The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-03-27
ADEVOTED:
WIFE -
She Proved Moe 4. ,.-
Than tie La
By ESTHER VANDEV

IL must Go some work at the office
tonight. If I'm not at home by 10
o'clock don't wait for me. but go to
bed"
Cant help you with your ac-
counts?' asked the wife.
NO; there Is nothing to be done that
two can work at. | think | can do 1t
all and get home at reasonable hour
III sit up for you. no matter how
late you are
1t was half an hour after dark when
Charlie Fosdick unlocked the office
door Of Converse & Co., private bank
ers, and. entering. turned on a light and
went to work. He had been engaged
some time when. looking up from his
desk. he noticed that the door of the
private room Of Mr.. Coolidge, the finan-
cial partner. who had also under his
supervision the accounts OF the con-
Germ. was ajar. This was noticeable.
because Fosdick knew that when Coo
lidge left his room he invariably locked
ii. Fosdick went to the door. pushed 1t
open and by the light that shone in
from the counting room saw sight
that filed him with horror. A man lay
on the floor. Fosdick ran in, turned on
q light and saw the financial partner
lying on his back. his glazed eyes star
ing at the ceiling.
Fosdick's first impulse was to run
out and shout for some Que. But 1t
flashed upon him that he had better
take counsel with himself as to what it
would be better to do. Turning off the
light he left the room, closing the door
behind him. and returned to his desk.
He had been there but few minutes
when the night Waterman entered.
Hard at work. Mr.. Fosdick?"
I'm little behind" was the reply.
The young mans heart was beating
like a triphammer. Should he take the
Waterman into Coolidge's room and
show him what had occurred? He had
no time for consideration. The watch
man went out. saying before doing So:
Everything seems to be all right.
doesn't itT'
"Oh. yes" was the reply. everything
Is all right
The man had no sooner gone than
Fosdick saw that he had been on the
horns Of dilemma and had chosen
the wrong horn. If he had shown the
Waterman the body he might have had
some chance to escape being hanged
for Coolidge's murder. AS 1t was, the
Waterman would swear that he, Fos-
d;nI- ho1 In, hn AfIi hot a
and 10 o'clock on the evening Of the
murder and no one had been there
later.
There was no hope but in flight
Catching up his hat and without hav-
ing sufficient eQuanimity to turn off
the light over his desk, he left the Of
flee and. running to his home. fell into
the arms of his wife, trembling like a
leaf.
Charlie" she exclaimed, for heav-
ems sake. what is it,"
1t was some time before he could suf
ficiently collect his faculties to tell her
what had occurred, and when he did
gasped sentences.
"Oh, Charlie" she moaned. "Why
didn't you give an alarm as soon as
you saw the body?"
why didn't |? Because must have
been struck with madness. 1t was all
fated. shall die on the galows."
Then the wife pulled herself together
She sat down on sofa beside her hus-
band with her arms about him and
said:
probably the murder win not be dis
covered till morning Mr.. Coolidge was
bachelor. wasn't hep
Yes
Then it is not likely he will be
missed from home during the night!
YOU will not be sent for. You have a
choice between two courses-either to
go to Mr. COnverse's house and tell
him all that has occurred or disappear
hoping that during your absence some
clew will be found rs to the murderer"
Fosdick could not get over the scene
self and how it would he used against
him when brought to trial and his
wife saw tnat he was so frightened
that he would present n bad appear
ance and he very poor witness in his
own behalf. Feeling that by fight he
would not make the matter much
worse than ii was. she consented T.
his going. There was plenty Of time
to prepare n disguise. and she bent her
inventive powers to dress him up to
that end. He wore full beard, and
she shaved 1t all off, doing the work
herself because his hand trembled so
that he could not do 1t without cutting
himself. Then she dressed him in
some of her old garments, rouged and
powdered him and sent him away.
with all the money there was In the
house. cautioning him to go to for
eign country before changing his ap'
parel.
Fosdick did not get away from home
ill near midnight. but when he did he
was effectively disguised. His wife
did Fset, LET him go before arranging a
cipher Aode by which he might COM
municatewith her. A newspaper ad-
vertisemeIt informed the couple that a
steamer would sail for South Ameri-
can ports atNl a. m, or in a couple Of