The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-20
A TALE OF LIFE INSURANCE..
Somehow 1t Didn't Seem to Pass witt
the Veteran Agent.

Somehow 1t Didn't Seem to Pass with
the Veteran Agent,
From the Detroit Free Press
The life insurance agent had been telling
some good stories of his experiences in the
business, and when he had finished the
drummer rose up and stretched himself.
"Icame very near being life insurance
man myself" he said, as he sat down, ''hut
/ overreaohed 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 I was about 20 I
was a verS flip young man, and thought l
was cut out for the life insurance business.
had plenty of friends and soon had Job
on commission and 81 week salary. went
at it with a rush and buttonholed every
body / knew. / talked life insurance all
the time, and l had an idea that what /
didn't know couldn't De learned. The real
facts in the case were simply didn't know
anything. | had the gift of CAB and was
persuasive in my style, and that went long
way to hide my weaknesses. As to laws
and liabilities and that sort of thing may
say was absolutely ignorant. The first
week was at it made ten stroke, 30 to
speak, and run in about four men. One Of
them was for $4,000"
The old insurance man looked up quickly
81 had met him at the hotel and he had
told me he was a travelling man. He dressed
well and was a smooth talker, and when he
asked IL l could insure him for $50, 900
was paralyzed with joy. The manager OF
the company was cautious, but my man
answered all the questions In the blanks,
passed the medical examination and put up
the requisite fee like a little man, and sent
In the application. and IN three or four days
called in the evening at his hotel with the
policy. l met him in the office with a
handsome woman, his wife, be said when
he introduced me, and he told me to call
again at 9 o'clock, as they were to
take the Gas train and had some
business that demanded attention be-
fore 8. Promptly on time I appeared and
was shown upstairs to my friends ROOM
The lady was there. looking radiant, and
began to think the life Insurance business
was the finest thing on earth. handed out
the policy. which, by the way, named the
wife as beneficiary, and In the cheeriest
way possible she took it and locked It I'D In
her bag. and. with pretty little nod to him
and a hearty shake Of the hand for me, she
excused herself and said she had to ioin a
party of friends and would meet her hus-
band at the station. Then she left with the
bag anc her husband locked the door after
her.
"'Let me see,' be said, as he sat down and
took out his pocket book. Il believe the
premium on that is in the neighborhood of
81, 500
Fifteen hundred and sixty. to cover
everything, replied.
- Can you change thousand dollar billy
he inqsired
II laughed at his little joke.
No. said, 4 can't, I'm afraid and l
took out roll of money which l happened
to be taking TO man uptown. tPve got
eight 500 bills here, but that isn't enough.
Give 1t to me- he exclaimed, making a
grab for it.
II jumped back and for the first time no.
ticsd the face Of my friend. There was
business all over it and ugly business
"'What do you meanP almost yelled.
"'Don't be so loud he whispered. Il
mean to have that money
well, l guess not. / said coolly, as |
pulled pistol which had in my pocket as
guard for the money / was carving and
what l expected to get from him, though l
had scarcely thought to use it under these
circumstances. -..--f
That's all right, my chicken he
laughed. IF you kill me it will cost your
insurance company 1000. for that policy
is good for it. guess
Il dropped my gun as if the man had
shot me. OF course the policy was good for
lto LnOc, anu lLs lace was S0U,UUU. couldn't
Kill him and take the chances
"'And don't make any disturbance or call
for anybody he continued. 'or I'll Just cut
my throat with your penknife have here
In my hand, and will not only be in for the
So, 900 but you will have some trouble in
explaining how IL happened, when neither
knife, pistol, nor other deadly weapon can
be found in this room except what belongs
to you. Pm a desperate man and you might
as well fork over that money and such other
valuablss as you may be possessed Of and
call IL square.
II tried to think Of some plan 10 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
by removing the $500 from my person, be.
sides $50 of my own. also one gold watch
and chain worth 800, one diamond stud
worth $25 and one gold ring, 1S-carat,
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, babe me good-by and, looking the