The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-03

while the lawyer raped his desk aD-
ent-mindCdly with d paper cutter.
Alicia went on:
"You know | have never met the
woman What is she like? | under
stand she's been bothering you 10
| take the case OF that worthless hus-
band oil hers. Do you know she had
the impertinence to come to our house
and ask Mr.. Jeffries to help them? l
asked my husband to describe her,
but all | could get from him was that
! she was impertinent and impossible
She hesitaIed a moment, then she
added rs she as pretty as her pic
lures in the paper? You've seen her,
of course?"
Judge Brewster frowred.
Yes" he replied. she comes here
every day regularly. She literally
compels me to see her and refuses to
go till I've told her | haven't changed
my decision about taking her case
What insolence!" exclaimed Alicia.
Il should think that you would have
her put out of the Office"
The lawyer was silent and toved
somewhat nervously with the pi per
cutter, as If not quite decided as to
what response to make. He coughed
and fused with the papers on the
desk
why don't you have her put out OF
the office?" she repeated.
/ It'll Q
an expression in his face that might
have been interpreted as one OF an
noyance, as II he rather resented this
intrusion into his business affairs,
but Mrs Jeffries, Sr, was too i'm
portant a client to quarrel with, 60
he merely said:
Frankly, Mrs Jeffries, II it were
not for the fact that Mr. Jeffries has
exacted from me promise not to
take up this case, should be tempted
to-consider the matter. In the first
place, you know / always liked How
ard. | saw a good deal of him before
your marriage to Mr.. Jeffries. He
was always wild, unmanageable
boy. weak in character, but he had
many lovable traits. am very sorry,
indeed to see him in such terrible
position. 1t was hard for me to real
| ize It and I should never have be-
| lieved him guilty had he not con-
fessed to the crime"
"Yes." she assented "It is an aw-
| full thing and a terrible blow 20 his
father Of course. he has had moth
ing to do with Howard for months
AS you know, he turned him out of
doors long ago. but the disgrace is
none the less Overwhelming.
The lawyer looked out OF the win
dow and drummed his fingers on the
arm OF his chair Suddenly wheeling
round, and facing his client, he said:
"You know this girl he married is
no ordinary woman"
oh" she exclaimed, sarcastically
"She has succeeded in arousing your
sympathy"
The Judge bowed coldly.
NO" he replied Il would hardly
say that. But she has aroused my
curiosity. She is very peculiar girl,
evidently a creature of impulse and
determination. / certainly feel sorry
for her. Her position Is very pain
full one. She has been married only
a few months, and now her husband
has to face the most awful accusation
that can be brought against man.
She is plucky in spite of it all, and Is
moving heaven and earth in Howards
defense. She believes herself to be In
some measure responsible for his mis-
fortune. Apart from that, the case
interests me from a purely profession
al point of view There are several
strange features connected with che
case. Sometimes, in spite of Howards
confession, I don't believe he COM
mitted that crime"
Alicia changed color and, shifting
uneasily on her chair, scrutinized the
lawyers face What was behind that
calm, inscrutable mask? What theory
had he formed? One newspaper had
suggested suicide She might herself
come forward and declare that Rob-
ert Underwood had threatened to
take his own life, but how could she
face the scandal which such a course
would involve? She would have TO
admit visiting Underwood's rooms at
midnight alone. That surely would
ruin her in the eyes not only of her
husband. but of the whole world. If
this sacrifice Of her good name were
necessary to save an innocent mans
life. perhaps she might summon up
enough courage to make It, But, after
all, she was by no means sure her
self that Underwood had committed
suicide. Howard had confessed, so
why should she Jeopardize her good
| name uselessly?
NO." repeated the Judge, shaking
his head, there's something strange
in the whole affair don't believe
Howard had any hand in It."
But he confessed" exclaimed