The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-03
uur w rcHMAN AND sOUTBRON. FEBRUARY g. 1872

night must come Howard might stiil
be the murderer, Underwood might
not have committed suicide, but her
visit to his rooms at midnight would
become known. Judge Brewster was
not the man to be deferred by dhii-
culties once he took up case. He
would see the Importance OF hndlnS
the mysterious woman who went Sc
cretly to UnGcrwOod's rooms that
night of the tragedy
He consulted only his own feel
ings," went on Annie. "He believes In
Howard, and he's going to defend
him."
Alicia looked at her anxiously as II
trying to read what might be in her
mind. Indifferently she went on:
THE papers say there was a quar-
rel about you, that you and Mr.. Un-
derwood were too friendly. They i'm
piled that Howard was jealous. liz
this true?"
Its all talk" cried annie indig-
nothing but scandal-lies!
There's not a word of truth in it.
Howard never had jealous thought
of me-and as for me-why-Ive al
ways worshiped the ground he walked
on. Didn't he sacrifice everything for
my sake? Didn't he quarrel with his
father for me? Didn't he marry me?
Didn't he try to educate and make
lady of me? My God!-do you sup
pose I'd give a man like that cause
for jealousy? What do the newspa-
pers care? They print cruel state
ments that cut into a woman's heart.
without giving it thought, without
knowing or caring whether it's true
or not, as long as it interests and
amuses their readers. You-you don't
really believe I'm the cause OF his
misfortunes, do you?"
Alicia shook her head as she an
swered kindly:
mo. | don't. Believe me, | don't.
You were right when you said that at
such a time as this one woman should
stand by another I'm going TO stand
by you. Let me be your friend, let
me help you" Extending her hand,
she said: "Will you?"
Annie grasped the proffered hand.
1t was the first that had been held
out to her in her present trouble. A
lump rose in her throat. Much al
fected, she said:
Its the first kind word that" She
stopped and looked closely for mo-
ment at Alicia Then she went on:
Its the queerest thing, Mrs. Jefr1
ries, but it keeps coming into my
mind. Howard told me that while he
was at Underwoods that dreadful
night he thought he heard your voice.
1t must have been dream, OF course,
yet he thought he was sure OF 1t.
Your voice-that's queer, isn't 1t?
Why-what's the matter?"
Alicia had grown deathly pale and
staggered against chair. Annie ran
to her aid, thinking she was ILL.,
Its nothing nothing." STAN
mered Alicia, recovering herself.
Fearing she had said something to
hurt her feelings, Annie said sympa-
thetically:
81 haven't said anything-anything
out of the way-have /? If have I'm
sorry-awfully sorry. I'm afrald-l-
I've been very rude and you've been
so kind"
mo, no." interrupted Alicia quick
ly. you've said nothing-done moth
ing-you've had a great deal to bear
"a great deal to bear. | understand
that perfectly" Taking her compan'
ions hard in hers, she went on:
Tell ne, what do they say about the
woman who went to see Robert Un-
derwood the night of the tragedy"
1.-The police can't find her-we don't
know who she is" Confidently she
went on: But Judge Brewster VIII
find her. We have a dozen detectives
searching for her. Capt. Clinton ac-
cused me Of being the woman-you
know he doesn't like me-"
The bankers wife was far too busy
thinking of the number of detectives