully in what he considered a good +cause. They were getting to the critical and dangerous +point in the game he was playing: the widow +would be merciless to the nurse. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a forgery, anyway!” declared Mrs. Vincent. +“I won’t pay a cent!” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll sue,” said the money-lender threateningly. +</p> +<p> +“Well, sue!” she cried. “What do I care? You +can’t get anything on a forgery. I guess I know that +much.” +</p> +<p> +“It will make a scandal,” said the money-lender insinuatingly. +</p> +<p> +“Let it,” she retorted angrily. +</p> +<p> +They were again making points for Murray, each +showing the weakness of the other’s position, so Murray +merely watched and waited. +</p> +<p> +“If there is another woman in the case,” persisted +the money-lender, who had been quick to grasp the +significance of the previous remarks, “the shame and +disgrace—” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +</p> +<p> +“What do I care?” she interrupted. “The disgrace +is for her.” +</p> +<p> +“And for him,” said the money-lender. “I can +make him out a forger.” +</p> +<p> +“It won’t give you the money,” she argued. +</p> +<p> +“It will make you the widow of a criminal,” he +threatened. “How would you like the disgrace of +that? And the other things! If I have to go to court +the whole scandal will be revealed and the very name +you bear will be a shame! The widow of a forger! A +woman who could not hold her husband! An object of +pitying contempt, so small that she would not pay an +honest debt to protect the name that is hers!” In his +anxiety not to lose, the money-lender became almost +eloquent in picturing possible conditions. No other +sentiment or emotion could have given him this power. +And he saw that the effect was not lost upon the +woman, for no one knew better than she the harm the +exploitation of the whole miserable story would do. +Even a blameless woman can not entirely escape the +obloquy that attaches to the name she bears, and there +had been enough already to make it difficult for Mrs. +Vincent to retain a position on the fringe of society. +“Of course,” he went on, “if you’d rather stand this +than pay, there is nothing for me to do but leave and +put the matter in the hands of a lawyer.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +</p> +<p> +“Wait a minute, Shylock,” interrupted Murray. +“Mrs. Vincent is going to pay—something.” +</p> +<p> +“Pay money that he got for <em>her</em>!” she exclaimed +with sudden resentfulness. “She’s the forger, anyway; +I know it!” +</p> +<p> +“Did you ever see her, Shylock?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“He came alone,” replied the money-lender, “with +the assignment of policy ready, and he swore to it.” +</p> +<p> +“That settles that,” said Murray with apparent +conviction. “It would be a thankless task to try to +prove that any one else forged the signature, and +neither one of you is in a position to seek any court +notoriety. Now, Shylock, after deducting the bonus +and all trumped-up charges, how much did you loan?” +</p> +<p> +“Nine hundred dollars,” said the money-lender +desperately. +</p> +<p> +“Try again, Shylock,” urged Murray. “You never +loaned any such sum under any such circumstances.” +</p> +<p> +“If you don’t stop insulting me,” exclaimed the +money-lender angrily, “I’ll quit right now and take +my chances with the law.” +</p> +<p> +“You haven’t any chances with the law, Shylock,” +retorted Murray. “You can make a scandal, but you +can’t get a damn cent. That’s why you’re going to be +reasonable. How much did you loan? You’d better be +honest with me, for it’s your only chance.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ll take eight hundred dollars, with the interest +charges.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ll take an even seven hundred dollars,” said +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“But the interest!” cried the money-lender. “Don’t +I get any interest?” +</p> +<p> +“Aha!” exclaimed Murray. “I guessed it right, +didn’t I? That’s just what you loaned. You see, +others have hypothecated policies with you people, and +I’ve learned something of the business. There are +more peculiar deals tried with insurance policies than +with any other form of security. But you don’t get +any interest, Shylock: you get your principal back, +and you’re lucky to get that.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s robbery!” complained the money-lender. +</p> +<p> +“It’s generosity,” said Murray. “You ought to lose +it all.” +</p> +<p> +“I won’t pay it!” declared Mrs. Vincent, and Murray +turned sharply to her. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Vincent,” he said, “you will pay this sum to +Shylock out of the policy, and you will pay all the +bills, including the cost of the funeral, which I advanced. +You will not do this as a matter of generosity, +or even of justice, but from purely selfish motives. +If you, being able to prevent it, permitted this scandal +to come to light, you would be eternally disgraced: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +doors would be closed to you everywhere. God knows +it is bad enough as it is, but this would make it infinitely +worse. Even where no real blame attaches to +her, there is always criticism and contempt for the +woman who lets another take her husband from her, +and a repudiation of the expenses of his last illness or +any other bills, when you are getting the insurance, +would condemn you absolutely in the eyes of all people +who knew the circumstances. For this reason, you +are going to do what I say, and you are going to make +the necessary arrangements now. For similar selfish +reasons, Shylock is going to do what I say, and he is +going to make the necessary arrangements now. If +either of you balk at the terms, I’ll drop the whole +matter and let you fight it out, to your mutual trouble +and loss.” +</p> +<p> +Neither dared take the risk, for each feared that, +without Murray, the other would gain the advantage. +Neither was in a position to defy the other, and Murray +had forced concessions from each that the other +could not. He was clearly master of the situation. +</p> +<p> +“Do you accept the terms?” he demanded. “If not, +get out!” +</p> +<p> +“It’s brutal, outrageous!” declared the woman. +</p> +<p> +“A swindle!” exclaimed the man. +</p> +<p> +“That will do, Shylock,” cautioned Murray. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +“There is nothing to be said except ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and +only thirty seconds in which to say that. I’ve reached +the limit of my patience.” +</p> +<p> +He took out his watch and began to count the seconds. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +When they were gone Murray sent for Amy Bronson, +the nurse. +</p> +<p> +“I was just coming to see you,” she explained when +she arrived. “I finally found a note hidden away +among Albert’s effects. It contained five one hundred-dollar +bills and the scribbled line, ‘I have tried to do +more for you, but can not.’” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t see how he could have spent all the +money,” mused Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Now I can pay the bills,” she said. +</p> +<p> +“No,” said Murray. “A memorandum of all that +he owed is to be sent to me. Mrs. Vincent will pay +everything.” +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Vincent!” cried the nurse. “Impossible! I +couldn’t have so misjudged her.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think you misjudged her,” returned Murray, +“but,”—whimsically,—“I’m a wonder at argument. +You ought to hear me argue. Mrs. Vincent decided +to take my view of the matter with the insurance.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +</p> +<p> +“But the five hundred dollars!” said Miss Bronson. +</p> +<p> +“Keep it,” said Murray. “He intended it for you, +and it is little enough. I’m only sorry that the ten-thousand-dollar +policy is not for you, also, but it is +one of the incidental hardships that arise from an +ordinarily wise provision of the law.” +</p> +<p> +The nurse’s lip quivered and the tears came to her +eyes. +</p> +<p> +“I was an entire stranger to you, Mr. Murray,” she +said, “but you have been very good to me when I most +needed a friend. I—I don’t know how I can—” +</p> +<p> +“I have been amply repaid for all I have done,” said +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“How?” she asked in surprise. +</p> +<p> +“I have had the royal satisfaction,” he answered, +“of compelling an unscrupulous man and a selfish +woman to do a fairly creditable thing; I have had the +joy of showing my contempt for them in my very +method of doing this.” +</p> +<p> +She did not quite understand, her gratitude making +her blind to all else at the moment. +</p> +<p> +“And also,” added Murray to himself, when she had +gone, “the great satisfaction of saving a devoted +woman from the consequences of at least one of her +acts of devotion. Forgery is a serious matter, regardless +of the circumstances.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span><a name='c6' id='c6'></a>AN INCIDENTAL ERROR</h2> +<p> +“It’s mighty awkward,” said Owen Ross, the insurance +solicitor. +</p> +<p> +“It is,” admitted Dave Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been after him for over six months,” persisted +Ross, “and now, after urging him persistently to take +out a policy, I have got to tell him that we won’t give +him one. That would be hard enough if he had sought +us out, and it’s ten times as hard when we have sought +him. Why, it looks as if we were playing a heartless +practical joke on him.” +</p> +<p> +“But it can’t be helped,” said Murray. “It’s one of +the disagreeable features of the business. We convince +a man that it’s to his interest to carry life insurance, +and then we tell him he can’t have any. Naturally, +from his prejudiced viewpoint, we seem to be contemptibly +insincere and deceitful.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course, we are in no sense shortening his life,” +remarked Ross, “but it seems like pronouncing a sentence +of death, just the same. He is sure to make an +awful row about it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +</p> +<p> +“One man,” said Murray reminiscently, “fell dead +in this office when his application was refused. The +shock killed him, but there was no way to avoid giving +him the shock. However, that was an exceptional case: +I never knew of another to succumb, although it must +be admitted that the news that one is destined not to +live long is distressing and depressing.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the reason for refusing Tucker?” asked +Ross. +</p> +<p> +“There are several reasons,” replied Murray. “The +physician reports heart murmur, which indicates some +latent trouble that is almost certain to develop into a +serious affection.” +</p> +<p> +“May not the physician be wrong?” +</p> +<p> +“He is paid to be right, but, of course, we are all +liable to make mistakes, and it can’t be denied that +heart murmur is deceptive. I’ve known men to be the +subject of unfavorable reports at one hour of the day +and most favorable ones at another. The occupation +immediately preceding the examination may develop +symptoms that are normally absent. However, I would +not feel justified in accepting this application, even if +the report were favorable.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” demanded Ross. +</p> +<p> +“The amount of insurance he wishes to carry would +make him worth more dead than alive, which is a condition +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +of affairs that an insurance company dislikes.” +Murray became reminiscent again. “I recall one such +risk,” he went on. “The man found the premiums a +greater burden than he could carry, so he died.” +</p> +<p> +“Suicide!” exclaimed Ross. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no,” replied Murray, with a peculiar smile; +“merely a mistake. But, if you will put yourself in +that man’s place, you will see how the mistake could +happen. He was carrying twenty-five thousand dollars +of insurance, and he wasn’t worth twenty-five cents +at the time, owing to some recent reverses. He was ill, +but was not considered dangerously ill. Still, he was +depressed, believing apparently that he would not recover +and knowing that he had not the money for the +next premium. If he died before a certain date there +would be twenty-five thousand dollars for his wife and +children; if he died after that date there would be +comparatively little. Now, in imagination, just assume +the problem that confronted that man on a certain +night: twenty-four hours of life for him meant a +future of privation for his wife, if he did not recover +and prosper, while immediate death for him meant +comfort for those he loved. Picture yourself contemplating +that prospect while lying weak and discouraged +in the sick-room, with various bottles—one +labeled ‘Poison’—within reach. A poison may have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +medicinal value when properly used, you know, but +what more natural than that you should make a mistake +in the gloom of the night while the tired nurse is +dozing? It is so easy to get the wrong bottle—to take +the poison instead of the tonic—and it solves a most +distressing problem. A drop of the poison is beneficial; +a teaspoonful is death; and the tonic is to be taken in +large doses.” Murray paused a moment to let the terrible +nature of the situation impress itself on Ross. +Then he added quietly: “We paid the insurance, although +the timeliness of the accident did not escape +comment. The same mistake twenty-four hours later +would not have had the same financial result. Now, do +you understand why I would not care to put fifty thousand +dollars on the life of Tucker, even if he were +physically satisfactory? Unexpected reverses may +make any man worth more dead than alive, but we seldom +contribute knowingly to such a condition of affairs. +It isn’t prudent. While the average man is not +disposed to shorten his life to beat an insurance company, +it isn’t wise to put the temptation in his way +unless you are very sure of your man.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, we needn’t explain that to Tucker,” said +Ross. +</p> +<p> +“No,” returned Murray. “We can put the whole +thing on the basis of the physician’s report.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wish you would break the news to him,” urged +Ross. “You can do it with better grace, for you were +not instrumental in getting him to put in his application. +He’ll be up here to-day.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, very well,” returned Murray. “I’ll see him +when he comes.” +</p> +<p> +Though the task was far from pleasant, Murray +had been long enough in the business to take matters +philosophically. One must accustom oneself to the +disagreeable features of any occupation, for there is +none that is entirely pleasurable. +</p> +<p> +Tucker, however, did not make this interview disagreeable +in the way that was expected: instead of +becoming discouraged and depressed, he became indignant. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” he cried. “You don’t consider me a +good risk?” +</p> +<p> +“I am sorry to say,” returned Murray, “that our +physician does not report favorably on you.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, he doesn’t!” exclaimed Tucker. “Well, that’s +a good joke on the doctor, isn’t it?” +</p> +<p> +“What!” +</p> +<p> +“You’d better discharge him and get a man with +some sense.” +</p> +<p> +“I thought,” said Murray dubiously, “that it might +seem rather hard on you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hard on me!” ejaculated Tucker. “Hard on the +company, you mean! You’re letting a little two-by-four +doctor steer you away from a good thing. Why, +say! I’m good for as long a life as an elephant!” +</p> +<p> +“I’m sure I hope so.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s robbery—plain robbery—for that doctor to +take a fee from you for making such a report on me. +I’ll show him up!” +</p> +<p> +“How?” asked Murray curiously. +</p> +<p> +“By living!” declared Tucker. “It’s going to give +me infinite pleasure to report to you from time to time +and show you one of the healthiest men that ever was +turned down by an insurance company. He can’t scare +me into a decline—not any! And, say! he looks to me +like a young man.” +</p> +<p> +“He is.” +</p> +<p> +“A young man in fine physical condition.” +</p> +<p> +“He is.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’ll go to his funeral, and I’ll be in prime +condition when he’s put away! You tell him that, will +you? I’ll be walking when he has to be carried.” +</p> +<p> +Now, this was rather annoying to Murray. It was +preferable to the despair that overwhelmed some men +in similar circumstances, but it seemed to him that +Tucker was overdoing it. +</p> +<p> +“Anyhow,” said Murray resentfully, “we would not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> +care to put fifty thousand dollars on your life, for it’s +more than a man in your position ought to carry. +You’ll never be worth as much alive as you would be +dead, with that insurance.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I won’t!” retorted Tucker sarcastically. “Well, +now, instead of making the girl I am to marry a present +of a policy on my life, I’ll just make her a present +of your whole blamed company in a few years. You +watch what I do with the money you might have had!” +</p> +<p> +“You are about to marry?” asked Murray with interest. +“It’s a serious matter, in view of the physician’s +report.” +</p> +<p> +“Marriage is always a serious matter,” asserted +Tucker. “I don’t have to have a doctor tell me that. +But he can’t scare me out with flubdub about heart +murmur, for I know the heart was murmuring, and +the prospective Mrs. Tucker does, too. She’ll interpret +that murmur for him any time he wants a little enlightenment.” +</p> +<p> +Murray laughed when Tucker had gone. The man’s +indignation had been momentarily irritating, but there +was something amusing about it, too. +</p> +<p> +“He’s going to live to a green old age, just to spite +the company,” mused Murray. “It’s a matter of no +great personal interest to him, but he’d like to make +the company feel bad. If a man could order his life +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +as he can his business affairs, there would be mighty +little chance for us.” +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, Tucker was hastening to the home of +Miss Frances Greer. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve come to release you,” he announced cheerfully. +</p> +<p> +“But I don’t want to be released,” she returned. +</p> +<p> +“Of course not,” he said. “I didn’t suppose you +would. But you might just as well know that you’re +getting a poor risk.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“Why, I wanted to put fifty thousand dollars on my +life, as a precaution for the future, and the fool of an +insurance doctor turned me down.” +</p> +<p> +“What do I care about the doctor!” she exclaimed. +</p> +<p> +“Not a thing, of course.” +</p> +<p> +“Or insurance!” +</p> +<p> +“Still less.” +</p> +<p> +“And,” she said happily, “you’re a good enough +risk for me.” +</p> +<p> +Then they went into executive session and decided +that insurance doctors didn’t know anything, anyway. +But they did not forget Dave Murray, and they did +not let Dave Murray forget them: he heard from them +indirectly in the most annoying ways. His wife informed +him less than a week later that she had met +Miss Greer at a reception. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +</p> +<p> +“A most extraordinary girl!” his wife remarked. +“I can’t understand her at all. She asked me in a most +ingenuous way if I ever had noticed any indications of +heart murmur about you. +</p> +<p> +“‘Never,’ said I. +</p> +<p> +“‘Not even in the engagement days when he was +making love?’ she insisted. +</p> +<p> +“‘Not even then,’ I answered, bewildered. +</p> +<p> +“‘He couldn’t have been much of a lover,’ she remarked.” +</p> +<p> +Murray laughed and explained the situation to his +wife. But Murray would have been better pleased if +the two women had not met, for he had no desire to +have this case perpetually present in the more intimate +associations of life. However, he had to make the best +of it, even when he was invited to the wedding, to which +his wife insisted that he should go. She had discovered +that the bride was related to an intimate friend of her +own girlhood days, and the bride further showed flattering +gratification in this discovery. She was especially +gracious to Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I want to ask you a question,” she told him. +</p> +<p> +Thereupon Murray made heroic efforts to escape +before she could find a suitable opportunity, but she +beckoned him back whenever he got near the door. +</p> +<p> +“Mama,” she said finally, for this happened during +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +the wedding reception, and her mother stood near +her, “I wish you would take charge of Mr. Murray +and see that he doesn’t run away. I have something +very important to say to him before Ralph and I +leave.” +</p> +<p> +Thus the unhappy Murray was held until the bride +and groom were ready to depart, when the bride finally +succeeded in getting him alone for a minute. +</p> +<p> +“I wanted to ask you, as a particular favor to me,” +she said appealingly, “to let Ralph live a little while—that +is, if your doctor won’t make too big a row +about it.” +</p> +<p> +Then she laughed merrily. There could be no doubt +at all that Mrs. Ralph Tucker refused absolutely to +worry about the health of Mr. Ralph Tucker; she had +simply put the doctor down as an ignoramus. And +Mr. Ralph Tucker’s appearance certainly was not that +of a man in poor physical condition. However, Murray +knew how deceptive appearances may be, and, +while no physician is infallible, it is necessary to +rely on their judgment. Nor was it a joking matter, +in his opinion. He was glad that the young people +could look at the future without misgivings, but a +really serious matter ought not to be treated so lightly. +</p> +<p> +It was about a week later that a note came to Murray +from Mrs. Tucker. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +</p> +<p> +“So grateful to you for sparing Ralph so long,” it +read. +</p> +<p> +Murray crumpled it up and, with some rather warm +remarks, threw it in the waste-basket. +</p> +<p> +“Why did I relieve Ross of his disagreeable task?” +he grumbled. +</p> +<p> +Then he began to count the days that would precede +their return from the bridal trip, for he was sure they +would call on him. There could be no doubt that Mrs. +Tucker had deliberately planned to make things as +uncomfortable for him as possible, and there was every +reason to believe that Tucker himself was aiding and +abetting her. +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t fair,” he muttered, “to make it appear that +this is a personal matter with me. The Lord knows I +haven’t anything to do with his lease of life.” +</p> +<p> +This was just after he had received a telegram to +the effect that “the patient is doing as well as can be +expected,” and Ross, who happened in the office at the +time, noticed that his chief looked at him reproachfully. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” asked Ross. +</p> +<p> +“Hereafter,” returned Murray morosely, “my solicitors +have got to carry their own burdens. If Tucker +and his wife put me in an insane asylum, the administrator +of my estate will surely sue you for big damages. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +never thought I was getting a life sentence +when I let you unload on me.” +</p> +<p> +The physician also noticed a growing coolness and +was moved to ask what was wrong. +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t you make a mistake in the Tucker case?” +Murray inquired by way of reply. “I don’t wish +Tucker any harm, but I’m doomed to an early death +if he isn’t.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see what his life has to do with yours,” retorted +the doctor. +</p> +<p> +“That’s because you don’t know Mrs. Tucker,” replied +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“He was an impossible risk,” asserted the doctor. +“The indications of serious trouble may entirely disappear, +under favorable conditions of life, but they +were there when I made the examination. Ours is not +yet an exact science, and the human system frequently +fools us. You recall the Denton case, don’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“At twenty the doctors, including his family physician, +gave him not more than two or three years to +live, and at twenty-five he was considered a good risk +for any insurance company. He is nearly thirty-five +now, has one policy in this company, and we would be +glad to let him have another.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you’re all right, Doctor, of course,” returned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +Murray. “We must be careful to err on the safe side, +if we err at all, in this business. But I wish the Tuckers +would transfer their attentions to you. I’ll be +tempted to jump out of the window when I see them +coming in the door.” +</p> +<p> +The Tuckers, however, were not to be escaped. +After an interval of about three weeks they sent him +another telegram, which read: “If we retire to a ranch, +will you lengthen the lease of life a little?” Then they +came back and called on him. +</p> +<p> +“So kind of you to let us have this trip,” said Mrs. +Tucker with every evidence of deep gratitude. “Poor +Ralph appreciates it.” +</p> +<p> +Poor Ralph was looking as big and strong and +happy as it was possible for a man to look, and Murray +was correspondingly uncomfortable. +</p> +<p> +“The premiums on fifty thousand dollars would have +been pretty heavy,” remarked Tucker with a cheerful +grin. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” admitted Murray weakly. +</p> +<p> +“I had a tidy little sum put aside to care for them,” +Tucker explained. “We thought it would interest +your company to know that we put that money into a +small ranch out west, so it is entirely out of reach +now. You don’t mind my choosing a restful place for +my early demise, do you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +</p> +<p> +“Now, see here!” cried Murray, but Mrs. Tucker +interrupted him. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, he wouldn’t be so cruel as that!” she exclaimed. +“Show him what the doctor said, Ralph.” +</p> +<p> +Tucker spread a sheet of paper on the desk before +Murray, and the latter read: “This is to certify that +I have made a careful examination of Ralph Tucker, +and I believe him to be in excellent physical condition. +I attach slight importance to the indications of incipient +heart trouble, which, with reasonable care and +proper treatment, should disappear entirely.” This +was signed by a noted specialist. +</p> +<p> +“And the next,” said Mrs. Tucker. +</p> +<p> +Thereupon Tucker laid this before Murray: “The +heart murmur noted I believe to be due to temporary +causes and not to any permanent affection. On the occasion +of one examination there were no indications of +it at all.” This also was signed by a well-known physician. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Ralph!” sighed Mrs. Tucker, and Murray +felt that the burden of this case was greater than he +could bear. +</p> +<p> +“They don’t agree entirely,” he asserted aggressively. +</p> +<p> +“No,” admitted Tucker, “but I understand that’s +not unusual in such cases.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +</p> +<p> +“And they don’t agree with your doctor at all,” +added Mrs. Tucker. “But, of course, your doctor is +right. Poor Ralph!” +</p> +<p> +“Please don’t do that,” pleaded Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Ralph!” sighed Mrs. Tucker again. “The +doctors don’t think he’ll live more than a lifetime.” +</p> +<p> +“Put in another application and take another examination,” +urged Murray in despair. “The doctor +may have been misled by some trifling temporary +trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“What would be the use?” asked Tucker. “I’ve already +invested the premium money in a small ranch.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s too bad,” remarked Mrs. Tucker lugubriously. +“That money would have done the company so much +good.” +</p> +<p> +“This has ceased to be a joke!” declared Murray +earnestly. +</p> +<p> +“A joke!” exclaimed Mrs. Tucker. “Has it ever +been a joke with you?” +</p> +<p> +“No, it hasn’t,” said Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t think you could be so heartless,” asserted +Mrs. Tucker. “One has only to look at poor Ralph—” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t, don’t!” cried Murray. “On what terms will +you quit this?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, if you want to get down to business,” put in +Tucker, “I’d like to begin delivering this company to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +Frances. You know I said I was going to do it. I +don’t care for policies, but I might take some stock.” +</p> +<p> +“You said you had no money.” +</p> +<p> +“No premium money,” corrected Tucker. “I invested +that in the ranch, but I was notified this morning +of a legacy from a bachelor uncle that will give +me some ready cash.” +</p> +<p> +“The stock of this company gets on the market very +seldom,” explained Murray. “I have a little myself, +but I don’t care to part with it.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, very well,” replied Tucker in careless tones; +“it’s quite immaterial to us for the moment. In fact, +I’d be in no hurry about it at all if I only had a longer +time to live.” +</p> +<p> +“Poor Ralph!” sighed Mrs. Tucker, as they departed. +</p> +<p> +When they had gone, Murray rang for his office-boy. +</p> +<p> +“You tell Mr. Ross,” he said to the boy, “to keep +out of my way for a few days. I’m not in a mental +condition to stand the sight of the man who loaded this +trouble on me.” +</p> +<p> +For the next three days Murray saw as little of his +office as he possibly could, fearing another call from +Mr. and Mrs. Tucker. Then he learned that they had +left again for the West, and he breathed more freely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +But, shortly thereafter, a stock-broker called upon +him. +</p> +<p> +“I am commissioned,” said the broker, “to buy some +stock in your company, and I thought possibly you +might know of some that is for sale.” +</p> +<p> +“I do not,” replied Murray. “As you know, it is +not a speculative stock, but is held, for the most part, +by conservative investors. A little gets on the market +occasionally, when some estate is being settled or some +holder becomes financially embarrassed, but that is +about your only chance.” +</p> +<p> +“So my client informed me,” said the broker, “but +he also informed me that he was sure he could get some +himself, and he wished me to use every effort to add to +his prospective holdings.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Tucker, your client, tried to buy some from +me before he left for the West,” said Murray, for he +had no doubt as to the identity of the man who wanted +the stock. +</p> +<p> +“Indeed!” returned the broker. “I didn’t know that. +He explained his anxiety for prompt action by the +rather extraordinary statement that he wished to get +the stock before somebody foreclosed on his life!” +</p> +<p> +“By thunder!” cried Murray, “somebody <em>will</em> foreclose +on his life, and take the Limited west to do it, if +he keeps this thing up!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +</p> +<p> +In some amazement, the broker apologized and retired, +and Murray began to wonder what would happen +to him if Mrs. Tucker ever did get enough of the +stock to make her influence felt. Of course, there was +little chance of that, but even a small stock-holder +could be annoying when so disposed. He began to +dream about the Tucker case, and an incidental mention +of it in the office would make the atmosphere unpleasant +for the day. Every clerk and solicitor understood +that it was a dangerous topic. Once the name +“Tucker” was mentioned in the ordinary course of +business, and Murray had things at a fever heat before +it could be explained to him that it was another +Tucker. Then came a letter from the West, with a +Tucker return card on the envelop. A council of war +was held before it was delivered to Murray, and even +then a time was chosen when he was absent to lay it +on his desk. It was very brief—just an announcement +that “the patient” had rallied splendidly after the +fatigue of the journey and exhibited “really wonderful +vitality for a sick man.” No one cared to go near +Murray all the rest of that day. +</p> +<p> +Soon after the first of the following month another +missive arrived—a mere formal affidavit, headed “Certificate +of Life,” and solemnly averring that “Ralph +Tucker’s heart has not ceased to murmur along in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +land of the living.” This was followed a month later +by a certificate from a physician to the effect that “a +restful ranch life is especially conducive to longevity, +and Mr. Tucker’s health continues to show all the +improvement that can be expected in a man who had +nothing the matter with him in the first place.” +</p> +<p> +These facetious reports continued to arrive at +monthly intervals for a period of nearly a year. Usually +they were brief, but occasionally the doctor, who +seemed to enter into the spirit of the affair, would go +into such details as weight, endurance, appetite, lifting +power, respiration and—heart murmur. “The +heart,” he wrote at one time, “seems to be too well +satisfied to murmur now, and the patient was able to +sit up and eat a large steak to-day, after which a little +gentle exercise—about twenty miles on horseback—seemed +to do him some good.” +</p> +<p> +Murray promptly turned this over to the company +doctor, and the latter sighed. Almost the only satisfaction +in life that Murray had during this time arose +from his ability to make the doctor miserable. +</p> +<p> +“He was not a good risk when I examined him,” the +doctor insisted, “but he may be a good one now. We +can’t be certain of results in such a case, and the law +of probabilities frequently works out wrong. He could +not have done a better thing, under the circumstances, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +than to go in for a simple, outdoor life. The basis +of trouble was there, in my judgment, but it may +have been overcome.” +</p> +<p> +“The basis of trouble is still there,” declared Murray; +“not only the basis of trouble, but the whole +blame structure, and it’s resting on us. I can feel the +weight.” +</p> +<p> +“So can I,” replied the doctor disconsolately. +</p> +<p> +Less than a week after this Tucker telegraphed to +know if Murray had changed his mind about disposing +of any stock. +</p> +<p> +“No,” was the reply sent back. +</p> +<p> +“All right,” Tucker answered. “I just wanted to +give Mrs. Tucker another slice of your company. She +has a little of it already.” +</p> +<p> +Investigation showed that the broker had succeeded +in picking up a few shares, but hardly enough to exert +any considerable influence. Still, it was disquieting to +find the Tuckers so persistent. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll bet,” said Murray, “that mental worry has put +me where you wouldn’t pass me for a risk.” +</p> +<p> +“If your wife,” returned the doctor, “is anything +like Mrs. Tucker I’d pass you for any kind of risk +rather than incur her displeasure. They’ll begin to +take a stock-holder’s interest in the affairs of this particular +office pretty soon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +</p> +<p> +“The affairs are in good shape,” declared Murray. +</p> +<p> +“But a real determined stock-holder can stir up a +devil of a rumpus over nothing,” asserted the doctor. +“If she should send all those physicians’ reports to +headquarters, they would rather offset my report on +which he was turned down, and the company would +feel that it had lost a good thing. The company will +not stop to think that my report may have been justified +by conditions at the time.” +</p> +<p> +“And the risk that I thought too big for him then +may not seem too big for him now,” commented Murray +ruefully. +</p> +<p> +“I’d like to examine him again,” said the doctor. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think it would be safe,” returned Murray, +“unless you were searched for weapons first.” +</p> +<p> +So the doctor and Murray settled down to await, +with some anxiety, the next move in the game, and +their patience was rewarded by the receipt of five certificates +of health from as many different physicians, +each certificate having a message of some sort scribbled +across the top. “The patient had to ride a hundred +miles to get these,” Mrs. Tucker had written on the +first. “There were a few shares of this stock in my late +lamented uncle’s estate,” appeared in Tucker’s handwriting +on the second. “The president of your company +is rusticating a few miles from here,” Mrs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +Tucker asserted on the third. “Better come out here +for a few days,” Tucker urged on the fourth. “Poor +Ralph!” was Mrs. Tucker’s comment on the fifth. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Dave Murray!” grumbled Murray, and he +and the doctor started West the next day. “Might as +well get this thing settled,” he said. “You and I have +got to be on harmonious terms with the stock-holders. +Besides, there’s an early grave yawning for me if I +don’t succeed in making peace with Mrs. Tucker. I +tell you, Doctor, when a woman decides to make things +uncomfortable for a man,—well, the man might just +as well resign himself to being perpetually uncomfortable.” +</p> +<p> +And yet, no one could have greeted them more graciously +than did Mrs. Tucker. +</p> +<p> +“I’m so glad you’ve come,” she said, “and brought +the doctor. It is particularly pleasing to have the doctor +here, for I want him to see if something can’t be +done for poor Ralph. I’m sure I don’t know what’s +going to become of the poor fellow. He doesn’t sleep +any better than a baby, and he can’t ride over a hundred +miles without getting tired. His muscles aren’t +a bit harder than iron, either, and his heart beats all +the time.” +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Tucker,” said Murray appealingly, “what +can we do to make peace with you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +</p> +<p> +“Without even seeing your husband again,” added +the doctor, “I am willing to concede that he will live +to be three thousand years old.” +</p> +<p> +“We are beaten,” asserted Murray. “You have +humbled our business and professional pride. We give +Mr. Tucker none of the credit; it all belongs to you. +We claim to be the equals of any man, but of no +woman. Now, on what terms can we have peace?” +</p> +<p> +“I did want your insurance company for a sort of +belated wedding present,” said Mrs. Tucker thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +“I’d give it to you if I could,” said Murray with +the utmost sincerity. “I assure you, that company +has been nothing but an annoyance to me ever since +you cast longing eyes on the stock.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’ve become more modest in my expectations,” +replied Mrs. Tucker cheerfully. “I don’t expect much +more than we’ve got now.” +</p> +<p> +“How much have you got?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Well, our broker picked up a few shares, and there +were some more in the estate of Ralph’s uncle, and the +president of the company kindly arranged it so that +we could get a little more. Such a delightful man he +is, too! It was when I heard he had a place in this vicinity, +where he came for an outing every year, that I +insisted upon Ralph’s buying this ranch. I thought it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +would be nice to be near him—and it was. We’re great +friends now, although he’s only here for a little while +in the spring and fall.” +</p> +<p> +“Did—did you tell him about the insurance?” asked +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“What insurance?” asked Mrs. Tucker blandly. +“We haven’t any insurance. Poor Ralph—” +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Tucker,” interrupted Murray, “if you say +‘Poor Ralph’ again, you will see a driveling idiot +making streaks across the prairie. I have reached the +limit of endurance. All I want is peace, peace, peace, +and I’ll pay the price for it. Do you want some of +my stock?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, dear, no,” she replied. “We’ve got it fixed now +so that Ralph is pretty sure to be a director next year. +We talked it over with the president.” +</p> +<p> +“Does Mr. Tucker still want a policy?” asked +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly not,” said Mrs. Tucker. “If he’s going +to die so soon, it would be beating the company, and +we’re part of the company now, so we—” +</p> +<p> +“Stop it! stop it!” pleaded Murray. “I’ll bet you +couldn’t kill him with an ax!” +</p> +<p> +“Sir!” +</p> +<p> +“I beg your pardon, but this is the climax of a year +of torment that I didn’t suppose was possible this side +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +of the infernal regions,” explained Murray dismally, +“and I’m just naturally wondering why you brought +me out here.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I didn’t tell you that, did I?” returned Mrs. +Tucker ingenuously. “I just wanted to tell you that, +now that we’re stock-holders to a reasonable amount—Ralph +retained a few shares, you know, and holds a +proxy for mine—we look at the matter from an entirely +different viewpoint, and we think that every +reasonable precaution should be taken to avoid poor +risks, as you call them. We are highly gratified by +the evidence of caution that has inadvertently come +under our notice, even if there was an incidental error +that baffled human foresight.” +</p> +<p> +The sudden and startling changes of position by +this young woman were too much for both Murray and +the doctor; they could only look at her in amazement +as she calmly commended their course. +</p> +<p> +“You have brought us all this distance to tell us +that!” ejaculated Murray at last. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s worth the trip!” he announced, as he recalled +the events of the last year. +</p> +<p> +Then Tucker appeared, big, strong, bronzed, +hearty, and shook hands with them. Never a weakling +in appearance, his year of outdoor life had made him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +the embodiment of health. He beamed upon his guests +with hearty good nature as he gave them each a grip +that made them wince. His wife regarded him critically +for a moment. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Ralph!” she said mischievously, and then she +hastily assured them that this was really the last of +the joke. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span><a name='c7' id='c7'></a>AN INCIDENTAL FAILURE</h2> +<p> +Adolph Schlimmer’s wink was of the self-satisfied +variety that plainly says to the person at whom it is +directed, “They’re mostly fools in this world—except +you and me, and I’m not quite sure about you.” +Adolph Schlimmer was a small man, but he thought +he had enough worldly wisdom and sharpness for a +giant. “You bet you, I don’t get fooled very much,” +he boasted. +</p> +<p> +Just now his wink was directed at Carroll Brown, +an insurance solicitor. +</p> +<p> +“How much iss there in it for you?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I get my commission, of course,” replied +Brown. +</p> +<p> +“Sure, sure,”—and again Adolph winked. “You +don’t need it all, maybe.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” asked Brown with disconcerting frankness. +“I’m entitled to what I earn.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure, sure,” admitted Adolph, somewhat annoyed. +“It’s vorth something to you to make the money, ain’t +it, yes? I gif you the chance. It might be vorth +something to me, perhaps, maybe.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, if you want me to divide my commission with +you,” exclaimed Brown, “we might as well quit talking +right here. It would cost me my job, if anybody +found it out.” +</p> +<p> +“Who iss to find it out? I bet you, if people could +find out things, we’d haf more people in jail than out. +Some big men, vorth millions, would haf to live a +century to serf their time out. The boss discharges +hiss clerk for doin’ what he iss doin’ himself.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s against the law,” argued Brown. “It’s a +rebate on premiums and is prohibited.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure, sure,” conceded Adolph again. “But you +got to do something to make business, ain’t it? I gif +premiums and I get discounts. There don’t nobody +fool me very much.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’m taking no chances with either my job +or the law,” announced Brown, “even if I wanted to +sacrifice part of my legitimate commission. I’m offering +you a policy in a first-class company on the same +terms that we give them to all others, and that’s the +best I can do. If you’re looking for an advantage +over your neighbors, you’ll have to go elsewhere. The +very first rule of straight business is to treat all alike.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure it iss,” returned Adolph. “Look at the railroads +and the big shippers.” Again he winked wisely. +“I bet you, your boss ain’t such a fool as you. Make +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +the big money when you can, but don’t run avay +from the little money. I gif you a chance for the +little money because I’m smart; some other feller let +you haf it all because he issn’t.” +</p> +<p> +Therein lay the measure of Adolph. It was beyond +his comprehension that any man should treat all +fairly: some one surely was “on the inside,” and his +first thought in any transaction was to make a quiet +“deal” with some interested party that would give +him a trifling advantage over others. He was shrewd +in a small and near-sighted way, and he had an idea +that all men, except fools, looked at things as he did. +He believed there was “graft” in everything. That +being the case, it was the duty of a sharp man to get +a share of it, even if, as in this instance, it only +lessened his own expense somewhat. So Adolph +Schlimmer went to see Brown’s boss, who happened +to be Dave Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I get me some insurance,” he announced. +</p> +<p> +“All right,” returned Murray agreeably. “You +look like a good risk.” +</p> +<p> +“Risk?” repeated Adolph. “No, <em>nein</em>. I’m a sure +thing.” +</p> +<p> +Murray laughed. +</p> +<p> +“That’s bad,” he said banteringly. “Sure things +are what men go broke on in this world; they’re the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +biggest risks of all.” Then, explanatorily: “I mean +you seem to be in good physical condition, so that our +physician is likely to pass you.” +</p> +<p> +“You bet you,” returned Adolph, “but it’s my vife +what counts. If I die, I leaf her the money; if she +die, she leaf me nothing.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you want to get a policy on your wife’s life,” +said Murray thoughtfully, not favorably impressed +with the other’s commercial tone. “How much?” +</p> +<p> +“<em>Zwei</em> t’ousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“Not very much,” commented Murray. “A man +of sense would prefer a good wife to two thousand +dollars any day. Is she a worker?” +</p> +<p> +“You bet you, yes,” replied Adolph earnestly. “If +she die, I looss money on her at that price. I figger +it all out. She safe me the wages uf a clerk and a +cook and some other things. I count up what she +safe me and what she cost me and she’s vorth fifteen +dollars a week easy in work and ten dollars a week +in saving. I can’t afford to looss that. I insure the +store and the stock, and now I insure this. I watch +out for myself pretty close.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was both disgusted and amused. Such a +character as this was new to his experience, but the +risk might be, and probably was, a perfectly good +and legitimate one. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, you bring your wife in,” he said after a +moment of thought, “and I’ll talk to her.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure,” said Adolph. Then he winked in his wise +way. “I safe you the commission. What iss there +in it for me?” +</p> +<p> +“What?” exclaimed Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I haf a talk with Brown,” explained Adolph. “It’s +vorth something to him to get the business, but he +don’t make it vorth nothing to me to give it.” +</p> +<p> +“If he did we’d discharge him.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure, sure,” returned the imperturbable Adolph. +“We got to watch the boys or there won’t be nothing +left for us. So I safe the commission for you. What +iss there in it for me?” +</p> +<p> +“Not a damn thing!” +</p> +<p> +“You play it that way with the fool,” advised +Adolph complacently. “It’s a bully bluff for the +feller that don’t know how things was done in business. +Then we go splits, yes?” +</p> +<p> +The ignorance and effrontery of the man so amazed +Murray that he forgot his indignation for a moment +and undertook to explain. +</p> +<p> +“There is no commission on business that comes to +the office,” he said. +</p> +<p> +“Sure!” laughed Adolph, again resorting to that +sagacious wink. “You let the company make it, yes? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +I stay home, you send man to tell me get insured, I +say yes, man get paid—ain’t it so? I come here to +get insured, and you give that man’s pay to the company, +the men vorth millions—oh, yes, sure!” Adolph +laughed at the absurdity of the thing. “Iss there +anything in my eye?” he asked suddenly. +</p> +<p> +“You sit down there!” ordered Murray, for Adolph +was now leaning familiarly over Murray’s desk. “I +ought to kick you out, but I’m going to tell you a few +things. Sit down and keep still. I’m several sizes +bigger than you are and it’s my turn.” Murray +spoke so aggressively that Adolph promptly returned +to his seat. “Now, to begin with, you make a mistake +in judging everybody else by yourself; there +are a lot of decent people in this world. A good many +may worship the almighty dollar, and that’s bad +enough, but God help the few who get down to worshiping +the almighty cent. A good many keep a +lookout for graft, but you are the first one I ever saw +who seemed to think everybody was crooked.” +</p> +<p> +“No, <em>nein</em>; only business—” +</p> +<p> +“Keep still! You insult everybody you try to do +business with by acting on the assumption that he is +in your class. You have absorbed some of the tricky +commercialism that is prevalent these days, and you’ve +got the idea that there isn’t anything else—not even +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +common sense. You would break the law for a trifle. +What you propose is morally wrong, but we won’t discuss +that, because you can’t understand it.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t like—” +</p> +<p> +“Keep still! I’m doing you a favor, but I’ve got +to tell you first what a libel you are on the average +human being. The law that you want to break was +made for the protection of just such financially insignificant +people as you. It prohibits giving rebates +in any form on insurance premiums and provides that +the acceptance of such a rebate by the policy-holder +shall invalidate his policy, and that the giving of +such a rebate by a company or any of its agents shall +subject the company to a fine. Do you understand?” +</p> +<p> +“Sure; but who iss to know?” +</p> +<p> +Murray was discouraged, but he had set out to +drive a lesson home to this dull-witted fellow who +thought he was smart, and he valiantly held to his +task. He could feel nothing but contempt for the +man, but he had become rather interested in convincing +him how foolish he was. Besides, Murray was a +bitter opponent of the rebate evil in all lines of business—every +one knows how it fosters monopoly—and +he attacked it whenever and wherever he could. +</p> +<p> +“If rebates on insurance premiums were not unlawful,” +he asked, “do you think people of your kind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +are the ones who would get them? Well, hardly. The +millionaires, the rich men, the men who take out the +big policies, would get them, and you little fellows +would pay the full price, just as you do wherever +else the rebate evil exists. This law was made to +protect you, and you want to break it down. Well, I +suppose there are others just as bad. The men for +whose benefit a law is made frequently insist upon +playing with it until they drop it and break it, and +then they wonder why the splinters won’t do them +as much good as the original law.” Having warmed +up to a subject that interested him, Murray was talking +for himself now. Adolph could understand in a +general way what he meant, but many of the remarks +were entirely beyond his comprehension. “Look at it +in another way,” Murray went on. “As a speculation, +the insurance rebate is a mistake. The man who gets +or accepts a rebate is taking a risk. ‘Well,’ he argues, +‘so is the man who buys wheat or stocks or undeveloped +real estate of problematical future value.’ Quite right; +but when you speculate you want to be sure that your +probable or possible profits bear a fair proportion to +the risk and your possible losses. It’s all right to make +a secured loan of one thousand dollars at five per cent., +but when you put your thousand into a scheme where +there is a chance of losing every cent of it, you also +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +want a chance of making a good deal more than the +legal rate of interest. Russell Sage is said to look +as closely after the small profits as the large, but +Russell would shy away from an investment—a real +safe <em>investment</em>—that promised only a ten cent profit +on five dollars; and if it were a <em>speculation</em>, where he +might lose the whole five, he would want to see a possibility +of winning at least half as much. The man +who accepts an insurance premium rebate is going into +a speculation—a flimsy, cheap speculation, with a +chance of loss so entirely out of proportion to the +slight advantage he gains over other policy-holders +that no man with a grain of sense would consider +it for a moment. To secure a discount on his premium +he risks his whole policy. Why, in your case +you would put a two-thousand-dollar policy in danger +to save a few miserable dollars. It isn’t cleverness, it +isn’t shrewdness, it isn’t business, it isn’t sense; it isn’t +anything but damn foolishness. Do you understand?” +</p> +<p> +“Sure,” answered Adolph. “If we iss found out, I +looss the policy and you looss a fine. We both looss.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s it exactly.” +</p> +<p> +“Vell, if we both looss by telling, who iss going to +find it out?” demanded Adolph triumphantly. “You +bet you, I take the chance. Go ahead with her.” +</p> +<p> +Murray leaned wearily back in his chair. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +</p> +<p> +“You’d better get out of here,” he said. “This company +wouldn’t issue a policy in which you had any +sort of interest on any terms. I was curious to discover +if I could not stir up just a glimmer of business +sense in you, and my curiosity is satisfied. You seem +to me like a man who would risk all his money to win +a fly-speck, if he thought he was going to win it by +some underhand deal. Get out as quick as you can! +But I tell you again, don’t fool with rebates!” +</p> +<p> +Adolph stopped in the doorway. +</p> +<p> +“You got to haf the whole commission, yes?” he +remarked with accusing bitterness. “I take you for +a hog.” +</p> +<p> +Then he disappeared very suddenly, for he feared +Murray would pursue. +</p> +<p> +Here again was the measure of Adolph. In spite +of Murray’s explanation, he could see nothing except +a chance to win by saving a part of the commission. +He could not comprehend that he was running any +unusual risk or doing anything that another would +not do, if the other had the sense to see the chance. +In fact, he was fully convinced in his own mind that +Murray was merely talking for effect and really desired +the whole commission for himself. This made +him the more determined to gain this small advantage +for himself—partly because his little business world +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +was made up of such devious methods, and partly because +it would be an evidence of his own cleverness. +</p> +<p> +Now, occasionally a solicitor for a company of high +standing, acting on his own responsibility, will divide +his commission in order to get some one to take out +a policy. If he is trying to make a record, the temptation +is considerable. If the policy is large, his half +of this commission may be more than his whole commission +in most other cases. He does this secretly, but +he is inviting three kinds of trouble: his own discharge, +a fine for his company, and a loss for the +policy-holder. These three things will follow discovery, +but he takes the chance. And there are irresponsible +or unscrupulous companies or agencies (so +it is said) that will tacitly approve such a course in +some instances, taking the necessary risk in order to +get business. Of course, no first-class or reliable company +will sanction or even tolerate such methods. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, Adolph, the shrewd fool, finally found +the man for whom he was searching. A man may +nearly always find trouble if he searches for it industriously, +and Adolph was industrious. Unfortunately +for him, however, he treated several other solicitors +to his knowing wink before he met the one who agreed +to his proposition, and, when it was learned that +Adolph was taking out a policy on his wife’s life, they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +were quick to reach conclusions. But it was none of +their business, and they said nothing. What they +knew merely made it easier to prove the case, if the +question should ever arise. The solicitor who finally +entered into the deal was one who had done the same +thing before. He was “broke” a good part of the time, +and, when in that condition, he did not question +closely the ethics of any proposition that promised +an early, even though small, cash return. He was an +outcast among such of the many conscientious men of +the fraternity as knew him, but the local agent of the +company that employed him was not particular, and +there were rumors that the company itself might have +been more strict. +</p> +<p> +Anyhow, Adolph got the policy he wanted. His +wife was disposed to object at first, for she had not +been consulted until Adolph had made his bargain. +There was no use, he argued, in telling her about it +until he knew what he was going to do. +</p> +<p> +“I buy you a policy,” he finally told her in the +tone that a man—another man—might tell his wife +he would buy her a sealskin coat. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“It pays <em>zwei</em> t’ousand dollars,” he explained. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Schlimmer was not enthusiastic. +</p> +<p> +“When?” she asked. +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i004' id='i004'></a> +<img src="images/illus-160.jpg" alt="“What’s the use to me?” she persisted" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“What’s the use to me?” she persisted</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span></div> +<p> +“When you are in the grafe,” he answered after a +pause. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the use to me?” she persisted. +</p> +<p> +“My dear,” he said, with such gallantry as he +could command, “it shows what you iss vorth.” +</p> +<p> +Somehow, she was not flattered. She was a good +wife, who worked hard, and she herself thought she +was worth it, but she was selfish enough to think she +ought to realize on her own value. +</p> +<p> +“No, <em>nein</em>,” he argued, “it ain’t the vay it’s done. +You got yourself, ain’t it, yes? When you ain’t got +yourself, you ain’t here, but I am. You don’t looss +yourself when you die, but I looss you, and you’re +vorth a lot.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s other women,” she retorted. +</p> +<p> +“But they ain’t vorth what you are by <em>zwei</em> +t’ousand dollars,” he insisted, and this delicate bit of +flattery won the day. After all, it made no difference +to her. She rebelled a little at going to the insurance +office to be examined, however. +</p> +<p> +“You tell ’em I’m all right,” she urged. “You +know.” +</p> +<p> +But a new gown—a cheap one—gained this point, +and she went. +</p> +<p> +Adolph prided himself very much on this stroke of +business. His great aim in life was to pay a little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +less than the market price for everything, and he was +never convinced that he was really doing this unless +the deal had to be carried out in some underhand +way. When he could buy for less than others he was +making so much more money, and it was his experience +that the biggest profit lay in shady transactions. +In others he had made, or saved, much more than +in this, but the difficulties he encountered in this instance +convinced him that it was an especially notable +achievement. He was proud of his success. +</p> +<p> +“You bet you, they don’t fool me very much,” he +asserted frequently. +</p> +<p> +And, in time, he told how clever he was. Not at +first, however; he was very cautious at first, for Murray’s +words had made an impression on him. But, +after he had paid a few premiums, the lapse of time +gave him a feeling of security, and one day, in boasting +of his business shrewdness, he mentioned that he +was even sharp enough to get life insurance at a bargain. +After that, it was easier to speak of it again, +and he finally told the story. The news spread in his +own little circle. It was quite a feat, and he was held +to have demonstrated remarkable cleverness. When +another told of some sharp business deal, some one +would remark, “Yes, that was clever, but you never +got life insurance at a bargain.” And, in the course +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +of time—six months or more from the time the story +was first breathed—it came to the ears of one Daniel +Grady. This was unfortunate, for Daniel at once +jumped to the conclusion that he had been cheated. +Daniel had a small policy in the same company, and +this policy was costing him the full premium without +rebate of any kind from any insurance solicitor or +anybody else. Daniel did not like this, and neither +did he like Adolph; in fact, he would have been willing +to pay a little higher premium for the privilege +of making trouble for Adolph. Failing that, Daniel +would like to get on even terms with him. +</p> +<p> +“It’s th’ divil iv a note,” said Daniel, “that I +sh’u’d be payin’ more than that little shrimp, an’ me +only thryin’ to take care iv Maggie an’ th’ childhern. +I’ll go down to th’ office an’ push th’ face iv th’ man +in if he don’t give me th’ same rate, I will so.” +</p> +<p> +But Daniel wisely did nothing of the kind, for he +recalled that there were a number of clerks in the +office and a police station not far away, and he had +no wish to add a fine to his expenses. Instead, after +pondering the matter a few weeks and growing steadily +more indignant, he went to see a little lawyer who +had an office over a saloon, next to a justice of the +peace. Daniel planned only to get his premiums reduced, +but the lawyer saw other opportunities. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s a great chance,” said the lawyer. “You’re +a policy-holder—” +</p> +<p> +“Who says so?” demanded Daniel, for this sounded +to him like an accusation. +</p> +<p> +“I mean,” explained the lawyer, “that you are +insured in the company.” +</p> +<p> +“What iv it?” asked Daniel. +</p> +<p> +“Why, the other policy-holders are the ones discriminated +against in a case like this,” said the lawyer, +“and any one of them can file a complaint.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not the kind iv a man to do much complainin’,” +declared Daniel. “I niver see that it did much good. +If I c’u’d give Schlimmer a bad turn—” +</p> +<p> +“That’s it; that’s it exactly. You can knock his insurance +sky-high and get some money yourself.” +</p> +<p> +“Say that wanst more,” urged Daniel. “Me hearin’ +seems to be playin’ thricks.” +</p> +<p> +“The law,” said the lawyer slowly, “fines a company +for doing that—” +</p> +<p> +“How much?” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll have to look it up. Pretty stiff fine, though, +and the informer—” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t like th’ word.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, the man who makes the complaint gets half +the fine. Do you understand that? Let me take charge +of the matter for you, and we’ll divide the money.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +</p> +<p> +“Will it hurt me own insurance?” asked Daniel. +</p> +<p> +“Not a bit.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not lukkin’ to l’ave Maggie an’ th’ childhern +without money whin I die, jist to land a dollar-twinty +f’r me own pocket now. That’s a Schlimmer thrick.” +</p> +<p> +“Your insurance will be just as good as it ever +was,” the lawyer asserted. +</p> +<p> +“Will there be twinty dollars in it f’r me?” Daniel +persisted. +</p> +<p> +“There’ll be a good deal more than that—exactly +how much I can’t say.” +</p> +<p> +“Go ahead,” instructed Daniel. “Put the little divil +through.” +</p> +<p> +The lawyer investigated and found his task comparatively +easy, for Adolph had now personally told +the story to several people. Indeed, by the exercise +of a little ingenuity, the lawyer got him to tell it to +him. Then he acted. +</p> +<p> +When the news reached the local agency of the +company there was no indecision as to what should be +done. Unnecessary publicity in a matter of that kind +was the very last thing sought. The solicitor was +called in, put on the rack, and promptly confessed. +Then he was discharged without further questioning. +Perhaps the local agent was afraid he might learn of +other similar instances if he pressed the matter too +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +far, and he was quite content to remain in ignorance +of anything else of that nature, so long as the public +also remained in ignorance. The company promptly +acknowledged its fault, showed that it had cleared itself +morally by discharging the offending agent, and +proceeded to clear itself legally by paying the necessary +fine. +</p> +<p> +When the news came to Adolph, however, there +was wailing prolonged, for his policy was annulled. +</p> +<p> +“I bet you,” said Adolph, “that feller Murray put +up the job. He iss a great hog; he iss like those +mono<em>pol</em>ists that puts smaller people out of business +and gobbles it all.” +</p> +<p> +Then Adolph got a pencil and a sheet of paper +and began to figure his losses. +</p> +<p> +“<em>Zwei</em> t’ousand dollar insurance,” he groaned, “and +maybe she wouldn’t lif long. And I gif her a +dress, too—a new dress. <em>Ach, Himmel!</em> it’s hard +when a man’s vife beats him. A new dress for nothing +at all but to looss money. That law iss a shame. It +iss a—what you call it?—restriction of business.” +</p> +<p> +Thereafter, for some time, the sight of the new +gown would make Adolph morose and gloomy, and +his friends found him unusually modest and unobtrusive. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span><a name='c8' id='c8'></a>AN INCIDENTAL SCHEME</h2> +<p> +There came to Dave Murray one day a young man +who was looking for a job. He was a bright young +fellow and seemed to be very earnest. +</p> +<p> +“I have been a clerk,” he explained, “but there is +little prospect for the future where I am now, and +I want to get something that has some promise in it. +In fact, I must do so. I am making barely enough +to support my mother and myself, and I may want +to marry, you know.” +</p> +<p> +Murray readily admitted that young men frequently +were attacked by the matrimonial bacillus and +that, there being no sure antidote, the disease had to +run its course. “Which is a good thing for the world,” +he added, “so you are quite right to prepare yourself +for the attack. But are you sure that insurance is +your field?” +</p> +<p> +“I have given the subject a good deal of thought,” +was the reply, “and insurance interests me.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s a good sign,” commented Murray. “Success +is for the man who is interested in his work, and +not merely in the financial results of that work.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I want to make money, too,” said the young +man frankly. +</p> +<p> +“We all do,” returned Murray, “but the man who +has no other aim than that would better stick to business +and let the professions alone. Life insurance has +become a profession, like banking. Time was when +anybody with money could be a banker, but now it is +conceded to require special gifts and a special training. +I place life insurance right up in the front rank +of the professions, for it is semi-philanthropic. We +are not in it for our health, of course, but, if we are +conscientious and earnest, we may reasonably flatter +ourselves that we are doing a vast amount of good +in line with our work. The life insurance solicitor +has been the butt of many jokes. Perhaps he himself +has been responsible for this, but times have changed +and so have methods. If I ever caught one of my +men slipping into an office with an apologetic air, like +a second-rate book-canvasser, I’d discharge him on the +spot. The insurance solicitor of to-day wants to consider +himself a business man with a business proposition +to make; he must have self-respect and show it. +The best men plan their work carefully, do not attempt +to hurry matters, and usually meet those that +they expect to interest in their proposition by appointment, +instead of trying to force the thing upon them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +by pure nerve. When a fellow becomes a nuisance +he is hurting himself, his company and all others in +his line. Do you still think insurance the line for +you?” +</p> +<p> +“I can begin,” said the young man, by way of reply, +“with an application from my present employer. I’ve +been talking insurance to him for practice, and he has +agreed to take out a policy. He’s a pretty good fellow. +He says I’m worth more than he can afford to +pay me and he wants to help me along.” +</p> +<p> +“I guess you’re all right,” laughed Murray. “At +any rate, you impress me as being the kind of man I +want. Leave your references and come in again tomorrow.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was unusually particular as to the character +of the men he employed. It was not enough +for him that a man could get business, but he had his +own ideas as to the way business should be secured. +Absolute integrity and the most painstaking care to +state a proposition fairly, without exaggeration, were +points upon which he insisted. +</p> +<p> +“A dissatisfied policy-holder,” he said, “is a dead +weight to carry; a satisfied policy-holder is an advertisement. +If a man finds he is getting a little more +than he expected, he is so much better pleased; if he +finds he is getting a little less, he feels he has been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +tricked. Insurance is a good enough proposition, so +that you don’t have to gild it.” +</p> +<p> +Murray himself, in his younger days, had once secured +an application for a large policy by refusing +to expatiate on the merits of the particular form of +insurance he was advocating. +</p> +<p> +“Well, let’s hear what a beautiful thing it is,” the +man had said. +</p> +<p> +“My dear sir,” Murray had replied, “it is a straight +business proposition, with no frills or twists of any +kind. You have the facts and the figures. If you, +with your business training, can’t see the merit of it, +it would be a waste of time for me to attempt any +elucidation. I have not the egotism to think I can +<em>talk</em> you into taking out a policy. As a matter of +fact, this proposition doesn’t need any argument, and +it would be a reflection on the plain merit of the proposition +for me to attempt one.” +</p> +<p> +Different methods for different men. This man +never before had seen an insurance solicitor who would +not talk for an hour, if he had the chance, and he was +impressed and pleased. This was business,—straight +business and nothing else. He straightway took out a +large policy. +</p> +<p> +Something of this Murray told the young man when +he came back the next day, for he was anxious to impress +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +upon him the fact that life insurance was not +like a mining scheme, which has to be painted with all +the glories of the sunset in order to float the stock, +and that the man who overstated his case would inevitably +suffer from the reaction. +</p> +<p> +Murray had been favorably impressed with the +young man—Max Mays was the name he gave—and +the employer of Mays had spoken well of him. He +was rather a peculiar fellow, according to the employer—always +busy with figures or financial stories +and seemingly deeply interested in the details of +the large business affairs that were discussed in the +newspapers and the magazines. Aside from this, +he was about like the average clerk who hopes for +and seeks better opportunities, and meanwhile +makes the best of what he has—reasonably industrious +and yet far from forsaking the pleasures of this +life. +</p> +<p> +All in all, Mays seemed like good material from +which to make a life insurance man, and the fact +that he did not propose to desert his present employer +without notice was in his favor. Possibly the fact +that he was getting his first commission through the +latter had something to do with this, but, anyhow, he +planned to continue where he was until a successor +had been secured; and too many young men, contemplating +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +such a change, would have let their enthusiasm +lead them to quit without notice when they +found the new place open to them. This is mentioned +merely as one of the things that led Murray to think +he had secured a thoroughly conscientious, as well as +an ambitious, employee. +</p> +<p> +When he finally reported for duty Murray gave him +certain general instructions, principal among which +was this: “Never make a statement that will require +explanation or modification later. Any time you decide +that the proposition you are making is not good +enough to stand squarely on its merits, without exaggeration +or deception, direct or inferential, come +into the office and resign. Any time you find yourself +saying anything that you yourself do not believe implicitly, +it is time for you to quit. When you have +to explain what you really meant by some certain +statement, you are creating doubt and distrust, for +the unadulterated truth, of course, does not have to be +explained.” +</p> +<p> +For a time Murray watched Mays rather closely—not +in the expectation of finding anything wrong, but +rather with the idea of giving him helpful suggestions—but +the young man seemed to be unusually capable +and unusually successful for a beginner. He seemed +to be working a comparatively new field—a field that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +turned up no large policies but that seemed to be prolific +of small ones. This, however, was quite natural. +Every new man works first among those he happens +to know, and Mays was doing business with his old +associates. In time, Murray ceased to give him any +particular attention, except to note the regularity +with which he turned in applications for small policies, +and there probably would have been no deviation from +the customary routine had it not been for an unexpected +and apparently trivial incident. +</p> +<p> +An application for a small policy had come in +through one of the other solicitors. Mays happened +to be in the office when the applicant called for his +physical examination, but they exchanged no greetings. +Apparently they were strangers. Yet Mays +slipped out into the hall and intercepted the other +as he came from the doctor’s office. Murray, emerging +suddenly from his own room, saw them talking together +and caught this question and answer: +</p> +<p> +“Is it all right?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course. I’m a bully good risk, as you call it.” +</p> +<p> +Then, seeing Murray, they hastily separated and +went their ways. +</p> +<p> +Now, why should a friend of Mays apply for insurance +through another solicitor? Well, he might +have been ignorant, when he made his application, of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +the fact that Mays was in the insurance business. But +why did they give no sign of recognition when they +met in the main office? It was quite natural that +Mays should be anxious to learn how his friend came +out with the physician, but why should he sneak out +into the hall to ask the question? +</p> +<p> +Any evidence of secrecy and underhand work always +annoyed Murray. He did not like this, although he +could see nothing in it to cause him any anxiety. +Nevertheless, he looked up the papers of the man who +had just been examined and found that his name was +John Tainter and that he lived near Mays. He was +a good risk, however, and he got his policy. There +was no earthly reason why it should be refused. But +Murray watched Mays more carefully and gave painstaking +attention to the risks he brought in. +</p> +<p> +The applicants were generally small tradesmen—usually +foreigners—but there was nothing in +the least suspicious in any case. Indeed, it was +difficult to see how there could be anything +wrong, for the safeguards made it practically impossible +for a mere solicitor to put up any successful +scheme to beat the company, and certainly +it would not be tried with any trifling policy. But +it annoyed Murray to find that a man he had believed +so frank and straightforward was tricky, and he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +could not, try as he would, find any reason for this +trickiness. +</p> +<p> +Then, one day, while he was waiting in a hotel office +for his card to be taken up to the room of a man with +whom he had some business, he heard a strangely +familiar voice near him making a strangely familiar +assertion. +</p> +<p> +“You bet you, they don’t fool me very much,” said +the voice. +</p> +<p> +Murray turned to see who it was, but a big square +column was in the way. Murray’s chair was backed +up to one side of this, and the speaker was on the +other. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t just place that voice,” mused Murray, “but +I have heard it somewhere.” There was silence for an +instant. +</p> +<p> +“It’s going to be vorth something, ain’t it, yes?” +inquired the voice at last. +</p> +<p> +“It looks like a big thing and no mistake,” was the +reply. +</p> +<p> +“By George!” muttered Murray, “it’s that Adolph +Schlimmer who tried to get a rebate on his policy, and +the fellow with him is Max Mays.” +</p> +<p> +Just then word came that Murray’s man would see +him, and he had to leave. He was careful, however, +to keep the column between him and the two he had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +found in conversation. It was just as well not to +let them know of his presence, for he preferred not +to have their suspicions aroused. +</p> +<p> +There was now little doubt in his mind that some +scheme was being worked out. But what? What +could these two men, neither of whom was versed in +the theory and details of life insurance, do that would +be in any way hurtful to the company or advantageous +to them? Of course, it was only a surmise that their +confidential business concerned him in any way, but +association with Schlimmer would be sufficient to make +Murray uneasy about any of his men, and the strange +action of Mays in the Tainter matter added to his +uneasiness. +</p> +<p> +His first move was to investigate Mays thoroughly, +and, to his astonishment, he discovered that, far from +having a mother to support, Mays was living with a +married brother and had no one to look after but +himself. He had told the truth about his business +record, but he had lied about his personal responsibilities. +That lie had been an artistic one, however, for +it had helped materially to get him a position with +Murray. +</p> +<p> +Further investigation showed that there was a +light-headed, frivolous young girl, to whom he +was devoted and with whom he attended Saturday-night +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +dances in various public halls, but it had to be +admitted, to his credit, that he never let these interfere +with business and was always on hand with a +clear head. At the same time, it threw an entirely +new light on his character, and showed him to be not +at all the sort of fellow his business record had indicated. +</p> +<p> +Murray was tempted to discharge him at once, but +he refrained for two reasons: first, his action would +be dictated by his own disappointment in the man +rather than by anything he knew that was definitely +derogatory, aside from his falsehood about his mother; +second, he wanted a chance to investigate further the +association with Schlimmer, and the only way to do +this was to pretend to be entirely unsuspicious and +entirely satisfied. If there was any kind of scheme +that could be put up by two such men, he was interested +in finding it out, especially if they had already +taken any action. Until the thing was clear, he wished +to have Mays within reach. +</p> +<p> +Mays was shadowed for a few days, but nothing was +learned except that he unquestionably had business +relations with the unscrupulous Schlimmer, and that +they occasionally met in the office of a lawyer in that +district. +</p> +<p> +“A lawyer!” mused Murray. “Now, what the devil +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +do they need of a lawyer? I can’t see where he comes +in.” +</p> +<p> +“Tainter was with them once,” replied the +“shadow.” +</p> +<p> +“I certainly never had anything puzzle me like +this,” remarked Murray. “The separate incidents +are so trifling that it seems absurd to attach any importance +to them, and yet, taking them all together, +I am convinced there is something wrong. I’d like +to hear what they have to say to each other.” +</p> +<p> +“That,” said the shadow, “can be easily arranged, +for they are to meet next Sunday afternoon, and I +can get the janitor easily to let us into the adjoining +office.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be there,” said Murray. +</p> +<p> +Now, Murray, in spite of his good nature, was a +dignified man, but he knew when to sacrifice his dignity. +He was an “office man,” but he rather enjoyed +an excuse for getting outside and occupying himself +in some unusual way. In fact, Murray had the making +of a “strenuous” man in him, if fate had not decreed +that he should devote his energies to the less exciting +task of directing the destinies of a life insurance +agency. So he rather enjoyed the mild excitement of +getting into the adjoining office unobserved and lying +prone on his stomach to get his ear close to the crack +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +under the door. But the reward was not great. The +lawyer—a big blustering fellow—was there, and so +were Schlimmer, Tainter and Mays, but the meeting +seemed to be one for jubilation rather than for planning. +</p> +<p> +“I got the papers all ready,” said the lawyer. +“Sign ’em, Tainter, and then we’re ready to go ahead +the moment Mays gives the word. We want to land +all we can.” +</p> +<p> +And that was the only business transacted. The +rest of the time was given to gloating over some scheme +that was not put in words. +</p> +<p> +“You bet you, I make that Murray sit up and take +notice, yes?” remarked Schlimmer. “I gif him his +chance once and I get the vorst of it, but I even up +now.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s great,” commented the lawyer. “You’ve got +a great head on you, Schlimmer. Not one man in a +thousand would have thought of it. We’ll all even up, +but they would have been mighty suspicious if I had +let Tainter’s application go in through Mays. That’s +where you get the advantage of having a lawyer in +the deal.” +</p> +<p> +And more to the same effect, but no definite explanation +of the scheme. +</p> +<p> +Murray was at his office unusually early Monday +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +morning, and the first thing he did was to have a +clerk look up the Schlimmer case. Some company, he +knew, had got into trouble over a Schlimmer policy, +and he wanted to know all about it. He learned that +Schlimmer had taken out a policy on his wife’s life, +had demanded and secured a rebate from the solicitor, +and that another policy-holder had taken action that +resulted in nullifying the policy and imposing a fine +on the company. +</p> +<p> +“I think I understand it now,” mused Murray, “but +it looks to me as if pretty prompt action might be +necessary.” +</p> +<p> +All doubt, all hesitation had disappeared. Murray +was wide awake and active. He called in his private +messenger. +</p> +<p> +“When Mr. Mays reports,” he said, “he is to wait +until I have had a talk with him before going out. I +shall send for him when I am ready.” Then, giving +the boy a slip of paper with a name and an address on +it, “I want to see that man here at once. Take a cab +and bring him. Tell him the validity of his life insurance +depends upon it.” +</p> +<p> +While the boy was gone, Murray slipped out himself, +and, when he returned, a stranger accompanied +him. The stranger was secreted in a room adjoining, +and then Murray took up the routine of his regular +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +work. The only interruption came when a clerk informed +him that Mays was waiting. +</p> +<p> +“Let him wait,” said Murray. “I’m not quite ready +for him yet. If he tries to leave, jump on his back +and hold him.” +</p> +<p> +After a time the messenger returned with the man +for whom he had been sent, and Murray immediately +took him into his private office and shut the door. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Leckster,” he said abruptly, “how much of a +rebate did Mays give you on the policy you took out +with us?” +</p> +<p> +Leckster was plainly mystified and frightened. +</p> +<p> +“Out with it!” commanded Murray. “Your policy +isn’t worth the paper it’s written on unless the matter +is straightened out mighty quick. How much was the +rebate?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t understand,” said Leckster, already nearly +terror-stricken. +</p> +<p> +“How much of his commission did he give to you to +get you to take out a policy?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, he give me a half.” +</p> +<p> +“Leckster,” said Murray, “that was against the law. +If any other policy-holder hears of it and wants to go +into court, he can nullify your policy and get half +of the fine that will be assessed against us for the act +of our agent. If you want to make your policy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +unassailable, you must refund that rebate. Now, go +home and think it over.” +</p> +<p> +Then he sent word to Mays that he was ready to +see him. +</p> +<p> +“Mays,” he said abruptly, “what was your +scheme?” +</p> +<p> +“Sir!” exclaimed Mays. +</p> +<p> +“What was your scheme?” +</p> +<p> +“Surely you must be joking, sir,” protested Mays. +“I have no scheme.” +</p> +<p> +“Why did Tainter,” replied Murray in deliberate +tones, “a friend of yours, put in his application +through another solicitor?” +</p> +<p> +“He didn’t know I was in the insurance business until +he came up here to be examined.” +</p> +<p> +“Then why did you fail to recognize each other +until you got out in the hall where you thought you +were unobserved?” +</p> +<p> +Mays did not even hesitate. Evidently he had prepared +himself for this. +</p> +<p> +“Another man had got his application,” he said, +“and I was afraid it would look as if I were trying +to interfere in some way. I did nod to him, but very +likely it wasn’t noticed.” +</p> +<p> +“What are your relations with Schlimmer?” persisted +Murray. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I got into a little business deal with him, for +which I am sincerely sorry. I’m trying to get out +now.” +</p> +<p> +“Insurance?” asked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“No, sir; it had nothing whatever to do with insurance.” +</p> +<p> +Murray was thoughtful and silent for several minutes. +</p> +<p> +“Mays,” he said at last, speaking slowly, “I don’t +know whether you’re worth saving or not. You’ve +got in with a bad crowd and you’re mixed up in a bad +deal. But you impressed me favorably when you +came here, and I think you are capable of being legitimately +successful. Of course, you lied to me about +your mother—” +</p> +<p> +“I was very anxious for the job, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“I quite appreciate that, although your motive for +wanting the job will hardly bear close scrutiny. Still, +you are young and I am anxious to give you another +chance. Now, tell me the whole story.” +</p> +<p> +“There is nothing to tell, sir,” Mays replied with +an ingenuous air. “Your words and insinuations are +a deep mystery to me.” +</p> +<p> +“Think again,” advised Murray. “I know the +story pretty well myself.” +</p> +<p> +“I shall be glad to have you tell it, sir,” said Mays. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span> +“Your earnestness leads me to think it must be interesting.” +</p> +<p> +“If I tell it,” said Murray, “it removes your last +chance of escaping any of the consequences.” +</p> +<p> +“Go ahead,” said Mays. +</p> +<p> +At least, he had magnificent nerve. +</p> +<p> +“Schlimmer,” said Murray, fixing his eyes sharply +on Mays, “was once mixed up in a little trouble over +rebates, which are unlawful. He tried to get me to +give him a rebate on a policy, but I refused, and he +seems to have got the idea that I was directly responsible +for the failure of his scheme elsewhere. He +learned, however, that the informer gets half of the +fine assessed against the company in each case, but +that only another policy-holder is empowered to make +the necessary complaint. It occurred to Schlimmer +that, if he could find enough rebate cases, there would +be a good bit of money in it on the division of the fines. +Being a man of low cunning, it occurred to Schlimmer +that these cases might be manufactured, if he could +get hold of a complaisant insurance solicitor, for the +company is held responsible for the act of the agent, +and the easiest way to get hold of a complaisant +solicitor was to make one. So he went to a young man +who was absorbed in the study of tricky finance and +who couldn’t see why he couldn’t do that sort of thing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +himself, and the young man got a job in this office. +The young man, Max Mays by name, immediately +began preparing rebate cases for future use. He +worked among a class of people who knew little of +insurance or insurance laws and who are in the habit +of figuring very closely, and this rebate proposition +looked pretty good to them. +</p> +<p> +“Next, Schlimmer and Mays got a lawyer into the +scheme, because they would need him when it came +to the later proceedings, and they further prepared +for their <em>coup</em> by having a confederate, named Tainter, +take out a policy in the company, so that he would be +in a position to make the necessary complaint. In +order to avert suspicion, when the time for action +came, Tainter applied for his policy through another +solicitor. I think that is about all, Mays, except that +you were ready to spring your surprise as soon as the +policies had been issued on two or three applications +now under consideration. I was in the next room to +you when you held your meeting yesterday, Mays.” +</p> +<p> +Mays had grown very white during this recital, but +he still kept his nerve, although he now showed it in +a different way. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” he said, “that is about all. There are some +details lacking, but the story is practically correct. +What do you intend to do with me?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +</p> +<p> +Then Mays was suddenly conscious of the fact that +a man, a stranger, was standing beside him. The +man had emerged quietly from the room in which he +had been concealed. +</p> +<p> +“There are the warrants for the whole crowd, including +this man,” said Murray, handing the stranger +a number of documents. “The charge is conspiracy, +and, if they could have secured half the fine in each +of the cases they prepared so carefully, they would +have made a pretty good thing. Now, I’ve got the +job of straightening this matter out so that both the +policies and the company will be unassailable under +the rebate law. But, at any rate, Schlimmer has got +his second lesson, and it’s a good one. Look out for +him especially, officer. If you keep this man away +from the telephone, you’ll have no difficulty in getting +Schlimmer and all the others.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span><a name='c9' id='c9'></a>AN INCIDENTAL COURTSHIP</h2> +<p> +Harry Renway was the kind of man that people +refer to as “a simple soul.” He might feel deeply, +but he did not think that way. As a matter of fact, +it was stretching things a little to call him a man, +for he was hardly more than a boy—a youth in years, +but a boy in everything else. Nevertheless, it is worth +recording that he was a reasonably thrifty boy, +although his earning capacity had not permitted him +to put aside anything resembling a fortune. +</p> +<p> +Love, however, visits the poor as well as the wealthy, +the simple as well as the wise. Indeed, sometimes it +seems as if Love rather avoids the wealthy and wise and +chooses the companionship of less-favored mortals. +So, perhaps, it is not at all extraordinary that Harry +Renway was in love, and the object of his affections +was one of the most tantalizing specimens of femininity +that ever annoyed and delighted man. +</p> +<p> +She said frankly that she was mercenary, but it is +probable she exaggerated. She had been poor all her +life, but she had no dreams of great wealth and no +ambition for it: she merely wanted to be assured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +reasonable comfort—that is, what seemed to her +reasonable comfort. A really mercenary girl would +have deemed it poverty and hardship. Somehow, +when one has been poor and has suffered some privations, +one learns to give some thought to worldly +affairs, and it is to the credit of Alice Jennings that +she did not grade men more exactly by the money +standard. Harry’s modest salary would be sufficient +to meet her requirements, but Harry had nothing but +his salary. A larger salary might give something +of luxury, in addition to comfort, but, assured the +comfort and freedom from privation, she would be +guided by the inclinations of her heart. So, perhaps, +she was wise rather than mercenary. Love needs a +little of the fostering care of money, although too +much of this tends to idleness and scandal. +</p> +<p> +“But if anything should happen to you,” argued +Alice, when Harry tried to tell her how hard he would +work for her. +</p> +<p> +“What’s going to happen to me?” he demanded. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” she answered lightly. “You’re a +dear, good boy, Harry, and I like you, but I’ve had +all the poverty I want.” +</p> +<p> +“Who’s talking about poverty?” persisted Harry +stoutly. “I’ve got more than two hundred dollars +saved up, and I’ll have a bigger salary pretty soon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +</p> +<p> +“What’s two hundred dollars!” she returned. +“We’d use that to begin housekeeping. Then, if anything +should happen to you—Why, Harry, I’d be +worse off than I am now. I don’t want much, but +I’ve learned to look ahead—a little. I’ve neither the +disposition nor the training to be a wage-earner, and +I’ll never go back home after I marry. Dad has a +hard enough time of it, anyhow.” There was raillery +in her tone, but there was also something of earnestness +in it. “Now, Tom Nelson has over two thousand +dollars,” she added. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, if you’re going to sell yourself!” exclaimed +Harry bitterly. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t say I’d marry him,” she retorted teasingly, +“but, if I did and anything happened to him—” +</p> +<p> +“You’d probably find he’d lost it in some scheme,” +put in Harry. +</p> +<p> +“He might,” admitted Alice thoughtfully, “but he’s +pretty careful.” +</p> +<p> +“And too old for you,” added Harry angrily. “Still, +if it’s only money—” +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t,” she interrupted more seriously; “it’s caution. +I’ve had enough to make me just a little cautious. +You don’t know how hard it has been, Harry, +or you’d understand. If you knew more of the disappointments +and heartaches of some of the girls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +who are deemed mercenary, you wouldn’t blame them +for sacrificing sentiment to a certain degree of worldliness. +’I just want to be sure I’ll never have to go +through this again,’ says the girl, and she tries to +make sure. It isn’t a question of the amount of +money she can get by marriage, nor of silks or satins, +but rather of peace and security after some years of +privation and anxiety. She learns to think of the +future, if only in a modest way—that is, some girls do. +I’m one of them. What could I do—alone?” +</p> +<p> +“Then you won’t marry me?” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t say that.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you will marry me?” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t say that, either. There’s no hurry.” +</p> +<p> +Thus she tantalized him always. It was unfair, of +course—unless she intended to accept him eventually. +In that case, it was merely unwise. It is accepted as +a girl’s privilege to be thus perverse and inconsistent +in her treatment of the man she intends to marry, +but sometimes she goes too far and loses him. However, +Alice Jennings was herself uncertain. She had +known Harry a long time, and she liked him. She +had known Tom Nelson a shorter time, and she liked +him also. It may be said, however, that she did not +love either of them. Love is self-sacrificing and gives +no thought to worldly affairs. Alice Jennings might +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +have been capable of love, if she could have afforded +the luxury, but circumstances had convinced her that +she could not afford it, so she did not try. She would +not sell herself solely for money, and her standard of +comfort was not high, but she was trying hard to +“like” the most promising man well enough to marry +him. As far as possible, she was disposed to follow the +advice of the man who said, “Marry for love, my son, +marry for love and not for money, but, if you can love +a girl with money, for heaven’s sake do so.” +</p> +<p> +As a natural result of her desire to make sure of +escaping for all time the thraldom of poverty that was +so galling to her, she was irresolute and capricious. +She dressed unusually well for a girl in her position, +but this was because she had taste and had learned to +make her own clothes, so the money available for her +gowns could be put almost entirely into the material +alone. She was a capable housekeeper, because necessity +had compelled her to give a good deal of time +to housework in her own home. She had no thought +of escaping all these duties, irksome as they were, but +she did not wish to be bound down to them. A comfortable +flat, with a maid-of-all-work to do the cooking +and cleaning, and a sewing girl for a week once or +twice a year, was her idea of luxury. This, even +though there was still much for her to do, would give +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +her freedom, and this, with reasonably careful management, +either of the men could give her. But she +looked beyond, and hesitated; she had schooled herself +to go rather deeply into the future. +</p> +<p> +Tom Nelson found her quite as unreasonable and +bewildering as did Harry. Tom was older and more +resourceful than Harry, but he was not so steady and +persistent. Harry was content to let his money accumulate +in a savings’ bank, but Tom deemed this too +slow and was willing to take risks in the hope of +larger profits. He made more, but he also spent +more, and, all else aside, it was a question as to whether +Harry would not be able to provide the better home. +Then, too, Tom occasionally lost money, while nothing +but a bank failure could endanger Harry’s modest +capital. So Tom had his own troubles with the girl. +He knew her dread of poverty—amounting almost to +a mania—and he made frequent incidental reference +to his capital. +</p> +<p> +“But that isn’t much,” she said lightly. Her self-confessed +mercenariness was always brought out in a +whimsical, half-jocular way that seemed to have nothing +of worldly hardness in it. “And there’s no telling +whether you’ll have it six months from now,” she +added. “As long as I had you to take care of me, +it would be all right, but—” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> +</p> +<p> +She always came back to the same point. Yet one +of these two she intended to marry, her personal +preference being for Harry, and her judgment commending +Tom. The former would plod; the latter +might be worth twenty thousand in a few years, or +he might be in debt. Harry never would have much; +Tom might have a great deal—enough to make the +future secure, no matter what happened. +</p> +<p> +“Will you invest the money for me?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“Why, no,—I must use it to make more.” +</p> +<p> +Thus she flirtatiously, laughingly, but with an undertone +of seriousness, kept them both uncertain, while +she impressed upon them her one great fear of being +left helpless. Yet even in this her ambition was +modest: no income for life, but only something for +her temporary needs until she could adjust herself to +new conditions, if that became necessary. Anything +more than that was too remote for serious thought. +</p> +<p> +Harry finally told his troubles to a friend, when +these exasperating conditions had continued for some +time. He wanted consolation; he got advice. +</p> +<p> +“A little too worldly to suit me,” commented the +friend. “Still, it might be better if some of the girls +who marry hastily had just a little of such worldliness. +There would be fewer helpless and wretched +women and children.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s just it,” returned Harry. “She knows +what it means, and that two thousand of Tom Nelson’s +looks awful big to her. If I had as much I’d +invest it for her outright, and that would settle it.” +</p> +<p> +“Doesn’t want it to spend, as I understand it?” +queried the friend. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no—just to know that she has something in +case anything happens.” +</p> +<p> +“Why don’t you try life insurance?” asked the +friend. +</p> +<p> +It took Harry a moment or two to grasp this. +Then his face lighted up. +</p> +<p> +“By thunder! I never thought of that!” he cried. +</p> +<p> +“That’s the trouble with lots of men,” remarked +the friend dryly. “Marriage is considered a dual +arrangement when it should be a triple—man, woman +and life insurance. That’s the only really safe combination. +The thoughtful lover will see that the life +insurance agent and the minister are interviewed about +the same time.” +</p> +<p> +“Where did you learn all that?” asked the astonished +Harry. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, it’s not original with me,” was the reply. “I +heard Dave Murray talk about insurance once. He’s +an enthusiast. He claims that the best possible wedding +gift is a paid-up life insurance policy, and I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +guess he’s right. It would be a mighty appropriate +gift from the groom’s father to the bride—a blame +sight better than a check or a diamond necklace. A +paid-up policy for five thousand would look just as +big as a five-thousand-dollar check, and it wouldn’t +cost nearly as much—unless the old man plans to +sneak back the check before it can be cashed. And +what a lot of good it might do at a time when the +need may be the greatest! If the bride is the one +to be considered in selecting a wedding gift, as I +understand to be the case, what better than this?” +</p> +<p> +“I guess Dave Murray is the man for me,” said +Harry in admiration of the originality of this idea. +</p> +<p> +“Of course he is,” asserted the friend. “And if +you want to make the argument stronger for your +wavering girl, get an accident insurance policy, with +a sick benefit clause, also, and then take out a little +old age insurance. There ought to be no trouble about +giving her all the assurance necessary to allay her +fears.” +</p> +<p> +Harry was a good risk, and he had no difficulty in +getting a policy. He saw Murray personally, but, as +he did not explain his purpose or situation, their conference +was brief: Murray merely asked if he thought +a thousand-dollar policy was all he could afford. +</p> +<p> +“Because,” said Murray, “when you go after a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +good thing it’s wise to take all you can of it. There +ought to be enough so that something can be found +after your estate is settled.” +</p> +<p> +“I’d make it five hundred if I could,” said Harry. +</p> +<p> +“Most of the good companies,” said Murray, +“wisely protect a man from his own economical folly +by refusing to issue a policy for less than a thousand.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s an experiment. A fellow doesn’t want to put +too much money into an experiment.” +</p> +<p> +Murray, the resourceful Murray, was bewildered. +Life insurance an experiment! Surely he could not +mean that. +</p> +<p> +“Well,” he said, “your widow will be pretty sure +to think the experiment a success.” +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t got a widow,” asserted Harry. +</p> +<p> +“Of course not; but you may have.” +</p> +<p> +“How can I have a widow when I am dead?” asked +Harry. “How can I have anything when I am dead?” +</p> +<p> +“You can’t tell by the looks of an electric wire how +highly it is charged,” mused Murray. “I guess I +touched this one too recklessly.” Then to Harry: +“But there may be <em>a</em> widow.” +</p> +<p> +“There may,” returned Harry. +</p> +<p> +“Well, she’ll be sorry you didn’t experiment on a +larger scale, because it really isn’t an experiment at +all. There’s only one thing surer than insurance.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” asked Harry with interest. +</p> +<p> +“Death; and, with the popular gold bonds or any +limited payment policy, you have a chance to beat +death by some years. But suit yourself.” +</p> +<p> +So Harry took the physical examination and got +the policy, payable to his estate. Then he promptly +assigned it to Alice. +</p> +<p> +“There’s one thousand dollars sure, if anything +should happen to me,” he said. “That beats any old +elusive two thousand that Tom Nelson may have.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re a dear, good, faithful boy, Harry,” she +said impulsively, and she gave him a kiss. +</p> +<p> +That was happiness enough for that day and the +next, but on the third he began to get down to earth +again and deemed the time propitious. +</p> +<p> +“You’ll marry me?” he suggested. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps,” was her reply. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps!” he cried. “It’s always perhaps.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps it won’t be always perhaps,” she returned. +</p> +<p> +In truth, she had wavered so long that she found +it difficult to make up her mind. Besides, Tom was +prospering, Tom was devoted, and Tom was a nice +fellow. True, he was twenty-six while she was only +eighteen, and Harry, at twenty, was nearer her own +age, but—well, aside from any question of the future, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +it was rather nice to have two men so devotedly attentive. +Then, too, Tom spent his money more freely, +and she derived the benefit in present pleasures. There +was no hurry; the future was now brighter, whichever +she chose, and, things being so nearly equal, +there was even less reason for haste. Alice, in addition +to her dread of poverty, was a natural flirt: +she enjoyed the power she exerted over these two +men. But she said nothing to Tom of Harry’s latest +move; perhaps she thought it would be unfair, or +perhaps she was a trifle truer to Harry than to Tom. +</p> +<p> +Harry, in his “simple” way, misinterpreted this +irresolution. He was too devoted to criticize; he had +begun to understand her dread and to think that she +was quite right in taking such a very worldly view +of the situation. Why should she not, so far as possible, +endeavor to make her future secure? It was +for him to convince her of his thoughtfulness and his +ability to provide for her. Thereupon he got an accident +insurance policy. +</p> +<p> +“You’re awfully thoughtful, Harry,” she said. “I +like you.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want you to worry,” said Harry, flattered +and pleased. +</p> +<p> +“I’m not worrying,” she told him. +</p> +<p> +“But I am,” he retorted ruefully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +</p> +<p> +“Men,” she asserted, “are <em>so</em> impatient.” +</p> +<p> +Harry could not quite agree to this—he thought +he had been wonderfully patient. In his straightforward +way he began to ponder the matter deeply. It +had seemed to him he was doing a wonderfully clever +thing that ought to settle the matter definitely. Had +he made a mistake? If so, what was necessary to +rectify it? Incidentally, he heard that some of Tom +Nelson’s little speculations had turned out favorably, +and Tom was still quite as devoted as ever and seemed +to be received with as much favor. Then to Harry +came an idea—a really brilliant idea, he thought. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps,” he told himself, “I ought not to have +assigned that policy to her; perhaps I ought to have +kept it in my control so that a wedding would be +necessary to give her the benefit of it. As it is now, +she has the policy, no matter whom she marries. I +don’t think she would—” +</p> +<p> +Without finishing the sentence, Harry knitted his +brow and shook his head. It was not a pleasant +thought—he told himself it was an unjust thought—but, +as he had gone in to win, he might as well take +every precaution. If the conditions were a little different, +it might put an end to her flirtatious mood +and compel a more serious consideration of his suit; +it might have a tendency to emphasize his point and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +“wake her up,” as he expressed it. Possibly, it was +just the argument needed. +</p> +<p> +With this in mind, he again called upon Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I’m in a little trouble,” he explained. “I ought +to have had that policy made out to my wife.” +</p> +<p> +“It makes no difference, unless the estate is involved +in some way,” explained Murray. “She’ll get +it through—” +</p> +<p> +“It makes a big difference,” interrupted Harry. +“You see, I’ve got to get the wife.” +</p> +<p> +“What!” ejaculated Murray. “Say that again, +please.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, if I had an insurance policy in favor of my +wife, it would make it easier to get the wife, wouldn’t +it?” +</p> +<p> +“Thunder!” exclaimed Murray. “I thought I was +pretty well up on insurance financiering, but this +beats me. Are you hanging an insurance policy up +as a sort of prize package?” +</p> +<p> +“That’s it, that’s it!” cried Harry, pleased to find +the situation so quickly comprehended. “The other +fellow is worth more, but insurance looks bigger than +anything else I can buy for the money, and I want +to show her how much safer she will be with me than +with him.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re all right,” laughed Murray, “but I’m +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +afraid you’ll have to marry first. We can’t very well +make a policy payable to a person who doesn’t exist, +and you have no wife now. When you have one, bring +the policy back if you’re not satisfied to have it payable +to the estate, and—” +</p> +<p> +“But she’s got it.” +</p> +<p> +“Who?” +</p> +<p> +“The girl. I assigned it to her, so she doesn’t +have to marry me to get the benefit. That wasn’t +good business.” +</p> +<p> +Murray leaned back in his chair and looked at the +youth with amusement and curiosity. +</p> +<p> +“No,” he said at last, “that may have been good +sentiment, but it wasn’t good business. And,” he +added jokingly, “I don’t know that this transaction +is quite legal.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” asked Harry anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’re not allowed to give prizes, and, if a +girl goes with the policy, it looks a good deal like a +prize-package affair. I’m not sure that that wouldn’t +be considered worse than giving rebates on premiums.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ve got the wrong idea,” argued Harry with +solemn earnestness. “The girl doesn’t go with the +policy, but the policy goes with me. At least, that’s +what I intended.” +</p> +<p> +“Better try it again with another policy,” suggested +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +Murray. “Make it payable to your estate, +and then hang on to it until you get the girl. Let +me give you a word of advice, too, although it’s not +exactly to my interest.” +</p> +<p> +“Well?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, the policy that you gave to her doesn’t +amount to much if you stop paying premiums on it. +You might suggest that to her.” +</p> +<p> +“By George! I never thought of that!” exclaimed +the youth. “I guess I haven’t much of a financial +head.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you’re all right,” returned Murray. “You’re +the first fellow I ever knew who made a matrimonial +bureau of an insurance office. I’ve got something to +learn about this business yet.” +</p> +<p> +With his second policy in his pocket, Harry reverted +quite casually to the subject of insurance, although +he had first taken the precaution to have a lot of insurance +literature sent to Alice. From this she +learned that nothing could quite equal it in making +the future secure. +</p> +<p> +“I have decided,” said Harry in an offhand way, +“that the best investment for a young man who has +any one dependent upon him is life insurance. I have +just taken out another policy for a thousand dollars.” +</p> +<p> +“How thoughtful of you!” exclaimed Alice. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s on the twenty-year endowment plan,” explained +Harry. “At the end of twenty years the +whole sum may be drawn down or it may be left to +accumulate. As provision for the future, I guess +that makes any two or three thousand in the bank look +like thirty cents.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re awfully good to me,” said Alice, for this +apparent evidence of unselfish devotion, in addition to +what had preceded it, really made her reproach herself +for her capriciousness. But it was such jolly fun +to keep two men anxious! +</p> +<p> +“The insurance,” Harry went on, “is payable to +my estate.” +</p> +<p> +“What does that mean, Harry?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“It means,” replied Harry, “that a girl has got +to marry me to get a chance at it.” +</p> +<p> +“I always did like you, Harry.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes?” +</p> +<p> +“But you’re so impatient.” +</p> +<p> +Harry was beginning to develop a little strategical +ingenuity. +</p> +<p> +“There is no need,” he said, “to make a secret of +this. I’m not ashamed to have all the girls know that +I am making proper provision for the one who becomes +my wife.” +</p> +<p> +“Harry Renway,” exclaimed Alice, “if you make +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +our private affairs a subject of public gossip I’ll +never speak to you again as long as I live.” +</p> +<p> +Thereupon Harry demonstrated that he was not +as “simple” as he was supposed to be, for he promptly +returned the kiss that she had given him on a previous +occasion. There could be no misinterpreting “our” +private affairs. +</p> +<p> +“When?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, pretty soon,” she replied, for the flirtatious +instinct was still in evidence. Besides, under the circumstances, +too much haste might be in poor taste. +However, their friends were told of the engagement, +and that was something. Tom Nelson was angry and +disgusted. +</p> +<p> +“The fool!” he exclaimed. “A live man wants to +have the use of his money, and he has tied himself +up with insurance. That isn’t my way.” +</p> +<p> +“But he got the girl,” some one suggested. +</p> +<p> +“Not yet,” retorted Tom, “and you never can +tell.” +</p> +<p> +In truth, it seemed as if Tom’s insinuation was +almost prophetic, for Alice procrastinated and postponed +in a most tormenting way, and Harry took +it all in good part for two or three months. There +was no particular reason for this delay, as the preliminaries +of such a wedding as they would have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +could be arranged very quickly, and in time it tried +the patience even of Harry. +</p> +<p> +“The semi-annual premium on that first policy is +due the day after to-morrow,” he remarked one evening. +</p> +<p> +“Well?” she returned inquiringly. +</p> +<p> +“If the premium isn’t paid the policy lapses,” he +went on. +</p> +<p> +“But you’ll pay it?” +</p> +<p> +“For my wife I will.” +</p> +<p> +She gave him a quick look and knew that he was +not going to be swayed this time by her little cajoleries. +</p> +<p> +“But, Harry,” she protested, “that’s so—so soon.” +</p> +<p> +“I have the license in my pocket,” he said; “there’s +a church within two blocks, and I saw a light in the +pastor’s study as I came by. I guess we’ve waited +long enough. Let’s go out for a little stroll.” +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +It was six months later that Harry again met Dave +Murray, but Murray remembered him. +</p> +<p> +“Did you get the prize with your policy?” asked +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Sure,” replied Harry. +</p> +<p> +“Was it a good prize?” +</p> +<p> +“Bully!” said Harry. “A little hard to handle +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +just at first, but you can do almost anything with insurance.” +</p> +<p> +“You certainly have made good use of it,” laughed +Murray. +</p> +<p> +“You bet I have,” answered Harry with some pride. +“Why, say! an insurance policy is the greatest thing +in the world for family discipline.” +</p> +<p> +“For what!” exclaimed Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Family discipline. The first time we had a little +rumpus she had me going seven ways for Sunday +until I thought of the insurance policies. ‘Well,’ +said I, ‘if I’m not the head of the house there’s no +reason why I should be paying insurance premiums, +and I’ll default on the next one. The head of the +house looks after things of that sort,’ I told her, and +that settled it. I’m the head of the house, and, if I +don’t play it too strong, I’ve got the thing to maintain +discipline.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you want another policy?” laughed Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Well,” returned Harry thoughtfully, “if I could +get the same kind of prize with another, and if it +wasn’t against the law, I rather think I might be +tempted to do it. Anyhow, there can’t anybody tell me +there’s nothing in insurance, for I know better.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span><a name='c10' id='c10'></a>AN INCIDENTAL SACRIFICE</h2> +<p> +“I guess it’s all up with us,” said Sidney Kalin +despairingly. +</p> +<p> +“It looks that way,” admitted his brother, Albert +Kalin. +</p> +<p> +The father, Jonas Kalin, sat at his desk with his +head half-buried in his hands. +</p> +<p> +“There is no chance for an extension, of course,” +he said wearily. +</p> +<p> +“I should say not,” returned Sidney. “Telmer +bought up the mortgage for just one purpose, and +his only hope of success lies in foreclosing. He wants +to get his hands on the invention.” +</p> +<p> +“Will he take an interest in the business?” asked +Jonas. +</p> +<p> +“Why should he, when he can get the only thing +he wants without?” returned Sidney. +</p> +<p> +“What does Dempsey say?” persisted the senior +Kalin. +</p> +<p> +“It’s out of his line,” answered Albert, to whom +the question was addressed. “If five thousand would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +straighten the thing out, he might risk it, but he +wouldn’t put up a cent more than that, and he’d want +a twenty-five per cent. interest in the business for that +sum.” +</p> +<p> +“And, if we can save it, the thing is worth a fortune,” +groaned Jonas. “We’ve got a start already, +and there’s almost no limit to the possibilities. It +ought to be worth fifty thousand a year inside of three +years. He doesn’t want much.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, he’s out of the question, anyway,” said +Sidney. “We’ve got to have twenty-five thousand, +and we’ve got to have it mighty soon.” +</p> +<p> +“My life insurance is more than that,” mused Jonas. +</p> +<p> +“What good does that do?” retorted Sidney rather +sharply. “Even if you wanted to surrender it, the +cash surrender value is less than ten thousand at the +present time.” +</p> +<p> +“That would help,” argued Jonas. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing will help that doesn’t put the full sum +needed within our reach,” asserted Albert. “We’re +about due to begin life over again with a little less +than nothing.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll think it over,” said Jonas, rising and wearily +reaching for his hat. “I’ve always weathered the +storms before. Perhaps I’ll find a way to weather this +one.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +</p> +<p> +Jonas Kalin once had been accounted a successful +real estate man, but he had lost a good deal of money +in speculation, and the time and thought he gave to +speculation had had an injurious effect upon his business. +One of the sons had been for a time in the employ +of a manufacturer of fountain pens. Later the +elder Kalin had started both boys, as an independent +firm, in that line of business, their pen differing sufficiently +from others to avoid any infringement of +patents on patented features. They had made no +great amount of money, indeed barely a living income, +but they had kept out of debt until Sidney invented +a machine for finishing the shell or case of the pen. +</p> +<p> +His experiments had been rather costly, and the +machine had been costly to construct, but he had +convinced his father that it was a good thing, and +Jonas had given up his dwindling real estate business +and put what money he had left into his sons’ firm, +becoming a partner in the enterprise. Even then it +had been found necessary to borrow twenty-five thousand +dollars in order to establish the business on the +new and larger basis, giving a mortgage on the entire +plant, which included the new machine, and this +mortgage had passed into the hands of a more prosperous +business rival at a time when the value of the +invention was just becoming apparent. This invention +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +largely reduced the cost of production, but the +exploiting so far done, although expensive and reasonably +successful, had not enabled the Kalins to accumulate +anything to meet their obligation. Indeed, believing +they would have no difficulty in securing an +extension, they had not worried about this until they +found themselves in the power of a rival. +</p> +<p> +The machine had not been patented, for reasons +that most successful inventors will readily understand. +While a patent is supposed to protect the +inventor, it does not do so in many instances; on the +contrary, it frequently gives a rival just the information +he needs to duplicate the device with technical +variations that will at least make the question of +infringement a difficult one to decide. The inventor +of limited means, opposed by a company with almost +unlimited capital, is at a serious disadvantage when +he gets into the courts, and there are cases where the +value of an invention has been largely destroyed by +having the market flooded with the article before the +legal rights can be definitely determined. There is +hardly a single patented device of great value that +has not been the basis of long and costly litigation, +involving either the unauthorized use or manufacture +of the device as it is or the use or manufacture of a +device suggested by the original and differing from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +it only enough to give technical plausibility to the +plea that it is not an infringement. Even the great +Edison is reported to have said that he has made +practically no money on his patents, but has had to +enter the manufacturing business to get any material +benefit from his inventions. +</p> +<p> +“When you patent an invention,” the Kalins had +been informed by a man of experience in such matters, +“you are furnishing ammunition to the enemy. +You are giving him your secret, and he will put some +smart men at work to discover some method of using +it himself. Edison is still busy with inventions, but +you don’t see his name in the patent reports any +more. He has become too wise for that. Secrecy is +the best protection, provided you have something that +can be kept secret.” +</p> +<p> +All this Jonas Kalin reviewed as he walked slowly +and with bowed head toward his club. They had +kept their invention secret, they had advertised extensively, +and now, just as they were beginning to +get returns on their investment, the dream was shattered. +They had tried to interest various capitalists, +but capitalists could not see the future as they saw it. +Capital is exceptionally conservative when there is +a question of investing in inventions that it does not +understand, for inventors are proverbially optimistic +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +and not infrequently cost capital a good deal of +money. +</p> +<p> +“Thirty thousand dollars of life insurance!” muttered +Jonas, as he settled himself in a corner of the +reading-room. “If we could have the use of that +money for a year we would be all right.” +</p> +<p> +Jonas was a widower, but his wife had been living +when he had taken out this insurance. Now it would +go to the sons eventually, if they survived him, but, +meanwhile, they would lose a fortune. Since the death +of his wife, Jonas had given his every thought to the +boys and their future. He reproached himself for +the speculations that had deprived him of the power +of helping them as he had planned in earlier days; he +felt that somehow he had defrauded them. So deeply +did he feel this that from the day he gave up his real +estate business he never had put one dollar into a +speculation of any kind, except so far as his investment +in their business was a speculation. +</p> +<p> +“If we could make that go,” he mused, as he +crouched miserably in the big chair, “I should be content. +I owe it to the boys to see them fairly started. +I was in a position to do it once and I lost the money +foolishly—their money, by rights, for I had put it +aside for them. And here am I, almost useless—a +business wreck—too old to begin again as an employee +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +and lacking the capital to be an employer or to do +business of any sort for myself. Instead of helping +my boys, I am to be a burden to them—until I die. +I am of value only in the grave.” He shuddered and +seemed to sink still lower in the chair. “It is my duty +to do what I can for them,” he added. “I am useless, +but life is before them—a continuation of my life. +I must be a success through my sons.” +</p> +<p> +Benson, a friend, stopped near him. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, Kalin?” asked Benson. “You +look blue.” +</p> +<p> +Kalin looked up at Benson in a dazed way, and for +a moment seemed to be unable to grasp the fact that +he had been addressed. +</p> +<p> +“Benson,” he said at last, his eyes wandering +dreamily about the room, “is a man ever justified in +committing suicide?” +</p> +<p> +Benson was startled, but he replied promptly and +emphatically, “Never.” +</p> +<p> +“Suppose,” Kalin went on, “that your life intervened +between those you love and happiness; suppose +that your life meant misery and failure for them, +while your death meant success and—and comfort.” +</p> +<p> +Benson drew up a chair and placed his hand on +Kalin’s arm as if to emphasize his words. +</p> +<p> +“<em>The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away</em>,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +quoted earnestly. “Life is God’s gift and should be +treasured as such. You may not return it until He +calls, unless you would doubt His wisdom.” +</p> +<p> +Kalin nodded his head thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +“Men have gone to certain death for those they +love and been glorified for so doing,” he argued. +</p> +<p> +“A man may <em>give</em> his own life to save the life of +another and be a hero,” returned Benson, “but he +may not <em>take</em> his own life for any cause and be aught +but a coward.” +</p> +<p> +“What matters it whether he takes it or gives it, +so long as the purpose is the same?” asked Kalin. +</p> +<p> +Benson gripped the arm on which his hand lay and +shook Kalin. +</p> +<p> +“Wake up!” he commanded sharply. “What’s the +matter with you to-day?” +</p> +<p> +Kalin roused himself, as if from a dream, and +laughed in a forced, dreary way. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing is the matter with me,” he replied. “I +must have been reading something that gave my +thoughts a morbid turn. Still, your reasoning seems +to be that of a man who never has been tested. Your +view has been my view, but I can see how a man’s +views may change when he is confronted by the actual +conditions concerning which he has previously only +theorized. I don’t think you’re right.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s a disagreeable subject, even for abstract consideration,” +asserted Benson. “Let’s drop it.” +</p> +<p> +“All right,” said Kalin. “I’m going in to lunch.” +</p> +<p> +In the dining-room he got into an obscure corner +and the waiter had to joggle his elbow to rouse him +from the reverie into which he immediately fell. Then, +after barely tasting the lunch he ordered, he went to +the office of the club and asked that all charges against +him be footed up. +</p> +<p> +“There’s nothing against me at all now?” he said +inquiringly as he paid the bill. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing at all, sir,” replied the clerk. +</p> +<p> +“I’d hate to leave any club debts,” he remarked, +as if talking aloud to himself. +</p> +<p> +At his office he found his sons still gloomily discussing +the situation. +</p> +<p> +“I think,” he said, “that I have found a way to +save the business.” +</p> +<p> +“How?” they asked eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“The details are not quite clear in my mind yet,” +he replied. “I would like to give them a little more +thought before explaining the matter. But, if I succeed +in pulling you through, you boys must be +mighty careful in the future. A concern doesn’t get +out of this kind of hole twice, and I’m going to turn +it all over to you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +</p> +<p> +“Why?” asked Albert in surprise. +</p> +<p> +“I ruined one business,” was the reply. “One is +enough. Be cautious. Go slow. You’ve got a good +thing—a fortune—if you handle your finances properly +and don’t try to spread out too fast.” +</p> +<p> +He shook hands with both the boys, to their great +bewilderment. +</p> +<p> +“Where are you going?” asked Sidney. “One would +think you were starting on a long journey.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m taking leave of the business,” he answered, +with a laugh that had something of pathos in it. “I’m +going to shut myself up for a day or so until I get +my little scheme elaborated, and then you shall have +the benefit of it, but I am out of active business.” +</p> +<p> +Sidney and Albert were silent for some time after +he had left. Jonas Kalin always had been a rather +eccentric man, and they were accustomed to letting +his whims and peculiarities of word and action pass +without comment, but there was something in this +parting that made them feel uncomfortable. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t like it,” remarked Sidney. “I wonder if +the worry and disappointment have been too much +for him.” +</p> +<p> +“It is a hard blow to him—not for himself, but for +us,” returned Albert. “However, we’ll see him this +evening.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Albert Kalin was the housekeeper for the three +men. Sidney, being a bachelor, had always lived with +his father, but Albert had married and moved away +from the parental roof. Then, when his mother died, +Jonas had called him back and practically turned +the house over to him and his wife, reserving only one +large room for himself. In this he had his own little +library, and to this he frequently retired for long +evenings of solitude, for, while not a recluse, he was +a man who really needed no other companionship +than his own thoughts and often seemed to avoid the +society of others. +</p> +<p> +He was not at home, however, when his sons arrived +for dinner. Mrs. Albert Kalin said he had +brought home two or three bundles early in the afternoon, +had gone directly to his room, where he remained +for about an hour, and had then appeared with a +valise. +</p> +<p> +“I never saw him look so haggard and distressed,” +she explained. “He kissed me most affectionately and +said he had some business to attend to and would +not be home to-night.” +</p> +<p> +Late that evening Sidney Kalin went to his father’s +club, where he saw Benson and learned enough to +send him to police headquarters. There was no publicity, +but a search for the missing man was begun +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +at once. The circumstances were, to say the least, +disquieting. +</p> +<p> +At the moment this search was begun Jonas Kalin +was crossing Lake Michigan on one of the large steamers, +and his actions were such as to attract the attention +of some of the other passengers. It was a Friday +night boat and was crowded with excursionists bound +for a Saturday and Sunday outing in Michigan. +Jonas had a state-room, but he merely put his valise +in it, and then paced the deck, occasionally stopping +to lean over the rail and look down at the water. +Once or twice he sought a secluded corner and sat +for a time buried in thought, but he moved away the +moment others stopped near him. About eleven +o’clock, as he passed through the main cabin, he saw +a woman putting a little boy to bed on a sofa, and +he offered her his state-room. +</p> +<p> +“I’m very grateful to you, sir,” she replied, “but +we couldn’t think of taking it. You’ll need it yourself.” +</p> +<p> +“I shall not sleep to-night,” he said. “It will be +vacant unless you take it. Shove the valise into a +corner somewhere and I’ll get it in the morning.” +</p> +<p> +He dropped the state-room key on a chair and disappeared +through a door leading to the deck before +she could make further protest, but his face haunted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +her all that night. In the morning, after some search, +she found him huddled up on a camp-stool against +the rail of the forward deck, and she thanked him +again. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t look well,” she ventured. “Can I do +anything for you?” +</p> +<p> +“It’s not a question of what any one can do for +me,” he answered, “but of what I can do for others.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t understand you, sir,” she said. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a good thing you don’t,” he returned, and, +fearing that she had to deal with a crazy man, she +left him. +</p> +<p> +After landing, he went directly to a hotel, engaged +a room, and shut himself up in it until afternoon. +Then he went to the dock and wandered nervously +back and forth, looking out over the water and occasionally +down into it. The dock men watched him +curiously, and one of them loosened a life-preserver +that hung near, but he went back to the hotel without +giving them an opportunity to use it. +</p> +<p> +He kept close to his room at the hotel, and was so +unobtrusive that the clerks and the other guests hardly +realized he was there, and, being registered under +an assumed name, not one of them recognized him as +the Jonas Kalin who was described in the Sunday papers +as being missing. For, the secret search Friday +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +night and Saturday failing to reveal any trace of him, +his sons had decided to try the effect of publicity. +</p> +<p> +It was not until he had surrendered his room Sunday +night that his identity was established. On the +table was found a letter, sealed, addressed to Sidney +Kalin. +</p> +<p> +“Kalin!” cried the clerk, when the letter was +brought to him. “Good Lord! that’s the man who +disappeared. And there’s a reward for information. +I remember, too, he had all the Sunday papers sent to +his room, and then kept out of the way until the +moment he left.” +</p> +<p> +The clerk looked at the letter, uncertain as to what +he ought to do. Finally, he decided to get the Chicago +police department on the long-distance telephone. +</p> +<p> +“Jonas Kalin has been here for two days under an +assumed name,” he reported, “but his identity was +discovered only after he had taken the night boat +back to Chicago. He left a letter. It is sealed and +addressed to Sidney Kalin.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll notify Kalin and meet the boat,” was the +prompt reply. “Hold the letter until you hear from +Kalin.” +</p> +<p> +A little later Kalin called up the hotel and instructed +that the letter be mailed to him at once. As +Jonas was already on his way back, nothing would be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +gained by having its contents transmitted by telephone. +He was beyond reach until the boat arrived. +</p> +<p> +It was an anxious little crowd that waited at the +wharf for the arrival of the boat. There were Albert +and Sidney Kalin, two detectives and some newspaper +men. The news of Jonas Kalin’s sojourn across the +lake was already in the morning papers, having come +by telegraph, and there was natural curiosity to learn +the reason for this strange procedure. In addition, +there was an undefined and unexpressed feeling that +there might be a tragedy back of it. In any event, +there was a mystery. +</p> +<p> +The boat reached its dock before five o’clock, but the +state-room passengers had the privilege of sleeping +until seven, so only the excursionists who had been +obliged to sit up all night left the boat at once. There +were many of these, however—a weary and disheveled +lot of individuals, groups and couples straggling +along to the dock. They were talking of something +that had happened during the night, or was supposed +to have happened. Something or some one +certainly had gone over the rail, for the splash was +distinctly heard, and an excitable passenger had +raised the cry of “Man overboard!” The boat had +been stopped, but investigation had failed to discover +an actual witness to any such accident, although two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +people were sure they had seen something in the water +just after the splash. The captain, however, insisted +that it was all the result of some nervous person’s +imagination. +</p> +<p> +To Albert and Sidney Kalin these rumors brought +sinking hearts and a great dread. It took them a +little time to locate the state-room that had been occupied +by their father, but a description of him, coupled +with the name he had used at the hotel, enabled them +to do it. +</p> +<p> +His valise alone was found. +</p> +<p> +Several people remembered the haggard man who +had tramped the deck so restlessly. He seemed to be +in great mental distress, anxious only to keep away +from all companionship, and no one could recall having +seen him after the cry of “Man overboard!” Even +the captain had finally to admit that it was probable +he had lost a passenger, although, of course, no blame +whatever attached to him or to any of the boat’s +crew. +</p> +<p> +Then came the letter that had been forwarded from +the hotel. It was pathetically brief and to the point, +as follows: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“My Dear Sons: The insurance money will pull +you through. It is all that I can give you. Your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> +success is dearer to me than anything else in the world. +Your affectionate father, +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'><span class='sc'>Jonas Kalin</span>.</p> +<p> +Of course, Dave Murray read the story in the +papers—all but the letter. That was brought to him +later by Albert Kalin. +</p> +<p> +“We wish to give you all the facts, without reservation,” +Albert explained. “Father did this for us +to save the firm, to save an almost priceless invention.” +The young man choked a little. “We have +hoped against hope that his letter might prove to be +capable of some other interpretation, or that he may +have changed his mind after writing it, and we have +left no stone unturned—” +</p> +<p> +“Neither have we,” said Murray quietly. “Perhaps +we know more than you.” +</p> +<p> +“Have you got trace of him?” asked Albert quickly, +and his face showed a dawn of hope that could not be +misunderstood: he actually believed his father dead +and would welcome any evidence to the contrary. It +was not the expression of a man who was principally +interested in the payment of the insurance money, +although he was naturally presenting his and his +brother’s claim. +</p> +<p> +“I am sorry to say we have not,” replied Murray, +“but neither have we any proof of death.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +</p> +<p> +Albert plainly showed his disappointment at Murray’s +first statement, and it was a moment or two before +he replied to the second. +</p> +<p> +“I do not know your rules or aims,” he said, “but +it is possible—indeed almost probable, under the circumstances—that +there never will be any absolute +proof of death. It—it happened in mid-lake, you +know.” +</p> +<p> +“Our aim,” returned Murray, “is to pay every +claim that we are convinced is just, without resorting +to any quibbling or technical evasions, but we have +to be careful. In saying this, I am merely stating a +general proposition, without particular reference to +this affair. Indeed, I concede that the presumption +of death is unusually strong in this case. I shall be +glad to have any facts bearing on it that you can give +me.” +</p> +<p> +Albert fully reviewed the circumstances as he knew +them, to all of which Murray listened attentively. +</p> +<p> +“I shall make a complete report to the home office,” +said Murray at the conclusion of the recital. “Of +course, after the lapse of a certain period there is a +legal presumption of death, anyhow, but it is possible +that the circumstantial evidence may be deemed strong +enough to warrant an earlier settlement. Knowing +the ostensible motive, I appreciate the value of time +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +to you, and I assure you the company has no desire +to delay matters longer than is necessary to assure +itself of the justice of the claim.” +</p> +<p> +After Albert had departed, Murray went over the +case carefully, and the evidence seemed quite convincing. +In the first place, there could be no question as +to a very strong motive. There was the certainty of +ruin, which the death of Jonas alone could avert, and, +after a lapse of two years from the date of the policy, +suicide did not invalidate it. Therefore, by his own +sacrifice, he could purchase a bright future for his +sons. Then there could be no doubt that he had been +depressed and worried for some time, and latterly unquestionably +had brooded on the subject of self-destruction. +In a talk with one man he had spoken of +it as “self-elimination,” but he had spoken more +bluntly to Benson at the club. There could be no +doubt now that he contemplated such action at that +time, and that he had reference to it when he told +his sons he had discovered a way to raise the necessary +money. Everything indicated that his troubles had +made him temporarily insane. +</p> +<p> +Then there was the evidence of the woman to whom +he had resigned his state-room on the boat, and of +various other passengers who had noted his restlessness +and his misery. One woman even asserted that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +she had said to a companion at the time that there +was a man who contemplated some desperate act. It +seemed probable that he had planned to jump overboard +that first night, but had been deterred, either +by lack of a favorable opportunity or because his +courage failed him. His actions at the hotel, and +especially at the dock, were wholly consistent with +this theory, and the blunt note he left was further +evidence of mental derangement. Although his purpose +in no way affected his policy, a man in his right +mind would hardly have stated it so frankly; indeed, +a sane man probably would have tried to give the appearance +of accident to his death. Finally, he had +boarded the return boat and was missing when the +boat reached Chicago, although his strange actions +had directed particular attention to him during the +early part of the trip. +</p> +<p> +After a brief delay the company paid the policy. +The circumstantial evidence could hardly be more +convincing, and the body of a man who drowned himself +in mid-lake might never be recovered. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +It was several years later that Albert Kalin called +upon Murray and introduced himself a second time. +</p> +<p> +“We have just heard from father,” he said. +</p> +<p> +“What!” cried Murray. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +</p> +<p> +“He died in South America,” explained Albert; +“died there miserably—not because of any poverty, +but because he was an exile and felt that he was a +swindler. He left a letter which was forwarded to us. +His life, he said, had been one long torture since that +night on the boat, and he had a thousand times regretted +that he did not actually throw himself into +the lake. I fear,” added Albert sadly, “that he really +did commit suicide finally. He made one dying request. +I would like to read it to you.” +</p> +<p> +Albert took a letter from his pocket and read this +paragraph: +</p> +<p> +“My life as an exiled swindler has been hell, but I +have seen the Chicago papers and I know that I saved +the firm and the invention and that you have prospered. +That has been my only consolation. It would +have been some relief if I could have communicated +with you, but I would not make you a party to my +crime. Now, at last, I ask you to do something for +the old man: Refund to the insurance company every +cent you received, less the premiums I actually paid. +Refund it all, if necessary, but make my record clear. +That was the only dishonest act of a long business +career, and God only knows how I have suffered for +it. You have prospered, you can do this, and I know +you will. It is that alone that gives me consolation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +as my period of punishment at last draws to a +close.” +</p> +<p> +“How did he do it?” asked Murray, before Albert +could speak. +</p> +<p> +“He purchased and took with him a second-hand +suit of clothes and a wig,” explained Albert. “He cut +off his whiskers and mustache, so that he appeared as +a man who had neglected to shave for a week—a +pretty good disguise in itself, for father was always +neat and clean. The clothes he had worn went overboard +with a weight attached, which accounts for the +splash, and he himself raised the cry of ‘Man overboard!’ +After that he kept out of the light, and he +had little difficulty in slipping ashore while we were +hunting his state-room. His mental distress was real, +for he was leaving all he held dear and condemning +himself to exile.” +</p> +<p> +“Well,” commented Murray, “I guess the circumstances +would have fooled any one, for his whole +previous life made him about the last man who would +be suspected of anything of that sort.” +</p> +<p> +“And now,” said Albert, “my brother and I are +prepared to make a cash settlement with you on any +basis that you deem satisfactory.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span><a name='c11' id='c11'></a>AN INCIDENTAL DISCOVERY</h2> +<p> +The applicant for insurance was nervous and ill +at ease, but that alone was not sufficient to make Dave +Murray suspicious. A man taking out his first policy +is very often nervous—he dreads the physical examination +in many instances. He may think he is all +right, but he fears the possibility of some serious latent +trouble. If there is anything radically and incurably +wrong with the average man, he prefers not to know +it. He may not say so, but he does. He goes before +the medical examiner with the fear that he may learn +something disagreeable. +</p> +<p> +“I’m fairly contented now,” he says to himself, if +he happens to be practical enough to put his thoughts +into words, “but life will be a haunting hell to me if I +learn that I am not a good risk. That will mean at +least the probability of an early death. It will not +change conditions, but it will seem to bring death +nearer.” +</p> +<p> +These thoughts do not come to the very young man, +but they do come to the man who has passed, or is +passing, the optimism of youth. In the words of Dave +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +Murray, “One of the great annoyances of the life insurance +business is that the very young man is too well +and strong to want to be insured, and the man of +middle age is afraid of learning that he is not as well +and strong as he thinks he is. We have to fight +optimism first and cowardice later. Theoretically, the +‘risk’ ought to be caught young, but, practically, it is +easier to catch him when he has begun to appreciate +the responsibilities of life. The optimism is more difficult +to overcome than the cowardice.” +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, the man who has neglected to take +out insurance when he could get the best rate is likely +to be nervous when he applies for it later, however +hard he may try to conceal the fact. And Elmer +Harkness was nervous. He was a year short of forty, +apparently in the best physical condition, but he was +unusually nervous. He hesitated over his answers to +the most ordinary questions, he corrected himself once +or twice, and he betrayed a strong desire to get +through with the ordeal in the quickest possible time. +When, at last, he was able to leave, the physician having +completed his examination, he gave a very audible +sigh of relief. +</p> +<p> +“There’s something about this I don’t like,” commented +Murray a little later. +</p> +<p> +“What?” asked the doctor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s the trouble,” returned Murray. “I can’t +say exactly what it is, but I have a feeling that something +is wrong. We’ve had nervous men here before. +Remember the fellow who was brought up by his wife +and who would have ducked and run if he could have +got the chance? He was nervous enough, but not in +the same way. He was afraid he would find he was +going to die next week, but this fellow was shifty. +How does he stand physically, doctor?” +</p> +<p> +“Fine,” answered the doctor. “You couldn’t ask +a better risk.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, he doesn’t get the policy until I’ve made a +pretty thorough investigation, in addition to the usual +investigation from headquarters,” announced Murray. +</p> +<p> +It took a good deal really to disturb Murray, but +this case disturbed him before he got through with it. +His first discovery was that Elmer Harkness had been +refused insurance by another company some years +previous. This information came from the home +office, which had secured it through the “clearing-house.” +</p> +<p> +“The risk was refused,” said the report, “on the +advice of the company’s physician.” +</p> +<p> +“Must be another Harkness,” said the doctor, when +Murray told him about it. “This man was in splendid +physical condition.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +</p> +<p> +“The Elmer Harkness refused,” said Murray, consulting +the papers before him, “was born at Madison, +Indiana, January twentieth, 1866, and that is the +place and date of birth given by the man who applied +to us. You don’t suppose there were twins, do you?” +</p> +<p> +“Might look it up,” suggested the doctor. +</p> +<p> +“Of course, I’ll look it up,” returned Murray. “It’s +mighty funny that a man who was refused on physical +grounds five years ago should be a superb risk now.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s one satisfaction,” remarked the doctor. +“With the safeguards thrown around the business in +these modern days, a man can’t very well beat us.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s no game that can’t be beaten,” asserted +Murray emphatically. “There is no burglar-proof +safe. With improvements in safes there has come a +corresponding improvement in cracksmen’s methods. +No man is so much superior to all other men that he +can devise a thing so perfect that some other can not +find the flaw that makes it temporarily worthless. The +burglar-proof safes have to be watched to keep burglars +away from them. The insurance system is as good +as we now know how to make it, but it has to be +watched to keep swindlers from punching holes in it. +When we further improve the system they will further +improve their methods, and we’ll have to keep on +watching. The business concern that thinks it has an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +infallible system to protect itself from loss is then in +the greatest danger.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think this case a swindle?” asked the doctor. +</p> +<p> +“It’s better to get facts before reaching conclusions,” +replied Murray. “It may be only an extraordinary +coincidence. The man who was refused insurance +was not then living where the man who applied +to us is now living. That’s worth considering.” +</p> +<p> +But investigation only made the case the more puzzling. +From Madison, Indiana, a report was received +that Elmer Harkness was born there on the date given, +and that nothing was known of any second Elmer +Harkness. The father of the Elmer born at Madison +had been Abner Harkness, who was now dead. The +name of the father of the man who had applied to +Murray was given as Abner, and that also was the +name of the father of the man whose application had +been previously refused. Elmer, after the death of +his parents, had left Madison, and nothing had been +heard of him since, although he was supposed to be +in Chicago. +</p> +<p> +“Strange!” commented Murray. “This Madison +Harkness is our Harkness, beyond question, and he +also corresponds, except physically, to the Harkness +who was refused.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +</p> +<p> +So far as was known at Madison, Harkness was +physically sound and well. He certainly had been considered +a strong, healthy man. +</p> +<p> +“That,” said Murray, “answers the description of +the man who was here, but it really means nothing, as +far as the other refusal is concerned. Heart trouble +was the cause of that refusal, and there hardly would +have been any indication of that to the casual observer. +This Madison Harkness may well have been the man +who was refused or the man who applied to us, but he +can hardly be both—unless you have made a mistake, +Doctor.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll examine him again,” said the doctor. +</p> +<p> +So he sent for Harkness again, on the plea that he +had mislaid the record of the previous examination, +and this time he gave particular attention to the heart. +</p> +<p> +“Normal and strong,” he reported. “No trouble +there. It’s possible he had some slight temporary affection +when he was examined for the other company. +The heart is sometimes most deceptive, and there are +occasionally apparent evidences of a serious malady +where none really exists. In some cases I’ve discovered +symptoms of heart trouble at one examination +and found them absolutely lacking a little later. This +man is all right.” +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, Murray questioned Harkness closely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure,” he asked, the question having been +previously answered when the application was made, +“that you never were refused by any other company?” +</p> +<p> +“I never applied for insurance before,” replied +Harkness, but there was the same shifty look in his +eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Did you ever know another Harkness at Madison, +Indiana?” +</p> +<p> +Harkness looked frightened, but he answered +promptly in the negative. +</p> +<p> +“Where have you been since you left Madison?” +</p> +<p> +Harkness told briefly of his movements. +</p> +<p> +“Did you ever live at 1176 Wabash Avenue?” +</p> +<p> +“No.” +</p> +<p> +The case became even more mystifying. There was +a record of only one Elmer Harkness at Madison, but +it was evident that two had applied for insurance, for +the Harkness who had been refused had given his address +as 1176 Wabash Avenue. +</p> +<p> +“I am tempted,” said Murray later, “to make a +strong adverse report. At the same time I don’t want +to do an injustice and refuse a man who is rightfully +entitled to insurance. My refusal, coupled with the +mystifying record, would make it practically impossible +to get insurance anywhere at any time, and he +may be all right.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +</p> +<p> +“If there’s a fraud in it anywhere,” remarked the +doctor, “there are some clever and experienced people +behind it.” +</p> +<p> +“Quite the contrary,” returned Murray. “The experienced +people are the people we catch, because they +do things the way one naturally expects. As a general +thing, you will find that the police are fooled, not +by the professional criminal, but by the novice who +is ignorant of the ways of the crook, and the same +rule applies to insurance swindles. If there is anything +wrong here our difficulty lies in the fact that +this fellow and those behind him are not experienced +and are not going at the thing the way an experienced +swindler would.” +</p> +<p> +An attempt to identify the Harkness who had applied +for insurance as the Harkness who had lived at +1176 Wabash Avenue failed utterly, owing to the fact +that the woman who had formerly conducted a boarding-house +at that number had moved and it was impossible +to find her. It was a simple matter, however, +to verify other statements made by Harkness. He was +now living at 2313 Wesson Street, and was employed +by a large wholesale grocery firm. His employer +spoke highly of him, but knew nothing of his personal +affairs. He might or might not be married. The +employer had been under the impression that he was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +a bachelor, but could not recall that Harkness ever +had said so. This confusion was partly explained at +the Wesson Street boarding-house, for Harkness had +recently told the landlady that he expected his wife +to join him soon. He explained that she had been +visiting relatives during the six months he had been +at this house, but that they were planning to take a +small flat. They had previously had a flat, the address +of which he gave, and the agent for the building +remembered that Elmer Harkness had been among his +tenants for two years. He knew very little about +them, except that Harkness had paid his rent +promptly and had been a model tenant. +</p> +<p> +“And there you are!” grumbled Murray. “He’s +all right, and I wouldn’t hesitate a minute, except for +this other Harkness who hailed from the same place, +lived in Wabash Avenue, and was refused insurance. +Who was he? How can there be two Elmers from a +town that produced only one?” +</p> +<p> +“Possibly it is the same Elmer,” suggested the doctor. +“Possibly he was refused owing to some temporary +trouble that deceived the first physician. Possibly +he did live at the Wabash Avenue place, but +thought his chance of getting insurance would be better +if he denied that he ever had been refused, and, +having once told that story, he has had to stick to it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +Of course, he had no means of knowing our facilities +for getting information.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see,” returned Murray, “that our facilities +have succeeded in doing more than confuse us in this +case. However, I’ll submit the whole matter to the +home office.” +</p> +<p> +After taking some time for consideration, the home +office decided that there was no reason for refusing the +risk. +</p> +<p> +“If you are sure this man is physically all right,” +was the reply received, “and that he is the man he +represents himself to be, there would seem to be no +reason for refusing the risk. There may have been +some attempt at fraud, with which he had nothing to +do, in the other case, and none in this. In any event, +if the man who applied to you is a good risk physically, +and a man of good reputation, as your report indicates, +we are willing to give him the policy.” +</p> +<p> +In these circumstances there was no reason for refusal. +Harkness was a man of good reputation. Because +of the other apparently mythical Harkness, he +had been investigated more thoroughly than was usually +deemed necessary, and his references had proved +to be good. The inquiries had been made cautiously +and circumspectly, to avoid giving offense, and the +replies had been generally satisfactory. Nevertheless, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +Murray had another talk with him before delivering +the policy. +</p> +<p> +Harkness told whom and when he married, and the +truthfulness of this statement was capable of easy +verification. His wife, he said, had been away for some +time, but was now returning. +</p> +<p> +“We shall take a small flat again,” he explained. +“I have already selected one in Englewood—on Sixty-fourth +Street. A fellow can get more for his money +out there than he can nearer the city.” +</p> +<p> +Then Harkness got his policy, and a little later he +notified the company that he had moved to the Sixty-fourth +Street flat. Murray puzzled his head a little +over the mysterious Harkness, and once took the +trouble to learn that the Harkness he had insured was +still employed by the wholesale grocery firm. Then +other matters claimed his attention, and the Harkness +case was forgotten. There seemed to be no doubt +that it was a good risk, even if there was a mystery +back of it somewhere. +</p> +<p> +It was six months later that he was notified of the +sudden death at the Sixty-fourth Street flat of Elmer +Harkness, who had a policy in his company. Instantly +the details of the case, and his misgivings at +the time, returned to him. Yet the proof of death, +signed by a reputable and well-known physician, was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +flawless. A latent heart trouble had developed suddenly, +and Harkness had died within forty-eight +hours after he was stricken. The physician who had +attended him never had been called for Harkness before, +but he had been at the flat a number of times to +prescribe for the trifling ailments of Mrs. Harkness, +and he had become well acquainted with the husband. +They had moved into the neighborhood about six +months before. +</p> +<p> +“It all fits in with what we know of the case,” commented +Murray, “except the heart trouble. That +sounds like the mysterious Harkness. Could you have +possibly made any mistake in your examination, +Doctor?” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly I could,” admitted the company’s physician +ruefully. “None of us is infallible, but I’ll swear +there were no indications of any heart trouble when I +examined him. Still, the heart is a mighty deceptive +organ. There may be trouble without any indications +of it and there may be indications without any trouble. +I once knew of a man whose heart seemed to skip a +beat once in so often, but the best of medical talent +was unable to discover the cause of it, and the man +lived to a good old age. I don’t claim infallibility, but +I never examined a man who seemed freer from any +indications of heart trouble.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wonder,” said Murray thoughtfully, “if Harkness’ +employer has heard of his death.” +</p> +<p> +An insurance company is merciless in following up +evidence of attempted fraud, but, lacking such evidence, +it is wise to conduct investigations with extreme +delicacy. A reputation for unnecessary intrusion or +harshness, for a lack of sympathy with the bereaved, +for any action that implies a suspicion of dishonesty +when the proof is lacking, may do a great deal of +harm. Every reputable company is anxious to pay +all honest claims with as little inconvenience to the +beneficiaries as is compatible with safety. Such investigation +as may be necessary in some exceptional case +is conducted as unobtrusively as possible. +</p> +<p> +In this instance, the ordinary proof of death would +have been accepted without question were it not for +the mystery of the “heart trouble” that was supposed +not to exist. This, combined with the report on the +other Harkness, was annoying, and, to satisfy himself, +Murray sent a man to the wholesale house where +Harkness had been employed. The result was reassuring, +so far as any question of fraud was concerned. +The other clerks were then taking up a subscription +to send some flowers to the funeral, and his illness and +death had been reported promptly to the head of the +department in which Harkness had worked. Furthermore, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +he was registered as living at the Sixty-fourth +Street flat, to which place he had moved from 2313 +Wesson Street. +</p> +<p> +“It seems to be all right,” remarked Murray. “This +is the man we insured on the strength of your report, +Doctor, and I guess the only thing we can do is to +charge you up with an error of judgment. Fortunately, +it’s only a three-thousand-dollar policy.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t understand it,” said the doctor gloomily. +“I wish we could demand an autopsy.” +</p> +<p> +“Hardly justifiable, in view of the circumstances,” +returned Murray. “We have the affidavit of a first-class +physician, and we know that it’s the same man, +so the autopsy would be only to satisfy your curiosity. +My own curiosity deals with the Wabash Avenue man +who was refused. I wish we could locate him, although +I don’t see that it would have any bearing on this case. +He seems to have disappeared utterly. Perhaps he’s +dead.” +</p> +<p> +Before dismissing the matter from his mind, Murray +reviewed the facts carefully. There had been an +application to another company from a man living +at 1176 Wabash Avenue, which had been refused because +of heart trouble, but the city directory for that +year gave no Harkness at that address. It did give +an Elmer Harkness at another address, however, which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +coincided with the story told by the Harkness he had +insured. +</p> +<p> +“Somebody,” mused Murray, “must have been trying +to beat the other company. That’s the best I can +make out of it, although I can’t see why he should +have assumed this Elmer’s name and antecedents. It’s +a most extraordinary case.” +</p> +<p> +The latest city directory gave Elmer Harkness as +living at 2313 Wesson Street, which certainly was his +address at the time the directory was issued. So +much Murray had looked up before. Now, further +to satisfy himself, he went through all the directories +for the interval between the two years, and he was +rewarded by finding the name of Elmer Harkness +twice in one of them. Both were clerks, the addresses +of the employers not being given, and the residence of +one of them was put down as the address of the Harkness +who had secured insurance. +</p> +<p> +“Then there are, or at least there were, two,” +thought Murray, “but only one came from Madison. +And what has become of the missing Harkness? Why +is he in only one directory? The fact that there were +two helps to clear up the record of the one I insured, +so far as that Wabash Avenue address is concerned, +but how did both happen to give the same place and +date of birth? And did both have heart trouble?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +</p> +<p> +Murray straightened up suddenly and sent for the +clerk who had made the previous inquiries for him. +</p> +<p> +“Harry,” he said, “I want you to go to the funeral +of Elmer Harkness to-morrow. Go early, and get a +look at him, if possible. If not, get a description of +him from some of the neighbors.” +</p> +<p> +Murray reproached himself for not having searched +all the directories before, although it would have made +little difference. The fact that another Harkness had +lived in Chicago would have had no bearing on the +case, so long as the record of the one who applied for +insurance was clear. In fact, it would have explained +everything, except the coincidence of the alleged birth +records. Still, it would have given a new line of investigation, +which might have cleared up the mystery. +</p> +<p> +Harry reported promptly the next day, and almost +his first words aroused Murray. +</p> +<p> +“I couldn’t get a glimpse of the late lamented,” +he said flippantly, “for the casket was closed, but I +learned that he had hair slightly tinged with gray +and—” +</p> +<p> +“Gray!” exclaimed Murray. “Does a man get gray +hair in six months? The man we insured hadn’t a +gray hair in his head.” +</p> +<p> +“He was rather stout—” +</p> +<p> +“Our man was not.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span> +</p> +<p> +“I couldn’t learn much else—” +</p> +<p> +“You’ve learned enough.” +</p> +<p> +“—except that when he was stricken his wife’s first +thought seemed to be to get a message to some mysterious man, +who responded in person, had a short +talk with the wife, and then disappeared. A neighbor +who had come in was somewhat impressed by this, +because she called him ‘Elmer,’ which was her husband’s +name.” +</p> +<p> +“What!” cried Murray, startled out of his usual +imperturbability by the evidence thus unexpectedly +accumulating. Then, more calmly, “Harry, you +didn’t get the address to which she sent, did you?” +</p> +<p> +“The messenger,” said Harry, proud of his success, +“was a neighbor’s boy. I found him. Here is +the address.” +</p> +<p> +Murray took the slip of paper, looked at the address, +and then sent for the company’s physician. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll make identification sure,” he said, “for we +both know the man, and we’ll take an officer and a +warrant along with us.” +</p> +<p> +Elmer Harkness was sitting on his trunk, waiting +for an expressman, when the party appeared at the +door of his room in a little out-of-the-way boarding-house. +</p> +<p> +“I thought you were dead,” said Murray. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wish I was,” said Harkness. He had almost +fainted at the first sight of Murray, but had recovered +himself quickly, and, having once decided that +the case was hopeless, he resigned himself to the inevitable +and spoke with a frank carelessness that had +been entirely lacking when he was playing a part and +trying to stick to the details of a prepared story. +</p> +<p> +“Any weapons?” asked the policeman, making a +quick search. +</p> +<p> +“No weapons,” replied Harkness. “I’m not that +kind.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see,” said Murray, “why you waited here +to be arrested.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, I had a little interest in that insurance,” +explained Harkness, “and I rather wanted to get it +before leaving. However, waiting here was a little +trying to the nerves, even if everything did seem to +be going all right, and I was just about to slip up +to Milwaukee until the case was settled. I ought to +have gone the day Elmer was stricken.” +</p> +<p> +“What Elmer?” demanded Murray. +</p> +<p> +“Elmer Harkness, my cousin,” the other replied +promptly. +</p> +<p> +“And who are you?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m Elmer Harkness, his cousin,” he returned with +equal promptness. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span> +</p> +<p> +“Which of you was born at Madison, Indiana?” +pursued Murray. +</p> +<p> +“He was,” replied Harkness, and added, “I was born +at Matteson, Illinois.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s a nice pair of names for a tangle,” commented +Murray as the possibilities of the situation +began to dawn on him. “No wonder my inquiries +failed to untangle it. Would you mind telling me how +you happened to try this thing?” +</p> +<p> +“No trouble at all,” returned Harkness. “It was +my cousin’s scheme. He had tried to get insurance +when he was living on Wabash Avenue and had failed. +He had a heart trouble that was likely to culminate +fatally almost any time. Still, I don’t think it occurred +to him to try to beat an insurance company +until we happened to be thrown together about a year +ago. We were cousins, although we never had met +before, and the similarity of names seemed to make +a great impression on him. He had just returned to +Chicago after a year or more in St. Louis, and he +already had had one heart attack, with a warning +from his doctor that the next would almost certainly +be fatal. He was also told that the next was not +likely to be long delayed. Now, I suppose you’ll +think I’m lying, but I did not take kindly to his +scheme, and the money alone would not have tempted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span> +me to go into it. I was sorry for his wife. He had +been able to make only a bare living; he could leave +her absolutely nothing. She never had had to support +herself and there seemed to be mighty little +chance that she could do it. I finally agreed to go +into it for her sake. It looked easy and I was glad to +make the try on her account.” +</p> +<p> +“But you wouldn’t refuse a little something for +yourself on the side, so to speak,” suggested Murray +sarcastically. +</p> +<p> +“No, I wouldn’t,” Harkness frankly admitted. “To +carry out the plan it would be necessary for me to +give up my job, change my name and make a fresh +start somewhere else. The job was not such an all-fired +good one, but it might be some time before I got +another as good, and I would need something for expenses +while I was losing myself. I was to get five +hundred of the three thousand dollars insurance. The +rest was to go to the widow.” +</p> +<p> +“That wouldn’t last her very long,” remarked Murray. +</p> +<p> +“It would help a little,” said Harkness, “and we +thought we would stand a better chance if we didn’t +ask for too big a sum.” +</p> +<p> +“An insurance company,” said Murray, “has to be +as particular with a small risk as with a large one, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +and it will follow up a suspicious case as closely in +one instance as in the other. It’s a matter of principle.” +</p> +<p> +“I think I understand that now,” remarked Harkness +regretfully. +</p> +<p> +“But I am curious to know,” persisted Murray, +“how in the world you arranged such a mystifying +record.” +</p> +<p> +“It was easy,” replied Harkness. “I gave you my +cousin’s place and date of birth, his parents, his marriage +and his life up to the time he left Madison. Then +I gave you my record up to the finish, with the exception +of one year, when he was in the Chicago +directory. We put that year in so you could get +trace of the wife in case you made any investigation. +I have no wife, and it was rather important, of +course, that there should be a record of a wife somewhere.” +</p> +<p> +“It was a wise provision,” admitted Murray. “We +got trace of the wife at that flat.” +</p> +<p> +“It was after leaving there,” Harkness continued, +“that my cousin went to St. Louis. When he returned +we met and a little later fixed up the job. +As soon as I got the policy I rented the Sixty-fourth +Street flat, and my cousin and his wife moved in. +That’s all, I think, except that you ought to be a little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span> +easy on me, I think, for giving you such an entertaining +story.” +</p> +<p> +Murray turned to the doctor with a pardonable air +of triumph. +</p> +<p> +“Was I right, Doctor,” he asked, “in saying that +it takes the novice to devise the really confusing +scheme?” +</p> +<p> +“You were right,” said the doctor. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span><a name='c12' id='c12'></a>AN INCIDENTAL GRIEVANCE</h2> +<p> +Jane Moffat, widow, was sore distressed. +</p> +<p> +“Without Tom,” she said, “I don’t know what I’ll +do. Tom was a good man, but unlucky. There was +better providers than Tom, but he was better than +none.” +</p> +<p> +This apparent reflection on her late husband did +not mean that Mrs. Moffat confined herself to the +financial point of view, for she had been a true and +devoted wife, but her present need was great and her +present resources were nothing. Furthermore, Tom +Moffat certainly had been either unlucky or incapable. +Mrs. Moffat, out of her affection for him, chose to +attribute their misfortunes to ill luck; another, less +considerate, might have said that Tom lacked ability +and stability; no one, however, could have said that +he was neglectful or indifferent—he did the best he +could, and his family always had all he could provide. +Nevertheless, Tom Moffat had drifted from one thing +to another, and his wife and two children had drifted +with him. He had worked at many things, and in +many places, and there had been times when he lacked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span> +work entirely. So he left Mrs. Moffat practically +nothing when he died. +</p> +<p> +“The neighbors was good,” continued Mrs. Moffat, +“an’ I’ve got some sewing to do. I was pretty good +at that in my younger days, but the children don’t +give me time to earn much, even if the pay was what +it should be. I had to sell some furniture already, an’ +I don’t know what I’ll do. We’ve been going from +bad to worse.” +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t he have no insurance?” asked the sympathetic +Mrs. Crimmins, whose husband was a member +of one of the fraternal organizations. +</p> +<p> +“Not when he died,” answered Mrs. Moffat. “Didn’t +I say he was unlucky? He had insurance when it +didn’t mean anything but paying out money, but +there ain’t any when the time comes for getting it +back.” +</p> +<p> +“They can’t take your money an’ not give you +nothing for it,” declared Mrs. Crimmins. +</p> +<p> +“Sure they can!” said Mrs. Moffat. +</p> +<p> +“I say they can’t,” insisted Mrs. Crimmins. “There +can’t nobody do that, if you got the sense to fight. +There was a lawyer once told my man so.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, Tom paid the money, an’ it ain’t come back +to me, has it?” demanded Mrs. Moffat, as if that +settled the question. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span> +</p> +<p> +“You ain’t tried to get it, that’s why!” retorted +Mrs. Crimmins. “You go see a lawyer. He’ll make +’em pay, an’ he won’t charge you a cent if he don’t +get the money. Some might, but I’ll tell you one +that won’t.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Moffat was not in a position to overlook even +a slight chance to get any money, especially if it cost +nothing to make the attempt. She knew less about +insurance than Mrs. Crimmins, and Mrs. Crimmins +had only wild, weird, second-hand notions. Still, Mrs. +Crimmins talked confidently, and Mrs. Moffat finally +took the address of the lawyer recommended to her. +This, of course, was a mistake—it would have been +better to go direct to the insurance company. But the +impression prevails in some quarters that insurance +companies are ready to take advantage of any technicality +to escape the payment of claims, and that a +lawyer’s services are necessary to compel them to pay +anything that can possibly be questioned. Some +lawyers, for their own purposes, encourage this idea. +Isaac Hinse, to whom Mrs. Moffat went, was one of +this class. +</p> +<p> +“You did well to come to me,” he said pompously, +as soon as she had stated her errand. “What chance +has a woman, with no knowledge of the law, against +a great corporation that has big lawyers engaged for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span> +the sole purpose of bulldozing or fooling the ignorant? +Fortunately, I know how to deal with them. Now, +where is this policy?” +</p> +<p> +“Tore up,” answered Mrs. Moffat. +</p> +<p> +“What!” cried Hinse. +</p> +<p> +“Tom tore it up when he couldn’t pay any more +on it. I ain’t looking for the whole thousand dollars, +but only to get back what he paid in. Mrs. Crimmins +said I could do that.” +</p> +<p> +Hinse leaned back in his chair and looked at the +ceiling thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +“Well,” he said at last, “that makes more trouble, +of course. An insurance company can’t escape its obligations +because the policy has been destroyed, but +it makes it more difficult to prove the claim. Do you +know what kind of policy it was?” +</p> +<p> +“How should I?” returned Mrs. Moffat. “I’m no +lawyer nor no insurance man. I come to you to learn +my rights.” +</p> +<p> +“Quite right, quite right,” conceded Hinse; “but +I must know something of the circumstances. When +was this policy taken out?” +</p> +<p> +“Fifteen or sixteen years ago,” answered Mrs. +Moffat. “We was doing pretty well then. Tom’s +aunt left him a bit of money, an’ Tom was workin’ +steady an’ I got some money a little later. But Tom +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span> +was always unlucky. He didn’t seem to hold on well, +an’ we kept movin’ an’ movin’ an’ gettin’ harder up—” +</p> +<p> +“And he finally let the policy lapse,” suggested +Hinse. +</p> +<p> +“Lapse!” exclaimed Mrs. Moffat, as if she had +made an important discovery unexpectedly. “That’s +it; that’s what he said when he tore it up an’ threw +it in the fire. I only knew he didn’t think it was +good, but Mrs. Crimmins says they got to pay back +what he paid them.” +</p> +<p> +“That depends on the policy and circumstances,” +said Hinse in his most impressive way—and Hinse +prided himself upon being impressive. “How long +did he pay premiums?” +</p> +<p> +“Eight or ten years.” +</p> +<p> +“Ha!” exclaimed Hinse. “There is a chance, but +it is a desperate chance—so desperate that I really +can’t afford to take this on my usual contingent fee.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” asked Mrs. Moffat. +</p> +<p> +“I mean,” explained Hinse, “that I’ll get the money +for you if any one can, but I’ll have to charge five +dollars in advance.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Moffat hesitated. +</p> +<p> +“I got it,” she said, “but it’s rent money.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s more than rent in this,” declared Hinse, +“but why should I take all the risk? It is a hard case +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span> +and will take a great deal of my time, but I know +these people, and I think I can work it out of them. +You happened to come to just the right man.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Moffat was sitting on the opposite side of +the desk from Hinse, which she deemed fortunate at +this critical moment. +</p> +<p> +“There ain’t any safe place to leave money at +home,” she explained apologetically, “an’ a woman +don’t have safe pockets like a man.” +</p> +<p> +She made a dive down behind the desk, there was a +sound of moving skirts, and she straightened up with +three bills in her hand—a five and two ones. She +handed the five to Hinse, who promptly tucked it +away in his vest pocket. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what I’ll do about the rent,” she +sighed. +</p> +<p> +“Think of the insurance,” suggested Hinse, “and +remember that you’ve got the best man cheap. I’ll +see these insurance people to-day.” +</p> +<p> +Hinse was a large pompous man, who wore a long +rusty frock coat, because he thought that kind of coat +properly impressed his police-court clients. His +speeches also were for his clients, rather than for the +judge—he wanted to show them he was not afraid of +the court. He talked loud and aggressively. His +whole life being what is popularly termed a “bluff,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span> +it naturally followed that he considered bluffing the +main element of success. +</p> +<p> +That is where he made his mistake when he went to +see Dave Murray about Mrs. Moffat’s claim. Murray +was not in particularly good humor that day. A +friend had been arguing to him that corporations are +notoriously ungrateful for services rendered, and another +friend had endeavored to demonstrate that life +insurance companies had a way of forcing a man to +the limit of his endurance, of squeezing all the life +and energy out of him in a few years, and then dropping +him. +</p> +<p> +The worst of it was that some of the cases cited +Murray knew to be true: men were “forced” and then +left to seek other avenues of employment when insurance +had got the best that was in them. He had +argued that it was the universal business rule of “the +survival of the fittest”; that the man who had the +ability to get near the top need have no fear, and +that men who could stand the pace prospered wherever +they might be in the great system. But an unexpected +and rather harsh criticism from headquarters +had given him a more pessimistic view of the situation: +it could not be denied that comparatively few men +grew old in the service. Then there was a gloomy outlook +for a promotion he had expected, to add to his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span> +annoyance, and—well, Murray, the energetic and +enthusiastic Murray, was momentarily dissatisfied. +He was in no humor to be “bluffed” by a pompous +shyster lawyer. +</p> +<p> +“I am representing Mrs. Jane Moffat,” announced +Hinse. +</p> +<p> +“What about her?” asked Murray shortly. +</p> +<p> +“She has a claim against your company.” +</p> +<p> +“Policy?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s see it.” +</p> +<p> +“There will be time enough for that,” said Hinse +in his most impressive tones, “when we have settled +what is to be paid on it.” Hinse was so constituted +morally that he could not possibly be frank and +straightforward. “It is a policy for a thousand dollars +on the life of her late husband, Thomas Moffat. +He failed to pay some of the last premiums, but there +is a value to it.” +</p> +<p> +“Is there?” +</p> +<p> +“There is. Will you look it up and see how the +matter stands, or shall I take legal proceedings to +force a settlement?” +</p> +<p> +“Better sue,” said Murray. “Good day.” +</p> +<p> +“You will regret this interview,” announced Hinse. +</p> +<p> +“I regret it already,” returned Murray. Then, his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> +professional instinct overcoming his dislike of the +man, he added: “If premiums have not been paid, +the policy may have lapsed, or it may be non-forfeitable. +I must see the policy and know the details. I +never heard of Thomas Moffat that I recall. Give me +the facts.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah,” said Hinse, settling himself comfortably in +a chair, “I thought you would see the wisdom of being +reasonable.” +</p> +<p> +“Reasonable!” exploded Murray. “Damn it! I’m +having trouble enough being patient. Who was he, +where did he live, and when did he die?” +</p> +<p> +There was something in the way this was said that +led Hinse to change his tactics, and he partly explained +the situation in a confidential way. Premiums +had been paid on the policy for at least eight years, +he said, but the widow had supposed that everything +was forfeited when her husband failed to pay the +later premiums: she knew nothing about cash surrender +values or non-forfeitable clauses. +</p> +<p> +“She’ll do what I say,” he said significantly in conclusion. +“She’ll compromise for any figure that I +say is right.” +</p> +<p> +He waited for Murray to reach for this bait, but +Murray was merely fighting an impulse to throw the +man out of the office. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, she will!” said Murray at last. “Well, you’ll +talk more frankly than you have, if you want to do +business with me. Where’s the proof of death and +the proof of identity? Where’s the policy?” +</p> +<p> +Hinse ignored the last question. He wished to find +out certain things about that policy himself before he +admitted that it had been destroyed, and he thought +he was handling the matter with consummate skill. +</p> +<p> +“There will be no trouble about the proof of death,” +he said. “In fact, I have that with me. But Moffat +and his family moved many times during the years +that have elapsed since he stopped paying premiums, +living in two or three different cities, and they were +not always known to their neighbors.” +</p> +<p> +“I thought so,” remarked Murray sarcastically. +“Somebody died, and you want me to take it on faith +that he was the Thomas Moffat who once was insured +in this company. Although I haven’t looked it up, +I have no doubt that a Thomas Moffat did take out +a policy, for I don’t believe even you would have the +nerve to come to me without at least that much foundation +for your claim. Perhaps it was the same +Thomas Moffat who died; perhaps it was a man who +was merely given that name in the certificate of death. +Perhaps he left a widow; perhaps you are representing +that widow, but perhaps you are representing a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span> +woman who merely claims to be that widow. She has +moved so often that she can’t produce any satisfactory +evidence of her identity. Doesn’t it strike you that +you are telling a rather fishy story? Doesn’t it occur +to you that you ought to have ingenuity enough to +concoct something more plausible?” +</p> +<p> +“This insult, sir—” Hinse shifted again to his +pompous manner, but Murray interrupted him. +</p> +<p> +“Insult!” exclaimed Murray. “That wasn’t an +insult, but I’ll give you one. I think you’re a tricky +scoundrel. You have virtually offered to sell out your +alleged client. I think you’re a swindler. I don’t +believe you have or can produce any such policy.” +</p> +<p> +“The loss of a policy, sir—” +</p> +<p> +“I knew it!” broke in Murray. “Policy lost, of +course! In other words, your client hasn’t a policy +and never did have one. She’s an impostor! You or +she learned that there had been such a man and such +a policy, and you thought there was a chance to get +some money. You must think insurance companies +are easy.” +</p> +<p> +“I shall take this matter to court!” declared Hinse. +</p> +<p> +“Do!” advised Murray. “Take it anywhere, so +long as you take it out of this office.” +</p> +<p> +“You shall hear from me again!” said Hinse at the +door. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’d rather hear from you than see you,” retorted +Murray. “You annoy me.” +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, when Hinse had departed, Murray +had the matter looked up, and found that such a +policy actually had been issued, that it was non-forfeitable +after three years, and that about four hundred +dollars was due on it as a result of the premiums that +had been paid. Murray was eminently a just man—he +wished to take unfair advantage of no one. There +might be merit in the claim advanced, and some woman, +entitled to the money, might be in great want. Still, +it was not his business to seek for ways of disbursing +the company’s funds. He reported the matter to the +home office, and was advised to give it no further attention +unless suit actually was brought. Then it +should be fought. Insurance companies do not like +lawsuits, but they like still less to pay out money +when there is doubt as to the justice of a claim. When +one of them goes into court, however, it fights bitterly. +Hinse knew this, and he had not the slightest intention +of bringing suit. +</p> +<p> +If Mrs. Moffat had had any more money, so that +there would have been a chance to exact further fees, +he might have sued for the mere sake of getting the +fees, but she could not even advance court costs. So +Murray waited in vain for the threatened suit, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span> +the possibility of it kept the case in his mind. The +claim probably was fraudulent, but, if not, the woman +unquestionably was poor and unfortunate: the very +fact that she had taken the case to such a shyster as +Hinse was proof of that. Somehow, the well-to-do +people do not get into the hands of shysters. Murray +believed it was a fraud, but he always came back +to the possibility of being mistaken in this. And injustice—the +injustice of passivity as well as of activity—was +abhorrent to him. +</p> +<p> +The day Murray ran across a newspaper item to +the effect that a Mrs. Thomas Moffat had been evicted +for the non-payment of rent, he disobeyed the instructions +from the home office and looked her up. In +theory it was all right to wait for a beneficiary to +bring in the necessary proofs; in practice it was horrible +to think of taking advantage of the ignorance +or helplessness of a woman in trouble. +</p> +<p> +Murray found Mrs. Moffat and her two children +in a little back room near the somewhat larger apartment +from which she had just been evicted. She +was trying to sew and care for the children at the +same time. It was evident, however, that she had long +since overtaxed her strength and was near the point +of physical collapse. +</p> +<p> +“The neighbors has been good to me,” she explained, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> +“but they got their own troubles an’ they +can’t do much.” +</p> +<p> +Murray had primed himself with such facts as to +Thomas Moffat as the books of the company and the +old insurance application gave, and, after explaining +his errand, he asked when and where Thomas Moffat +was born. The weary woman, too long inured to disappointment +to be really hopeful now, brought out +a little old Bible and showed him the entries relating +to birth and marriage. They corresponded with the +dates he had. Murray took up the little Bible reverently, +and he then and there decided that this woman +was the widow of the Thomas Moffat who had been +insured in his company. Even her maiden name, as +given in the Bible, corresponded with the name he +had taken from the books. Nevertheless, he questioned +her closely on all the other details that he could verify. +She gave the address at which they were living when +the policy was taken out, and also told of the various +changes of residence during the time that the premiums +were being paid. +</p> +<p> +“He kep’ the big paper with the seals on it for +‘most three years after he quit paying,” she said. +“Then he tore it up an’ burned it. He said it wasn’t +no more use, for he’d lost it all when he quit paying. +It seemed mighty hard, but I thought he knew.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span> +</p> +<p> +“There isn’t even a scrap of it left?” queried Murray. +</p> +<p> +“No, sir. He burned the scraps. I saw him do it.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s unfortunate,” said Murray. “If there was +barely enough to identify the policy it would help. It +would be annoying to have it turn up after we had +settled the matter, for the custom is to surrender the +policy to the company when the payment is made.” +</p> +<p> +“You needn’t to worry over that,” Mrs. Moffat +assured him anxiously. “It was burned to the very +last piece. I saw it myself.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t doubt it,” returned Murray. “Have you +your marriage certificate?” +</p> +<p> +“Have I!” exclaimed Mrs. Moffat in surprise. “You +didn’t never know an honest married woman who would +lose that, did you? A man don’t think much of it, +but a woman does. It’s the proof she’s respectable.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Moffat produced the certificate, but Murray +merely glanced at the names. +</p> +<p> +“I think you may rely on getting the money, Mrs. +Moffat,” he said. “It isn’t much, but—” +</p> +<p> +“I got a chance to start a little school store if I had +a bit of money,” she interrupted eagerly. “I don’t +need only two hundred or two hundred and fifty, an’ +it’s better than sewing.” +</p> +<p> +“I am so confident that this is all right,” said Murray, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span> +ignoring the interruption, “that I am going to +advance you a little money now. I imagine you +need it.” +</p> +<p> +“Indeed I do!” exclaimed the grateful and now +hopeful woman. “The lawyer got most of the rent +money.” +</p> +<p> +“Damn the lawyer!” ejaculated Murray. “If he +hears that you’ve got anything he’ll probably put in +another claim, but you’re not to pay him a cent. Do +you understand that? Send him to me. I’ll settle with +him.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, sir,” returned Mrs. Moffat meekly. “He +helped me—” +</p> +<p> +“Helped you! He did more to hurt you than any +other ten men could have done. He ought to be made +to pay damages.” +</p> +<p> +Then Murray laughed at his own heat and gave +Mrs. Moffat a twenty-dollar bill. +</p> +<p> +“When we get the matter settled,” he said, “you +can repay this.” +</p> +<p> +“Indeed I will!” +</p> +<p> +Murray noted that there were tears in her eyes, and, +disliking a scene of any description, he picked up his +hat and hastily withdrew. +</p> +<p> +The matter, however, was not settled as easily as +he expected. He stated frankly what he had done, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span> +and the officials at headquarters seemed to think he +had taken unnecessary pains to make trouble. It was +not that they objected to paying any just claim +against the company, but they held that he had put +life into a slumbering claim that was at least open to +suspicion. Such evidence as she produced might have +fallen into the hands of an impostor, and there was +a considerable interval during which the connection +between the real beneficiary and the present claimant +was lost, the only explanation being that they had +made frequent changes of residence and had been +among strangers. In brief, the company did not consider +the claims satisfactorily established and criticized +the whole affair as being irregular. +</p> +<p> +Murray was disappointed and annoyed. He was +entirely satisfied in his own mind, and he resented the +criticism. Nevertheless, he sought for further evidence, +and Mrs. Moffat was finally able to supply it +in the shape of a receipt for the last premium paid. +This, it seemed, had not been destroyed with the policy. +Mrs. Moffat had discovered it among some old +papers. This Murray also reported. +</p> +<p> +“We are not satisfied with the evidence produced,” +was the reply that came back. +</p> +<p> +“I am satisfied,” was Murray’s answer, as he recalled +the woman’s tears of gratitude, “and I have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268'></a>268</span> +settled the claim and paid the money. Is my action +to be upheld or is my resignation desired?” +</p> +<p> +There was a long interval of silence on the part of +the officials at headquarters. This Murray understood +to be an evidence of their displeasure. Having thus +made their displeasure very apparent, the report was +finally returned with the single word, “Approved,” +written across it. +</p> +<p> +“Nevertheless,” mused Murray, “I fear I am not +long for this business—at least with this company. +Either I am becoming both headstrong and sensitive +or else my superiors are becoming inconsiderate and +dissatisfied.” +</p> +<p> +That evening he took a long street-car ride, at the +end of which he entered a little store opposite one of +the big public schools. He wanted to see the result +of his work. +</p> +<p> +When he reappeared, a little woman followed him +to the door, and there was a quaver in her voice as +she said, “You’ve been so good to us, Mr. Murray, and +we’re so happy.” +</p> +<p> +“Well,” returned Murray with a smile, “I’m happy +myself. And,” he added, as he was returning home, +“it’s worth all that it ever can cost me.” +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>Popular Copyright Books</span></p> +<p>AT MODERATE PRICES</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>Any of the following titles can be bought of your</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>bookseller at 50 cents per volume.</span></p> +</div> +<p> + <b>The Shepherd of the Hills.</b> By Harold Bell Wright.<br /> + <b>Jane Cable.</b> By George Barr McCutcheon.<br /> + <b>Abner Daniel.</b> By Will N. Harben.<br /> + <b>The Far Horizon.</b> By Lucas Malet.<br /> + <b>The Halo.</b> By Bettina von Hutten.<br /> + <b>Jerry Junior.</b> By Jean Webster.<br /> + <b>The Powers and Maxine.</b> By C. N. and A. M. Williamson.<br /> + <b>The Balance of Power.</b> By Arthur Goodrich.<br /> + <b>Adventures of Captain Kettle.</b> By Cutcliffe Hyne.<br /> + <b>Adventures of Gerard.</b> By A. 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Marchmont.<br /> + <b>Seats of the Mighty, The.</b> By Gilbert Parker.<br /> + <b>Sir Nigel.</b> By A. Conan Doyle.<br /> + <b>Sir Richard Calmady.</b> By Lucas Malet.<br /> + <b>Speckled Bird, A.</b> By Augusta Evans Wilson.<br /> + <b>Spirit of the Border, The.</b> By Zane Grey.<br /> + <b>Spoilers, The.</b> By Rex Beach.<br /> + <b>Squire Phin.</b> By Holman F. Day.<br /> + <b>Stooping Lady, The.</b> By Maurice Hewlett.<br /> + <b>Subjection of Isabel Carnaby.</b> By Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler.<br /> + <b>Sunset Trail, The.</b> By Alfred Henry Lewis.<br /> + <b>Sword of the Old Frontier, A.</b> By Randall Parrish.<br /> + <b>Tales of Sherlock Holmes.</b> By A. Conan Doyle.<br /> + <b>That Printer of Udell’s.</b> By Harold Bell Wright.<br /> + <b>Throwback, The.</b> By Alfred Henry Lewis.<br /> + <b>Trail of the Sword, The.</b> By Gilbert Parker.<br /> + <b>Treasure of Heaven, The.</b> By Marie Corelli.<br /> + <b>Two Vanrevels, The.</b> By Booth Tarkington.<br /> + <b>Up From Slavery.</b> By Booker T. Washington.<br /> + <b>Vashti.</b> By Augusta Evans Wilson.<br /> + <b>Viper of Milan, The</b> (original edition). By Marjorie Bowen.<br /> + <b>Voice of the People, The.</b> By Ellen Glasgow.<br /> + <b>Wheel of Life, The.</b> By Ellen Glasgow.<br /> + <b>When Wilderness Was King.</b> By Randall Parrish.<br /> + <b>Where the Trail Divides.</b> By Will Lillibridge.<br /> + <b>Woman in Grey, A.</b> By Mrs. C. N. Williamson.<br /> + <b>Woman in the Alcove, The.</b> By Anna Katharine Green.<br /> + <b>Younger Set, The.</b> By Robert W. Chambers.<br /> + <b>The Weavers.</b> By Gilbert Parker.<br /> + <b>The Little Brown Jug at Kildare.</b> By Meredith Nicholson.<br /> + <b>The Prisoners of Chance.</b> By Randall Parrish.<br /> + <b>My Lady of Cleve.</b> By Percy J. Hartley.<br /> + <b>Loaded Dice.</b> By Ellery H. Clark.<br /> + <b>Get Rich Quick Wallingford.</b> By George Randolph Chester.<br /> + <b>The Orphan.</b> By Clarence Mulford.<br /> + <b>A Gentleman of France.</b> By Stanley J. Weyman<br /> + <b>Purple Parasol, The.</b> By George Barr McCutcheon.<br /> + <b>Princess Dehra, The.</b> By John Reed Scott.<br /> + <b>Making of Bobby Burnit, The.</b> By George Randolph Chester.<br /> + <b>Last Voyage of the Donna Isabel, The.</b> By Randall Parrish.<br /> + <b>Bronze Bell, The.</b> By Louis Joseph Vance.<br /> + <b>Pole Baker.</b> By Will N. Harben.<br /> + <b>Four Million, The.</b> By O. Henry.<br /> + <b>Idols.</b> By William J. Locke.<br /> + <b>Wayfarers, The.</b> By Mary Stewart Cutting.<br /> + <b>Held for Orders.</b> By Frank H. Spearman.<br /> + <b>Story of the Outlaw, The.</b> By Emerson Hough.<br /> + <b>Mistress of Brae Farm, The.</b> By Rosa N. Carey.<br /> + <b>Explorer, The.</b> By William Somerset Maugham.<br /> + <b>Abbess of Vlaye, The.</b> By Stanley Weyman.<br /> + <b>Alton of Somasco.</b> By Harold Bindloss.<br /> + <b>Ancient Law, The.</b> By Ellen Glasgow.<br /> + <b>Barrier, The.</b> By Rex Beach.<br /> + <b>Bar 20.</b> By Clarence E. Mulford.<br /> + <b>Beloved Vagabond, The.</b> By William J. Locke.<br /> + <b>Beulah.</b> (Illustrated Edition.) By Augusta J. Evans.<br /> + <b>Chaperon, The.</b> By C. N. and A. M. Williamson.<br /> + <b>Colonel Greatheart.</b> By H. C. Bailey.<br /> + <b>Dissolving Circle, The.</b> By Will Lillibridge.<br /> + <b>Elusive Isabel.</b> By Jacques Futrelle.<br /> + <b>Fair Moon of Bath, The.</b> By Elizabeth Ellis.<br /> + <b>54-40 or Fight.</b> By Emerson Hough.<br /> + <b>Four Pool’s Mystery, The</b>. By Jean Webster.<br /> + <b>Ganton and Co.</b> By Arthur J. Eddy.<br /> + <b>Heart of Jessy Laurie, The.</b> By Amelia E. Barr.<br /> + <b>Inez.</b> (Illustrated Edition.) By Augusta J. Evans.<br /> + <b>Into the Primitive.</b> By Robert Ames Bennet.<br /> + <b>Katrina.</b> By Roy Rolfe Gilson.<br /> + <b>King Spruce.</b> By Holman Day.<br /> + <b>Macaria.</b> (Illustrated Edition.) By Augusta J. Evans.<br /> + <b>Meryl.</b> By Wm. Tillinghast Eldredge.<br /> + <b>Old, Old Story, The.</b> By Rosa Nouchette Carey.<br /> + <b>Quest Eternal, The.</b> By Will Lillibridge.<br /> + <b>Silver Blade, The.</b> By Charles E. Walk.<br /> + <b>St. Elmo.</b> (Illustrated Edition.) By Augusta J. Evans.<br /> + <b>Uncle William.</b> By Jennette Lee.<br /> + <b>Under the Red Robe.</b> By Stanley J. Weyman.<br /> +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Best Policy, by Elliott Flower + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEST POLICY *** + +***** This file should be named 36393-h.htm or 36393-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/3/9/36393/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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