842 FARMING BY INCHES; 



"Now, my dear, come close to me while I whisper a little 

 secret in your ear." 



" How can I ? There is a limit to proximity." 



" Did you know that our little farm produced one crop 

 that, in money value, far exceeds all the rest combined, in 

 fact, a crop worth the sum of three thousand dollars?" 



" Three thousand dollars ! " 



" Exactly." 



" Really, my dear, I do not understand you at all." 



" Do you remember how many times I tried when we lived 

 in the city to get an insurance on my life ? " 



" Yes, I remember it with sorrow. No company was 

 foolish enough to risk its money on such a precarious life 

 as yours." 



Just here I felt a curious movement as if something was 

 being drawn forth from somebody's pocket. Looking up, I 

 beheld before my astonished eyes a policy on my husband's 

 life for three thousand dollars. 



"There, Hattie, is our latest and best farm crop, my 

 health. The Arenac Mutual Insurance Company seem to 

 think it so far restored that they value it at the above sum. 

 It is in your favor. Allow me to present the policy to 

 you." 



" O Robert, Robert ! This is too much happiness." And 

 I kissed him, and kissed him, but dear me, what am I 



