Smyrna times., 1906-10-10
e FOR n
+. $4,000 EACH
By C. B. LEWIS
Copyright, 1906, by Ruby Douglas


married for love. They had two or |
three lovers quarrels, as was quite on
the cards and very natural, but for two |
years after marriage no couple ever
lived more happily. This state of af-
fairs might have continued at least two
years longer but for Abner Jones,
Esq, country justice of the peace and
agent for the Farmers Fire Insurance
company, and sewing machines of all
makes, bought and sold. He made his
appearance at the farmhouse one day.
"Well, JIM" he said, what do you
and Sarah think? I've got the agency
for a life insurance company and am
going to branch out little. | want to
insure the both of you. I've got Tom
Spooner and his wife, Elf Wheeler and
his wife. Silas johnson and his wife
and several others, and I'm here to get
you. want you to take $1,000 apiece.
If you die. Sarah, Jim has got $1,000 to
buy you a monument, pay funeral ex-
penses and go away to Niagara Falls
to get over his grief. If you die, Jim,
Sarah has got money to bury you de-
Gently and carry on the farm without
having to rush off and marry again"
The squire went into further eXpla-
nations. He talked life insurance and
stayed to dinner. He talked life in
surance and stayed to supper. He
| talked life insurance and stayed until
o'clock in the evening. Then he
drank two glasses of cider. ate three
| fried cakes and a piece of mi1ce pie
| and went home to make out two poll
cies for $1,000 each.
Jim and Sarah had decided that such
insurance was a good thing. Neither
wanted to die, but if death must come
they would not be selfish about it. 1t
would be a bond to draw them still
closer together. In the course of a
couple of weeks the policies were de-
livered, the premiums paid, and Squire
Jones stayed to dinner again and said
as he finished and wanted to lick his
plate, but remembered his dignity in
time:
"Now. then, young folks, this is the
best thing you have done so far in your
lives. Keep on loving, keeping up your
premiums as they fall due, and don't
worry about the future. With $4,000
coming to the survivor in case of death
you needn't either of you begrudge the
Astors or Vanderbilts. Sarah, you car
dress in the most expensive mourning
and Jim. you can wear patent leather
shoes and hear Niagara roar till you
get tired of it,"
1t was Squire Jones who was respon
sible for the insurance, but it was Aunt
Deborah who was responsible for what
resulted. The policies had been care
fully laid away in the bottom bureau
drawer and the subject talked ou
when Aunt Deborah came visiting ont
, afternoon. She had not been invited
nor was she expected, but she proceed
ed to make herself at home, and by ant
: by announced:
E. Sarah, l have heard that you ant
James have had your lives insured 70
each others benefit, but told 'em 20
i were not the woman to go into any
thing like that"
= ''But we have" replied Sarah. CIV
8 were insured two weeks ago."
I. Upon my soul! No one could hav
made me believe it,"
But why? What's the matter"
Sarah Harper, do you know tha
you have the same as doomed yourse
u to death?" asked Aunt Deborah, in
! hoarse whisper.
''What do you mean, AuntyY
4.
/ face of this earth who wouldn't kill h
q wife for the sake of $4,000 in cas-
That insurance is a temptation to mu
Is der. Hundreds of wives have bee
h killed off every year, and you will
s, one of them to go before another ye'
8, rolls over your head"
l. The young wife laughed merrily
g the idea, but Aunt Deborah grew mo
solemn and serious, and said:
Don't fool yourself. Sarah. Jim
lust as good a husband as any of Eel
but you have put temptation in /
way. He'll be thinking of them $40
all the time, and the longer he thin
the easier it will come for him
murder you. Two thousand dollars
cash and you out of the way so th
he can marry again is moren he G.
stand up under. / shan't be bit 81
n 4 prised any day TO hear that you ha
by been found murdered. Squire Jon
re, re, ought to be prosecuted for coaxing y
into such a thing, and I'll tell him
eP1 before the week is out"
ers Sarah continued to laugh and ma
tho fun at the idea, and it was fna
is dropped to take up soft soap and C
N 4 pet rags. When she set about getti
fee supper Aunt Deborah made she
lere outdoors and caught the husband as
rch, came up from the cornfield.
well" she began, after he gree
e. her. ''you want Sarah to chop you
/. with the AK or pour melted lead
D. your ears, see?"
'What is it, auntyY'
II. Its that life insurance. Henry II
per, I'm astonished at you. Do +,
the know how many wives killed I'll
the husbands last year to get the ms
y VI onoac