Without finishing the sentence, Harry knitted his brow and shook his head. It was not a pleasant thought—he told himself it was an unjust thought—but, as he had gone in to win, he might as well take every precaution. If the conditions were a little different, it might put an end to her flirtatious mood and compel a more serious consideration of his suit; it might have a tendency to emphasize his point and “wake her up,” as he expressed it. Possibly, it was just the argument needed. With this in mind, he again called upon Murray. “I’m in a little trouble,” he explained. “I ought to have had that policy made out to my wife.” “It makes no difference, unless the estate is involved in some way,” explained Murray. “She’ll get it through—” “It makes a big difference,” interrupted Harry. “You see, I’ve got to get the wife.” “What!” ejaculated Murray. “Say that again, please.” “Why, if I had an insurance policy in favor of my wife, it would make it easier to get the wife, wouldn’t it?” “Thunder!” exclaimed Murray. “I thought I was pretty well up on insurance financiering, but this beats me. Are you hanging an insurance policy up as a sort of prize package?” “That’s it, that’s it!” cried Harry, pleased to find the situation so quickly comprehended. “The other fellow is worth more, but insurance looks bigger than anything else I can buy for the money, and I want to show her how much safer she will be with me than with him.” “You’re all right,” laughed Murray, “but I’m afraid you’ll have to marry first. We can’t very well make a policy payable to a person who doesn’t exist, and you have no wife now. When you have one, bring the policy back if you’re not satisfied to have it payable to the estate, and—” “But she’s got it.” “Who?” “The girl. I assigned it to her, so she doesn’t have to marry me to get the benefit. That wasn’t good business.” Murray leaned back in his chair and looked at the youth with amusement and curiosity. “No,” he said at last, “that may have been good sentiment, but it wasn’t good business. And,” he added jokingly, “I don’t know that this transaction is quite legal.” “Why not?” asked Harry anxiously. “Well, we’re not allowed to give prizes, and, if a girl goes with the policy, it looks a good deal like a prize-package affair. I’m not sure that that wouldn’t be considered worse than giving rebates on premiums.” “You’ve got the wrong idea,” argued Harry with solemn earnestness. “The girl doesn’t go with the policy, but the policy goes with me. At least, that’s what I intended.” “Better try it again with another policy,” suggested Murray. “Make it payable to your estate, and then hang on to it until you get the girl. Let me give you a word of advice, too, although it’s not exactly to my interest.” “Well?” “Well, the policy that you gave to her doesn’t amount to much if you stop paying premiums on it. You might suggest that to her.”