The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-02-09
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

'Tn a word" laughed the judge,
you mean that any one trained to
read my mind can tell just what's
passing in my brain?"
Precisely" replied the doctor with
a smile 1.-The psychologist can tell with
almost mathematical accuracy just
how your mental mechanism is work
ing. l admit it sounds uncanny, but
it can be proved. In fact, it has been
proved. time and time again"
Alicia came up and took the doc
tors arm.
ooh, DR.. Bernstein" she protested,
81 can't allow the judge to mQnOpOlize
you in this way. Come with me.
want to introduce you to a most
charming woman who is dying to
meet you. She is perfectly crazy on
psychology"
Don't introduce me to her."
laughed the Judge. Il see enough
crazy people in the law courts"
Dr. Bernstein smiled and followed
his hostess. Judge Brewster turned
to chat with the banker. From the dis
tant music room came the sound of
a piano and a beautiful soprano voice.
The rooms were now crowded and
ute. Servants passed in and out >serv-
ing iced delicacies and champagne.
Suddenly the butler entered the
salon and, quietly approaching Alicia,
handed her a letter. In a low tone
he said:
"This letter has just come, MN.
The messenger said it was very i'm
portant and l should deliver it at
once"
Alicia turned pale. She instantly
recognized the handwriting. 1t was
from Robert Underwood. Was not her
last message enough? How dare he
address her again and at such a time?
Retiring to an inner room, she tore
open the envelope and read as follows:
Dear Mrs. Jeffries: This is the last
time I shall ever bore you with my let
tiers. You have forbidden me to see you
again. Practically you have sentenced
me to a living death, but as / prefer
death shall not be partial, but full and
complete oblivion, I take this means of
letting you know that unless you revoke
your cruel sentence of Punishment,
shall make an end of it all. I shall be
found dead, Monday morning, and you
will know who is responsible.
Yours devotedly,
ROBERT UNDERWOOD.
An angry exclamation escaped
Alicia's lips, and crushing the note up
in her hand, she bit her lips till the
blood came. 1t was just as she feared.
The man was desperate. He was not
to be got rid of so easily How dare
he-hOw dare he? The coward-to
think that she could be frightened by
such threat. What did she care If
he killed himself? It would be good
radiance. Yet suppose he was in
earnest, suppose he did carry out his
threat? There would be terrible
scandal, an investigation, people
would talk. her name would be men.
toned. No-no-that must be pre-.
vented at all costs.
Distracted, not knowing what course
to pursue, she paced the floor of the
room Through the closed door she
could hear the music and the chatter
of her guests. She must 20 to see
Underwood at once. that was certain
and her visit must be a secret one
There was already enough talk.
If her enemies could hear of her Wis
iting him alone in his apartments thai
would be the end.
Yes-I must see him at once. To
morrow is Sunday. He's sure to be
home in the evening. He mentions
Monday morning. There will still be
time. I'll go and see him tomorrow.
Alicia! Alicia!"
The door opened and Mr.. Jeffrie.
put his head in.
What are you doing here. my
dear?" he asked. IT was lookin,
everywhere for you. Judge Brewster
wishes to say goodnight"
Il was fixing my hair, that's all
replied Alicia with perfect compos
ure.
CHAPTER v.