The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-29
The Puzzled INSURANCE NAN.

Anderson was sent TO adjust a loss on
general merchandise (vaIuation, $23, 900, in
surance $4,000 at Iowa Hill, one of the
old mining towns of California, says the
Spectator. He went there with some mis-
givings, as Langdon, the claimant, was
known to have killed a man, who robbed
his sluiee-boxes, in abe days of 49," and
was reported to have decided opinions Oh
matters affecting his personal interests.
When, in the evening, the stage drew up
at the rambling frame structure which
bore the imposing sign of palace Hotel"
LangdOn was waiting with a team of bays,
and insisted on taking Anderson to his
residence, where a sumptuous dinner
awaited him and the best room" was
placed at his disposal.
This" thought Anderson, certainly
looks suspicious. He is working me- Well,
he laughs best who laughs last He
will not get the start of me very mucn
not as long as there is such a word as
depreciation in the dictionary"
In the morning the adjuster began work
About a quarter of the goods had been
saved in wet, smoked and burned con-
clifton. These had been dried, cleaned and
assorted as thoroughly as possible, inven-
toried and removed to a building in the
vicinity, which happened to be vacant at
the time of the fire, which, by the way,
Mr.. Langdon," said Anderson, what
was the average age of the goods?'
Il don't know when they first came in
to existence" was the good-natured reply,
'Dut good many of 'em had been in the
store for twenty years.
What! said the adjuster.
Yes, fully that. 1 wish to goodness they
had all burned. Half the stock WASH
salabie.'
You are frank. at all events"
Il never lie" said Langdon.
Anderson was puzzled, but continued his
Questioning, and received answers that
surprised him by their evident sincerity
and ingenuosness.
Can il be possible" unused the adjuster
that am dealing with Langdon, the state
senator and chairman of the committee
on corporations? Is this courteous gentle
man, whose manners are better than mine,
and who answers straight from the Shout.
der, the desperate character 1 imagined
and the sworn foe to all trusts? Never
mind, wait till get my figures ready, and
then the lamb may change to a lion-but
he shan't fool me-" &c. sadly perplexed
he worked on, and then started the round
up"
Now, Mr. Langdon," said Anderson
your profits. you say, only averaged q
per cent
That's ALL"
and, with the freight, the total loss
| goods cost you $14,5S3.67?"
Just So"
ION which the depreciation will be
Hold on; one minute, if you please
Do you depreciate freight?'
ooh, yes"
why, 1 thought it was a fixed charge
that couldn't be changed, for 1 never knew
a freight bill to be reduced"
Il will explain. 1t is freight and II
isn't. Do you see?"
We'll, not exactly"
This is the way it is. The minute vo1
pay the bills freight becomes part of tn,
merchandise, the same as the labor anC
wool and dye stuffs Incorporated in tha
pile of blankets. So of course we depre
ciate freight"
Go ahead; see you are clear thinker
ana am sure" he added, with a depre
eating smile "a reasonable man. Yo,
wouldn't rob any one, would you? Ha! ha
that's one on you, Anderson" and Lang
| don laughed heartily
What does he mean?' thought the ad
juster. "Well," he resumed. hastily che,
we take off, say, 40 per cent deprecia
ton; that is $5,S33.47, making your net los
$8,75O20 How does that strike you? Abou
right, eh?''
No, sir that is not right"
what do you claim you loss is?" asket
Anderson, coldly
Not one cent more than $500"
Wh-hat?' gasped Anderson, as tn
blood surged to his face and then reced
ed leaving him as pale chalk.
And don't believe 1 lost that much"
Anderson sank to the floor, unconscio,,
and breathing heavily.