The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-03-29

What Not see him once more?
To say good-by?" she exclaimed. A
broken sob half checked her utterance.
Surely you can't mean that, Mr.. JEFF
| ries."
The banker shrugged his shoulders.
Il don't want the newspapers filed
| with sensational articles about the
heartrending farewell interview be-
tween Howard JeffrieB, Jr., and his
wife-with your picture on the front
page"
She was not listening to his sar.
casm.
Not even to say goodbye" she
sobbed =.
No" replied Mr.. Jeffries firmly.
Not even to say good-by."
but what will he say? What will
he Think she cried.
He will see it is for the best" an.
swered the banker. He himself will
thank you for your action"
/ There was a long silence, broken
only by the sound of the girls sob
bing. Finally she said:
Very well, sir. III do as you say. !"
She looked up. Her eyes were dry,
the lines about her mouth set and de-
termined. Now" she said, what are
you going to do for him?"
The banker made a gesture of i'm
patience, as il such considerations
We're not important.
Il don't know yet" he said, haught.
lily. Il shall think the matter over
carefully"
Annie was fast losing patience. She
was willing to sacrifice herself and
give up everything she held dear in
life to save the man she loved, but
the cold. deliberate, calculating atti-
tude of this unnatural father exas-
perated her.
But / want to know" she said,
boldly. Il want to consider the mat
ter carefully, too"
Your sneered Mr.. Jeffries.
Yes. sir" she retorted. I'm pay
ing dearly for it-with my-with all
l have. want to know Just what
you're going to give him for it."
He was lost in reflection for a mo-
ment. then he said, pompously:
Il shall furnish the money for the
employment of such legal talent as
may be necessary. That's as far as /
wish to go in the case. 1t must not
be Known cannot allow it to be
known that I am helping him"
Must not be known" cried Annie.
in establishment. you mean you
won't stand by him? You'll only just
pay for the lawyer?"
The banker nodded:
That is all l can promise"
She laughed Historically.
Why" she exclaimed, tt could
do that myself if IL tried hard
enough"
Il can promise nothing more" re-
piled Mr.. Jeffries, coldly.
But that is not enough" she pro
tested. Il want you to come forward
and publicly declare your belief in
your sons innocence. / want YOU to
put your arms around him and saw to
the world: My boy is innocent, I
know it and I'm going to stand by
him You won't do that?"
Mr.. Jeffries shook his head.
cit is impossible"
The wffe's pent-up feelings now
gave way. The utter indifference of
this aristocratic father aroused her
indignation to such a pitch that she
became reckless of the consequences,
They wanted her to desert him, just
as they deserted him, but she
wouldn't. She would show them the
kind of woman she was.
"So!" she cried in an outburst OF
mingled anger and grief so his fam
lily must desert him and his wife
must leave him. The poor boy must
stand absolutely alone in the world,
and face trial for his life. Is that
the idea?"
The banker made no reply. Snap
ping her fingers. she went on:
Well, it isn't mine. Mr.. Jeffries, l
won't consent to a divorce! / won't
leave America! And I'll see him Just
as often as l can, even if have to
sit in the Tombs prison all day. As
for his defense, I'll find some one. IN
go to Judge Brewster again and If he
still refuses, I'll go to some one else.
There must be some good. big-hearted
lawyer in this great city who'll take
up his case"
Trembling with emotion. she read
justed her veil and with her handker-
chief dried her tear-stained face. Go
ing toward the door, she said:
you needn't trouble yourself auy
more, Mr.. Jetfries. We shan't need
your help. Thank you very much for
the interview, 1t was very kind of |
you to listen so patiently. Good after j
noon, sir"
Before the astonished banker could
stop her, she had thrown back the |
tapestry and disappeared through the /
door.
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