, 1910-08-04
CHAPTER XVII.

The news that Judge Brewster
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
a fortune. II necessary. to save him.
This n 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 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
The Judge was duly elated: now 1t
was plain sailing, indeed! There had
always been he possibility that How
ards confession to the police was
true, that he had really killed Under
wood. But now they had found the
one important witness, the mysterf-
GUS woman who was In the apart
ment a few minutes before the shoot
ing and who was in possession of a
letter In which Underwood declared
his intention OF shooting himself,
doubt was no longer possible. Acquit-
tai was a foregone conclusion. So
pleased was the Judge at Annie's find
that he did not insist on knowing the
woman's name. He saw that Annie
preferred, for some reason. not TO give
it-even to her legal adviser-and he
let her have her way, exacting only
that the woman should be produced
the instant he needed her. The young
woman readily assented. OF course.
there remained the confession" but
that had been obtained unfairly, H.
legally. f~raudulently. The next impor-
tant step was to arrange a meeting at
the Judges house at which DR.. Bern
stein, the hypnotic expert, would be
present n to which should be invi-
ted both Capt. Clinton and Towards
father. In front of all these witnesses
the Judge would accuse the police cap
tain of browbeating his prisoner into
making an untrue confession. Per-
haps the captain could be argued into
admitting the possibility of a mistake
having been made. If, further, he could
be convinced Of the existence Of doc
umentary evidence showing that Un-
derwood really committed suicide he
might be willing to recede from his
position in order to protect himself.
At any rate 1t was worth trying. The
Judge insisted, also, that 10 this meet
ing the mysterious woman witness
should also come, to be produced at
such = moment as the lawyer might
consider opportuns. Annie merely de-
manded a few hours time 70 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.
Three evenings later there was an
impressive gathering at Judge Brew
ster's residence. In the handsomely
appointed library on the second foor
were seated DR.. Bernstein, Mr.. JEFF
fries and the Judge. Each was alb
sorbed in his own thoughts. BIZ. Bern
stein was putting at a big black cigar:
the banker stared vacantly into space.
The Judge, at his desk, examined some
legal papers. Not a word was spo-
ken. They seemed to be waiting for
a fourth man who had not yet ar
rived. Presently Judge Brewster
looked up and said:
Gentlemen, | expect Capt. Clinton
In a few minutes, and the matter will
be placed before you"
Mr.. Jeffries frowned. 1t was great
ly against his wish that he had been
dragged to this conference. Peevish-
ly, he said:
"rvs no wish to be present at the