Year: 1878

pOrJallU nlhtterS dTe IOOlS, HU ledSb Ill re- |
spect to those matters; on the other
hand, they are apt to believe that all
those who agree with them are wise. No
doubt that insurance agent clhsses men
into divisions-first, the wise men, who
insure their property, and, second, the
fools, who do not"


Just then 1 came face to face with the
man of all Others whom did not wish
to see. Ii was the insurance agent him
SELF smiling blandly upon me.


at is unnecessary for me-" he said,
taking up the thread of his discourse
where 1t had been broken Off an hour
before, A." to inform an intelligent look
ing man like you that it is not only poor
policy for man to labor to acquire
wealth and then leave it in condition
in which he may lose it all without
moments warning, but it is a wrong
committed against wife and children"
have no property whatever" l
said.


This was small fib, but SO small that
thought it excusable. / am by nature
very particular about telling the exact
truth, but experience taught me that it
is not always fair to mans own self to
do so. At least it must be confessed that
whether 1t is right or not the temptation
to tell fib is very great when mana
stranger - is trying to pry into the con-
dition of ones private affairs. But nay
reply did not better things much, for he
said:


Then, my dear sir, there is the great
er need that you do something to insure
your family against want should you
happen to die. The man who loses
property by fire is apt to have some lit
tie that escaped the flames, but the man
with no property ought to secure some
thing for his wife and children that
would otherwise be left destitute, ,by hav-
ing his life insured. L am also agent for
the Bunkum Life Insurance Company,
and would be happy to accommodate
you with a policy


Merciful heavenl I always felt my
self unable to combat one insurance
agent, and here was about the same as
two standing before me


I" L have no children" was my re-
ply.


This was pretty good.sized fib, con-
sidering there were five at home, count
ing the baby twins.


"Then, my dear sir, you ought at
least to insure your life for the benefit of
your wife Think how helpless she
would be in case of your death without
any boys to take care of her !"


6 have no wife, either ?" said /.


Worse and worse! What would my
"wifey tifey" have thought could she
have heard her " hubby dubby" thus
cody ignoring her very existence


Where do you live, and what is your
name 7" he asked, casting at me piero-
ing glance, which meant more than the
mere words.


Perhaps might have answered him
truthfully had he not taken out his lead
pencil, preparatory to taking down my
name and place of residence, just as
though had been of some criminal act
for which he intended to hold me re-
sponsible.


'I'm stranger in this town" said L.
"Just landed here this morning"


This was simply a downright untruth.
But what was to do? Ought to tell
my name and place of residence, and
thus place it in his power to gain the
victory over me?


Besides, had already made assertions
that would not bear the light of a rigid
investigation; and it was no time for
hairsplitting determinations as to the
number and size of the fibs / should
tell.


"Never was withina thousand miles of
this place before,' continued.


"Ah ~ said he; show came you to
have friend across the street only a
short time ago ?'


Sure enough, had quite forgotten
about that. 1t is very true that liar
needs long memory.


6 am Turk" 1 said reckessly, and
quite ignoring his sarcastic question,
land have just arrived In this great
country to avoid the draft. My name is
Osman Pasha."


His copptenance fell, and victory was
just within my grasp.


But, as bad luck would have it, my