The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-06-16

him.
Alicia looked at her anxiously as II
trying TO read what might be In her
mind. Indifferently she went on:
THE papers say there was quar-.
rel about you. that you and Mr.. Un-
derwood were too friendly. They i'm
piled that Howard was Jealous Is
this true?"
It's all talk" cried Annie indig-
nantly-"nothihg but scandal-lies!
There's not a word of truth In II.
Howard never had a Jealous thought
of me-and as for Twenty-Five al
ways worshiped the ground he walked
on. Didn't he sacrifice everything for
my sake? Didn't he quarrel with his
father for me? Didn't he marry me?
Didn't he try 70 educate and make a
lady OF me? My God!-do you sup
pose I'd give man like that cause
for Jealousy? What do the newspa-
pers care? They print cruel state
ments that cut into a woman's heart.
without giving It a thought. without
knowing or caring whether it's true
or not, as long as 1t interests and
amuses their readers. You-you don't
really believe I'm the cause OF his
misfortunes. do your"
Alicia shook her head as she an
swered kindly:
You were right when you said that at
such time as this one woman should
stand by another. I'm going 10 stand
by you. Let me be your friend, let
me help you" Extending her hand.
she said: "Will you?"
Annie grasped the proffered hand.
II was the first that had been held
out to her in her present trouble.
lump rose in her throat. Much af-
fected, she said:
IT'S the first kind word that" She
stopped and looked closely for mo-
ment at Alicia Then she went on:
It's the queerest thing. Mrs. JEFF
ries, but 1t keeps coming into my
mind. Howard told me that while he
was at Underwood's that dreadful
night he thought he heard your voice.
1t must have been a dream, of course.
yet he thought he was sure Of 1t.
Your voice-thats queer, isn't It!
Why-what's the matter?"
Alicia had grown deathly pale and
staggered against a chair. Annie ran
to her aid. thinking she was Ill.
IT'S nothing - nothing" STAN
mered Alicia. recovering herself.
Fearing she had said something to
hurt her feelings. Annie said sympa-
thetically:
Il haven't said anything-anything
out Of the way-have /? II have I'm
sorry-awfully sorry. I'm afraid-I-
I've been very rude and you've been
SO kind"
mo, MOI" interrupted Alicia quick
ly. You've said nothing-done moth
ing-you've had a great deal to bear
"a great deal to bear l understand
that perfectly" Taking her compan-
ions hand In hers, she went on:
Tell me. what do they say about the
derwood the night Of the tragedy"
THE police can't find her-we don't
know who she is" Confidently she
went on: But Judge Brewster will
find her. We have a dozen detectives
searching for her. Capt. Clinton ac-
cused me of being the woman-you
know he doesn't like me-"
The bankers wife was far too busy
thinking of the number of detectives
employed to find the missing witness
to pay attention to the concluding
sentence. Anxiously she demanded:
"Supposing the woman is found.
what can she prove? What difference
will 1t make?"
"All the difference in the world" re-
piled Annie. She is a most i'm
portant witness" Firmly she went on:
She must be found. II she didn't
shoot Robert Underwood, she knows
who did"
But how can she know" argued
Alicia. Howard confessed that he
did 1t himself. II he had not con-
fessed it would be different"
He did not confess" replied the
other calmly Mrs. Jeffries-he
never confessed. If he did, he didn't
know what he was saying"
Alicia was rapidly losing her self.
possession.
Did he tell you that?" she gasped.
Annie nodded.
Yes. Dr. Bernstein says the po-
lice forced II out OF his tired brain.
l made Howard go over every second
OF his life that night from the Tins
he left me TO the moment he was ar
rested. There wasn't a harsh word
between them" She stopped short
and looked with alarm at Alicia, who
had turned ashen white. Why.
what's the matter? You're pale as
death-you-"
Alicia could contain herself no long
er. Her nerves were on the point OF
giving way. She felt that II she could
not confide her secret 70 some one
she must go mad. Pacing the floor,
she cried:
What am to do? What am to