Charlevoix county herald., 1911-07-22

Gus woman who was iH 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. Acquit-
tai was a foregone conclusion. So
pleased was the judge at Annies 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. or course.
there remained the confession" but
that had been obtained unfairly, IL
legally, fraudulenty. The next impor-
tant step was to arrange a 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 Howard's
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 a mistake
having been made. II, further. he could
be convinced of the existence Of doc
derwood really committed suicide he
might be willing to recede from bis
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-
| nanded 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, MI. JEFF
fries and the Judge. Each was abb
sorbed in his own thoughts. DR.. Bern
stein was putting at 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. I expect Capt. Clinton
In few minutes. and the matter will
be placed before you."
Mr.. Jeffries frowned. It was great.
ly against his wish that he had been
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. II is absolutely nee
essary that you be present when
| tell Capt. Clinton that he has either
wiufully or ignorantly forced your son
to confess to having committed Q
crime Of which I am persuaded he IL
! absolutely innocent"
The banker shrugged his shoulders.
"If can be OF service, of course.
II am only too glad-but what can
| I say-what can l do"
Nothing" replied the Judge curtly.
"But the moral effect of your presence
Is invaluable" More amiably he went
on: Believe me. Jeffries. I wouldn't
have taken this step unless I was alb
solutely sure Of my position. 1 have
been informed that Underwood COM
mitted suicide, and tonight evidence
confirming this statement Is to be
placed In my hands. The woman who
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 a few days.
| who has given you this informa-
tion?" demanded the banker skeptic-
| ally.
"Howard's wife," answered the
| Judge quietly. The banker started and
the lawyer went on "She knows who
the woman is, and has promised to
bring her here tonight with docu-
mentary proof of Underwood's sui.
eide"
you are depending on herr" 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 card
"Ah" calculated the Judge. Here's
our man! Show him up"
When the servant had disappeared