Part 19 (2/2)

”It pays _zwei_ t'ousand dollars,” he explained.

Mrs. Schlimmer was not enthusiastic.

”When?” she asked.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”What's the use to me?” she persisted]

”When you are in the grafe,” he answered after a pause.

”What's the use to me?” she persisted.

”My dear,” he said, with such gallantry as he could command, ”it shows what you iss vorth.”

Somehow, she was not flattered. She was a good wife, who worked hard, and she herself thought she was worth it, but she was selfish enough to think she ought to realize on her own value.

”No, _nein_,” he argued, ”it ain't the vay it's done. You got yourself, ain't it, yes? When you ain't got yourself, you ain't here, but I am.

You don't looss yourself when you die, but I looss you, and you're vorth a lot.”

”There's other women,” she retorted.

”But they ain't vorth what you are by _zwei_ t'ousand dollars,” he insisted, and this delicate bit of flattery won the day. After all, it made no difference to her. She rebelled a little at going to the insurance office to be examined, however.

”You tell 'em I'm all right,” she urged. ”You know.”

But a new gown-a cheap one-gained this point, and she went.

Adolph prided himself very much on this stroke of business. His great aim in life was to pay a little less than the market price for everything, and he was never convinced that he was really doing this unless the deal had to be carried out in some underhand way. When he could buy for less than others he was making so much more money, and it was his experience that the biggest profit lay in shady transactions. In others he had made, or saved, much more than in this, but the difficulties he encountered in this instance convinced him that it was an especially notable achievement. He was proud of his success.

”You bet you, they don't fool me very much,” he a.s.serted frequently.

And, in time, he told how clever he was. Not at first, however; he was very cautious at first, for Murray's words had made an impression on him. But, after he had paid a few premiums, the lapse of time gave him a feeling of security, and one day, in boasting of his business shrewdness, he mentioned that he was even sharp enough to get life insurance at a bargain. After that, it was easier to speak of it again, and he finally told the story. The news spread in his own little circle.

It was quite a feat, and he was held to have demonstrated remarkable cleverness. When another told of some sharp business deal, some one would remark, ”Yes, that was clever, but you never got life insurance at a bargain.” And, in the course of time-six months or more from the time the story was first breathed-it came to the ears of one Daniel Grady.

This was unfortunate, for Daniel at once jumped to the conclusion that he had been cheated. Daniel had a small policy in the same company, and this policy was costing him the full premium without rebate of any kind from any insurance solicitor or anybody else. Daniel did not like this, and neither did he like Adolph; in fact, he would have been willing to pay a little higher premium for the privilege of making trouble for Adolph. Failing that, Daniel would like to get on even terms with him.

”It's th' divil iv a note,” said Daniel, ”that I sh'u'd be payin' more than that little shrimp, an' me only thryin' to take care iv Maggie an'

th' childhern. I'll go down to th' office an' push th' face iv th' man in if he don't give me th' same rate, I will so.”

But Daniel wisely did nothing of the kind, for he recalled that there were a number of clerks in the office and a police station not far away, and he had no wish to add a fine to his expenses. Instead, after pondering the matter a few weeks and growing steadily more indignant, he went to see a little lawyer who had an office over a saloon, next to a justice of the peace. Daniel planned only to get his premiums reduced, but the lawyer saw other opportunities.

”It's a great chance,” said the lawyer. ”You're a policy-holder-”

”Who says so?” demanded Daniel, for this sounded to him like an accusation.

”I mean,” explained the lawyer, ”that you are insured in the company.”

”What iv it?” asked Daniel.

”Why, the other policy-holders are the ones discriminated against in a case like this,” said the lawyer, ”and any one of them can file a complaint.”

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