The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-05-10

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.. I'm
derwood were too friendly. They i'm
piled that Howard was jealous Is
this true?'
It's all talk" cried Annie indig-
nothing but scandal-Iies!
There's not a word of truth in it.
Howard never had a jealous thought
OF me-and as for me-why-Tve 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 8
lady Of me4 My God.-do you sup
pose. I'd give q man like that cause
for jealousy? What do the newspa
pers care? They print cruel state
ments that cut into 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 your
Alicia shook her head as she al.
swered kindly:
No. / don't. Beffgve me. I don't
You were right when you said that al
such time as this one woman SHOULD
stand by another. I'm going 10 stane
by you. Let NE be your friend. lei
me help you" Extending her hand
she said: will you?"
Annie grasped the proffered hand
1t was the first that had been hen
out to her in her present trouble. A
lump rose in her throat. Much at
fected, she said:
Its the first kind word that She
stopped and looked closely for a mo.
ment at Alicia. Then she went on:
Its the Queerest thing, Mrs. JEFF,
ries. but it keeps coming into my
mind. Howard told me that while he
was at Underwood's that dreadful
night he thought he heard your voice.
1t must have been a dream, of course.
yet he thought he was sure of it.
Your voice-that's queer, isn't it?
WhE-what's the matter?'
Alicia had grown deathly pale and
staggered against a 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- |
4 haven't said anything-anything |
out of the way-have I? If have I'm |
'orry-awfully sorry. I'm afraid-I-
I've been very rude and you've been !
so kind"
No, no." interrupted Alicia quick |
y. You've said nothing-done moth |
had a great deal to bear
"a great deal to bear. l understand |
hat perfectly" Taking her compan-
on's hand in hers, she went on: |
Tell me. what do they say about the
woman who went to see Robert I'm
ierwood the night Of the tragedy"
The police can't find her-we don't
NOW who she is" Confidently she
vent on: But Judge Brewster will
ind her. We have a dozen detectives
for her. Capt Clinton &C.
used me of being the woman-you
NOW he doesn't like me-"
The bankers wife was far too busy
of the number of detectives
Employed to find the missing witness
o pay attention to the concluding
entence. Anxiously she demanded: |
''Supposing the woman is found
That can she prove? What difference
will it make?"
An the difference in the world" re-
lied Annie. She is a most i'm
ortant witness" Firmly she went on
She must be found If she didnr
boot Robert Underwood. she knows
Tho did"
But how can she know" argued
.licia- Howard confessed that he |
i'd it himself. If he had not con
assed it would be different"
He did not confess" replied the
Their calmly. Mrs. Jeffries-ht
ever confessed. If he did, he didnr
now what he was saying"
Alicia was rapidly losing her self
Did he tell you that?" she gasped
Annie nodded.
Yes. DR.. Bernstein says the pc
ee forced it out of his tired brain
made Howard go over every seconc
his life that night from the Tins
2 left me to the moment he was ar
ested. There wasn't a harsh word
etween them" She stopped short
nd looked with alarm at Alicia, who
al turned ashen white. Why
hats the matter? You're pale as
Alicia could contain herself no long
:. Her nerves were on the point of
wing way. She felt that if she could
1t confide her secret to some one
lie must go mad. Pacing the floor
lie cried:
What am l to do? What am to
}? I believed Howard guilty. Why
couldn't l? l had no reason to doubt
S own confession! Every one be-