A FEARFUL SUMMONS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 709, 2 January 1877, Page 3

A FEARFUL SUMMONS.

Mr Smith I called to see if I could take your life'.' •< Wh-wh-what d'you say:?' exclamed Smith, in some alarm. "I say that I've come round to take;your life. My name is Gunn. As soon as .€ heard you were' Unprotected, that you had nothing on your life, I thought I would just -run 'in and settle the thing fcr you -at once".' Then Smith got up and went to the other side of the table, and said to i him self: •'lt's a lunatic who 'has broken >out of the asylum. He'll kill me if I halloo or run. I must humour him.' Then Gunn fumbled .inhis pocket after his mortality tables, followed Smith around-the.room and said >to bin : '"You can • chose your own plan, you know. It's immaterial to me. Some like one way some likean- • other ; it'sa/matter of taste. Which I one do.you .prefer ?"

"I'd rather not die at all, r ' said :Smith in despair.. j "But you've got to die, of course," said Grunn.;'.that's nothing there's no choice abouti All I can do is to make death easy for you—to make you feel happy as you go off Now which plan will you take:?" ' Couldn't you .postporae it unil to-morrow*, so as to .give one time to think i" , ' No, I prefer to take you on the spot. I might as well do it now as at any other time. You have a wife "and children:?' ■Yes and I think you ought >to have some consideration for them and let me oft.' 4 Well that's a curious 'kind of an argument,' said Gunn. 'When I take, you .your family wall be perfectly protected, of -course, and not otherwise.' 'GBut why.do you-want to murder me.?' 'Murder yon! murder you'! Who in thunder's talking about murdering .you?' •• Why didn't, yon say ■ • -' I called on you to take oat a life insurance, policy in our .company, and I ~ ••- Oh, you did, did you;?' said Smith suddemly becoming fierce. ' Well I ain't a-goih' to do it, and I want you to skip out of.this,, or I'll brain you with a poker—Hsome. now, skip!' "XThem-.'Mr Gunn withdrew, without selling, a policy, and Smith is ;still ; .uninsured.—"..Max Adeler."