The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-05-24
I, ,nnortant witness, the mysters.

| In and who was In possession Of .
letter In which Underwood declared
Ihisl intention of shooting himself,
doubt was no longer possible. AcQuit-
tai was a foregone conclusion. So
nleased was the Judge at Armies find
thai he did not insist on knowing the
woman's name. He saw that Annie
preferred. for some reason. not forgive
it-even to her legal adviser-and he
let her have her way, exact1ng only
that the woman should be produced
the instant he needed her. The young
woman readily assented. OF course.
there remained the confession. but
| that had been obtained unfairly. IL
| legally. fraudulently. The next fmpor-
tant step was to arrange meeting at
| the Judges house at which DR.. Bern
stein. the hypnotic expert. would pc
present and to which should be fnvi-
ted both Capt Clinton and Howard's
father. In front of all these witnesses
| the Judge would accuse the police cap
tain of browbeating his prisoner into
making an untrue confession. Per-
haps the captain could be argued into
admitting the possibility of a mistake
having been made If, further. he could
be convinced of the existence OF doc
| umentary evidence showing that Un-
derwood really committed suicide he
might be willing to recede from hts
At any rate 1t was worth trying. The
Judge insisted also, that to this meet
| ing the mysterious woman witness
should also come, to be produced at
| such a moment as the lawyer might
consider opportune. Annie merely de.
manded few hours time so she could
make the appointment and soon re.
turned with solemn promise that
| the woman would attend the meet
ing and come forward at whatever
moment called upon.
Three evenings later there was an
impressive gathering at Judge Brew
ster's residence. In the handsomely
appointed library on the second flool
were seated DR.. Bernstein, Mr.. JET
/ fries and the judge. Each was alb
sorbed in his own thoughts. DR.. Bern
stein was putting at big black cigar:
the banker stared vacantly into space
The Judge, at his desk. examined some
legal papers. Not word was spo
ken. They seemed to be waiting fol
q fourth man who had not yet ar
rived. Presently Judge Brewster
looked up and said:
Gentlemen, I expect Capt. Clinton
in a few minutes. and the matter will
be placed before YOU"
Mr.. Jeffries frowned. It was great
~ against his wish that he had beer
dragged to this conference. Peevish
ly. he said:
1--WE no wish to be present at the
/ meeting. You know that and YET
you sent for me-"
Judge Brewster looked up at him
quickly and said quietly yet dc
cisively:
Mr.. Jeffries, It Is absolutely neo
essary that you be present when [
tell Capt Clinton that he has either
willfully or ignorantly forced your SOL
to confess to having committed
crime of which l am. persuaded he Il
absolutely innocent"
The banker shrugged his shoulders
"If / can be of service, of course
III am only too glad-but what car
l say-what can ! do?"
Nothing" replied the Judge CURLY
But the moral effect of your presence
Is invaluable" More amiably he weni
T0ff r}0 7 Hv,A
have taken this step unless was alb
solutely sure of my position. have
been informed that Underwood com
mitted suicide, and tonight evidence
confirming this statement is to b.
placed in my hands. The woman who
paid him that mysterious visit jusj
before his death has promised to com
here and tell US what she knows. Now
If Capt. Clinton can be got to admit
the possibility Of his being mistaken
it means that your son win be free
In few days.
"Who has given you this informs
tom" demanded the banker skeptic
ally.
"Howard's wife," answered the
Judge quietly. The banker started and
the lawyer went on: "She knows who
the wouan Is, and has promised tc
bring hss here tonight with docu
mentary proN of Underwood's sui
eide"
"You are depending on herr" he
sneereA
why not?" demanded the Judge
"She las more at stake than any OF
us. Size has worked day and night
on this Ease. It was she who aroused
DIR. BerTstein's interest and persuad.
ed him 20 collect the evidence against
Capt. Clinton"
The tanker frowned.
"She IS the cause Of the whole mis-
cradle business" he growled.
The door opened and the butler. en-
tering, banded his master card
"Ah!" calculated the Judge. Here's
our maaAS Show him up"
When the servant had disappeared
Mr.. Jeffi1es turned to his host. With
/ = chow ff Irritation he said.