Part 27 (2/2)

”Come in!” called out the lawyer.

CHAPTER XV.

Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.

This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock. For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys. Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals. They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen. At last, evidently acting upon orders, they flatly refused to even send in her name, and she had about abandoned hope when, all at once, a clerk approached her, and addressing her more politely than usual, said that the judge would see her in a few minutes.

Her heart gave a great throb. Almost speechless from surprise, she stammered a faint thanks and braced herself for the interview on which so much depended. For the first time since the terrible affair had happened, there was a faint glimmer of hope ahead. If only she could rush over to the Tombs and tell Howard the joyful news so he might keep up his courage! It was eight days now since Howard's arrest, and the trial would take place in six weeks. There was still time to prepare a strong defense if the judge would only consent to take the case. She was more sure than ever that a clever lawyer would have no difficulty in convincing a jury that Howard's alleged ”confession” was untrue and improperly obtained.

In the intervals of waiting to see the lawyer, she had consulted every one she knew, and among others she had talked with Dr. Bernstein, the noted psychologist, whom she had seen once at Yale. He received her kindly and listened attentively to her story. When she had finished he had evinced the greatest interest. He told her that he happened to be the physician called in on the night of the tragedy, and at that time he had grave doubts as to it being a case of murder. He believed it was suicide, and he had told Captain Clinton so, but the police captain had made up his mind, and that was the end of it. Howard's ”confession,” he went on, really meant nothing. If called to the stand he could show the jury that a hypnotic subject can be made to ”confess” to anything. In the interest of truth, justice, and science, he said, he would gladly come to her aid.

All this she would tell Judge Brewster. It would be of great help to him, no doubt. Suddenly, a cold s.h.i.+ver ran through her. How did she know he would take the case? Perhaps this summons to his office was only to tell her once more that he would have nothing to do with her and her husband. She wondered why he had decided so suddenly to see her and, like a flash, an idea came to her. She had seen Mr. Jeffries, Sr., enter the inner sanctum and, instinctively, she felt that she had something to do with his visit. The banker had come out accompanied by a richly dressed woman whom she guessed to be his wife.

She looked with much interest at Howard's stepmother. She had heard so much about her that it seemed to her that she knew her personally. As Alicia swept proudly by, the eyes of the two women met, and Annie was surprised to see in the banker's wife's face, instead of the cold, haughty stare she expected, a wistful, longing look, as if she would like to stop and talk with her, but dare not. In another instant she was gone, and, obeying a clerk, who beckoned her to follow him, she entered Judge Brewster's office.

The lawyer looked up as she came in, but did not move from his seat.

Gruffly he said:

”How long do you intend to keep up this system of--warfare? How long are you going to continue forcing your way into this office?”

”I didn't force my way in,” she said quietly. ”I didn't expect to come in. The clerk said you wanted to see me.”

The lawyer frowned and scrutinized her closely. After a pause, he said:

”I want to tell you for the fiftieth time I can do nothing for you.”

”Fifty?” she echoed. ”Fifty did you say? Really, it doesn't seem that much.”

Judge Brewster looked at her quickly to see if she was laughing at him.

Almost peevishly, he said:

”For the last time, I repeat I can do nothing for you.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I CAN DO NOTHING FOR YOU,” SAID THE JUDGE.]

”Not the last time, judge,” she replied, shaking her head. ”I shall come again to-morrow.”

The lawyer swung around in his chair with indignation.

”You will----?”

Annie nodded.

”Yes, sir,” she said quietly.

<script>