The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-03
%Cf1ARLES KLEIN
AND
ARTHUR HORNBLOW
ILLUSTRATIONS BY. RAY WALTERS

WAS he willing to receive you?"
HE had to-" she replied. Il gave
him a piece of my mind"
Howard looked at her in mingled
amazement and admiration. That she
should have dared to confront man
as proud and obstinate as his father
astounded him.
What did he say?" he asked eag-
erly.
II asked him to come publicly to
your support and to give you legal
assistance. He refused, saying he
could not be placed in a position OF
condoning such a crime and that your
behavior and your marriage had made
him wash his hands of you forever.
Tears filled Howard's eyes and his
mouth quivered.
Then my father believes me guilty
of this horrible crime?" he exclaimed.
He insisted that you must be guilty,
as you had confessed. He offered,
though, to give you legal assistance.
but only on one condition"
What was that condition. he de-
manded.
THAT / consent to a divorce" re-
piled Annie quietly.
What did you say?"
II said I'd consent to anything if 1t
would help you, but when he told me
that even then he would not come per-
sonally to your support l told him we
would worry along without his as
sistance. On that l left him"
You're a brave little woman!
cried Howard. Noticing her pale, anx-
ious face, he said:
"You, too, must have suffered
"Oh, never mind me-" she rejoined
quickly. What we must do now Is TO
get you out of this horrid place and
clear your name before the world. We
must show that your alleged comics
sion is untrue; that 1t was dragged
from you involuntarily. We must find
that mysterious woman who came to
Underwood's rooms while you lay on
the couch asleep. Do you know what
my theory Is, Howard?"
What" demanded her husband.
'T believe you were hypnotized into
making that confession. I've read OF
such things before. You know the
ooys in college often hypnotized you.
You told me they made you do all
kinds of things against your will.
That big brute, Capt Clinton, simply
forced his will on yours"
"By Jove-I never thought Of that"
he exclaimed. II know my head
ached terribly after he got through all
that questioning. When he made me
look at that pistol l couldn't resist
any more. But how are we going to
break through the net which the po-
lice have thrown around me-"
"By getting the best lawyer We can
procure. I shall insist on Judge Brew
ster taking the case. He declines, but
/ shall go to his Office again this after
noon. He must"
Howard shook his head.
You'll not be able to get Brewster
He would never dare offend my father
by taking up my case without his per-
mission. He won't even see you"
Wen see," she said quietly. He'll
see me if l have to sit in his office
all day for weeks. have decided to
have Judge Brewster defend you be-
cause / believe it would mean ac-
quittal. He will build up defense
that will defeat all the lies that the
police have concocted. The police have
a strong case because of your alleged
confession. II will take a strong law
yer to fight them" Earnestly she
added: Howard, if your life is to be
saved we must get Judge Brewster.
"All right, DEAR" he replied. Il
can only leave it in your hands. l
know that whatever you do will be for
the best. I'll try to be as patient as
can. My only comfort is thinking
of you, dear"
A heavy step resounded in the corri-
dor. The keeper came up.
Times up, m'm," he said civilly.
Annie thrust her hand through the
bars; Howard carried it reverently to
his lips.
"Goodby, DEAR" she said. Keep
up your courage. You'll know that |
am working for your release every
moment. | won't leave stone un-
turned"
"Goodby, darling he murmured.
He looked at her longingly and
there were tears in her eyes as she
turned away.
"Ill be back very soon" she said.
A few minutes later they were in
the elevator and she passed through
the big steel gate once more into the
sunlight street.
CHAPTER XIV.
Ind