Part 24 (1/2)

”We'll see,” she said quietly. ”He'll see me if I have to sit in his office all day for weeks. I have decided to have Judge Brewster defend you because I believe it would mean acquittal. He will build up a defense that will defeat all the lies that the police have concocted.

The police have a strong case because of your alleged confession. It will take a strong lawyer to fight them.” Earnestly she added: ”Howard, if your life is to be saved we must get Judge Brewster.”

”All right, dear,” he replied. ”I can only leave it in your hands. I know that whatever you do will be for the best. I'll try to be as patient as I can. My only comfort is thinking of you, dear.”

A heavy step resounded in the corridor. The keeper came up.

”Time's up, m'm,” he said civilly.

Annie thrust her hand through the bars; Howard carried it reverently to his lips.

”Good-by, dear,” she said. ”Keep up your courage. You'll know that I am working for your release every moment. I won't leave a stone unturned.”

”Good-by, darling,” he murmured.

He looked at her longingly and there were tears in her eyes as she turned away.

”I'll be back very soon,” she said.

A few minutes later they were in the elevator and she pa.s.sed through the big steel gate once more into the sunlit street.

CHAPTER XIV.

Outwardly, at least, Judge Brewster's offices at 83 Broadway in no way differed from the offices of ten thousand other lawyers who strive to eke out a difficult living in the most overcrowded of all the professions. They consisted of a modest suite of rooms on the sixth floor. There was a small outer office with a railed-off inclosure, behind which sat a half dozen stenographers busy copying legal doc.u.ments; as many men clerks were writing at desks, and the walls were fitted with shelves filled with ponderous law books. In one corner was a room with gla.s.s door marked ”Mr. Brewster, Private.”

a.s.suredly no casual visitor could guess from the appearance of the place that this was the headquarters of one of the most brilliant legal minds in the country, yet in this very office had been prepared some of the most sensational victories ever recorded in the law courts.

Visitors to Judge Brewster's office were not many. A man of such renown was naturally expensive. Few could afford to retain his services and in fact he was seldom called upon except to act in the interest of wealthy corporations. In these cases, of course, his fees were enormous. He had very few private clients; in fact, he declined much private practice that was offered to him. He had been the legal adviser of Howard Jeffries, Sr., for many years. The two men had known each other in their younger days and practically had won success together--the one in the banking business, the other in the service of the law. An important trust company, of which Mr. Jeffries was president, was constantly involved in all kinds of litigation of which Judge Brewster had exclusive charge. As the lawyer found this highly remunerative, it was only natural that he had no desire to lose Mr. Jeffries as a client.

Secluded in his private office, the judge was busy at his desk, finis.h.i.+ng a letter. He folded it up, addressed an envelope, then lit a cigar and looked at the time. It was three o'clock. The day's work was about over and he smiled with satisfaction as he thought of the automobile ride in the park he would enjoy before dressing and going to his club for dinner. He felt in singularly good spirits that afternoon.

He had just won in the court a very complicated case which meant not only a handsome addition to his bank account, but a signal triumph over his legal opponents. Certainly, fortune smiled on him. He had no other immediate cases on hand to worry about. He could look forward to a few weeks of absolute rest. He struck a bell on his desk and a clerk entered. Handing him the note he had just written, he said:

”Have this sent at once by messenger.”

”Very well, judge,” answered the clerk.

”By the bye,” frowned the lawyer, ”has that woman been in to-day?”

”Yes--she sat in the outer office all morning, trying to see you. We said you were out of town, but she did not believe it. She sat there till she got tired. She had no idea that you went out by another stairway.”

”Humph,” growled the lawyer; ”a nice thing to be besieged in this manner. If she annoys me much longer, I shall send for the police.”

At that moment another clerk entered the room.

”What is it, Mr. Jones?” demanded the lawyer.

”A lady to see you, judge,” said the clerk, handing him a card.