nce moved on Boston; and as Smith went on, his companion's
manifest pleasure increased.

"So I think I am justified in saying that even if the courts do not
absolutely hold the separation feature illegal, they will come so close
to it that the Superintendent of Insurance will take a hand," Smith
said. "I'm mighty glad you didn't sell your interest in the agency,
for I believe that things are going to break our way, and when it's
possible for the Guardian to go back into the Osgood agency, I hope to
see Silas Osgood in command--opening the front door to let us in."

"I'll open the door to admit myself and the Guardian together--I'd
rather have it that way," the older man replied. "But I hope that this
can be accomplished before very long. I dislike idleness intensely.
When I was in the harness I often thought I had too much to do; but any
excess amount is better than nothing at all. How long do you suppose
all this will take? I expect to spend the summer in Europe--do you
suppose that it can be fought out within a year?"

"It's rather hard to say," the other responded. "There appears to be
no clear-cut law under which we can proceed directly, as we did in
Pennsylvania. I suppose you heard that the Attorney-General over there
had taken up our battle for us. Still, it ought not to take a year
here. Meanwhile my hands are rather tied here in Boston. I can't
appoint another agent, because it wouldn't be fair to close up his
agency and go over to Silas Osgood and Company when you were ready to
take us. Meanwhile the Guardian will be doing no business at all in
Boston, and I hate to be getting no premium income whatever out of the
town, but I guess I'll have to be patient. You haven't any one to
suggest, have you, that would give us exclusively a suburban business
so that he wouldn't interfere with your congested district lines when
we appointed you?"

Mr. Osgood reflected for a moment.

"That sounds like a difficult question to answer," he said; "but I
believe I know such a man. There is a very live young fellow named
Greenwood who has a nice business out toward Dorchester mostly. He's a
sort of protege of mine, and if I had remained in the agency I think I
should have offered him a junior partnership. He doesn't represent any
company except as a sub-agent. If you appointed him, his risks
wouldn't conflict at all with ours later on. Perhaps, even, I might
carry out my original intention toward him."

"