The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-01
" Green Jones" as Life Insurance
Agent.
BY JEHIAL SLAB.

"YoU know Grubbs, General Agent of
the Adorable Life Insurance Company,
don't you:' inquired Green Jones.
"Nog You've missed sumner then.
He came along here about a year ago
now. Tongue glib? We'll, it was. Ran
as easy as an empty hand sled in winter.
Even made me believe l was gifted as a
life insurance agent.
The way he told il, not a single man
had taken hold of the Adorable, for the
last hundred and fifty years, and made less
than five thousand year and expenses.
lone agent had cleared $4,000 in
eight years.
Another had laid aside $4,000 in six
years.
Another still (peculiar case that was,
though-man particularly adapted TO the
work. He built up such a business in the
short space of five years, that he actually
overshadowed the company They had To
force him out as measure of sclf-protec-
ton. Averaged twenty thousand dollars
a year clear of all expenses while he was
in, and the Company paid him $685. 600 in
lump for his renewals, besides, when be
went out.
"Wcll, / didn't care much about being
such an agent as tllat-thc Internal Rev
enue officers would always be botheriDg
me SO. But finally concluded (seeing the
thing was so common and eaSy) that
would turn in and make eight or ten thou
sand year, for eight or ten years, and then
retire on my renewal commissions.
"GrJIbbs posted me up till he said
could go it, Then he went on home and
left me to go it alone.
The town was strange TO me year
ago, and every one in it a stranger One
locality seemed just as good as another 10
begin in, as il were. SO | sauntered leisur-
ly down street the morning after Grubbs
left, and swung into the first store | came
to. / wasn't going to let anybody see but
that l had all the self-possession necessary
for my branch of business.
Nobody in sight lounged along
among the boxes, and brooms. and Goldfish
piles in sort of cheeky, familiar way, till
got to the back office. There ] found
large, middlc-agcd man, sitting alone, read
ing newspaper.
He looked up over the top oil his paper
rather sllspiciously as | entered. Then he
said, Good morning." COolly and dubl-
ously.
j. was very intent on my errand by that
time-se intent that wholly neglected to
answer him.
Il hauled ont my rate-book and opened
it.
The paper was laid aside omniously,
his gaze still rivcted on me.
with hand kind of trembling and
knees shaking a little, began
80 Mister did YOU ever consider the sub
ject Of
L didn't finish that sentence, for down
Slated twOdOllar and a half pair OF spec
tacles. Up bounced two hundred pounds
OF woll-dcvcloped bone and sinew. Around
the room, AGILE as a French dancing-mas-
ter it went hopping. Like wild bull in
slaughter yard it roared:
Julius Caesar. Six Life Insurance
Agents, and it amt nine o'clock yet. Here
| began TO cIawfish ! won't stand ii
another minute. iierc. 'ligci sick i'm"
There was sudden. convulsive scratch
ing of toe nails at the further end OF a big
safe that stood on the other side of the
ROOM Then came a scratching equally
sudden and convulsivc where was.
:" | started just one square jump ahead
ofthat big bulldog, and | maintained my
advantage till got within about ten feet
ofthe front door Then | suddenly found
it necessary TO execute quick, strategic.
right flank movement around pile OF
boxes.
THAT dog went on out doors with one
of my coat-tails in his mouth, and went
through side-windOw.
Il didn't pay much attention 10 any
thing but the work had on hand going
home. Then, with features grim as
grave stone. proceeded to pile applica-
ton after application, book after book, and
circular after circular, on the top of each
other. Then l turned all my pockets in
side out, to see if some fragment hadn't
escaped my notice.
THAT pile is in the house there yet. if
my wife hasn't burnt it up. And there II
may STAY, my friend. ! shant touch an
other one of those documents, if they get
10 be as old as the Declaration of lndepen-
dcnce
Life Insurance Agent? well, others
may seek success that way il they want to.
I'd rather be a pack-pcddlCr."