El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-04
CHAPTER XVII.

would appear for the defendant at the
approaching trial of Howard Jeffries
went through the town like wildfire,
and caused an immediate revival In
the public interest, which was begin
ming to slacken for want of hourly
stimulation Rumor said that there
had been a complete reconciliation in
the Jeffries family, that the banker
was now convinced of his sons limo
cence, and was determined to spend
fortune, if necessary, to save him.
This and other reports Of similar
nature were all untrue, but the judge
let them pass without contradiction.
They were harmless, he chuckled, and
If anything, helped Towards cause.
Meantime he himself had not been
idle. When once he made up his
mind to do a thing he was not con-
tent with half measures. Night and
day he worked on the case, preparing
evidence, seeing witnesses and ex-
perts, until he had gradually built
up a bulwark of defense which the
police would find difficult to tear
down Yet he was not wholly reas-
sured as to the outcome until Annie,
the day following the interview in his
Office, informed him breathlessly that
she had found the mysterious woman
The judge was duly elated now it
as plain sailing, indeed There had
: ways been the possibility that How
trs confession to the police was
wCoChat he had really killed Under
one But now they had found the
Gus Important witness, the mysteri-
men,Oman who was in the apart
vszSaaea few minutes before the shoot
ING = -v'as5 '1.I -l5tyssess1un Oh a
ieIter L which Underwood declared
MS intetion of shooting himself.
aouDt wa no longer possible. Acquit-
TAI was foregone conclusion. So
Pleased VS. the Judge at Annie's find
that ne 9 not insist on knowing the
woman ESae. He saw that Annie
preiefreo, II some reason, not to give
it-eVen u her legal adviser-and he
let ner taV, her way. exacting only
tndC the oman should be produced
me INFANT he needed her. The young
womb readily assented CT course,
'noe remained the confession" but
ut had been obtained unfairly, il
tgally, fraudulently. The next impor-
Int step was to arrange a meeting at
the judges house at which DR.. Bern
stein, the hypnotic expert. would be
present and TO which should be inyi-
ted both Capt. Clinton and Howard's
father. In front OF all these witnesses
The judge would accuse the police cap.
an OF brOwbeating his prisoner into
taking an untrue confession Per
nos the captain could be argued into
au1itting the possibility of a mistake
n"'ug been made. If, further, he could
oe Snyince0 Of the existence of doc
uineht@~v evidence showing that I'm
uoi "oou -eally committed suicide he
1Hien. Oe Wiling to recede from his
PoSluon In Ger to protect himself
AT any rate vi s worth trying. The
Judge 1nsisteca Flso. that to this meet
| ing the mystV'ious woman witness
should also cone to no nrodnced at
such momeR as the lawyer might
CONSIDER opportune. Annie merely de-
H'anded few hours time so she could
make the appointment and soon re-
turned with a solemn promise that
the woman would attend the meet
Ing and come forward at whatever
moment called upon
rec evenings later there was an
impressive gathering at Judge Brew
ster residence. In the Handsomely
appointed library on the second floor
were seated DR.. Bernstein, Mr. Jef-
lrles and the Judge. Each was an
sorDeo IN his own thoughts. DR.. BERN
stem was putting at a big black cigar.
the banker stared vacantlv into cnoca
Ne Judge, at his desk, examined some
o"t papers. Not a word was spo-
Ken. They seemed to be waiting for !!
fourth man who had not yet ar !
rived Presently Judge Brewster
looked up and said:
Gentlemen, l expect Capt Clinton |
IN few minutes, and the matter will /
be placed before you:"
Mr. Jeffries frowned. 1t was great t
ly against his wish that he had been
dragged to this conference. Peevish- +
ly, he said:
I've no wish to be present at the
meeting. You know that and yet
you sent for me-
Judge Brewster looked up at him
quickly and said quietly yet de
cisively:
MT Jeffries, it is absolutely nee
essary that you be present when
tell Capt. Clinton that he has either
wlllfuily or ignorantly forced your son
TO confess to having committed