Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1911-10-06

one important witness, the fnyseeri-
GUS woman who was in the apart
ment 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 Acuuit-
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, fraudulently. The next impor-
tant step was to arrange meeting at
the judges house at which DR.. Bern.
stein, the hypnotic expert, would be
present and 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 mistake
having been made. Ii, further, he could
| be convinced of the existence of doc.
umentary evidence showing that I'm.
| derwood really committed suicide he
might be willing to recede from his
position in order to protect himself.
At any rate it was worth trying. The
| judge insisted, also, that to this meet.
| ing the mysterious woman witness
should also come, to be produced at
! such moment as the lawyer might
consider opportune. Annie merely de
manded few hours time SO she could
make the appointment and soon re
turned with 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 floor
were seated Dr. Bernstein, Mr.. JEFF
fries and the judge. Each was alb
sorbed in his own thoughts. DIR. 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 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 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:
I've no wish to be present at the
meeting. You know that and yet
you sent for me-"
Judge Brewster looked up at him
quickly and said quietly yet de
cisively:
Mr. Jeffries, it is absolutely nee
essary that you be present when ]
tell Capt. Clinton that he has either
willfully or ignorantly forced your son
to confess to having committed
crime of which l am persuaded he is
absolutely innocent"
The banker shrugged his shoulders
IF / can be of service, of course,
II am only too glad-but what can
/ say-what can | dos"
Nothing" replied the judge CURLY
But the moral effect of your presence
is invaluable" More amiably he went
Oh: Believe me, Jeffries, | wouldn't .
have taken this step Unless | was alb
solutely sure of my position. l have
been informed that Underwood com
mitted suicide, and tonight evidence
confirming this statement is to be
placed in my hands. The woman who
paid him that mysterious visit Just
before his death has promised to come
here and tell us what she knows. Now.
if Capt. Clinton can be got to admit
the possibility of his being mistaken
1t means that your son will be free
in few days
WHO has given you this informa
tion?" demanded the banker skept:c
ally.
''Howards wife, answered the
judge quietly. The banker started and
the lawyer went on: She knows who
the woman is, and has promised tc
bring her here tonight with docu
mentary proof of Underwood's sui
eide
You are depending on her?s he
sneered.
"Why not?" demanded the Judge.
"She has more at stake than any OF
us. She has worked day and night
on. this case. 1t was she who aroused
DR.. Bernstein's interest and persuad
ed him to collect the evidence against
Capt. Clinton"
The banker frowned.
''She is the cause OF the whole mis- |
cradle business" he growled
The door opened and the butler, en-
tering, handed his master a card.
All" calculated the judge. Here's
our man! Show him up
When the servant had disappeared
Mr.. Jeffries turned to his host With /
show of irritation he said: