The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-25


 continued" in the assumption that your company frequently takes rather un usual ris,1s?'
 "Our company" answered MT. Thack- CT, 'is chiefly concerned with the for tunes of those who go down to-anc sometimes down into-the sea in ship. However, there are number of non marine underwriters connected with us and these men have been known to risk their money on pretty giddy chances. It's all done in our name, 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 proposi tion to one of these non-marine under writer's"
 MT. Thacker frowned. Curiosity ng' tated his bosom.
 You'd have to go to London to dt that" he remarked. Better give us an inkling of what's on your mind."
 His lordship tapped uneasily at tht base of Mr. Thacker's desk with his stick
 "If you will pardon ne-Td rather not" he said.
 >"Oh, very we'll" sighed MT. Thacker.
 'How about Owen Jephson" asked Mr. Minot suddenly.
 Overjoyed, MT. Thacker started up.
 By gad-I forgot about Jephson Sails at o'clock, doesn't hep H. turned to Lord Narrowly. "The yer. man-and in New York too. Jephson would insure T. Roosevelt against an other cup of cofree."
 "Am I to understand" asked liar rowby, ''that Jephson is the man for me to seeT'
 Exactly" beamed MT. Thacker. 'I'll have him here in fifteen minutes. Rich ard, will you please call up his hotel?''
 Mr. Minot set down the telephone. "Owen Jephson is on his way here in taxi" he announced
 Good old Jephson," unused Mir. Thacker, reminiscent Why some of the mans risks are famous. Take that ehopkeeper in the Strand. Every day nt noon the shadow of Nelson's monu- ment 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 a policy with Jephson, insuring him against that dreadful contingency" "I seem to have heard of that" ad- mitted Narrowly, with 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 rainstorm spelling the garden party she is shortly to give at her Italian villa. I understand small fortune is involved Then there is Courtney Giles, leading man at the West End Road theater. He fears obesity. Jeph- son has insured him. Should he become too plump for Romeo roles Boyd's, or, rather, Jephson, will owe him Q large sum of money" T am encouraged to hope" remarked Lord Narrowly, 'that Mir. Jephson will listen to my proposition"
 '.No doubt he will,'' replied MT Thacker. T can't say definitely l Now, if knew the nature"- | But when Mr., Jephson walked into the office fifteen minutes later MT Thacker was still lamentably ignorant of the nature of his titled visitors business. MT. Jephson was a small | wiry man, crowned by a vast acreage of bald head and with the immobile cotntenance sometimes lovingly known as a poker face" One felt he could watch the rain pour in torrents on the dowager duchess, Courtney Giles waist l expand visibly before his eyes, the statue of Nelson totter and fall on his l shopkeeper and never move a muscle of that face.
 II am delighted to meet your lord shIp," said he to Narrowly. "Knew | your father, the earl, very we'll at o:.t time. Had business dealings with hin often. A man after my own heart | Always ready to take risk. I trust ] you left him wcll?"
 Quite, thank you" Lord Narrowly answered. Although he will insist on playing polo. At his age, eighty two, it is a dangerous sport" Mir. Jephson smiled.
 "Still taking chances" he said. "A splendid old gentleman. I understand | that you, Lord Narrowly, have prop osition to make to me as an underwrit i er."
 T.:cy sat down. Alas, if Mr. Burke who compiled the well known Peer ago. could have seen Lord Narrowly then what distress would have been his! For most unlordly flush again maniled that British cheek. A noble man was supremely rattled
 "I will try to explain" said his lordship, gulping plebeian gulp. My affairs have been for some time in rather chaotic state. Iulencss-the life of the town-you gentlemen will understand Naturally it has been sug- gested to me that exchange my name and title for the millions of some Amer tcan hefress. have always violently objected to any such plan. I--I couldn't quite bring myself to do any such low