“Implicitly.” “You merely doubt my ability?” “Your financial ability,” explained Belden. “You will do what you agree to do—if you can. I have no earthly doubt of your willingness, even anxiety, to repay every obligation you may incur, but, added to other risks, there is the possibility of accident.” “If I eliminate that?” “You may have the money.” “On long time?” “The time and the terms are immaterial.” “I’ll come for it later,” announced Lake, and he departed, leaving Belden puzzled and curious. Once outside, Lake stopped to do a little mental figuring before taking up the other details of his plan. “I advanced five hundred to bind the option,” he reflected. “That leaves nineteen thousand five hundred necessary to put the deal through. Twenty thousand from Belden will give me just the margin I need.” Murray was as much puzzled and surprised by the change in the man as Belden had been, and Murray, like Belden, was anxious to help him in any reasonably safe way. “Am I good for five hundred for thirty days, if I give you my positive assurance that I know exactly how I am going to pay it in that time?” asked Lake. “Why, yes,” replied Murray. “On short-time figuring you’re a pretty safe man.” “Draw me a check for it, and I’ll give you my thirty-day note,” said Lake, “and my verbal assurance that it’s a cinch.” Murray noted the confidence of Lake’s tone and manner, and drew the check. “What are you going to do with it?” he asked. “Pay a life insurance premium,” laughed Lake. “Give me an application blank and round up a medical examiner. I want a twenty-year endowment policy for twenty thousand dollars, and I want it put through like a limited express that’s trying to make up time.” “I suppose you know what you’re doing,” said Murray doubtfully. “You bet I do!” Lake spoke confidently. “Oh, very well,” remarked Murray. “I don’t see how I can refuse business for the company, even if I stand to lose.” “You won’t lose,” declared Lake with joyous enthusiasm. “I’m going to show you a new trick in the line of insurance financiering.” After that, Lake haunted Murray’s office, and grew daily more anxious. He was a good risk, but certain formalities were necessary, and these took time, although Murray did his utmost to shorten the routine. Lake’s nervousness increased; he had Murray telegraph the home office; he grew haggard, for he had not counted on this delay; but finally, in the moment of almost utter despair, the policy was delivered to him. An hour later he was in Belden’s office. “I want twenty thousand at four per cent., payable at the rate of one thousand a year, with interest!” he cried. “I’ll pay it, to a certainty, within sixty days, but I’m trying to make it look more reasonable, to satisfy you. You believe I can pay one thousand a year, don’t you?” “If you live.”