Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-08-01
HE WAS INSURED.

please, sir, Dr. Woodrey is below, and
he says can he see you very particulars"
Woodrey was very grave and l saw at
q glance something was wrong. What
is it!" asked
II want you to come and SEQ Mrs. Kos
ter She is a widow, Adamson.
"Impossiblen' exclaimed.
II have just left the house" he said.
II was summoned about an hour ago. AS
we went along the girl told me her story.
"Master's took like death itself, sir.
heard missus scream, and l jumped up,
thinking burglars had broken in. Then
missus screamed again, "Oh, Rudolph"
and l ran down stairs and saw missus
standing over master, who looked like
death, and then came running for you,
sir
II should say no had been dead quite 90
minutes when got there As l could do
nothing, l came for you"
What is the cause of deathg'
Heart disease, though l did not think
the other day that it was likely to prove
fatal. We must spare Mrs. Roster the
worry of an inquest"
went at once to see Mrs. Roster and
found her lying numb AID helpless, pic
ture of desolatiou and despair, and moth
ing l could say seemed to comfort her.
She had no relatives in England. Her
mother and sister lived in Germany. Her
husband had always expressed wish TO
be buried in Stuttgart, his native town,
and she meant to carry out his wishes.
At her request / wrote to the insurance
office for her. giving them all necessary
particulars and the following day an Off
cial named Wclland came down. The next
day he tclcgraphcd to me privately that
the check would be sent from the office
that night
A few days later she wrote from Stuff
CART to tell me she had arrived safely and
thanking mo for my kindness. Two let
tiers passed between us after that, and then
l heard no moro Of her, and three years
later loft Weymouth for u living in ono
of the poorer quarters of Manchester.
One November day l was passing down
Oldham street, when had n great shock.
There was thick yellow fog, and could
only see yard or so around me. Sudden
ly man passed, and in the gloom l had
but moments glimpse of him.
/ stopped dead, completely unncrved, for
the long face, the blue eyes and STOPPING
shoulders were those of my dead parish
Toner, Mr.. Roster.
After some cogitation resolved to visit
my clerical brethren in the city, taking
with me photos of Mr. and Mrs. Kcster,
to inquire If they had such couple among
their parishioners. For four days all in
quiries were fruitless, but on tho fifth my
efforts were rewarded. l called on the
vicar of st. Marys parish, the Rev. James
Lasher, whom had met several times
II have called to sce," / said, "if you
recognize this as the photo of ono of your
parishioners, handing him Roster photo.
Certainly l do. Why, it is Mr.. Mel
lory. What
There Is q deep mystery, said 'Will
you tell me what you know of them?"
II cannot tell you much Mcllory came
to tho town last autumn with his wife and
settled in the parish. They are of independ-
ent means, and Mcllory is rather deli
cate"
"And has Mr. Mellory insured his lifeF"
Eyes, !" said Mr.. Lasher, rather surprised
at my question. "IIc insured only n fort
night ago. He was averse to the step, but
Mrs. Mcllory got me to use my influence
with him, and after some demur he yield
cd. But how do you know all thisS Has
he been to you about itY"
81 will not answer for a moment,
said, but | will prophesy. In few
weeks time when you are visiting them
Mrs. Mellory will tell you that her hus-
band is unwell, and she is worried because
he refuses to SEQ DOCTOR and she will ask
you to reason with him. After tho doctor
has attended him for week or two you
will be sent for Mr. Mcllory has died
suddenly in the night and tho widow is
Frustrated, AS Mr.. Mcllory's friends live
in Germany tho widow will take the corpse
there, and you will part from her with re-
greet"
1t was two months after my first visit to
Lashcr that l heard that Mellory was i'll.
The same procedure had been gone through
with as with me. Lasher had used his per-
suasive powers on the patient and had rec
ommended DR.. Symons.
Dr. Symons attended him three weeks,
and then Mellory died again, Lasher sent
a note begging mo TO call upon him 40
once
Hes dead this morning" he said when
had joined him. Dead Not simulated
DEATH for saw him"
That evening we went to the doctor and
together told him what we knew.
Il think, gentlemen, you are under
delusion. / saw the corpse this morning,
and there is no doubt whatever"
pray hear me-" said. Il made tho
same mistake A brother practitioner Of
yours granted a death certificate, and here
is the man dead again. If may suggest,
doctor, should say go to the widow and
tell her that you must make a post mortem
examination, and wait for developments. !"
In an hour they returned with grave
and troubled faces. There has been n
violent scene, " said Lasher, land she alb
sulutely refuses to allow anything Of the
kind What arc we to doF'
you can withhold your certificate,
said to the doctor, land then an inquest
will be necessary"
They asked ma TO accompany them to
the house to see If my presence would pre-
cipitate matters
II consent on one condition, / said,
which is that we take u police inspector
with us.
Yes it was Mrs. Roster; saw that at
glance | was in the background, and
she did not see me mt first.
IL have brought friend with ne, " said
Lasher, and at that stepped forward.
Good evening, Mrs. Roster, said.
She recognized me on the instant, but