Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-09-03
Dr.. BOyd'S
Experiment
II Prevented a Rupture Be-
tween Man and Wife
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

The words were spoken by stephen
uapgood, and he was addressing DR..
Howard Boyd.
BE seated, Mr.. Hapgood, and give
YOUR wife's symptoms. We have a
great many cases of women acting
strangely after child birth. What
form does it take in Mrs. Hapgood's
.case?"
IAN antagonism to me. 1t was a
love match between us, and we have
been devoted to each other yer since
our marriage until this strange freak
came upon her. She has taken it into
her head that l am Ill treating her. I
am fearful lest at any day she may
apply for a divorce
"Umr" said the doctor thoughtfully.
Twill you visit her?' asked Mr.
Hapgood.
Does she consider herself ILL"
mot in the least. She supposes her
self to be in the best of health"
In that case what reason shall l
give for my visit?"
Mr.. Hapgood was unable to suggest
a reason. and DR.. Boyd continued:
II would like to try in this case
what l admit is an experiment. Sup
pose we give your wife a shock?'
what kind of a shock?"
'Itmight be reported to her that you
had met with an accident, had desert
ed her for another woman or had been
killed."
~ see,'' replied Mr.. Hapgood, mus
ing. Then he replied: I impose on
her by pretending to be injured would
not work. If l should pretend to de-
sert her she would surely get a di-
vorce. The only one of the ways you
have mentioned of shocking her that
seems to me to be practicable is for
me to pretend to be dead. And even
that would be difficult"
"Try it."
But suppose the shock should in
jure my wife physically still further?'
"If she is not in her right mind the
announcement will not affect her un-
less to restore her reason. If it has
this effect we can disabuse her at
once"
Very well, doctor; on your respon-
sibility l will make the trial." and Mr..
Hapgood left the doctors Office.
While this dialogue was going on
another was taking place between Mrs.
Hapgood and an attorney.
"Mr. Stanley" she said, 81 desire
that you procure a divorce for me
from my husband" -.
ION what grounds, MADAME"
Cruelty"
The attorney took a pen and pro-
pounded a series of questions as to Mr..
Hapgood's cruel acts. When the cata-
logue was finished, he drew up a legal
document which he presented to her
for signature. She put her name to it
without a culver and, returning to her
home. met her husband the same even
ing at dinner with a cold stare.
Fortune favored the plan for shock
Ing Mrs. Hnpgood. Not long after her
application for a divorce while sitting
in his office he heard a newsboy crying
Extra! Big railroad ACCIDENT" and
buying the paper he discovered that tile
trouble mad occurred on the road by
which he was accustomed to go to his
suburban home. Stepping to a tele-
phone. he called up DR.. Boyd, and the
result of the interview was that the
doctor went to the Hapgood home and
announced to Mrs. Hapgood that her
husband had been reported badly iu-
Jured on his way home from the city.
The Doctors eyes while imparting
the news were on Mrs. Hapgood's. Ite
saw a slight culver pass over her, but
n0f hoin0 coffoHod with ~ an n mndinQ1
point of view pushed on, saying that
he had mot told her the worst. M.
Hapgood had peer killed. The lady
looked at him as though she did not
quite understand him.
Your husband is dead, Mrs. Hap
good" the Doctor added; che has been
killed on his way home on the train
from the CITY,"
my husband dead?"
Yes, matam-killed in a railroad ac-
cident.'
The lady seemed to be struggling
with her feelings for awhile, then re-
marked:
Pm sorry. but he deserved it; he
treated me sh~amefully."
The doctor. disappointed, turned away
and, on returning to his home, called
up Mr.. Hapgood and reported that the
experiment had failed. However, he
suggested that Hapgood keep dark for
awhile. 1t was possible that the desired
enect might come later. Hapgood
promised to abide by the suggestion
and remained in hiding in the city.
A couple of Jays after Mr.. Hapgood's
supposed deefh his wife called again on
Mr.. Stanley. her attorney. She was
dressed in stourning and wore a wild
ow1s cap o6 exuberant proportions.
Mr.. Stanley" she said, "have you
MED the eapers in my case?"
Il haye not as yet. madam; in these
eases We eve act hastily; we hope for