El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-25

! band Of hers. Do you know she had
the impeTtinence to come to our house
and ask Mr.. Jeffries to help them? l
asked my husband to describe her,
/ but all l could get from him was that
she was impertinent and impossible"
She hesitated a moment, then she
added: rs she as pretty as her pic
lures in the paper? You've seen her,
of course?"
Judge Brewster frowned
Yes" he replied She comes here
every day regularly. She literally
compels me to see her and refuses to
go till I've told her 1 haven't changed
my decision about taking her case
What insolence!" exclaimed Alicia.
Il should think that you would have
her put out of the office"
The lawyer was silent and toyed
somewhat nervously with the paper
cutter, as if not quite decided as to
what response to make. He coughed
and fused with the papers on the
desk
Why don't you have her put out Of
the Officer" she repeated
The judge looked up. There was
an expression in his face that might
have been interpreted as one of an
noyance, as if he rather resented this
intrusion into his business affairs,
but Mrs. Jeffries, ST., was too i'm
portant client to quarrel with, so
he merely said:
Frankly, Mrs Jeffries, if it were
not for the fact that Mr.. Jeffries has
exacted from me a promise not to
take up this case, l should be tempted
to-consider the matter. In the first
place, you know I always liked How
ard. | saw good deal of him before
your marriage to Mr.. Jefries. He
was always a wild, unmanageable
boy, weak in character, but he had
many lovable traits. l am very sorry,
indeed, to see him in such a terrible
position. 1t was hard for me to real
ize it and I should never have be-
lieved him guilty had he not con-
fessed to the crime"
Yes she assented ct is an aw-
full thing and terrible blow to his
father. Of course. he has had moth
ing to do with Howard for months.
AS you know, he turned him out of
doors long ego, but the disgrace is
none the less overwhelming"
The lawyer looked out OF the win
dow and drummed his fingers on the
arm of his chair. Suddenly wheeling
round, and facing his client. he said:
You know this girl he married is
no ordinary woman
oh" she exclaimed, sarcastically
She has succeeded in arousing your
sympathy"
The judge bowed coldly
NO" he replied Il would hardly
say that. But she has aroused my
curiosity She is a very peculiar girl,
evidently a creature of impulse ard
determination. l certainly feel sorry
for her. Her position is a very pain
full one. She has been married only
few months, and now her husband
has to face the most awful accusation
that can be brought against a man.
She is plucky in spite of it all, and is
moving heaven and earth in Towards |
defense. She believes herself to be IN |
some measure responsible for his mis-
fortune. Apart from that, the case
interests me from a purely profession !
al point of view. There are several !
case. Sometimes. in spite of Towards |
confession, l don't believe he COM
mitted that crime"
Alicia changed color and. shifting |
on her chair, scrutinized the !
lawyers face. What was behind that |
calm, inscrutable mask? What theory |
had he formed? One newspaper had !
suicide. She might herself !
come forward and declare that Rob !
ert Underwood had threatened to 1
take his own life. but how could she (
face the scandal which such a course !
would involve? She would have to /
admit visiting Underwood's rooms at I
midnight alone. That surely would (
ruin her in the eyes not only of her t
husband, but Of the whole world. If |
this sacrifice of her good name were !
necessary to save an innocent mans /
life. perhaps she might summon up
enough courage to make it. But, after !
all, she was by no means sure her
self that Underwood he'd committed |
suicide. Howard had confessed. so /
Why should she jeopardize her good
name uselessly?