Part 41 (1/2)

Almost hysterical, she no longer knew what she was saying or doing. She collapsed utterly, and sinking down in a chair, gave way to a pa.s.sionate fit of sobbing. Annie tried to quiet her:

”Hus.h.!.+” she said gently, ”don't go on like that. Be brave. Perhaps it won't be so bad as you think.” She unfolded the letter Alicia had given her and carefully read it through. When she had finished her face lit up with joy. Enthusiastically she cried:

”This is great for Howard! What a blessing you didn't destroy it! What a wretch, what a hound to write you like that! Poor soul, of course, you went and begged him not to do it! I'd have gone myself, but I think I'd have broken an umbrella over his head or something----Gee! these kind of fellows breed trouble, don't they? Alive or dead, they breed trouble!

What can we do?”

Alicia rose. Her tears had disappeared. There was a look of fixed resolve in her eyes.

”Howard must be cleared,” she said, ”and I must face it--alone!”

”You'll be alone all right,” said Annie thoughtfully. ”Mr. Jeffries will do as much for you as he did for his son.”

Noticing that her companion seemed hurt by her frankness, she changed the topic.

”Honest to G.o.d!” she exclaimed, good-naturedly, ”I'm broken-hearted--I'll do anything to save you from this--this public disgrace. I know what it means--I've had my dose of it. But this thing has got to come out, hasn't it?”

The banker's wife wearily nodded a.s.sent.

”Yes, I realize that,” she said, ”but the disgrace of arrest--I can't stand it, Annie! I can't go to prison even if it's only for a minute.”

Holding out a trembling hand, she went on: ”Give me back the letter.

I'll leave New York to-night--I'll go to Europe--I'll send it to Judge Brewster from Paris.” Looking anxiously into her companion's face, she pleaded: ”You'll trust me to do that, won't you? Give it to me, please--you can trust me.”

Her hand was still extended, but Annie ignored it.

”No--no,” she said, shaking her head, ”I can't give it to you--how can I? Don't you understand what the letter means to me?”

”Have pity!” cried the banker's wife, almost beside herself. ”You can tell them when I'm out of the country. Don't ask me to make this sacrifice now--don't ask me--don't!”

Annie was beginning to lose patience. The woman's selfishness angered her. With irritation, she said:

”You've lost your nerve, and you don't know what you're saying. Howard's life comes before you--me--or anybody. You know that!”

”Yes--yes,” cried Alicia desperately, ”I know that. I'm only asking you to wait. I--I ought to have left this morning--that's what I should have done--gone at once. Now it's too late, unless you help me----”

”I'll help you all I can,” replied the other doggedly, ”but I've promised Judge Brewster to clear up this matter to-night.”

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. Captain Clinton entered, followed by Detective Sergeant Maloney. Alicia shrank back in alarm.

”I thought Judge Brewster was here,” said the captain, glancing suspiciously round the room.

”I'll send for him,” said Annie, touching a bell.

”Well, where's your mysterious witness?” demanded the captain sarcastically.

He looked curiously at Alicia.

”This is Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Senior,” said Annie, ”my husband's stepmother.”

The captain made a deferential salute. Bully as he was, he knew how to be courteous when it suited his purpose. He had heard enough of the wealthy banker's aristocratic wife to treat her with respect.