Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-10-11
@ FOR a
$4,000 EACH
By c. B. LEWIS
Copyright, 1906, 10y Ruby Douglas
By c. B. LEWIS

The cards ANA 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
ana Sarah think? I've got the agency
for 4 life Insurance company and am
going TO branch out a little. | want to
insure the 10th of you. I've got Tom
Spooncr and his wife, Eli Wheeler and
his wife. Silds 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 monument, pay funeral ex-
paus2S ana 20 away to Niagara Falls
to get Owe lis grief If you die, Jim,
Saial has -, money to bury you de-
caatly and carry on the farm without
having - rush off and marry again"
Tae squire went into further eXpla-
nCtiouS. lie talked life insurance and
.aycI 70 dinner. lie talked life in
su.aGcc uuI stayed TO supper He
tailed life insurance and stayed until
0 ocloca in The evening. Then he
dranl two classes Of cider. ate three
fried cakes and Il piece of mince pie
and went home to make out two poll
cics for - 900 each.
Jim and sarah had decided that such
Insurance was a good thing. Neither
wanted to aio. 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 thDy fall due, and don't
worry about the future. With $1,000
coming to the survivor in case of death
you needn't either of you begrudge the
AstorB o." Nanderbilts. Sarah, you can
dress in the most expensive mourning,
and jim. you can wear patent leather
shoes and hear Niagara roar till you
get tired Of it,"
IT was Squire Jones who was respon-
sible for tie 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 out
when Aunt Deborah came visiting one
afternoon She had not been invited.
nor was she expected. but she proceed
ed to make herself at home, and by and
by announced:
Sarah | have heard that you and
James have had your lives insured for
each others benefit. but | told 'em you
were not the woman to 90 into any
thing like that"
But we have replied Sarah. "Wt
" ere lHiAtAl . NtthS dSO.
Upon ny soul, No one could have
made me believe it."
But why: What's the matter"
Sarah Harper. do you know that
YOU have the same as doomed yourself
to death?" asked Aunt Deborah, in a
hoarse whisper.
What do you mean, AuntyT"
II mean that there isn't a man on the
face of this earth who wouldn't kill his
wife for the sake of $4,000 in cash.
That insurance is a temptation to mur
der Hundreds Of wives have been
killed off every year, and you will be
one of them to 20 before another year
rolls over your head"
The young wife laughed merrily at
the idea, but Aunt Deborah grew more
solemn and serious, and said:
Don't fool yourself, Sarah Jim is
just as good Il husband as any Of 'em,
but you have put temptation in his
way. Hell be thinking of them $4,000
all the time, and the longer he thinks
the easier It viii come for him to
murder you Two thousand dollars in
cash ana you out of the way so that
he can marry again is mOre'n he can
stand up under. | shan't be a bit sur
prised any day to hear that you have
been found murdered. Squire Jones
ought to be prosecuted for coaxing you
into such a thing, and I'll tell him so
before the week is out"
Sarah continued to laugh and make
fun at the idea and it was finally |
dropped to take up soft soap and car
pet rags. When she set about getting
supper Aunt Deborah made a sneak |
and caught the husband as he
came up from the cornfeld.
Well she began, after he greeted |
her. you want Sarah TO chop you up
with the ay or pour melted lead in
your ears, | see:"
What is it, aunty?"
It's that life insurance Henry Har- |
per, I'm astonished at you. DO you
know how many wives killed their
husbands last year to get the insur-
ancc:"
"A million perhaps, but Sarah isn't |
going to kin me-
Time viii tell. James: time will tell. |
Sarah is sweet ana lovely and inno- |
cent, but when there's $1,000 at stake |
who can tel what a woman will do? |
With this farm and all that money be- |
hind her if she was 4 widow she can |
catch better looking man than you"
The good natured young man con.
ril..l = la"-h, and at the supper table
his ii' .au-leI with him as they
ghaaad Aunt Deborah. but the old lady |
continued to shake her head and re !
ply.
"Nlit till the aX or the melted lead |
get fp work ANA then we'll see whether |
there is anything to laugh at or not"
That night at midnight Sarah woke !
up with her heart beating rapidly. She |
was about % nudge Henry with her ell !