Charlevoix county herald., 1911-07-01


haps this summons to his office was
| would have nothing to do with her
| and her husband. She wondered why
| he had decided so suddenly to see
her and, like a flash, an idea came to
| her. She had seen Mr.. Jeffries, Sr.,
enter the inner sanctum and, in
stinctively, she felt that she had
| something to do with his visit. The
banker had come out accompanied by
richly-dressed woman whom she
guessed to be his wife.
She looked with much interest IL
| Howard's stepmother. She had heard
so much about her that it seemed to
her that she knew her personally. AS
Alicia swept proudly by, the eyes of
the two women met, and Annie was
surprised to see in the bankers wife's
face, instead of the cold, naughty
stare she expected, wistful longing
look, as If she would like to stop and
talk with her, but dare not. In an
| other instant she was gone, and, obey
| ing clerk, who beckoned her to fol-
low him, she entered Judge Brew.
ster's office
The lawyer looked up as she came
in. but did not move from his seat.
| Gruffly he said:
How long do you intend to keep
up this system of-warfare? How
long are you going to continue for
cling your way into this officer"
Il didn't force my way in," she said,
quietly. Il didn't expect to come in.
The clerk said you wanted to see me-"
The lawyer frowned and scrutinized
her closely. After a pause, he said:
Il want to tell you for the fiftieth
time can do nothing for you."
"Fifty?" she echoed. Fifty did you
say? Really. it doesn't seem that
much"
Judge Brewster looked at her quick.
ly to see if she was laughing at him.
Almost peevishly, he said
For the last time. repeat 1 can
do nothing for you"
mot the last time, judge" she re-
Piled shaking her head. II shall
come again tomorrow"
The lawyer swung around in his
chair with indignation.
you will-?"
Annie nodded.
Yes, sir" she said, quietly.
You're determined to force your
way in here?" exclaimed the lawyer.
"Yes, sir"
The judge banged the desk with his
fist.
But / won't allow it! have some
thing to say, you know! / can't per-
NIT this to go on. l represent my
client, Mr.. Howard Jeffries, Sr., and
he won't consent to my taking up
your husbands case"
There was a shade of sarcasm in
Annnie's voice as she asked calmly:
Cant you do it without his con-
sent?"
The lawyer looked at her grimly.
Il can," he blurted out. butt
won't"
Her eyes flashed as she replied
quickly.
We'll. you ought to"
The lawyer looked up in amaze
ment
What do you mean?" he demanded.
IT'S your duty to do it," she said,
quietly. Your duty to his son, to me,
and to Mr.. Jeffries himself. Why, he's
so eaten up with his family pride and
false principles that he can't see the
difference between right and wrong
You're his lawyer. It's your duty to
put him right. It's downright wicked
of you to refuse-you're hurting him.
Why, when l was hunting around for
a lawyer one of them actually re
fused to take up the case because he
said old Brewster must think How
ard was guilty or he'd have taken 1t
up himself You and his father are
putting the whole world against him.
and you know it"
The judge was staggered. No one
in his recollection had ever dared to
speak to him like that He was so
astonished that he forgot to resent 1t,
and he hid his confusion by taking
out his handkerchief and mopping his
forehead.
81 do know it," he admitted
"Then why do you do it?" she
snapped.
The lawyer hesitated, and then he
said:
"I-that's not the question"
Annie leaped quickly forward, and
she replied:
Its my question-and as you say.
I've asked 1t so times"
The lawyer sat back in his chair
and looked at her for moment with
out speaking. He surveyed her crit
ically from head to foot, and then. as
If satisfied with his examination,
said:
(To BE CoNTINUEDJ