Murray lit a cigar when he reached the street, and puffed at it meditatively as he walked in the direction of the nearest street-car line. “What’s the matter with nervous prostration for me?” he muttered. “One more effort to defeat a woman who is fighting against her own interests will make me an impossible risk in any company; two more will land me in a sanatorium.” AN INCIDENTAL QUESTION Dave Murray, general agent, leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtfully at the young man before him. “So you have run up against an unanswerable argument?” he remarked. “It seems so to me,” said the inexperienced Owen Ross. “My dear boy,” asserted Murray, “in the life insurance business the only unanswerable argument is a physician’s report that the applicant is not a good risk. What is the particular thing that has put you down and out?” “Faith,” replied the young man; “just plain faith in the Almighty. Perhaps, some time in your career, you have run across a religious enthusiast who considers it a reflection on the all-seeing wisdom of the Almighty to take any measures for his own protection or the protection of his family.” “I have,” admitted Murray, “but generally it has been a woman.” “This is a man,” said Ross; “a sincere, devout man. If he were a hypocrite, it would be different, but it is a matter of religious conviction—a principle of faith—with him to trust in the Lord. Life insurance he considers almost sacrilegious—an evidence of man’s doubt in the wisdom of his Maker, and an attempt, in his puny insignificant way, to interfere with the plans of the Great Master. To all arguments he replies, ‘The Lord will provide for His children.’” “And you consider that unanswerable?” asked Murray. “In his case, yes. Even his wife is unable to move him, although she wants insurance as a provision for the future of the children and was instrumental in getting me to talk to him. How would you answer such a contention as that?” “I wouldn’t answer it; I would agree with him.” “And give up?”