Part 31 (1/2)
”Did I?” she exclaimed in consternation.
”You say a great many things, Mrs. Jeffries,” said the lawyer solemnly.
”Of course, I realize how deeply you feel, and I make excuses for you.
But I'm not afraid. Please understand that----”
He rapped the table with his eyegla.s.ses as if he were very much offended indeed.
”Of course not,” she said apologetically. ”If you were you wouldn't even see me--let alone talk to me--and--and----” Pointing to the piece of paper he held in his hand, she added: ”And----”
”And what?” demanded the judge, amused.
Half hysterical, now laughing, now crying, she went on:
”And--and take the names and addresses of witnesses for the defense--and--think out how you're going to defend Howard--and--and all that----”
The lawyer looked at her and laughed.
”So you think I'm going to help Howard?” he said. ”You take too much for granted.”
”You're not afraid to help him,” she said. ”I know that--you just said so.”
Judge Brewster raised his fist and brought it down on the desk with a bang which raised in a cloud the acc.u.mulated dust of weeks. His face set and determined, he said:
”You're quite right! I'm going to take your case!”
Annie felt herself giving way. It was more than she could stand. For victory to be hers when only a moment before defeat seemed certain was too much for her nerves. All she could gasp was:
”Oh, judge!”
The lawyer adjusted his eyegla.s.ses, blew his nose with suspicious energy, and took up a pen.
”Now don't pretend to be surprised--you knew I would. And please don't thank me. I hate to be thanked for doing what I want to do. If I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't----”
Through her tears she murmured:
”I'd like to say 'thank you'.”
”Well, please don't,” he snapped.
But she persisted. Tenderly, she said:
”May I say you're the dearest, kindest----”
Judge Brewster shook his head.
”No--no--nothing of the kind.”
”Most gracious--n.o.ble-hearted--courageous,” she went on.