The attorney smiled approvingly at his client.
Williams studied the papers in his hand and answered without looking up.
"Everything is completed except the formality of identification. Of course it"s all right, but you know I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Forbes and I don"t think my client has----"
Meyer shook his head.
"Well, don"t let"s waste time on that," Mr. Stein interrupted, "you know Mr. Winter here, and he will identify Mrs. Forbes to your satisfaction."
Williams glanced inquiringly at the broker whom he had known for a couple of years.
"Do you identify this lady as the owner of this East Broadway property, Mr. Winter?" he asked.
"Surely--surely," was the answer.
"How long have you known her, Mr. Winter?"
"Well, about--I should say--it must be--two years."
"Who introduced you--or how did you meet?"
"Now, Mr. Williams," interrupted Mr. Stein, "this is very interesting, but it"s wasting my time. All this should have been attended to before I was summoned. I am a very busy man and you"ll have to postpone the whole matter until to-morrow. I really can"t wait."
Mr. Stein began b.u.t.toning up his coat and reached for his hat.
Williams fumbled among his papers for a moment and drew forth an affidavit.
"Perhaps we can save time with your aid. This is rather a large transaction for me, so I have to go slowly. You will have no objection to signing this affidavit of identification--will you, Mr. Stein?"
The attorney adjusted his gla.s.ses.
"It"s not necessary, Sir," he remarked, merely glancing at the paper and handing it back.--"It"s not at all necessary. There is already sufficient evidence to satisfy any reasonable man and we are not obliged to satisfy you. It was your duty to have convinced yourself before the time of closing."
"I didn"t suppose you would have any objection to giving the proof required."
"I don"t know that there is any objection, but I"ve been closing real estate t.i.tles all my life and I know my rights and don"t intend to be imposed upon."
"I"m not trying to impose upon you, my dear Sir."
"That"s just what you are trying to do and I don"t propose"--the lawyer rose and began to gather up his papers.
"What is the matter, Mr. Stein? Why are you getting excited?"
"I"m not excited, Sir, but I propose to be treated with decent respect and not like a shyster, and since you insist----"
"But I don"t insist----" interrupted Williams. "Sit down, Mr. Stein."
----"Since you insist," persisted the lawyer, walking toward Mr. Meyer, "I make a tender to your client of this deed----" he drew a doc.u.ment from his pocket and handed it to Meyer"s clerk.
"Sit down, Mr. Stein," repeated Williams sharply,--"unless you want me to think you are seeking an excuse to break this contract.--Sit down at once, Sir!--Mr. Jacobs--let me look at that deed."
The clerk handed the paper to him and Williams glanced at the signature.
"This is already signed and acknowledged before you as witness and Notary, Mr. Stein. It is perfectly satisfactory. Let us proceed."
The attorney slowly sat down again and then laughed uneasily.
"I had completely forgotten that, Mr. Williams. Your insistence nettled me for the moment and quite put it out of my head. A tempest in a tea-pot--much ado about nothing, of course!--But rights are rights, you know.--It"s instinct with us lawyers to insist upon them, isn"t it?"
"Mr. Meyer, kindly hand your check to this lady who will deliver her deed," directed Williams, as he pa.s.sed the paper to the woman.
Meyer beckoned the young lawyer to the window.
"Is everything all right?" he whispered, as he fumbled in his pocket for the check, "are you sure?"
"Do as I tell you!" was the whispered answer, so sharp and savage that the old man started and his cunning eyes flashed angrily. For a moment he hesitated, gazing earnestly into the calm face of his counsel and then turned suddenly and handed the check to the woman.
"Is that check certified? Let me see it!" cried Stein starting to his feet. The woman handed it to him, at the same time delivering the deed into Meyer"s outstretched hand.
"Now what did you do that for?" Stein snapped angrily at his client--"can"t you wait----"
He stopped suddenly, for something clicked behind him and he turned just in time to see Winter handcuffed and struggling in the arms of a detective.
With a cry the fellow leaped across the long, narrow table, but as he landed on the other side he found himself facing the muzzle of a revolver pointing at him from the window curtains. Without a word he threw up his hands, and as he did so pa.s.sed the check into his mouth.
The movement did not escape Williams, and like a flash his revolver was between the fellow"s eyes.
"Spit it out," he said quietly. "Don"t chew it! This revolver is self-c.o.c.king! One--two----"
The check came again into evidence.
"Hands down for the bangles--my son," ordered the detective as he stepped toward Stein. As the handcuffs snapped, Williams lowered his weapon and picked up the check. Then as the men moved their prisoners toward the door he turned to the woman.
"Mrs.--Forbes," he began in a low tone, "won"t you be good enough to tell me your right name?"
The reply was a paroxysm of tears and sobs. Williams waited for the outburst to subside and then quietly repeated his question. The answer came brokenly between sobs.
"It"d be--it"d be Mrs. Forbes--if--if--I had my rights!"
Williams stared at the speaker in utter amazement. Was there something more in this case? Who was this woman, anyway, and why did she claim any right to Forbes" name?
"And until you get your rights," he said, "what shall I call you?"
"Mary Halpin--Miss," answered the woman, sullenly.
Williams signalled the waiting detective to stop where he was.
"Well, Mary," he continued, "will you kindly go into my room for a moment?"
The woman rose and pa.s.sed into the room indicated.