The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-08-11
While Nathan spoke, he was hur-
-ied1v getting into his clothes.

'I know nothing can be done,
he said to his wife as he left the room
"You needn't get dressed, DEAR. II
just go out and watch her burn
Don't worry. There's no danger o.
the house and barn catching fire
The winds the other way"
Nathan went out and surveyed the
blazing pile. Neighbors, attracted
by the ruddy glow in the sky, had
already dressed and were on the
ground but all realized that they
were powerless to fight the flames
There was nothing to do but watch
the fire burn itself out.
The heat was too intense to think
of approaching the place with the
hope of saving single board.
Dawn was in the sky, and the
flames were dying out, when Nathan
returned to his wife and threw him
self upon the bed.
cts hard" he murmured. "Hard.
But, after all, it may not turn out SO
bad. I think it's two thousand in
surance I've got, and the buildings
and stock don't stand me quite three
thousand"
After Nathan had managed to get
a few hours rest, he rose and dress
ed himself ior the day. From the
bureau drawer he took an inventory
of his stock in the store and the sheds,
and also his fire insurance policy.
Nathan figured his whole loss at
about twenty-nine hundred dollars.
The insurance was for only two
thousand.
He took the address of the com
pany upon the policy, wrote them a
letter notifying them of the loss, and
enclosed his statement. Then he
went to Boardvilie and mailed his
letter.
Early the next morning snappy
little fre-insurance adjuster drove up
to Wishman's place in a carriage.
Nathan took the adjuster over the
burned property, explained the vari-
Gus items in his statement, and the
adjuster seemed perfectly satisfied that
the loss was total one.
"Now as to the origin of the fire,
Mr.. Wishman, said he, when the mat
ter was practically adjusted. "Have
you any idea how the blaze started ?"
"Not the slightest, replied Ma
than. II always put out the fire in
the Office stove at night. There was
no lights left burning in the building.
I'm at loss to know what the origin
was"
"Hum, no place where tramps
could get in and smoker"
"I don't think So"
IT don't suppose you have any ene-
mics that might have set the place on
fire, chr"
"Me? Enemies? don't know of
any,"
Ger, you didn't keep any gasoline
in the building, did you" asked the
'VWStoeuhld that make any difference ?"
inquired Nathan.
"Would it make any difference !"
exclaimed the adjuster. "Well, I
guess If you had had single pint
of gasoline In the building it would
be sufficient to cause the company to
deny liability"
Nathan stepped back involuntarily
and looked at the adjuster in alarm.
''Is-is gasoline very dangerous?"
he asked hesitatingly.
"Under certain circumstances, yes, !"
returned the adjuster. "But that is
not the question. You will find that
your policy prohibits keeping gaso~
line in the building without paying
an additional rate"
Evidently the adjuster did not for
a moment think that Nathan had ever
kept any gasoline in his place or he
would not have been so free with his
information.
"Do understand that, in order to
collect my loss, I must state that I
had no gasoline in the place ?" in
quired Nathan.
ooh, yes" returned the adjuster.
"That's merely matter of form.
You sign a proof that states you have
fully lived up to the conditions OF
your policy"
"Well," said Nathan deliberately,
IT couldn't sign anything like that
because there were two barrels OF
gasoline in the building at the time oi
the fire. But they couldn't have
caused the fire, I'm sure OF that.
Neither of them was open, and there
was no fire in the building"
"Two barrels of gasoline in the
building p shouted the adjuster in
amazement. "Phew you're in foi
it. I'm sorry, but if you have
broken the conditions of your policy
in such a manner your insurance is
void. The company is liable only
for the premium paid in such cases,
and your premium amounts to only
fifty dollars. I'll report the matter
and see what they say at the Office
There's no use of my staying here
longer under the circumstances
Good day." and the adjuster, with
out delay, made for his carriage ane
sprang into it.
"Wait !! wait a minute?" cried Ma
than. "Surely the company wouldn't
deprive me CT my money for such
little thing as that. I didn't know
that"
But already the adjuster was dri
wing away.
Every bad violation of policy con
ditions !" he called back. every
bad, sir. No liability No liability
I'll report the matter to the officer:
and they'll write you !'
Evidently the adjuster was elatet
at having found such an excellen
loophole to get the company out G
the payment of loss.
He was not cruel, he was not I'm
kind i; sentiment was no part of tn
adiuster'S business il was his dut,