The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-01-06
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"GREEN JONES'"

"Yoa know Grubbs. General Agent of tn,
ina !Sas Green Jones'
"Youve missed sumner, then"
"He came along here about q yeer ago now
Tongue slits Well, il was. Ran as easy a. an
empty hand-sled in wigter. Even made me be.
lisve was gifted as life insurance agent.
"The way he told it, not single man had
taken hold Of the Adorable, Tor the last 100
years. and made less than five thousand year
and expenses
zone agent had cleared $l50,OO0 in eight
years,
"Ano,her had laid aside $4,000 in six years.
"Another still. peculiar case that was, though
man particularly adapted to the work, built
W such basne,s in the short space of five years
that he actually uvcishadowed the company.
They had 10 force hiln out as Il me lsure Of self
protection. Averaged 100000 II year claar of
all expenses while he was in, and the company
paid him S162, 900 in a lump for his renewals
besides, when he went out.
Well, l didn't care much about being such
an agent as that--the internal revenue officers
would always be bothering me so. But finally
concluded seeing the thing was common and
easy, that would turn ia and make eight or
ten thousand dollars year, for eight or ten
years, and then retire on my renewal commits.
siOns.
"Grubbs posted me till he said l could go it.
He then went home and left me to go it alone. ,
"The town was strange to me year ago, and
every one was "A stranger. One locality seemed
just as good as another to begin in, as it were.
So sauntered lei,urely down street the morn.
ing after Grubbs left, and we swung into the
first store l came to. I wasn't going to let any.
body see but that had all the self possession
necessary for my branch of business.
''Nobody in sight. lounged along ameng
the boxes, and brooms, and Goldfish piles in sort
Of cheeky, familiar way, sill I got back to the
Office. There found large, middle.aged man
sitting alone reading newspaper.
"He looked over the top of his paper rather
suspicious as I entered. Then he said Good
morning cody and obviously.
IL was very intent on my errand by that time
so intent l wholly neglected to answer him.
II hauled out my rate book and opened it.
I"The paper was laid aside omiuously, his
gaze still riveted on me.
with hands kind Of trembling, and knees
shaking little, I began:
mr. did YOU ever consider the subject Of
81 didn't finish that sentence. for down came
q two dollar and a half pair of speotacles. Up
bounded two hundred pounds of we'll developed
bone and sinew. And around the room, agile
as French dancing MASTER it went hopping
Like wild bull in a slaughter yard il roared
''The ID and Caesar Six life insurance
agents, and it isn't nine o'clock yet. Hero
began to crawfsh. ! wont stand it another
minute! Here, Tiye, at him"
There was sudden coIvulsive scratching of
toe-nais at the further end of big safe that
stood on the other side Of the room. Then came
scratching equally sudden aud convulsive
where | was
Il started just one square jump shead of that
big bull dog, and | maintained my advantage
until got within about ten feet Of the front
door, Then l suddenly found 1t necessary to
execute quick strategic right flank movement
around pile OF boxes
THAT dog went out doors with one of my coat
tails in his mouth, and IL went out of the
window.
Il didn't pay much attention to any thing but
the work had IL getting home.
"Ihen, with features grim as e gravestone.
proceeded to pile application after application,
book alter book, and circular after circular, on
top of esch other. Then turned all my pockets
Inside out to see ii fragment hadn't csc apsd
my notice.
'Thst pile Is in the house there yet, if nv
wife hasn't burnt it W. And there it may stay,
my friend. | shaGt touch another one of those
documents il they get as old as the Declaration
OF Independence.
Life Insurance Agent! well, others NAV
seek success in that way, if they want to, but /
would rather be pack peddler.'
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