, 1910-08-11
ana handed the lawyer a care.

SIR"
ITO see me-" asked the lawyer in
surprise: ARE you SURE she hasn't
come for Mr.. Jeffries?"
mo, sir; she asked for you"
Annie sprang forward.
Us It Mrs. Jeffries?" she asked.
Yes" he replied.
Let me see her. judge" she ex-
claimed eagerly; "Ill tell her Who it is
n she can tell you-she's a woman
please!"
Addressing the servant. the lawyer
said:
ASK Mrs. Jeffries to come up"
Turning to his client, he ven on:
II see no objection to you speaking
to Mrs. Jeffries. After all. she is your
husbands stepmother. But am free
to confess that / don't understand you.
l am more than disappointed in your
failure to keep YOU word. You prom
Used definitely that you would bring
the witneso here tonight. On the
strength Of that promise i made state
emit to Capt. Clinton which / have
not been able to substantiate. The
whole story looks like an invention on
your part"
ingly.
IT'S no an invention! Really.
Judge! Just a little while longer!
You've been so kind, so PATIENT"
There was a trace of anger In the
lawyers voice as he went on:
Il believed you implicitly. You were
PC positive this woman would come
forward"
she will-she will. Give me only
a few minutes more!" she cried.
The lawyer looked at her as If puz-
xled.
"a few minutes?" he said. Again
ne looked at her and Their shook his
Eead resignedly. well. it's certainly
bnfectiousi" he exclaimed. II believe
you again"
The door opened and Alicia appeared.
The lawyer advanced politely to greet
her.
Good evening. Mrs. Jeffries."
Alicia shook hands with him, at the
same time looking in%quiringly at An
ME. who, by a quick gesture, told her
that h Judge knew nothing of her
secret. The lawyer went on:
Mrs. Jeffries, Jr., wishes to speak
to you. ! said I thought there'd be
no objection; you don't mind. May
she?"
YES" murmured Alicia.
Your husband was here" said the
Judge.
my husband" she cried, startled.
hOofn che DIornnl irr,frippl NJ An
ME n tried to force a smile.
Yes" said the lawyer; he'll be
glad to know you're here. I'll tell
him." Turning to Annie. he said:
when you're ready. please e n
and"
Very well, Judge"
The lawyer went out and Alicia
turned round breathlessly.
my husband was here?" she ex-
claimed.
"Yes."
you've told Mr.. Brewster nothing?"
Annie shook her head.
81 Couldn't" she said. "I tried to,
but / couldn't. 1t seems so hard, doesn't
it," Alicia laughed bitterly and An
ME went on: ct was afraid you weren't
coming!"
"The train was late!" exclaimed AL
icia e~vasively, 81 went up to SIAM
ford to say good-by to my mother"
ITO say good-by?" echoed her com
panion In surprise.
Yes" said the other tearfully. 81
have said good-by to her-I have said
good-by to everybody-to everything
to myself must give them all up
| must give myself up"
"Oh, It Isn't as bad as that, surely?"
Alicia shook her head sadly.
YES" she said; Nv reckoned 1t
all up. It's a total loss. Nothing will
be saved-husband, home. position,
good name-all will go. You'll see. |
shall be torn into little bits of shreds.
They won't leave anything unsaid. But
it's not that | care for so much. It's
the injustice of 1t all. The injustice
of the power of evil. This man Under
VOC never did a good action in all
his life. And now even after he is
lei he has the power to go on de
"That's true" said Annie; he was
no good"
The bankers wife drew from her
bosom the letter Underwood wrote
her before he killed himself.
when he sent me this letter." she
went on. Il tried to think myself into
his condition of mind, so that | could
decide whether he intended to keep
his word and kill himself or not.
tried to reason out just how he felt
and how he thought. Now know.
It's hopeless, dull. sodden despera
ton. / haven't even the ambition to
defend myself from Mr.. Jeffries."
Annie shrugged her shoulders.
81 wouldn't lose any sleep on his
account" she said with n laugh. More
seriously she added: ''Surely he won't