Evening journal., 1912-02-15
The Universal L.
and A. |. Co.
By M. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

1t was an eventful day when smil-
ing and well dressed stranger left the
cars at the town Of Stratford and walk
ed up to the best Of the two inns and
announced himself as the state agent
OF the Universal Life and Accident In
Jurance company. He tried to buy out
the inn. but as the landlord and own
er did not wish to sell j. Parsons Wat
son, as the stranger was named, engag-
cd the ladies' parlor, the ballroom and
ten Of the best located bedrooms Then
he bought the privilege of hanging out
signs. and after a couple Of days the
inn was covered with them. They
were gayly painted signs, reading.
''The Universal Life and Accident In
surance Company"
Stratford was surprised, then star
tied. Then it began to inquire what it
was all about. J. Parsons Watson was
right there on the veranda to greet and
tell them.
Stratford read the signs, heard what
she agent had to say and then declared
the thing a fake. ]. Parsons Watson
smiled and insured the landlord against
accident, pushed him of the veranda
and paid him $50 cash. The landlord
said he wasn't even scratched, but the
agent knew better.
A man named Robinson was dying
OF consumption. The doctors said he
couldn't live a week longer. J. Par
sons Watson gave him a life insurance
policy and when death came handed
over the money.
A Mrs Graham, a washerwoman.
was given an accident policy She fell
down and skinned her knee and drew
S25 for It. Mr.. Storrs, carpenter, had
insured against accident for the trihing
sum of 10 cents a week. On the third
day after the policy was taken out he
hit his thumb with hammer and re-
ceived S15 for doing it.
These things were advertised and
talked about, and there was change
in public opinion. Then there was a
rush for INSURANCE. j. Parsons Wat
son and three clerks were kept busy
most OF fhe time. They wrote 1000
policies before there was any let up.
Then came something to renew the
rush. J. Parsons Watson announced
that any person that so elected could
take out a policy. accident or life, on
another and reap the benefits. Yes,
, ten, twenty. fifty, could take out poll
cies on one and the same person.
, There was Graham. the well digger.
He was liable to death any day, and
> fifty different persons could get $1,000
insurance in case the grim monster
came. You could take out a policy on
the life Of the minister. the black
smith, the carpenter, the merchant
even on your neighbor's child. In al
/ such cases the agent would promise
E not to give you away. Death can't
e and you put in your claim and go
I your money and no one was the wiser
Q ]. Parsons Watson had struck tn
n keynote. Those who had insureI
themselves now wanted to insure som
I one else. Those who had no insur
= ance didn't propose 10 benefit other
! by getting hurt or dying. The rusl
kept the insurance fo.ce working da!
r and night. It did more than that. i
stirred up the town until gossip. scan
:. dal and rows were the order OF th'
d day. The fact that Smith had takeI
e out insurance on Brown leaked out o.
{ was strongly suspected, and when the,
: met there were hard words.
4 $50 You expect me TO die, ehi' de
manded Brown IN menacing tones.
4 "Why. no. neighbor."
> "Then why did you get a policy OF
: mes"
t. "why. you see. you may possibly
S die. though I hope not. and I NIGH
h as we'll make thousand dollars ou
e Of It,"
'eYou are blamed hyena. sir"
"Don't get excited. It's business"
ooh. it is. Then you listen to me
I'll get insurance on you and on ever!
/ member OF your family clear down t.
& the baby. Yes. sir, III get the policies
on your uncle and aunts and niece
and nephews."
Il Stratford had been peaceful town
u tt had boasted of its law and order
!. had advertised that its residents ha'
y a neighborly feeling toward each othe
\ in the matter Of lending tea and fiat
i irons. All this had been changed
Z They wanted each other to get hurt
to get off the face of the earth. to b.
It no more. There was hardly husban'
-