Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-06-14
CHAPTER xvl.-contlnued.

"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 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 us!"
Alicia covered her face with her
handkerchief. She was crying now.
'The disgrace-the disgrace!" she
moaned.
"Disgrace!" echoed Annie, stupe-
ned. Indignantly, she went on: dis
grace-to you? But what of me and
Howard?"
Cant you realize what 1t means to
be associated with such crime?" she
walled.
"Disgrace!" cried Annie contemptu-
ously. What is disgrace when hui
man life Is at stake?"
at seemed so useless" moaned AL.
icia-"a useless sacrifice in the face
Of Howard's confession. OF course
III I'd known-if I'd suspected what
you tell me-I'd have come forward
and told everything-no matter at
what cost" Tearfully she added:
"Surely you realize the position 1t
puts me INF"
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.
fish. devoid of 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"
"Yes," murmured Alicia in low
tone that sounded like 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. II he didn't do It,
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 i'll dread 1t 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, To
think that this mysterious woman
they had been seeking was Howard's
stepmother.
$50 you're the missing witness we
have all been hunting fort" she said
81 can't believe 1t even now. How
did 1t happen?"
HE and l were once engaged.
broke 1t off when found him out
After l married Mr.. Jeffries l 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 letter in which b.
threatened to kill himself. was
afraid he meant It'll wanted to pre-
vent him. went to his rooms thai
night. didn't tell Mr.. Jeffries
When the truth is known and &C
knowledge that visited this man
can you see what 1t means?-what {
fuss there'll be. Everybody will pu
the worst construction on It"
Trust them for that!" said Ami,
grimly. She YVES sorry for the won
ans distress. yet. being only human
she felt certain sense of satisfaction
in seeing her suffer little of VIVA
she had been made to suffer.
They'll say that I-God know
what they'll say!" went on Alicia dis
tractedly. my husband will b.
dragged through the mire Of anothe
public scandal-his social prestige viii
-oh, dare not think Of i'll know
my duty is to that unfortunate boy.
mustn't think Of myself"
Have you the letter that Mr.. VI
derwood wrote your" demanded he
companion.
"Yes-I've never been able to d,
stroy 1t. don't know why kept
but thank God l have IT." Moaning
she went on: