Part 16 (1/2)

Then she laughed merrily. There could be no doubt at all that Mrs. Ralph Tucker refused absolutely to worry about the health of Mr. Ralph Tucker; she had simply put the doctor down as an ignoramus. And Mr. Ralph Tucker's appearance certainly was not that of a man in poor physical condition. However, Murray knew how deceptive appearances may be, and, while no physician is infallible, it is necessary to rely on their judgment. Nor was it a joking matter, in his opinion. He was glad that the young people could look at the future without misgivings, but a really serious matter ought not to be treated so lightly.

It was about a week later that a note came to Murray from Mrs. Tucker.

”So grateful to you for sparing Ralph so long,” it read.

Murray crumpled it up and, with some rather warm remarks, threw it in the waste-basket.

”Why did I relieve Ross of his disagreeable task?” he grumbled.

Then he began to count the days that would precede their return from the bridal trip, for he was sure they would call on him. There could be no doubt that Mrs. Tucker had deliberately planned to make things as uncomfortable for him as possible, and there was every reason to believe that Tucker himself was aiding and abetting her.

”It isn't fair,” he muttered, ”to make it appear that this is a personal matter with me. The Lord knows I haven't anything to do with his lease of life.”

This was just after he had received a telegram to the effect that ”the patient is doing as well as can be expected,” and Ross, who happened in the office at the time, noticed that his chief looked at him reproachfully.

”What's the matter?” asked Ross.

”Hereafter,” returned Murray morosely, ”my solicitors have got to carry their own burdens. If Tucker and his wife put me in an insane asylum, the administrator of my estate will surely sue you for big damages. I never thought I was getting a life sentence when I let you unload on me.”

The physician also noticed a growing coolness and was moved to ask what was wrong.

”Didn't you make a mistake in the Tucker case?” Murray inquired by way of reply. ”I don't wish Tucker any harm, but I'm doomed to an early death if he isn't.”

”I don't see what his life has to do with yours,” retorted the doctor.

”That's because you don't know Mrs. Tucker,” replied Murray.

”He was an impossible risk,” a.s.serted the doctor. ”The indications of serious trouble may entirely disappear, under favorable conditions of life, but they were there when I made the examination. Ours is not yet an exact science, and the human system frequently fools us. You recall the Denton case, don't you?”

”Yes.”

”At twenty the doctors, including his family physician, gave him not more than two or three years to live, and at twenty-five he was considered a good risk for any insurance company. He is nearly thirty-five now, has one policy in this company, and we would be glad to let him have another.”

”Oh, you're all right, Doctor, of course,” returned Murray. ”We must be careful to err on the safe side, if we err at all, in this business. But I wish the Tuckers would transfer their attentions to you. I'll be tempted to jump out of the window when I see them coming in the door.”

The Tuckers, however, were not to be escaped. After an interval of about three weeks they sent him another telegram, which read: ”If we retire to a ranch, will you lengthen the lease of life a little?” Then they came back and called on him.

”So kind of you to let us have this trip,” said Mrs. Tucker with every evidence of deep grat.i.tude. ”Poor Ralph appreciates it.”

Poor Ralph was looking as big and strong and happy as it was possible for a man to look, and Murray was correspondingly uncomfortable.

”The premiums on fifty thousand dollars would have been pretty heavy,”

remarked Tucker with a cheerful grin.

”Yes,” admitted Murray weakly.

”I had a tidy little sum put aside to care for them,” Tucker explained.

”We thought it would interest your company to know that we put that money into a small ranch out west, so it is entirely out of reach now.

You don't mind my choosing a restful place for my early demise, do you?”