The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-12-04

think 10y this timc?' | ycnturcd.
Here is the case. Dr. Smith did not
commit that murder There was no
more surprised person in the lodge
room when the pistol went off III"
gave himself mp for NO reasons First
Ia shield the woman he loves aud
whom he believes to be guilty Soc.
Ond he feels that he is technically
guilty because his hand did the act
and his mind has cNultrd over H.
Wilbur Pag"t the drug clerk might
have committed the murder. He has
for several years been desperately and
hopclrssly in love with Mrs Williams
and has cherished a secret hatred for
her husband Thus the motive was
there The only reason he is not guilty
is that the idea did not occur To him
will show YOU the opportunity later
Her motive was double one Slp slf
ferod in silence the constant abuse Of
a d-unkon husband She loved an.
other Thus she had tho strougua
motive which can acuato a woman
TO murder tho desire to rid herself of
a man who was running her life and
tu b" free to marry a man she loved
Now for IN" opportunity which
You doubt When DR. Smith stopped
AZ the Williams home to deliver the
package from the drug store Dr. VII
Iiams was out Common courtesy de-
mand"d that the wife ask Or Smith
into the house even had her hcar.
not prompted her to snatch every mo
mcnt with him that she could
"Now for the opportunity. When
pr Smith left the house he did not
take the powder with him Whcthrr
II was COnniyancr. intent, or merely
observation-disclosures | cannot say, but
incline toward the latter At any rate.
tn" imitation powder was IN the pos
session Of Mrs Williams for some
little time She knew It's purpose"
no. no, you are all wrong" cx-
claimed Il would have to lose all my
faith in womanknd before could
credit it would rather believe it Of
the doctor
After .breakfasting the next morning
Clarke and set ont to fulfil our ten.
tativc appointment with Mrs VIII.
Jams
Mrs. Williams" he began In his
whirlwind fashion. II will ask you
what passed between yourself and Dr.
Smith at the early morning meeting
you had with him yesterday. Wait
minute. Is It not a fact that DR.
Smith called YOU to the back door be.
fore the neighbors were up and while
the watchers were all in the front part
Of the house with the body. and con.
fessed to you that he had executed
the fatal change in the powders"
Did DR. Smith tell you that" she
asked in tense voice. while she con.
vulsively clasped and uncasped her
hands
Or, Smith has told me nothing. It
is fact is II not
Yes"
but despite his confession to you
to the police. you believe him TO be
Innocent
20, sir | more than believe. ! know
he Is innocent"
How do YOU know it," snapped
Clarke, with his eyes riyctcd upon the
frai bit of femininity before him
81 know it-because-bec |
changed the powders"
Mrs. Williams, = ny do you who
are not of a caste given to falsphood.
deliberately tell me what know to be
untrue? Dr. Smith would not ask this
sacrifice at your hands He is limo
cent. and his innocence alone will save
him"
She cried, appcalinGly:
20. will save him You shall not
prevent me. Even though he be guilty
will save him. Mine was the first
guilt. Prove hat he Is innocent, and
will thank you with my whole life.
II you cannot. do not stand in my
way. for am the guilty one and on
my head alone should the punishment
fall. You have dragged ont my
secret and made me lay my heart open
before you who are strangers DO not
betray me but let me work this prob.
lem out in my own way. ! beg Of you,
gentlemen"
Just then the telephone bell rang
violently.
Answer It, II you please MI Sex.
ton" said the woman, who seemed too
weak to rise
| went TO the telephone.
Coroner has arrived. Inquest is be.
ginning Mrs. Williams wanted at once
at the court house"
! ! turned and gave the message yer.
| batim.
With hurried promise TO keep our
counsel, let Mrs. Williams take her
own course, but to do all N our power
What do you think Of it. Clarks?"
| asked.