“This has ceased to be a joke!” declared Murray earnestly. “A joke!” exclaimed Mrs. Tucker. “Has it ever been a joke with you?” “No, it hasn’t,” said Murray. “I didn’t think you could be so heartless,” asserted Mrs. Tucker. “One has only to look at poor Ralph—” “Don’t, don’t!” cried Murray. “On what terms will you quit this?” “Oh, if you want to get down to business,” put in Tucker, “I’d like to begin delivering this company to Frances. You know I said I was going to do it. I don’t care for policies, but I might take some stock.” “You said you had no money.” “No premium money,” corrected Tucker. “I invested that in the ranch, but I was notified this morning of a legacy from a bachelor uncle that will give me some ready cash.” “The stock of this company gets on the market very seldom,” explained Murray. “I have a little myself, but I don’t care to part with it.” “Oh, very well,” replied Tucker in careless tones; “it’s quite immaterial to us for the moment. In fact, I’d be in no hurry about it at all if I only had a longer time to live.” “Poor Ralph!” sighed Mrs. Tucker, as they departed. When they had gone, Murray rang for his office-boy. “You tell Mr. Ross,” he said to the boy, “to keep out of my way for a few days. I’m not in a mental condition to stand the sight of the man who loaded this trouble on me.” For the next three days Murray saw as little of his office as he possibly could, fearing another call from Mr. and Mrs. Tucker. Then he learned that they had left again for the West, and he breathed more freely. But, shortly thereafter, a stock-broker called upon him. “I am commissioned,” said the broker, “to buy some stock in your company, and I thought possibly you might know of some that is for sale.” “I do not,” replied Murray. “As you know, it is not a speculative stock, but is held, for the most part, by conservative investors. A little gets on the market occasionally, when some estate is being settled or some holder becomes financially embarrassed, but that is about your only chance.” “So my client informed me,” said the broker, “but he also informed me that he was sure he could get some himself, and he wished me to use every effort to add to his prospective holdings.” “Mr. Tucker, your client, tried to buy some from me before he left for the West,” said Murray, for he had no doubt as to the identity of the man who wanted the stock. “Indeed!” returned the broker. “I didn’t know that. He explained his anxiety for prompt action by the rather extraordinary statement that he wished to get the stock before somebody foreclosed on his life!” “By thunder!” cried Murray, “somebody _will_ foreclose on his life, and take the Limited west to do it, if he keeps this thing up!”