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:
"Hush!" 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.
"Beg pardon, m"m; I wanted to tell the judge I was going."
The servant entered.
"Tell Judge Brewster that Captain Clinton is going," said Annie.
Alicia, meantime, was once more on the verge of collapse. The long threatened _expose_ was now at hand. In another moment the judge and perhaps her husband would come in, and Annie would hand them the letter which exculpated her husband. There was a moment of terrible suspense.
Annie stood aloof, her eyes fixed on the floor. Suddenly, without uttering a word, she drew Underwood"s letter from her bosom, and quickly approaching Alicia, placed it unnoticed in her hand. The banker"s wife flushed and then turned pale. She understood. Annie would spare her. Her lips parted to protest. Even she was taken back by such an exhibition of unselfishness as this. She began to stammer thanks.
"No, no," whispered Annie quickly, "don"t thank me; keep it."
Captain Clinton turned round with a jeer. Insolently, he said to Annie:
"You might as well own up--you"ve played a trick on us all."
"No, Captain Clinton," she replied with quiet dignity; "I told you the simple truth. Naturally you don"t believe it."
"The simple truth may do for Judge Brewster," grinned the policeman, "but it won"t do for me. I never expected this mysterious witness, who was going to prove that Underwood committed suicide, to make an appearance, did I, Maloney. Why not? Because, begging your pardon for doubting your word, there"s no such person."
"Begging your pardon for disputing your word, captain," she retorted, mimicking him, "there _is_ such a person."
"Then where is she?" he demanded angrily. Annie made no answer, but looked for advice to Judge Brewster, who at that instant entered the room. The captain glared at her viciously, and unable to longer contain his wrath, he bellowed:
"I"ll tell you where she is! She"s right here in this room!" Pointing his finger at Annie in theatrical fashion, he went on furiously: "Annie Jeffries, you"re the woman who visited Underwood the night of his death!
I don"t hesitate to say so. I"ve said so all along, haven"t I, Maloney?"
"Yes, you told the newspapers so," retorted Annie dryly.
Taking no notice of her remark, the captain bl.u.s.tered:
"I"ve got your record, young woman! I know all about you and your folks.
You knew the two men when they were at college. You knew Underwood before you made the acquaintance of young Jeffries. It was Underwood who introduced you to your husband. It was Underwood who aroused your husband"s jealousy. You went to his rooms that night. Your husband followed you there, and the shooting took place!" Turning to Judge Brewster, he added, with a sarcastic grin: "False confession, eh?
Hypnotism, eh? I guess it"s international and const.i.tutional law for yours after this."
"You don"t say so?" exclaimed Annie, irritated at the man"s intolerable insolence.
Judge Brewster held up a restraining hand.
"Please say nothing," he said with dignity.
"No, I guess I"ll let him talk. Go on, captain," she said with a smile, as if thoroughly enjoying the situation.
Alicia came forward, her face pale, but on it a look of determination, as if she had quite made up her mind as to what course to pursue. In her hand was Underwood"s letter. Addressing Annie, she said with emotion:
"The truth must come out sooner or later."
Seeing what she was about to do, Annie quickly put out her hand to stop her. She expected the banker"s wife to do her duty, she had insisted that she must, but now she was ready to do it, she realized what it was costing her. Her position, her future happiness were at stake. It was too great a sacrifice. Perhaps there was some other way.