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A Gamble with Life
A Gamble with Life
CHAPTER I
A STRANGE COMPACT
"Well, of all the hare-brained proposals I ever listened to, this takes the bun"; and Felix Muller adjusted his pince-nez and lay back in his chair and laughed softly.
"But why hare-brained?" asked his companion, seriously. "Singular, I admit it may be; startling if you like, but I do not see that there is anything in it to laugh at."
"You don't?" and the lawyer's face became suddenly grave. "Do you realise what your proposal implies?"
"I think I do," and Rufus Sterne's face flushed slightly; "but you are thinking of a contingency that will never arise."
"Perhaps I am; but every contingency must be guarded against," and Felix Muller took off his glasses and wiped them meditatively. "You say you are confident of success, and I am bound to admit, from what I know of you and your scheme, I think your confidence is well founded. But you know as well as I do, that nothing is certain in this world but death."
"Well?"
"You may fail. Something may happen you cannot foresee."
"I grant it, as a remote – an exceedingly remote – possibility. But in such an event you will be covered by my life assurance policy."
"But you may live for another fifty years."
Rufus Sterne shook his head and smiled gravely.