Part 34 (2/2)
The judge was proceeding to tell of other steps he had taken when the door opened and the head clerk entered, followed by Mr. Jeffries.
”I told Mr. Jeffries that Mrs. Jeffries was here,” said the clerk.
”You might have told him that there were two Mrs. Jeffries here,”
laughed the judge.
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.”
Judge Brewster came forward and cleared his throat as if preliminary to something important he had to say. Addressing the banker, he said boldly:
”Mr. Jeffries, I have decided to undertake Howard's defense.”
His aristocratic client was taken completely by surprise. For a moment he could say nothing, but simply stared at the lawyer as if unable to believe his ears. With an effort, he at last exclaimed:
”Indeed!--then you will please consider 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 the door. Alicia, in distress, looked back at Annie, who nodded rea.s.suringly 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.”
”Good morning, Mr. Jeffries,” replied the judge.
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 smile:
”Now, if you please, we will go over that evidence--bit by bit.”
CHAPTER XVII.
The news that Judge Brewster would appear for the defendant at the approaching trial of Howard Jeffries went through the town like wildfire, and caused an immediate revival in the public interest, which was beginning to slacken for want of hourly stimulation. Rumor said that there had been a complete reconciliation in the Jeffries family, that the banker was now convinced of his son's innocence and was determined to spend a fortune, if necessary, to save him. This and other reports of similar nature were all untrue, but the judge let them pa.s.s without contradiction. They were harmless, he chuckled, and if anything, helped Howard's cause.
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