Evening star., 1923-06-27

world, the echo of little buzz
= of congratulations still in his
ears, paused on the steps of the mod
ern temple Of justice to light a
cigarette before calling taxi to
take him to his club. Visions
of whisky and soda-his throat
was little parched-and rubber
of easy-going bridge at his favorite
table. were already before his eyes.
"a Woman who had followed him
from the court touched him on the
shoulder.
Can L speak to you for a moment.
Mr.. Ledsam?"
The barrister frowned slightly as
he swung around to confront h6
questioner. 1t was such familiar
form of address.
What do you want?" he asked, a
little curtly.
"A few minutes conversation with
you,' was the calm reply. THE mat
ter Is. Important.
The womar's' tone and manner,
Notwithstanding her plain, inconsplc-
uouS clothes, commanded attention.
Francis. Ledsam was n little puzzled.
Small things meant much to him
in life, and he had been looking
forward almost with the zest of a
schoolboy to that hour of relaxation
at his club. He was impatient of even
brief delay. u sentiment which ne
triedrto. express IN his response.
What do you want to speak to me
about?" he repeated bluntly. Il shall
be In my rooms in the Temple tomor-
row: morning. any time after IL
TT is necessary for me to speak to
you now" she insisted. There is a
tea shop across the way. Please ac-
company me there"
Ledsam, a little surprised at the
GOODNESS of her request. subjected his
accoster to Il closer scrutiny. AS he
did 80 his irritation diminished. He
shrugged his shoulders slightly.
IF, you really have business with
me- he said, Il will give you a few
minutes
They crossed the street together.
the woman self-possessed, negative,
wholly without the embarrassment of
one performing an unusual action.
Her companion felt the awakening of
curiosity. Zealously though she had
TO all appearance, endeavored to con-
ceal the fact, she was without a doubt
personable. Her voice and manner
lacked nothing of refinement. Yet her
attraction to Francis Ledsam. who,
although u perfectly normal human
being. was no seeker after promiscu- :
Gus adventures, did not lie in these
externalS. AS a barriSter whose sue
cess at the criminal bar had been
phenomenal. he had attained to a GER
tain knowledge of human nature. He
was able. at any rate, to realize that
this woman was no. impostor. He
knew that she had vital things to
say.
They passed into the tea shop and
found an empty corner. Ledsam hung
up his hat and. gave an order. The
woman slowly began to remove her
gloves. When she pushed back her
Yell her vis-i-vis received almost a
shock.
She was quite as good-looking as
he had imagined, but she was far
!ounser-she was indeed little more
than a girl. Her eyes were Of a deep
shade of hazel brown, hep eys brows
were delicately marked, her features
snd 'poise admirable. Yet her skin
was entirely colorless. She was
pale as;eone whose. eyes have been
closed In death. Her lips, although
In no. way highly colored. were like
Ftreitils of scarlet blossom upon Il
marble image. The contrast between
her appearance and that of her COM
Francis Ledsam conforned in no wa
to the accepted physical type of his
profession. He. was over six feet
In height, broad -shouldered and
cast in large mold, he of
almost sandy compile Xion. even his
mouth was more humorous than in
cisiysh His eyes alone. gray and ex-
gifts; which without 4 doubt lay be-
hind his massive forehead.
II am anxious TO avoid any possible
mistake" she began. Your name is
Francis Ledsam?"
TT is" he admitted.
You are the very successful crimi-
nal barrister. she continued. who
las just been paid an extravagant fee
to defend oliver Hilditch."
Il might take exception to the
term 'eXtr2vagcnt. 1.edsam OBJ
served drly. ''Dtherwise your in
formation appears to be stngularly
correct. do not know whether you
have heard the verdict. If not, you
may be interested to know that |
succeeded in obtaining the mans ac-
quittal.'
- know that you did" the woman
replied Il was in the court when the
verdict was brought in. 1t has since
occurred to me that I should like
you to understand exactly what you
have done. the responsibility you
have incurred"
Ledsam raised his eyebrows.
Responsibility" he repeated
What l have done is simple enough.
] have earned very large fee and
won my case"
? oliver Hilditch," she persisted. HE
Is by this time free man. Now I
am going to speak to you of that re-
eponsibility. ] ann going to tell you
illIlt dDOul lne man VINO owes his
freedom to your eloquence."
1t was exactly twenty miputes
after their entrance into the tea shop
b when the woman finished her mono
1ogue' She began to draw on her
gloves again. Before them were two
untasted cups of tea and an un-
touched plate of bread and butter
From a corner of the room the wait
Iess was watching them curiousIy.
Good Cod, Francis Ledsam ex-
claimed at last, suddenly realizing
affirm solemnly that what YOU have
been telling me is the TRUTH"
The woman continued to button her
gloves.
TT is the truth" she said
Ledsam sat up and looked around
him. He was a little dazed He had
, almost the feeling Of a man recover
ing from the influence of some anes-
thetic. Before his eyes were still
passing visions of terrible deeds. of
naked, ugly passion, of mans un-
scrupulous savagery. During those
few minutes he had been transported
TO New York and Paris London and
Rome. Crimes had .been spoken OF
which made the murder for which
Oliver Hilditch had just been tried
seem like a trifiing indiscretion. Hard
though his mentality. sternly matter
of-fact as was his outlook. he was
self, his surroundings. or in this
woman who had just dropped a veil
over her ashen cheeks. Reason per-
sisted In asserting itself
But If you knew all this" he
demanded. why on earth didr't you
come forward and give evidence:"
Because" she answered calmly.
as she rose to her feet, my evidence
would not have been admissible.
am Oliver Hilditch's wife"