Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-06-09
Wilson's Heart Trouble
BY S. Z. KrsER.

| ~ carry. FOR sucn a man II Is eAds-
f! perating to be bothered day after day
by insurance solicitors. There was
one man in particular who made it
hard for Wiliston TO be patient. This
man had once stopped a runaway
horse and thus perhaps saved Wills
tons wife's aunt from being killed.
He had % risked his life by leaping
in front of the horse and grasping the
| bit, the truth being that he had stood
In the street and waved an umbrella
at the runaway steed, thus causing
the animal to turn and break its neck
by colliding with a tree. Wilson's
wife's uncle had been compelled to
pay $50 to the liveryman from whom
the horse had been hired, but the
Wilistons felt that the insurance mar
had perhaps saved their aunt's life,
and it was, of course, impossible for
Wiliston to be curt with the hero
when he came around to solicit bust
ness.
Well, Wiliston had been pestered by
this Mr.. Hossford until he felt like
offering a premium to anyone who
could suggest a plan whereby he
| might get rid of the nuisance with
| out seeming to be rude or ungrateful.
1t was at about this time that the
| W%ilistons were invited to dinner at
the home of one of their n%eighbors.
When Wiliston had taken his place
at the table he saw his plate begin
to rise and fall in an uncanny man
| ner. At first he thought the earth
must be quaking, but, %steadying him.
self, he found that only the plate was
heaying and rocking, so the earth
quake theory had to be abandoned.
Before he had called the attention of
anybody else to the queer actions of
the plate he happened to look at his
host, and then he knew that some
kind of a joke was being played on
him. Later ne found that a flexible
bulb attached to a slender rubber tube
and operated by the playful gentle
man at the head of the table had
caused the bobbing of the plate. 1t
was then that Wiliston had an in
spiration. He borrowed the rubber
contrivance from his friend and took
1t to his Office. In the course Of two
or three days Mr.. Hossford, the in
surance man, called again to explain
the admirable provisions of . new
policy that his company had just be-
gun to issue. After listening patient
ly for awhile, Wiliston said:
Yes, | can see that this is a grand,
good policy and I'd like to have it,
but the fact is that / couldn't get 1t
If | wanted it. I've been concealing
something, from you that | suppose
= ought to have told you long ego.
Your company wouldn't accept me as
a risk"
Hossford would not be convinced.
| He wanted to know whether either OF
Wilson's parents had died of con
sumption and when he was told that
neither of them had he declared that
there would be no trouble about Sc
curing a policy.
you have been accepted by several
other companies" he said; you have
a fine physique and with such a fam
lily history as yours there is no rea-
son in the world why any company
should turn you down"
We'll, you bring your doctor around
here Wiliston replied, and if he
says I'm all right III take out one of
these new S. 5000 policies"
The doctor and Hossford came
around late in the afternoon and Will
iston at ono signifed his willingness
to undergo an examination.
Il don't think he said, addressing
the physician, that it will be neces-
sary for me to take off my clothes.
My trouble is of such a nature that
you will easily be able to detect il.
Just put your ear against my left side,
doctor, and tell me what you think of
my case"
"Ah, very well; that will do to be-
gin with if you wish it So" the doctor
answered, as he turned back the flap
of Wilson's coat and bent to place
his ear against the subjects chest.
Half a second later he Strengthened
Iup suddenly, with a troubled look
upon his countenance.
/ VAN HIM.! he said, this is eX-
tr%aordinary; just let me listen to that
again"
He didn't listen long. When he
Strengthened up the second time he
shook his head obviously and gave
Wiliston a look of pity.
Tell me the worst, DOCTOR the
afflicted man said. 81 will try TO bear
1t. Do you think there is anything
| the matter with my heart?"
Il am sorry 10 say that there is"
the doctor admitted. ITO be candid
| with you, Mr.. Wilitson, it's very Sc
rious. | would advise you to have all
your business affairs so arranged that
your family would be as well taken
care of as possible in case of your
sudden death, and don't under any cir
cumstances run to catch cars or walk
upstairs or do anything requiring the
least exertion. | tell you this because
you have asked me to speak plainly"
AS Hossford and the physician were