The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-11-08
MR.. HAZELDT'S ECONOMY

! luncheon smoke. He was at ease with
himself - Supremacy content with tn,
world, for it had treated him well. Presi-
dent of successful life insurance com.
| pany. in receipt of large salary. happy
IN his family. and possessed of Il good
digestion. he was not ambitious for
further prcferment.
The office boy interrupted his pleasant
thoughts by presenting a card which
bore the name Anthony Roberts" ..De-
sires to see you on important business,
/ sir"
''Vcry.well. show him in" said the
president, with sigh.
Anthony Roberts came in brisklv, and
after seating himself in the chair to which
the president pointed, stated his bust
ness in few words.
Il have come to secure contribution
from the company of which YOU are the
head to fund for the defense of nv
brother, David Roberts, charged with
murder"
He spoke With confidence and Mr..
Hazeldt looked at him in amazement.
An assessment" he presently in
quircd. blandIy.
NO" said Mr.. Roberts. "a plain
business proposition. You have issued
apolicy on my brothers life for $50. 900.
Ii he is convicted and executed, your
company will have to pay that sum to
his widow"
Certainly" assentcd the president.
''GncSs We can stand it. though"
NO doubt; bnt suppose he is not
convicted"
En-
Mr. ilazcldt hal no d.ubt of the guilt
OF the accused, but the query of the
visitor raised question in his mind.
''Skillful counsel is what he needs
continued Mr. Roberts. but he is bank
rupt and cannot raise the money necessary
to retain powerful, eloquent. and iutlucn-
tial attorneys"
In that case we nced not worry about
the policy it would lapse before his death
on account of the non payment of pre-
mlums, said the president decidedly. as
as if to dismiss the whole subject.
But his w:te-you forget her. She
is the beneficiary and will keep his poll
cies alive. for she firmly believes that he
is guilty and that he will I've executed"
'llas she any financial resources.
''Some. and she can obtain assistance
from man who will marry her when she
is a widow"
Twill she not do anything to support
her husband:' inquired the president.
musingly
Nothing. She wants him out of the
way and believe, the law will divorce
her"
And suppose We contribute. say So
0OO and your brother is cleared"
- He will agree to cancel the policy"
s. Been to any other company"
NO. nearly all his other policies have
become void or have been exchanged for
paid-up policies"
Then our company is really the only
one Interested"
Yes"
DO you believe your brother guilty."
81 do not. >" replied Mr.. Roberts. meet
ing the presidents searching glance I'M
flinchinSly.
Mr.. lIaAcldt reflected u moment, and
then said Come and see me tomorrow. "
Mr.. Roberts withdrew, and the prcsi-
dent lighted a fresh cigar. but he did
not smoke rs complaccntly as was his
wont. He was pulling over moral
qucstion-would it he right TO assist a
man, who was undoubtedly guilty of
murder. to escape punishment! But !
there was that so 900. BY a payment
of $4,000. $i0,O could be saved to
the company which he had managed so !
successfully, and that sum would 90 a
long way toward paying running ex-
penscs. Financial considerations and /
morality waged conflict in the prcsi-
dents usually placid mind. and RULED
his serenity. Hc spoke gruffly, 10 the /
establishment of the Office boy. and was /
abrupt with .EOse who called on business
matters.
Finally h sen, the office bow 70 /
the newspaper Office, with instruc-
tionS to procure copies of the papers in
which the account of the murder-a
highly sensational crime had been
given. When he obtained them he read
them and carefully compared all the ac-
counts. He succeeded Only in confirming
his opinion that the accused was guilty,
and he was firmly convinced that to
assist him to escape the vengeance of the
law from desire to save money for the
company would be placing himself
morally in the position of an accessory
after the fact. lie therefore decided not
to contribute TO defense fund.
But there was the $40. 900
lie did not wish 20 lose that.
And there was the wife, the cold sell !
fish wife, who wanted her husband to