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Show it IKD PDQHCC CHA&LES KLEIN v y ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAY WALTER COPYRIGHT, 1909, Br G.W. DILLINGHAM C01PANY one Important witness, the mysterious mysteri-ous woman who was in the apart ment a few minutes before the shooting shoot-ing and who was in possession of a i letter in which Underwood declared j his mteutio:. of shooting himself, i doubt was no longer possible. Acquit j tal was a foregone conclusion. So ! pleased was the judge at Annie's find that he did not insist on knowing the i woman's name, lie saw that Annie preferred, for some reason, not to give j it even to her legal adviser and he let her have her way, exacting only I that the woman should be produced the instant he needed her. The young ' woman readily assented. Of course, there rpmninprl the "pnnfpycinn " hut in seeing her suffer a little of what she had been made to suffer. "They'll say that I God knows what they'll say!" went on Alicia distractedly. dis-tractedly. "My husband will be dragged through the mire of another public scandal his social pre'stige will oh, I dare not think of it I know my duty is to that unfortunate boy. I mustn't think of myself." "Have you the letter that Mr. Underwood Un-derwood wrote you-r" demanded her companion. "Yes I've never been able to destroy de-stroy it. I don't know why I kept it, but thank God I have it!" Moaning, she went on: "The disgrace! the disgrace! It's ruin degradation! It's the end of everything: the end of everything!" Annie regarded with contempt this poor, weak, wailing creature who lacked the moral courage tp do what was merely right. Her voice was not unkind as she said: "I don't want to disgrace you or ruin you. But what am I to do tell me, what am I to do?" "I don't know," moaned her companion com-panion helplessly. "Howard must be saved." "Yes." "Will you tell Judge Brewster or shall I?" "'.TlldS'e RrPWCtprl Whv cTir,,M ha The clerk retired and the banker, completely ignoring the presence of his daughter-in-law, turned to his wife and said: "I regret, my dear, that you should be subjected to these family annoyances." annoy-ances." Judge Brewster came forward and cleared his throat as if preliminary to something important he had to say. Addressing the banker, he said boldly: bold-ly: "Mr. Jeffries, I have decided to undertake un-dertake Howard's defense." His aristocratic client was taken completely by surprise. For a moment mo-ment he could say nothing, but simply sim-ply stared at the lawyer as if unable un-able to believe his ears. With an effort, ef-fort, he at last exclaimed: "Indeed! then you will please consider con-sider our business relations to have ceased from this moment." The lawyer bowed. "As you please," he said suavely. The banker turned to his wife. "Alicia come." He offered his arm and turned toward to-ward the door. Alicia, in distress, looked back at Annie, who nodded reassuringly to her. Judge Brewster rose and, going to the door, opened it. The banker bowed stiffly and said: "Pray don't trouble. Good morning, sir " that had been obtained unfairly, illegally, il-legally, fraudulently. The next important impor-tant step was to arrange a meeting at the judge's house at which Dr. Bernstein, Bern-stein, the hypnotic expert, would be present and to which should be invi 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 intc making an untrue confession. Perhaps Per-haps the captain could be argued intc admitting the possibility of a mistake having been made. If, further, he coulc be convinced of the existence of doo uruentary evidence showing that Un derwood really committed suicide h might be willing to recede from his position in order to protect himself At any rate it was worth trying. Th 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 a few hours' time so she could make the appointment and soon re turned with a solemn promise thai the woman would attend the meeting meet-ing and come forward at whatevei 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 floor SYNOPSIS. Howard Jeffries, banker's son. under the evil influence of Robert Underwood, fellow-student at Tale, leads a life of dissipation, dis-sipation, marries the daughter of a gambler gam-bler who died in prison, and is disowned by his father. He is out of work and in desperate straits. Underwood, who had once been engaged to Howard's stepmother, step-mother, Alicia, is apparently in prosperous prosper-ous circumstances. Taking advantage of his intimacy with Alicia, he becomes a sort of social highwayman. Discovering his true character, Alicia denies him the house. He sends her a note threatening suicide. Art dealers for whom he acted as commissioner, demand an accounting. He cannot make good. Howard calls at his apartments in an Intoxicated condition condi-tion to request a loan of $2,000 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 Underwood draws a screen around the drunken sleeper. Alicia enters. She demands a promise from Underwood that he will not take his life.- He refuses unless she will renew her patronage. This she refuses, and takes her leave. UTkWwg-.vI kills himself. The report of the pistol awakens awa-kens Howard. He finds Underwood dead. Howard is turned over to the . ooliee. Capt. Clinton, notorious for his brutal treatment of prisoners, puts Howard through the third degree, and finally gets an alleged confession from the harassed man. Annie, Howard's wife, . declares her belief in her husband's innocence, and calls on Jeffries, Sr. He refuses to help unless slip will consent to a divorce. To save Howard she consents, but when she finds that the eider Jeffries does not intend in-tend to stand by his son, except financially, finan-cially, she scorns his help. Annie appeals to Judge Brewster, attorney for Jeffries, Sr.. to take Howard's case. He declines. It is reported that Annie is going on the stage. The banker and his wife call on Judge Brewster to find some way to pre-vent pre-vent It. Annie again pleads with Brewster Brew-ster to defend Howard. He consents. I " ' ' ! " CHAPTER XVI. Continued. U ' 1 "Ah! I begin to understand. Vera knew Robert Underwood'! Howard knows your voice he heard you talking talk-ing to him Oh, Mrs. Jeffries! Are you the woman who visited bis apartments apart-ments that night?" The banker's wife bowed her head and collapsed on a chair, j "Yes," she murmured in a low tone. Annie looked at her in amazement. "Why didn't you come forward at once?" she cried. "Think ot the pain which you might have spared us!" know?" cried Alicia, startled. More composedly and as if resigned to the inevitable, she went on: "Yes, I suppose sup-pose he must know sooner or later, but, I" She broke down again and burst into in-to tears. Annie watched her in silence. si-lence. "It's tough isn't it?" she said sympathetically. sym-pathetically. "Yes," sobbed Alicia through her tears, "It's It's tough!" Rising, she dried her eyes and said hastily: "Don't say anything now. Give me a few hours. Then Lean think what is best to be done." Annie was' about to reply when the office door suddenly 6pened and Judge Brewster entered. Addressing Alicia, he said: ' "Pardon me, Mrs. Jeffries, I hope I haven't kept you waiting." Noticing her agitation and traces of tears, he As Alicia followed her husband out, she turned and whispered to Annie: "Come and see me at my home." When she had disappeared the judge came back into the room and sat down at his desk. "Well, that's done!" he exclaimed with a sigh of relief. Rummaging for a moment among his papers, he looked up and said with an encouraging encoura-ging smile: "Now, if you please, we will gee over that evidence bit by bit." CHAPTER X.VII. i The news that Judge Brewster would appear for the defendant at the approaching trial of Howard Jeffries wen't through the town like wildfire, and' caused an immediate revival in the public interest, which was begin- ning to' slacken for want of hourly were seated Dr. Bernstein, Mr: Jeffries Jef-fries and the judge. Each- was absorbed ab-sorbed in his own thoughts. Dr. Bernstein Bern-stein was puffing at a big black cigar; the banker stared vacantly into space. The judge, at his desk, examined some legal papers. Not a word was spoken. spo-ken. They seemed to be waiting for a fourth man who- had not yet arrived. ar-rived. Presently Judge Brewster looked up and said: "Gentlemen, F expect Capt. Clinton in a few minute's, and the matter will be placed before you." Mr. Jeffries frowned. It was greatly great-ly against his wish: that he had been J dragged to this conference. Peevishly, Peevish-ly, he said: "I've no- wlsji to be present at the ' meeting. You know that and yet yw sent for me." Judge Brewster looked up at him quibkly and said quietly yet decisively. de-cisively. ' Alicia covered her face with her handkerchief. She was crying now. "The disgrace the disgrace!" she moaned. "Disgrace!" echoed Annie, stupefied. stupe-fied. Indignantly, she went on: "Disgrace "Dis-grace to you? But what of me and Howard?" j "Can't you realize what it means to "be ascM.-.ted with such a crime?" she waited. "Disgrace!" cried Annie contemptii-ously. contemptii-ously. "What Is disgrace when a human hu-man life is at stake?" "It seemed so useless," moaned Alicia Al-icia "a useless sacrifice in the face of Howard's confession. Of course if I'd known if I'd suspected what you tell me I'd have come forward and told everything no matter at what cost." Tearfully she added: ;".Surely you realize the position it iputs me in?" A new light shone in Annie's eyes. What was this woman's misery to "her? Her duty was to the poor fellow fel-low who was counting the hours until she could set him free. His stepmother stepmoth-er deserved no mercy. Utterly selfish, self-ish, devoid of a spark of humanity, she would have left them both to perish in order to protect herself from shame and ridicule. Her face was set and determined as she said calmly: "It must be done now." "Yes," murmured Alicia in a low tone that sounded like a sob, "it must be done now! Oh, if I'd only done it before If I'd only told Mr. Jeffries the whole truth1. You speak of Howard's How-ard's sufferings. If he didn't do it, he has at least the consciousness of bis own innocence, but I the constant con-stant fear of being found out is worse than any hell the imagination can con-lure con-lure un. I dreaded- it I dread it now MM "Mi": Jeffries, it is absolutely ac-essary ac-essary that you be present when I tell Capt. CIIntoD that he has either willfully or ignorantly forced your sou to confess to having committed a crime of which I am persuaded he- is absolutely innocent." The banker shrugged his shoulders "If I can be of service, of course, I I am only too glad but what can I say what can I do?" "Nothing," replied the judge curtly "But the moral effect of your presence is invaluable." More amiably he went on: "Believe me, Jeffries, I" wouldn't have taken this step unless I was ab solutely sure of my position. 1, have been informed' that Underwood com milted suicide, and to-night evidence confirming this statement is to be placed in my hands. The woman who paid him that mysterious visit just before his death has promised to come 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 will- be free ' in a few days." "Who has given you this information?" informa-tion?" demanded the banker skeptic- 1 ally. - ' ! "Howard's wife." answered the ! judge quietly. The banker started and the lawyer went on: "She knows who the woman is, and has promised to bring her here to-night with documentary docu-mentary proof of Underwood's sui:-cirle." sui:-cirle." "You are depending on her?" he-sneered. he-sneered. "Why not?" demanded the judge-"She judge-"She has more at stake than any. mi us. She has Worked day and - nigh on this case. It was she who aroused Dr. Bernstein's interest and persuad ed him to collect the evidence against Each Was Absorbed in His Own Thoughts. I i uapt. (junion. I The banker frowned. I "She is the cause of the whula- mis I erable business," he growledi The door opeued and the buiitwr,. entering, en-tering, handed his master ai aard:. "Ah!" ejaculated the judgfi "Here's our man! Show him up." When the servant had disappeared Mr. Jeffries turned to his host. With a show of irritation he saijsl: "I think you put too much faith in that woman, but you'll find out you'll find out." Judge Brewster smiAed. (TO BE CONTINUED.) It means disgrace social ostracism my husband must know the whole world will know." Annie was not listening. Still bewildered, be-wildered, she gazed with the utmost astonishment at her companion. To think that this mysterious woman they had been seeking was Howard's stepmother. "So you're the missing witness we have all been hunting for!" she said; "I can't believe it even now. How did. it happen?" "He and I were once engaged. I broke it off when I found him out. After I married Mr. Jeffries I met Underwood Un-derwood again. Foolishly, I allowed the old intimacy to be renewed. He took advantage and preyed on my friends. I forbade him my house. He wrote me a letter in which he threatened to kill himself. I was afraid he meant It I wanted to prevent pre-vent him. I went to his rooms that aight. I didn't tell Mr. Jeffries. When the truth Is known and I acknowledge ac-knowledge that I visited this man can you see what it means? what a fuss there'll be. Everybody will put the worst construction on It " "Trust them for that!" said Annie grimly. She was sorry for the worn-! En's distress, yet. being only human, Ue felt a certain sense of satisfaction looked surprised. He made- no comment com-ment but turned to Annie: "I have been talking to Dr. Bernstein Bern-stein over the 'phone." Annie approached him softly and said in a whisper: "I've told Mrs. Jeffries that you have undertaken Howard's defense." Judge Brewster smiled at his wealthy client, almost apologetically, Annie thought. Then addressing her. he said: "Yes, I've been quite busy since 1 saw you. I have put three of the best j detectives we have on the trail of the woman who visited Underwood that night. I don't think the police have been trying very hard to And her. They're satisfied with Howard's confession. con-fession. But we want her and we'll get her " "Oh!" gasped Alicia. The judge was proceeding to tell of other steps he had taken when the door opened and the head clerk entered, en-tered, followed by Mr. Jeffries. "I told Mr. Jeffries that Mrs. Jeffries Jef-fries was here," said the clerk. "You might hare told Tilm that there were two Mrs. Jeffries here," laughed the judge. stimulation: Rumor said; tltat there had been a complete reconciliation in the Jeffries family, that the banker was now convinced of his- son's innocence, inno-cence, and was determined to spend a fortune, if necessary, to save him. This and other reports- of similar nature were all untrue,, bat the judge let them pass without contradiction. They were harmless, he- chuckled, and if anything, helped Hoiward's cause. I Meantime he himself had not been idle. When once he made up his mind to do a thing he was not content con-tent with half measures. Night and day he worked on the case, preparing evidence, seeing witnesses and experts, ex-perts, until he bad gradually built up a bulwark of defense which the police would find difficult to tear down. Yet he was not wholly reassured reas-sured as to. the outcome until Annie, the day following the Interview in his office, Informed him breathlessly that she had found the mysterious woman. The judge was duly elated; now It was plain sailing, Indeed! There had always been the possibility that Howard's How-ard's confession to the police was true, that he had really killed Underwood. Under-wood. But now they had found the |