Show I 1 24 afe THI E GIREE ca c A narrative e cj Metropolitan n r life by CHARLES KLEIN KLEIH EI N and ARTHUR T H I 1 HORNBLOW BL atrat ILL illustrations BY RAY il WALTERS A LT RS 11 copyright by Q IV company SYNOPSIS howard jeffries bankers son bon under the evil influence of robert underwood fellow student at yale leads a life ot of dissipation si marries the haugh daughter ter of a gambler who died in prison and is i disowned by his father ile he Is out ot of work andin and in desperate str et ralta alts underwood who had once been engaged to howards howard s stepmother alicia la is apparently in prosperous circumstances taking advantage or of his intimacy with allala he ha becomes a sort of DIS discovering COVeting his true character alicia denies him the he house ile he sends aher her a note threatening eulelie rul eul clde elde art tie dealers alers for whom lie he acted as n commis commissioner sidner demand an accounting pe he cannot make rood good howard calls at 11 his Is apartments in an condl condition to request ft a loan of 2000 to enable him to take up a business proposition howard drinks himself into a maudlin condition and goes to sleep on a divan A caller Is announced and und underwood e arwood draws a screen around the drunken sleeper allcon enters she demands a 11 promise mise from underwood ahn I 1 he will will no not fro talie tits ills life ile he refuses unless sa slip she will renew tier her patronage pi this she refuses refuges anat and takes tikes her leavo leave underwood kills himself tile the report of tile the pistol awakens howard ile he finds underwood dead howard la 19 turned over to the police capt clinton notorious for his brutal treatment of prisoners puts howard iloah tile the third degree and finally harabed gets c I 1 tin an alleged confes confession simi from the harassed man inan annie howards wife declares her belief in her husbands innocence and calls on jeffries sr he refuses to help unless she will consent to a divorce to save howard she consents but when she finds that the elder does not intend to stand aland by his xon son except financially she scorns his help annie appeals to judge brewster attorney for jeffries Jeff rles sr ars to take howards case ire he declines it is reported ported re that annie Is IR baing on the stage the banker and tits lila wife call on judge brewster to find somei way to prevent it annie again pleads plead with brew ster to defend howard ile ho consents alicia Is greatly alarmed when sh she a learns from annie that brewster Bre water has haq taken the case she confesses to annie that she he called on underwood the night ot of h his death and that she has his letter in which he threatened suicide hut but boga begs tor for time before giving out the information annie promises brewster to produce the missing woman ut at a meeting at his home brewster accuses clinton 0 of forcing a confession from howard annle annie appears without the witness and refuses to give tho the name alicia arrives CHAPTER XVI H continued it does atun one it went on annie you cant think when it comes all of a sudden like this its just the way I 1 felt the morning they showed me howards confession prison prison walled wailed alicia annie tried to console her not for or long she said soothingly you can get ball bail its only a matter of tavor judge brewster would get you out right away 9 0 get me out cried alicia allala distractedly sly my god I 1 cant go to prison 1 I 1 cant too much ive done not nothing hingl look read tola this handing over letter she went on you can see for yourself the wretch frightened me into such a state of mind that I 1 hardly knew what I 1 was doing I 1 went to his bla rooms to save him the truth I 1 swear to godl god hut but do you suppose anybody will believe me on oath almost hysterical she no longer knew what she was saying or doing she collapsed collapsed utterly and sinking down in a chair gave way to a passionate fit of sobbing annie tried to quiet her dushl she said gently dont go on like that do bo brave perhaps it wont be as bad as you think she unfolded the letter alcicla had given her and carefully read it through when she had finished her face lit up with joy enthusiastically she cried this is great for howard what a blessing you destroy it what a wretch what a bound to 10 write you like that poor soul of course you went and begged him not to do it id have gone myself blu but t I 1 think id have broken an uin umbrella brella over his Is head or something gee these kind of fel el lows iowa breed trouble dont they alive or dead they breed trouble what can we do alicia rose her tears had bad disappeared Pt sred there was a look of fixed resolve in her eyes howard roust mus t be cl cleared oared 11 she said and I 1 must face it alenel be alone all right said annie n 0 thoughtfully mi jeffryes Jeff Jef rles files will do as aa for you as he ha did for his son noticing that her companion seemed hurt hur t by her f frankness ra kness she changed ole to koplo p 10 lo honer honest t to god sao exclaimed good im brokenhearted broken hearted ill do anything to save you from this this public disgrace I 1 know what it means ive bad nay my doze dose of it but this thing has got to come out it the bankers wife wearily nodded sapient absent Ys yes I 1 realize that she said but tho disgrace of arrest I 1 bennt stand it anniet annie I 1 cant go to prison even if its only for fo r a minute holding out a trembling hand she befit on oil give ivo line me back the letter 1 ill glenve now new york tonight to night ill go 90 to ill send bend it to judge Drew stir from paris looking anxiously into tier her ions face she pleaded nie me to do that hat wont it to me please you can trust me ine hor her hand wits was still exten extended aed but annie ignored it ap no she ehe said shaking her head 1 I cant give it to you how eat cay I 1 do you understand what the lottor lotter means to 60 me have apty pty cried the bankers wife almost beside herself you can tell fell them when im out of 0 the country dont ask me to make this sacrifice now nony dont ask mo dont annie was beginning to lose patience the womans comans selfishness angered tier her with irritation she said youve lost your nerve and you d dont ont know what youre saving baying howards life comes before beford you nie me or anybody you know that yes yes cried alicia allala desperately 1 I know that thai ym im only asking you QU to wait II 11 I 1 I 1 ought to have left this morning thata what 1 I 1 should have done gone at once now its too late unless you help me ill help you all I 1 can replied the other doggedly but ive promised judge brewster to clear up this matter tonight to night ll 11 suddenly there was a commotion at the door capt clinton entered followed by detective sergeant maloney alicia shrank back in alarm 1 11 I thought judge brewster Drew ster waa here said the captain glancing suspiciously round the room ill send for him said annie touching a bell well wheres your myrter lotis witness demanded the captain sarcastically ti he looked curiously at alicia this Is airs howard jeffries Jeff rles sr said annie my husbands stepmother the captain made a deferential salute dully bully as lie he was lie he know knew how to bo be courteous when it suited his purpose ile he had heard enough of the wealthy bankers aristocratic wife to treat her with respect beg pardon mm I 1 wanted to tell the judge I 1 was going the servant entered tell judge brewster that capt clinton Is going said annie alicia meantime was once more on the verge of collapse the long threatened expose was now at hand in another moment the judge and perhaps her husband would come tin in and annie would hand them the letter V f I 1 howards life cornea comes before you me or anybody which exculpated her husband there was a moment of terrible suspense annie stood aloof her eyes fixed on the floor suddenly without uttering a word she drew letter lefter i from her bosom and quickly approaching ing alicia placed lt it unnoticed in her hand the bankers wife flushed and then turned pale she understood annie would spare her her lips parted to protest even she was taken back by such an exhibition of unselfishness as this she began to stammer thanks no no whispered annie quickly dont thank me keep it capt clinton turned round with a jeer insolently he said to annie you might as well own up youve played a t trick rick on us all i no capt clinton she replied with quiet dignity 1 I told you the i simple truth natu naturally rally you dont believe it the he simple truth may do for judge brewster grinned the policeman but it wont do for mo me I 1 never expected this mysterious witness who was going to prove that underwood committed I 1 suicide to make an appearance pe arance did 1 I maloney blit loney why not because begging your pardon for doubting your word aneres no such person begging your pardon for disputing your word captain she retort retorted pd mimicking him there Is such a person then where Is she aha he demanded angrily annio annie made no answer but looked for advice to judge brewster who at that instant entered the room the captain glared at her viciously and unable to longer contain hla his wrath lie ha bellowed bellowe df 11 tell you where jhb lat ashes right hero here in this room loom pointing tf his finger at annie in theatrical anah ion foli lie hy went on furiously annie aenlo jeffries youre youie the woman who visited underwood the night ot of tits lita deaths I 1 dont lical tate to say so ive said so BO all along alone 1 I galonoy Malo noy yoa yes you yon told tile tho newspapers so BO retorted annie dryly taking no notice of 0 tier her remark the captain blustered ive got your record young woman alit I 1 know all nebout you and your folks you knew the two men when they were at college you know underwood before you made tho the acquaintance kc tance of young jeffries JelY iles it was ana underwood who introduced you to your husband it was underwood who aroused your husbands jealousy jeal you went to ills his rooms that night your husband followed you there and tho the shooting took place 1 turning to judge brewster Drew ster lie he added with a sarcastic grin false confession eh hypnotism oha oh I 1 gues sIts international and constitutional law tor for yours after you oil dont say bay so BO exclaimed annle annie irritated at the mans mana intolerable insolence judie judge brewster water hold up a restraining hand please bay nothing lie ho said with dignity no I 1 guess ill let him talt tall go 00 on captain she bald with ft a smile as aa if thoroughly enjoying the situation alicia allala came forward her anee pale I 1 but on it ft a look of determination as if she had quite made up her mind as to what course to pursue pu taue in tier her hand was letter ad dressing annie she said bald with emotion the truth must come out sooner or later I 1 seeing what I 1 she was about to do AO annie quickly y put out tier her hand to stop her she expected the bankers wife to do her duty she had insisted that she must but now she was waa ready to do it she realized what it was coating tier her her position her future happiness were ivere at stake it was too great perhaps there was waa some other way no no not yet sho she whispered but alicia brushed her ber aside and thrusting the letter into the hand of the astonished police captain she said yos yes bowl read that captain cap taint capt clinton sl slowly unfolded the letter alicia collapsed in a chair ahalt i annie stood by bel helpless pless but trying to collect her wits the judge watched the scene with amazement not understanding the captain read from the letter jetter dear mrs jeffries Jeff rles lie he stopped and glancing at the signature exclaimed robert underwood dl looking significantly at annie he exclaimed dear mrs airs Jef friesl Is that conclusive enough t what did I 1 tell you continuing to peruse the letter he be read on shall be found dead tomorrow suicide ile he stopped short and frowned this why this Is a barefaced for forgery geryl judge brewster quickly snatched the letter from his hand band and glancing over it quickly said permit roe me this belongs to my client capt cliftons Clin tons jaw snapped to with a click and he squared his massive shoulders as he usually did when preparing for hostilities tili ties now mrs airs jeffries lie ho said sharply ill trouble you to go with roe to headquarters annie and alicia both stood up judge bronster Brow ster quickly objected 11 mrs 1 jeffries Jeff rles will not go with you he be said quietly she has made no attempt to leave the state ashes wanted at police headquarters said the captain doggedly shell be there tomorrow to morrow morning shell bethere tonight to night he look looked ed steadily at tho the judge and the latter calmly returned his stare there followed an awkward pause and then the fhe captain turned on an hla his heel to depart the moment she et attempts tempts to leave the house he growled 1 I shall arrest her goodnight good night judge goodnight good night captain cried annie mockingly S ill see you later he muttered come on maloney the door banged to they were alone what a sweet ds disposition position laughed V I 1 annie judge brewster Bre weter looked sternly at her holding ip the letter he sald said what Is the meaning of athla you are not the woman to whom letter Is addressed no ko stammered annie that Is ie the judge her sternly he asked Is it your intention to go on the witness stand and commit perjury 1 I dont know I 1 never thought of 0 that she faltered the judge turned to alicia are you going to ta allow her to do na mra mr a no no cried alicia ady 1 I never thought of such a tiling thing then I 1 repent Is it your intention to perjure yourself annie wim was silent and lie he went on 1 I 1 assume it Is but lot mo me ask you do you ex hect nio me na as your counsel coun sol lo 10 become to this tissue of lies am ain I 1 expected to build up a false falee structure cluro for you to swear to am ain IVI I 1 1 I 1 dont know I 1 lin lenvent vent thought of 0 it replied annio annie if it can bo be done why not im glad you suggested it 1 T I suggest it exclaimed tho the lawyer scandalized yes cried annie with growing exaltation j it never occurred to me till you spoke everybody says saya im the woman who called on robert un derwood that night all right lot thoin them continue to think so what difference does it make so long as howard Is set free oolong to ward the door she said goodnight good night mrs airs Jeffri call the judge tried to aar bar tier her way dont go he said capt clin tons men are waiting outside that m matter a therl she cried nut dut you must not got gol exclaimed tho the lawyer in a tono tone of command 1 I wont allow it arrest youl airs jeffries please remain hete dut but annie was already at the door 1 I ace keep capt clinton waiting tor for tho the world she cried goodnight good night judge brewster valer and god bless YOM the door slammed and she was wa gone TO IM CONTINUED |