Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-06-20
CHAPTER XVI.-Continued.

"Ah! I 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 a chair.
Yes" she murmured in & low tone.
Annie looked at her in amazement.
why didn't you come forward at
once?" she cried. Think of the pain
which you might have spared u.s."
Alicia covered her face with her
handkerchief. She was crying now.
The disgrace-the disgrace!" she
moaned
"Disgrace!" echoed Annie, stupe-
fed Indignantly, she went on: Dis
grace-to you? But what of me and
Hcward?"
4 Cant you realize what 1t means to
be associated with such a crime?" she
walled
Disgrace" cried Annie contemptu-
ously. What is disgrace when hui
man life is at stalker"
1T 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 it
puts me in?"
A new light shone in Armies eyes.
What was this woman's misery to
her? Her duty was to the poor fell
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:
1T must be done now"
Eyes" murmured Alicia in a low
tone that sounded like a sob, "it must
he done now! oh, If I'd only done 1t
before-if I'd only told Mr.. Jeffries
the whole truth, You speak of How
ards sufferings. If he didn't do 1t,
he has at least the consciousness of
his own innocence, but THE con-
slant fear of being found out is worse
than any hell the imagination can con-
jure up | dreaded til dread IT now
it means disgrace-social ostraeism
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. To
think that this mysterious woman
they had been seeking was Towards
stepmother.
so you're the missing witness we
have all been hunting fort" she said
II can't believe it even now. How
did 1t happen?"
'He and l were once engaged
broke il on when | found him out.
After | married Mr. JeffrieS met I'm
derwood again. Foolishly, | 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.. Jefries.
when the truth is known and | &C
knowledge that I visited this man
can you see what it means?-what a
fuss thereu be. Everybody will put
the worst construction on it"
Trust them for that said Annie
grimly. She was sorry for the wom-
ans distress. yet, being only human,
she felt certain sense Of satisfaction
in seeing her suffer a 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, dare not think of It'll 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 her
companion.
"Yes-I've never been able to de-
stroy it. don't know why | kept 1t.
but thank God / have it," Moaning.
she went on: