Browning chief., 1949-06-10
The Gentle Extortionist

Doesn't seem to worry him. Can
you tell me why?"
Neither of us knew then, but we
got the answer later.
When his car was being unloaded
at the railway dock, I called him.
Most of my customers like to be on
hand to get first glimpse of the car
for which they have waited so long,
After awhile, he showed up, and I
was shocked at his appearance. He
was walking slow ard easy, like the
old man he looked to be. His cheeks
were hollow, his sunken eyes deeper
than ever. The pouches below them
hung away down.
But he was surely happy about the
car. told him it would take couple
of days to get it into shape for
delivery.
Good enough" he said, Il expect
the boy over about then"
l never saw Fred again.
Doc let me know. He called me-
Come on over, will you, Martyr" I
knew from his tone it was important,
so l hung up and went right away
He was sitting in his private office.
When came in, he pushed bulky
envelope across the desk to me. It
was addressed to me in an unfamiliar
hand Opening it, I found a two
thousand-dollar insurance policy with
me as the beneficiary. The name of
the policy holder?
Fred A. Miller!
l showed it to Doc. YEAH" he
said, Fred died last night. Natu-
raj causes, yet he could have lived
a lot longer. Only eventually he
would become an invalid, and his
son would want to take care of
him. On the other hand, he could
duck out now and leave the lad
something. guess he chose to have
the boy remember him as something
other than a sick old man."
could see the picture. But you
just don't know what to say in
such cases. So 1 guess I sounded
little irrelevant when I said, "Cars
have gone up, Doc. This two thou
sand won't cover it now"
Doc looked as though he were
disappointed in me. He pulled out
his check book and picked up a
pen. "Well, want that boy to have
that car, Martin. How much is the
difference?"
put that stuff back, Doc," 1 said,
you don't have a corner on soft
hearts and softer heads"
He grinned then. II want to share
it, at least"
After old Fred had been decently
tucked away-and it was amazing
how many friends the old boy had
I called the kid over to the garage
Doc and I led him to the car
Here's something Fred wanted
you to have" told him. His eyes
were so full he could hardly find
the door handle. And here's an
other thing he told us to give you"
He took the slip of paper I handed
him, and I was glad he couldn't
read it right then. He only nodded;
he couldn't talk, although twice he
tried. He put the car in gear and
| backed out.
Doc and 1 stood on the sidewalk
to watch him drive down the street.
About block away, he pulled over
to the curb and stopped. My guess
was that he couldn't see through
the tears that must have been
| tumbling down his cheeks. After
| all, he was only a kid.
I showed my hands into my
| pockets and looked at my feet, not
talking. For a minute, Doc didn't
say anything, either. Then: What
was that you gave him?"
My tone was defensive. Hadn't
Doc treated Fred for nothing? "You
really didn't think I could keep that
policy, did your"
Docs voice was sort of soft and
strange when he finally answered.
Fred sure knew a soft-hearted
sucker when he saw one, didn't he?"
He turned and started eff. "Now I'm
going down to the office and see if
modern medicine provides any,
thing for lump in the throat"