The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-07-20
HIS AMERICAN
WIFE
How She Obtained Justice
In Berlin

Minna Selfridge, an American girl.
was quite a belle in Berlin shortly be-
fore the Pan European war broke out
Two Germans, Count Herman Burn
hardt and Heinrich Weber, were as
pirants for her hand. Count Herman
was not to the lady's taste, but Weber,
a blue eyed, fair haired Saxon, was
very much so. She accepted his at
tentions, and it was evident that his
rival was much disgruntled. The
count was an important functionary
at court and considered himself insult
ed by a commoner aspiring to the hand
of one he desired to possess himself.
He was arrogant enough to show his
displeasure even to Miss Selfridge.
When the war broke out Miss Self
ridge had become Frau Weber. Mel
ther Count Herman nor Weber was
in the army. but both were kept busy
in Berlin In the civil service. Those
were days when every one to whom
the slightest suspicion was attached
suffered vigorous treatment. One
morning as Weber was about to leave
his wife for his duties Of the day file
of soldiers entered his house, arrested
him and took him off to prison.
The blow fell upon him and his wife
like clap of thunder out Of a clear
sky. Frau Weber had many friends
among the German women and was
not long in learning that the cause of
her husbands arrest was that he pos
sessed an American wife, that Ameri-
cans were largely hostile to Germany,
and complaint had been lodged with
the government that Frau Weber had
persuaded her husband to desert his
country in the hour Of its need and go
with her to America.
Frau Weber went at once to Count
Herman Burnhardt and laid the mat
ter before him, asking his Intervention.
She called his attention to the fact that
he was In a position to show a truly
noble nature in assisting one who had
been his rival and favoring one who
had declined the honor he would have
conferred upon her. The count prom
Used to do all in his power to right the
matter, assuring her that he would
appeal to the emperor.
Several days passed, and Frau Web
er, not hearing from the count, called
upon him to learn the reason for his
not keeping his promise. He told her
that the emperor's time was all occu-
pied and it was very difficult to get his
attention for a moment except In most
important matters connected with the
war. However, the count was watch
ing for an opportunity, and II one oc-
CURED he would at once avail himself
of it.
Frau Weber had been ut court and
had met the emperor. She wrote him
asking that her husband be released
on the grounds she had stated to
Count Herman. But whether the pres
sure OH his time prevented or what
ever the reason, she received no reply.
Every day women in Berlin were
more and more called upon to take the
places of men who were needed at
the front. One day Frau Weber ap-
peared at the office where a charge
would be made against any one for
disloyalty and offered her services as
a clerk. She met with a refusal. The
government had its eye on all foreign
ers and knew very well that she was
an American. What was worse, her
husband was prisoner charged with
intending to go to America to escape
military duty.
One evening a young man whom
Frau Weber had met in society before
the war met her in the street. He
stopped to speak with her, but only
Tor moment.
II dare take only time to say few
words to you, for you are watched,
and / will be compromised. / am en-
ployed i'm the bureau of justice and
you and your husband. On your prom
Use not to reveal from whom you re-
ceived the information will tell you"
II promise"
Your enemy is Count Herman Burn
hardt."
interview not having lasted a minute.
1t would be impossible to find words
to express the mental condition Of the
American at this intelligence. Aston
ishment, horror. anger, followed in
quick succession. Then came delibera-
ton as to how to make use of the in
formation to effect her husbands re-
lease.
The more she thought of obtaining
this release the more plainly she saw
that. having no evidence against the
count which she could use, an applica-
ton in her husbands behalf would not
avail anything. The only person she
might influence through her knowl-
edge would be the count himself. But
IL she went to him and accused him of
the contemplate deed he would shrug
his shoulders and declare that some
enemy was accusing him falsely.
Could the count be compelled to with
draw his charge? Surely this was the
only possible way of indicating Web
err. But how could force be applied to
the accuser? The only man who could
do so was Weber himself, and he was
a captive. Minna pondered long In
trying to find some way to bring pow
err TO bear on the count. Finally des-
peration brought her desperate rem
edy.