“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 gratitude. “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?” “Now, see here!” cried Murray, but Mrs. Tucker interrupted him. “Oh, he wouldn’t be so cruel as that!” she exclaimed. “Show him what the doctor said, Ralph.” Tucker spread a sheet of paper on the desk before Murray, and the latter read: “This is to certify that I have made a careful examination of Ralph Tucker, and I believe him to be in excellent physical condition. I attach slight importance to the indications of incipient heart trouble, which, with reasonable care and proper treatment, should disappear entirely.” This was signed by a noted specialist. “And the next,” said Mrs. Tucker. Thereupon Tucker laid this before Murray: “The heart murmur noted I believe to be due to temporary causes and not to any permanent affection. On the occasion of one examination there were no indications of it at all.” This also was signed by a well-known physician. “Poor Ralph!” sighed Mrs. Tucker, and Murray felt that the burden of this case was greater than he could bear. “They don’t agree entirely,” he asserted aggressively. “No,” admitted Tucker, “but I understand that’s not unusual in such cases.” “And they don’t agree with your doctor at all,” added Mrs. Tucker. “But, of course, your doctor is right. Poor Ralph!” “Please don’t do that,” pleaded Murray. “Poor Ralph!” sighed Mrs. Tucker again. “The doctors don’t think he’ll live more than a lifetime.” “Put in another application and take another examination,” urged Murray in despair. “The doctor may have been misled by some trifling temporary trouble.” “What would be the use?” asked Tucker. “I’ve already invested the premium money in a small ranch.” “It’s too bad,” remarked Mrs. Tucker lugubriously. “That money would have done the company so much good.”