Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-01-12
AN INSURANCE COMEDY.


There was heated discussion gong
on in one of the Equality Life lnsur-
ance rooms, London. On preserving
his claim fer the twenty Thousand
pounds for which the life OF his latf
wife had been insured. what answer DO
you suppose Jack Dunstan received
Perhaps, first, you had better be 'oid
something about Jack Dunstan. Three
years ago, to the astonishment o. all
his fashionable friends. he had thrown
up his commission u the Guards and
sold his handsome person to a scotch
heiress Of extraordinary wealth ana
hideousness. Perhaps the one lie oi
Jacks life was the one uttered al The
altar. In his favor be it urged that u
was uttered to save his father from
ruin and disgrace, and that to the Gay
of her death, Jack WAS a devoted ms
land 90 his unloved bride. Dunstan,
senior. managed - or mismanaged--
the property Of the married pair. All
but the parties most interested saw
that the old mans mind was totally
unhinged; but Jack, ignorant as a
child in business matters, firmly be-
lieved his father to be the sharpe,
shrewdest man alive. And whateyG
Jack wished was right in his wi'eS
eyes. Among other things, he had d.
sured his daughter-in-law's life, Ja'k
and she going through the Necessary
forms, as he bade them. In the coGbe
of time Mrs. Dunstan died, and Jak
claimed the insurance. Said the pole
officer of the company, after hearig
him out: 1--WE prefer to give va
another wife rather than pay e
amount"
Dunstan told him, rather stiff
was not subject to be jokeds :.
Il am perfactly serious
stan. just cast your eyes -
policy. You win see that it
the option of replacing the loss" x
paused for Jack to read the policy, Vi
pursued, triumphantly: (Which is +
actly what we purpose to do. Te
think it will be cheaper for us, and, b
may I say-pleasing to you?"
NO, you may not" snapped Ja5
Then. | regret to say, he swore. 20
you mean to say that after receiving
twenty thousand pounds, all you AZ
bound to do in return is 70 offer ae
the first woman you pick up?"
"Oh, my dear sir deprecatingF
we should not think of presenting
my but a young lady Of good birth ald
reputation =
"You are very kind" savagely
at was an unusual method of insw
ing, Iadmit, but the amount in question
was so large and everything else s.
satisfactory, and Mr.. Dunstan, senior
50 determined, that we concluded t
yield to his whim. Pray be calm. SIR
But Jack could not be calm WheT
It was made clear to him that this wa
40 practical joke, his anger knew n
bounds. To appeal to the law was tn
last of his threats. 1t was, however
the only one which could be answered
The polite gentleman pointed out t
him that he could not deny his owl
signature, nor his fathers, nor hi
wife's.
And no one can blame us, for "
wrote you full information"
"My father attended to all CORE
spondence.'
"Our letter remaining unanswered
we sent a confidential clerk, instructe
to find out whether these extraordinar
terms were your ultimatum. Yol
would not even see him. You refer
red him to Mr.. Dunstan, senior"
1t was too true. Jack was cor
founded.
Nevertheless he said, doggedl!
| do not believe it would stand in law
l should like to see the president Of tn
company about it. sir"
The polite gentleman believed tn
pr,si lent was engaged, but would in
quire.
Left alone, Jack paced the room
mentally confounding his carelessnes
in intrusting such matters to HI
fathers railirg mind. So absorbe
was he in his gloomy thoughts that b
did notice the door slowly open an
the charming head of young girlPee
into the room. 1t was one Of thos
delicious, batyish faces that seem mad
for love and laughter with the blues
eyes man ever saw, and soft, red lip
that curved in a mischievOus smile.
But when Dunstan suddenly turne
the smile fed. Th3 long lashes fe
deTurely, and in the gentlest vote
imaginable, she feared she must hay
entered the wrong room"
Can be Of any selvice?" he askeC
You are not Mr. Dunstan. are you
timidly.
81 am " SAID ia L. feeling ready I
ieny his identity if it G:spieased her.
"If you are" Isued his fair Wis