The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-06-22
CHAPTER xvI.-continued.

"Ah! | begin to understand. You
knew Robert Underwood? Howard
knows your voice-he heard you-talk-
ing to. him Oh, Mrs. Jeffries! Are
you the woman who visited his apart
ments that night?"
The bankers wife bowed her head
and collapsed on chair.
'Yes," she murmured in low tone.
Annie looked at her in amazenent.
why didn't you come forward at
once?" she cried. Think Of the pain
which you might have spared us!"
Alicia covered her face with her
handkerchief. She was crying now,
'eThe disgrace-the disgrace!" she
moaned.
"Disgrace!" echoed Annie, stupe-
fed. Indignantly, she went on: Dis
grace-to you? But what of me and
Hcward?'
Cant you realize what 1t means to
I be associated with such crime?" she
walled.
"Disgrace!" cried Annie contemptu.
ously. what Is disgrace when hu'
man life is at stalker"
ut seemed so useless" moaned AL
icia-"a useless sacrifice in the face
of Towards confession. OF course
If I'd known-if I'd suspected what
you tell me-Td have come forward
and told everything-no matter at
what cost" Tearfully she added:
Surely you realize the position 1t
puts me in?"
A new light shone in Annie's eyes
What was this woman's misery to
her? Her duty was to the poor fel
low who was counting the hours until
she could set him free. His stepmoth-
er deserved no mercy. Utterly self.
ish, devoid of a spark of humanity.
she would have left them both to
perish in order to protect herself from
shame and ridicule. Her face was set
and determined as she said calmly:
ct must be done now
Eyes," murmured Alicia in low
tone that sounded like sob, ut must
he done now! Oh, If I'd only done it
before-if I'd only told Mr.. Jeffries
J0G WHO10 1Ou SDCdh III I1OW-
ards sufferings. If he didn't do 1t,
he has at least the consciousness of
his own innocence, but 1.-The con.
slant fear of being found out is worse
than any hell the imagination can con
jure up. dreaded it dread it now
1T means disgrace social ostracism
my husband must Know-the whole
world will know"
Annie was not listening. Still be-
wildered, she gazed with the utmost
establishment at her companion. TIC
think that this mysterious woman
they had been seeking was Howard s
stepmother.
$50 you're the missing witness we
have all been hunting for!" she said |;
Il can't believe it even now. How
did it happen?"
He and were once engaged /
broke It off when l found him out.
After married Mr.. Jeffries met I'm
derwood again. Foolishly, I allowed
the old intimacy to be renewed. He
took advantage and preyed on my
friends. | forbade him my house
He wrote me a letter in which he
threatened to kill himself. l was
afraid he meant It'll wanted to pre-
vent him. I went to his rooms that
night. didn't tell Mr. Jeffries
When the truth is known and / &C
knowledge that / visited this man
can you see what it means?-what a
fuss therell be. Everybody will put
the worst construction on it"
Trust them for thati" said Annie
grimly. She was sorry for the WON.
ans distress, yet, being only human
she felt certain sense of satisfaction
IN seeing her suffer little of what
she had been made to suffer.
They'll say that God knows
what they'll say!" went on Alicia dis
tractedly. my husband will be
dragged through the mire of another
public scandal-his social prestige viii
oh. I dare not think of it, know
my duty is to that unfortunate boy.
mustn't think of myself"
Have you the letter that Mr.. I'm
derwood wrote your" demanded hei
companion.
"Yes-Pve never been able to de
stroy it. don't know why ! kept 1t
but thank God have it," Moaning
she went on;