Morning journal and courier., 1892-10-25
TALE OF LIFE INSURANCE.


From the Detroit Free Pressl
The life insurance agent had been telling
some good stories of his experiences In the
business, and when he had finished the
drummer rose mp and stretched himself
81 came very near being life insurance
man myself" he said, as he sat down, 'but
1 overreached the limit in the beginning
and quit after the first week"
"Tell us about It," chorused the crowd,
always ready for yarn.
"Well," he said, "when wss about 20
1 was very flip young man, and thought
was cut out for the life insurance business.
l had plenty of friends and soon had Job
on commissions and 81 a week salary. 1
went at it with a rush and buttonholed
everybody 1 knew. / TALKED life insurance
all the time, and had an idea what didn't
know couldn't be learned. The real facts
in the case We're 1 simply didn't know any
thing. had the gift of CAB and WAS per
sussive in my style, and that went q long
way to hide my wesknesses. AS to laws
and liabilities and that sort of thing may
say l was absolutely ignorant. The frat
week 1 v as at Ii made a ten strike SO to
speak, and run in abont four men. One of
them Was for $50, ,000."
The old insurance man looked up quick
ly.
81 had met him at the depot and he had
told me he was a travelling man. He
dressed well and was q smooth talker. and
when he asked If could insure him for
SoO,OOO was psralyzed with joy. The
manager of the company was cautious, but
my man answered all the questions In the
blanks, passed the medical examination,
a. M nm
man, and sent in the application and in
three or four days called in the evening
at his hotel with the policy. 1 met him in
the once with handsome woman, his wife,
he said when he introduced me, and he
told me told me to call again at 0 o'clock,
as they were to take the 9:45 train and
had some business that demanded attention
before 8. Promptly on time 1 appeared
and was shown up stairs to my friends
room. The lady was there, looking radi-
ant, and began TO think the life insurance
business was the finest thing on earth. 1
banded out the policy, which, by the way,
named the wife as beneficiary, and In the
cheeriest way possible she took 1t and
locked 1t up in her bag, and with q pretty
little nod to him and hearty shake of the
band for me, che excused herself and said
she had to join a party of friends and
would meet her husband at the station
AACh eAc lcAk WIN Tue LaR ana neT nus
band locked the door after her.
Let me see,' he said, as he sat down
and took out his pocketbook. Il believe
the premium on that is in the neighbor-
hood of 81 ,500'
Fifteen hundred and sixty, to cover
everything 1 replied.
Can you change a thousand dollar
billf he inquired.
81 laughed at his little joke.
No. said, can't, I'm afraid and
took out roll of money which happened
eight SlOO bills here, but that Isn't
enough
"'Give 1t to me- he exclaimed, making q
grab for 1t.
81 jumped back and for the frat time
noticed the face of my friend. There was
business all over Il and ugly business.
What do you meant almost yelled.
"'Don't be 30 loud,' he whispered. 4
mean to have that money
well, guess not, said coolly, as !
pulled pistol which had in my pocket
as guard for the money was carrying
and what expected TO get from him,
though had scarcely thought 10 use II
under these circumstances.
That's all right, my chicken he
laughed. If You kill me II will cost your
insurance company $50, 900, for that policy
Is good for 1t, 1 guess'
81 dropped my gun as If the man had
shot me. OF course this policy was good
for its face, and it face was $50, 600. I
couldn't kill him aud take the chances.
And don't make any disturbance or
call for anybody be continued, 'or I'll Just
cut my throat with your penknife i have
here in my hand, and will not only be In
for the s50, 600 but you will have some
trouble in explaining how 1t happened,
when neither knife, pistol, nor other dead
ly weapon can be fonnd in this room, ex-
cept what belongs to you. I'm desperate
man and you might as well fork over that
money and such other vslusbles a. ron
may be possessed Of and call It square,
81 tried to think Of some plan to escape,
but my brain WAS In a whirl, and couldn't
do thing but stand there. He was very
polite, however, and came to my assistance
sides $50 of my own, one gold watch and
chain worth 500, one diamond and stud
worth $25, and one gold ring, IS karat,
worth $40. Then he carefully tied me TO
the bed, put nice little gag In my mouth,
packed my stuff in his bag, turned out the
gas, bade me good-by, and, locking the
door, went softly whisilipg down the hall
and of to meet his wife at the train. As
for myself. 1 stayed on that bed, sleeping
and waking until the next afternoon, when
the chambsrmaid came to see what was the
matter with No. Is. OF course, / told my
story not only then, but later to the mana
ger of the company and to the police. but
my friend was gone, nobody knew whittier,
and If Il hadn't happened that my father
was able 10 make good that $500, there's no
telling whether I'd gone to the penitentisry
| or not, for the evidence was against me.
A year later was cleared of suspicion,
however, by the arrest of my friend In New
York for trying to work another fellow
as he worked me, and the whole story came
| out"
"You ought to have stayed at IT," said
the life insurance man, gssping.
"Wby" inquired the drummer, serious
ly.
/ "Becsuse such classic liar as you are
| would have been an honor to the traditions
of the profession" and the old agent went
outside, whore he could breathe more cas-
] ny.