Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-22
COMEDY ROn AN {
CoryRrcHrEn THE Bosas- MzsR1LI COMPANY

II SnOulQ De knOWn 10 the lowest pos
sible number"
Mr.. Thacker waved his hand across
the cleaning surfaces Of two desks.
This is my assistant manager, Mr..
Richard Minot." he announced. "Mr.
Minot, you must know, is in on all the
secrets of the firm. Now, let's have
it,"
81 am right, am l not his lordship
continued, 'in the assumption that
Lloyds frequently takes rather unusual
risks"
"Lloyds," answered Mr.. Thacker,
lis chiefly concerned with the for
tunes of those who go down to-and
sometimes down into-the sea In ships
However, there are number Of non
marine underwriters connected with
Lloyds, and these men have been
known to risk their money on pretty
giddy chances. It's all done in the
name of Lloyds, though the firm is not
financially responsible"
Lord narrowly got quickly to his
feet.
"Then it would be better" he said
relieved, "for me to take my PROPOSE
ton to one of these non-marine under
writer's
YOU'D have to 60 to London to do
that" he remarked. Better give us
an inkling of what's on your mind"
His lordship tapped uneasily at the
base of MIR. Thacker's desk with his
stick.
"If you will pardon me-Td rather
ooh, very WE'LL" sighed Mr..
Thacker.
How about Owen Jephson?" asked
Mr.. Minot suddenly.
Overjoyed, Mr.. Thacker started up.
by gad-I forgot about Jephson.
Sails at o'clock, doesn't he?" He
turned to Lord Harrowby. The very
man--and in New York. too. Jeph-
son would insure T. Roosevelt against
another cup Of Coffee
"Am l to understand" asked Har-
rowby, that Jephson is the man for
me to seer
Exactly" beamed Mr.. Thacker. "Th
have him here in fifteen minutes.
Richard, will you please call up his
hotel?" And as Mr. Minot reached
for the telephone, Mr.. Thacker added
pleadingly: "Of course, I don't know
the nature of your proposition
No. agreed Lord narrowly polite
ly.
Discouraged. Mr. Thacker gave up.
However, Jephson seems to have a
gambling streak in him that odd risks
appeal to- he went on. "Of course,
he's scientific. All Lloyds' risks are
scientifically investigated. But-oc-
casionally-we1l, Jephson insured Sir
Christopher Conway, X. c. b. against
the arrival Of twins in his family. Per
haps you recall the litigation that re-
suited when triplets put In their ap-
pearance?"
I'm sorry to say / do not" said
Lord Harroby.
Mr.. Minot set down the telephone.
Owen Jephson is on his way here IN
a taxi" he announced.
Good old Jephson," unused Mr..
Thacker, reminiscent why, some
o. the mans risks are famous. Take
that shopkeeper in the Strand-every
dav at noon the shadow Of Nelson's
Monument in Trafalgar Square falls
across his door. Twenty years ago
he got to worrying for fear the statue
would fall some day and smash his
shop. And every year since he has
taken out policy with Jephson, insur-
ing him against that dreadful conting-
ency."
Il seem to have heard of that" ad-
mitted Harrowby, with the ghost OF a
smile.
You must have. Only recently
Jephson wrote policy for the Dow.
ager Duchess of Tremayne, insuring
her against the unhappy event of a
rain storm spelling the garden party
she is shortly to give at Italian villa.
understand a small fortune is in
volved. Then there is Courtney Giles,
leading man at the West End Road
theater. He fears obesity. Jephson
b > insured him. Should he become
too plump for Romeo roles, Lloyds-
or rather Jephson-will owe him a
large sim of money!"