Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-09-03


amount of damages ! can recover"
'That is a matter for compromise
with the railroad company. If you can
not come to an agreement with it you
Can sue it."
81 have been informed that the COM
pany proposes to leave all claims to the
courts"
"In that case we have only to COM
mence suit"
please do so at once"
What amount shall / sue for? How
much was your husband worth to you
pecuniarilyT'
HE received a salary of $6,000.'
"That is 6 per cent on 100000. But
since we usually lay claim for much
more than we expect we will make it
more than that. There is a loss, you
know, beyond a %pecuniary loss. You
would value your damage in being de-
prived of a loving husband at how
much?"
"a hundred thousand dollars is the
least sum would name. My husband
was devoted to me-"
Every well. We will sue for $780,.
600. II we get $4,000 it will be more
than is usual in such cases."
Twenty thousand dollars" exclaim.
ed the lady, for such a husband, one
SO good, so tender, so kindi You don't
mean to tell me that l will receive no
more than thatr!'
The lawyer explained that such
claims were hard to make good.
There were many delays to be expect.
ed; the railroad would doubtless fight
the case to the bitter end, and 1t was
difficult to say what a judge or a
jury would so. The lady was obliged
to be satisfied with this explanation,
but left the Office declaring that the
loss of her husband was ir~reparable.
Mr.. Hapgood by DR.. Boyd's advice
and as a matter of precaution had
hired a shadower for his wife, and
within an hour after her visit to her
attorney he had been advised of the
fact. He visited Mr.. Stanley and took
him into his confidence. informing him
Of the device that had been practiced
on his wife with a view to restoring
her to health. MI. Stanley promised
to take no action in Mrs. Hapgood's
case until hearing from her husband,
and the latter departed for DR.. Boyd's
Office.
Doctor" he said, 1T is as l feared.
MY wife has been to an attorney"
"For a divorce?"
First for a divorce, but since her
supposed bereavement she has been
there to secur damages from the rail-
road company for the loss of her hus-
band. What do you suppose she
claims for me?'
II give it up"
1.-TWO hundred thousand dollars.'
A faint smile passed over the doc
tors features, but it disappeared at
once. He was deeply interested in the
case, as it pertained to his profession.
"You have prevented any action, l
suppose?''
II have. There is no danger Of the
matter getting out at present. What
do you propose now?"
The doctor pondered a long while
before replying. II fear he said,
the experiment has failed. The only
hope left for us is for you to return to
life. The shock did not produce the
desired effect. 1t is barely possible
that on seeing you alive and well your
wife may experience a joy which will
serve the purpose We hoped for in Civ
ing her a sudden Distress"
But commenced Hapgood lugu-
briously and stopped.
But what?' asked the doctor.
I'm afraid that when my wife sees
me alive she'll be disappointed that
she must forego that 100000 claim
against the railroad company"
"Nonsenser.'
Hapgood walked the streets for an
hour bordering on the situation. her
went to Mr.. Stanley's Office.
Send for my wife," he said.
The lawyer took up a telephone re-
ceiver. called up Mrs. Hapgood and
asked if she could conveniently come
to his office. She replied that she
could and would. Hapgood withdrew
to an adjoining room and waited. When
his wife arrived Mr.. Stanley had laid
two documents on a table, the one for
a divorce, the other her application for
damages against the railroad company.
She had been in the Office but a few
moments when in walked her husband
in perfect condition. He stood for a
moment regarding her, she looking at
him as one dazed. Going to the table
on which rested the two documents,
he took up n and read aloud, "And
the said Stephen Hapgood has made
the ~deponent's life intolerable;" then
taking up the other he read, "And the
said Stephen Hapgood was a faithful.
true and loving husband and contribut-
ed so far as a husband could to de-
ponent's comfort and happiness" Look
ing at his wife tenderly, he said to
hor.