Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-02-19
!: LOVES
INSURANCE
BY JESSIE E. sHERw1N

Two boyhood friends met in the in
surance Office of Randall Porter. and its
proprietor gave Willis Borden warm.
hearty welcome.
"COme to the city to settle down.
hear" voiced the latter in tone OF
pleased satisfaction. Retired frorn
business rich man Mt twenty-elght.
Borden. you. are certainly one of for
tunes fayorites. Not married yet
but need not ask. the question. You
always prided ye0self as an inveter-
ate woman hates. you know"
you put it harshly, Porter" chided
Borden mildly. "Say, rather. a being
Immensely contented with the single
stnte. and inclined TO be Shy of the
responsibilities that marriage incurs.
Yes. fortunately, | have no incum-
,brahces. II intend to settle down in
comfortable bachelor quarters and de-
vote myself TO reviving companionshlp
with my old friends like yourself.
You have an mir OF. prosperity Your
SELF" continued Borden, glancing about
the well equipped office and into an in
ner room where the .stenographer sat.
entirely occupied in work at her type
writer
~ have done pretty we'll" replied
Porter, with a certain pride. "Of
course may. hope for any business
you may have in my lines"
/. ASST comes along. surely. ] have
no property to protect from fire haz-
ard, however. ! already carry some
fair life Insurance. BY the way.
though. some Of my friends have adj
vised inc that coming out of my bust
ness shell and essaying the society
role NIFTY become victim of de
signing mother-in-law prospective.
say, you don't insure against marriage,
do yong"
"Qn the contrary" replied Porter
with perfect serenity. 1--WE take I.loyd's
risks OH anything frtsn Il mans can
didate choice of election to All air
ship trip around the world. Love in
surance? Oh, dear, yes! and as you
are non hazardous In that respect a
thousand for a year will cost you a
mere pittance."
Book me instantlyw ordered Bor-
den. Joining In the whimsical raillery
of the moment. And, by the way,
expect IT, will be some time before
definitely settle as to my permanent
place. of habitat. In the meantime
! have. some business to transact.
Would you indulge me enough to let
tue sort Of make your office here my
headquarters. dropping, iu once in a
while when have an appointments
"You will oblige and honor me by
considering the office your own" re.
piled. Porter accommodatingly. II am
going East for two weeks and you
can use my desk freely Miss Trum
: buil=-a. moment please
The stenographer was at the side
of her employer in an instant.
my friend. Mr.. Borden" went or
Porter. and Miss 1'rumbull directed
a mere casual fitting glance at Porter
in recognition of the introduction. and
then concentrated her attention solely
upon her. employer. t"You will see
that. my friend has the: full use OF
the. Office until my return"
Mss Cleora Trumbull bowed silent
u and was back at her typewriter
with the diligence Of a well-trained
:: employee, all business, and so oblivi
:. GUS to Borden that he looked Slight,
neftled.
There is a Jewel" spoke Porter
enthusiastically ''No Sinking work
no wasting time, no chatting or flirt
ing with the young men in the mex
y Office. like. her predecessors. And, b,
the way, Borden. ] half believe she Is
your prototype. You are woman
hater; she acts like man hater."
"You put me in a rather ungracefu
category" resented Borden. some
What piqued. ''The young lady is Ger
.tainly an agreeable contrast to the
general run Of simpering, made-up co
auettes itshas been my fate to meet
Porter left the city the next morn
!: Ing. About noon Borden came into thu
office. Miss Trumbull received hin
with. a pleasant. nod, but went OF
strictly with her work. After attend
ing to. some correspondence Border
requested her to take some dictation
Lightning quick in her work, ant
no waste" ruminated Borden. a trih
disappointed, however. for Miss Tr,lm
bull offered no excuse for chat. Hi
respect for the young lady increase
!. and he realized that idleness afl,'
years Of close attention to work wa
making life drearily monotonous. On,
day her. mother visited the, otfice. an,
he invited both to ,assuage his gloor
by forming n theater party.
! At the end of two weeks Porter re
turned Borden met him at the depot
His face was SO jubilant, his name
so spirited that Porter wondered wha
caused his excessive exhilaration.
!! Il say. Porter" he observed, as the
proceeded toward thu office, "you will
! have to: dispense with the services 0
! Miss Trumbull"
:, ..Why. what do YOU mean?" In
quired the astonish"d Porter.
i "And you had better cancel tina
love insurance, or you may have t
pay it,
!. Cancel ,t?" repeated Porte
vaguely.
! -"That's it." rroAded Borden, all 10,
/! GUS smiles. Il don't want a goo
!, friend like you to lose thousand do
| lars. I'd Ike; to make you a preser
Of ten, for you have been the mean
Of showing me new road to happ
j. ness. When we get to the Office col