Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"Of course," he stamme: uQ, "you will bo amply compensated." "Of course," she cried. Rising from her chair, she shrugged her ahculders, and said: "Oh, well, this is not my lucky day. They wouldn't let me into the prison to see Howard to-day. Capt. Clinton doesn't like me. He has always tried to prevent my seeing Howard, but I'll see him to-morrow, captain or no captain. He can make up his mind to that!" The lawyer looked up at her. "Poor girl?you are having a hard time, aren't you?" "Things have been better," she re? plied, with a tremor in her voice. "Howard and 1 were very happy when we first?" A sob choked her utter? ance, and she forced a laugh, saying: "Here, I must keep off that subject?" "Why do you laugh?" demanded the lawyer. Already hysterical, Annie had great difficulty in keeping back her tears. "Well, if I don't laugh," she sobbed, "I'll cry; and as I don't want to cry? why?I Just laugh. It's got to be one or the other?see??" He said nothing, and she continued: "Well, I guess I'll go home?home ?that's the worst part of it?home?" She stopped short, she could go no further. Her bosom was heaving, the "You Take Too Much for Granted." cheeks. The old lawyer turned away his head so that she might not see the suspicious redness in his eyes. Moving toward the door, she turned around. "Well, you have your own troubles, judge. I'll go now, but TU come again to-morrow. Perhaps you'll have bet? ter news for me." The lawyer waved her hack to her seat with a commanding gesture she oould not resist. There was deter? mination around his mouth; in his face was an expression she had not seen there be'ore. "Sit down a,r> in for a moment," he oald, sharply. "I want to ask ycu a question. How do you account for Howard's confessing to the shootirig?" "I don't account for it," she replied, as she resumed her seat. "He says he 1 didn't confess. I don't believe he did." "But three witnesses?" "Who are the witnesses?' she inter? rupted, contemptuously. "Policemen!" "That makes no difference," he said. "He made a confession and signed?" Annie leaned forward. What did this question mean? Was the judge becoming Interested after all? Her heart gave a leap as she answered eagerly: 'He confessed against his will. I mean?he didn't know what he was doing at the time. I've had a talk with the physician who was called in , ?Dr. Bernstein. He says that Capt I Clinton Is a hypnotist, That he can compel people to say what he wants them to say. Well, Howard is?what j they call a subject?they told him he did it till be believed he did." She looked narrowly at the lawyer j to aee what effect her words were having, but to her great disappoint aent the judge was apparently paying not the slightest attention. He was gazing out of the window and drum? ming his fingers absent-mindedly on the desk. Utterly discouraged, she again rose. "Oh, well, what's the use??" The Judge quickly put out his hand aid partly pushed her back in the chair. "Don't go," he said. Then he added: "Who told you he was a hyps >tic ; eubject?" Her\ hopes revived once more. Quickly she said: "Dr. Bemstein. Besides, Howard told me so himself. A friend of his at college used to make him cut all aorts of capers." "A friend at college, eh? Do you remember his name?'" "Howard knows it." "Una!" ejaculated the lawyer. He took up a pad and wrote a memoran? dum on it. Then aloud he said: "I'd like to have a little talk with Dr. Bernstein. I think I'll ask him to come and see me. Let me see. His address is?" "342 Madison avenue," she I x claimed, eagerly. The lawyer jotted the address down, and then he looked up. "So you think I'm afraid of Mr. Jeff rlee, do you?" She smiled. "Oh, no. not really afraid," she an? swered, "but just?scared. I didn't mean?" Judge Brewster was enjoying the Bituatio,! hugely. He had quite made up his mind what to do. but he liked to quiz, tliis bold young woman who bar' not b*cn afraid to show him wl" re hi. duty lay. Striving to ke? p a rions race, be said: " you did, and I want you to ac4 I'm pjt afraid of any Send us your Job man. As to allowing my personal in? terests to interfere with my duty?" Annie took alarm. She was really afraid the had offended him. "Oh. 1 didn't say that, did 1?" aha exclaimed timidly. Judge Brewster forced his face into a frown. "You said I knew on which side my bread was buttered!'* "Did I?" she exclaimed in con? sternation. "You say a grent many things. Mrs. JefTries," said the lawyer solemnly. 1 "Of course, 1 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 eye? glasses as if he wtre very much of? fended indeed. "Of course lot," she said apologetic? ally. "If you were you wouldn't even see me?let alone talk to me?and? and?" Pointing to the piece of pa per he held In his hand, she added: "And?" "And what?" dtmended the judge, amused. Half hysterical, now laughing, now crying, she went on: "And?and take the names and ad? dresses 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 j said so." Judge Brewster raised his fist and ; brought it down on the desk with a bang which raised in a cloud the ac- ! cumulated dust of weeks. His face set and determined, he said: "You're quite right! I'm going to take your case!" ArJnie felt herself giviDg way. It was more than she could stand. For victory to be hers when only a mo- j ment before defeat seemed certain was too much for her nerves. All she could gasp was: "Oh, judge!" The lawyer adjusted his eyeglasses, blew his nose with suspicious energy,: and took up a pen. I "Now don't pretend to be surprised ?you knew I would. And please don't thank me. I hate to be thanked lor i 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 de.irest, kind? est?" Judge Brewster shook his head. "No?no?nothing of the kind." " Most gracio js ? noble-hearted ? courageous," she went on. Tue judge struck the table another formidable blow. "Mrs. Jeffries!" he exclaimed. She turned away her head to hide her feelings. j "Oh, how I'd like to have a good cry," she murmured. "If Howard only knew!" Judge Brewster touched an electric button, and his head clerk entered. "Mr. Jones," said the lawyer quick? ly, "get a stenographic report of the case of the People agaimit Howard Jeffries, Jr.; get the coroner's inquest, the gra~.d jury indictment, and get a copy of the Jeffries confession?get everything?right away!" The clerk looked inquiringly, first at Annie and then at his employer. Then respectfully he asked: "Do we, sir?" "We do," said the lawyer laconic? ally. CHAPTER XVI. "Xow. my dear young woman," said Judge Hrewster, when the astonished head clerk had withdrawn. "If we are going to get your husband free we must get to work, and you must heip me" His visitor looked up eagerly. ' I'll do anything in my power," she said quickly. ' What can I do?" 'Well?first of ail." said the lawyer with some hesitation, "I want yoy to see a certain lady and to be a ceedin^ly nice to her." "Lady?" echoed Annie, surprised. "What lady?' 'Mrs Howard Jeffries. Sr.," he re? plied slowly. "Howard's stepmother!" she ejacu? lated A cierk entered and handed his em? ployer a card. The lawyer nodd? d anc said In an undertone: 'Show her in." Turning round a?; In, he went on: " Yes?Howard's ?tepmother Bhe'i out there now. She wants to see you. She wishes to be of service to you. Xow. you muni conciliate her. Bbt may be of great use to us." Annie's face eipreaaed considerable doubt. "Perhaps so," she said, "but tl ? door was slammed In my face when 1 called to see her." "That's lOthing," answered the judge. "Sl.e probably knows nothing about it. In any case, please remem? ber that she is my client?" She bowed her head and murmur* d obediently: "I'll rem? mber." The door of the office opened and Alicia enlered. She stopped abort on seeing who was there, and an awk? ward pause followed. Judge- Brewiter introduced them. "Mrs J'ffrles. may I present Mn. Howard, Jr.?" Alicia bowed stlfll and soniewliat haughtily, Arnie remained selr pox sessed and on tin- defenolve. Addreas Ing the banker*! wife, the lawyet said: f,M Mi Howard that >nu v ?o her " Alter a pause tl-ink, pel bfl pf. I'll If ave fo ' se me." Send ua your Job work. He left the office and there was an? other embarrassing silence. Annie waited for Mrs. Jeffries to b(gin. Her attitude suggested that she expected something unpleasant and was fully prepared for it. At last Alicia broke the silence: "You may think it strange that I have asked for this interview," she began, "but you know, Annie?" In? terrupting herself, she asked: "You don't mind my cading you Annie, do you?" The young woman smiled. "I don't see why I should. It's my name arid we're relatives?by mar? riage." There was an ironical ring In her voice as .-he went on: "Rela? tives! It serins funny, doesn't it, but we don't pick and choose our rela? tives. We must take them as they come." Alicia made an effort to appear con? ciliatory. "As we are?what we are?let's try to make tbe best of it." "Make the best of it?" echoed An? nie. 'God knows I'm willing, but I've had migh?y little encouragement, Mrs. Jeffries. When I called to see you the other day, to beg you to use your influence with Mr. Jeffries, 'not at home' was handed to me by the ( liveried footman and the door was slammed in my face. Ten minutes later you walked out to your carriage and were driven away." "I knew nothing of this?believe me," murmured Alicia apologetically. "It's what I got just the same," said the other dryly. Quickly she went on: "But I'm not complaining, understand ?I'm not complaining. OnlJ,- 1 did think that at such a time one woman might have held out a helping hand to another." Alicia held up her hand protest ingly. "How could I?" she exclaimed. "Now, be reasonable. You are held responsible for Howard's present po? sition." "Yes?by the police," retorted An? nie grimly, "and by a couple of yellow journals. I didn't think you'd believe nil the gossip and scandal that's been printed about me. I didn't believe what was said about you." Alicia started and changed color. "What do you mean?" she exclaimed haughtily. "What was said about me?" "Well, it has been said that you married old Jeffries for his money and his social position." 'Old Jeffries!'" protested Alicia ind'gnantly. "Have you no respect ior your husband's father?" 'Wot a particle," answered the oth? er coolly, "and I never will have till he acts like a father. I only had one Interview with him and it finished him with me for all time. He ain't a father?he's a fish." "A fish!" exclaimed Alicia, scandal? ized at such lese majeste. Annie went on recklessly: "Yes?a cold-blooded?" "Bui surely," interrupted Alicia, "you respect his position?his?" "No, m'm; I respect a man because he behaves like a man, not because he lives in a marble palace on River? side drive." Alicia looked pained. This girl was certainly impossible. "But surely," she said, "you real? ized that when yoa carried Howard you?von made a mistake?to say the least"" "Yes. t) qt part of it has been made prettv pb.in. It was a mistake?his mistake?ny mistake. But now it's done and 't can't be undone. I don't see why j ou can't take it as it is and - and -" She stooped short and Alicia com? pleted the sentence for her: "?and velcome you into our fam? ily?' "Welcone me? No, ma'am. I'm not welcome and nothing you or your set could i?ay would ever make me be- j lieve that I was welcome. All I ask Is that Howard's father do his duty by his son." "I do not think?pardon my saying 60." interrupted Alicia stiffly, "that you are Quite in a position to judge of what c institutes Mr. Jt ffries' duty to his scr " "Perhaps not. I only know what I would ^o?what my father would have dorn ?what any one would do If they had a spark of humanity In them. But 'hey do say that after t hre< gen* eratlons of society life red blood turns UtO blue." Alici;? turned to look out of the win? dow. Her face still averted she said: . "What Is there to do? Howard lias acknowledged his guilt, what sac flees we may make' will be thrown away." Annie eyed her companion with con? tempt. II? r voice quivering With in? dignation, she hurst out: What is there to do! Try and save him. of course. Must we sit and do nothing because things look black? Ah! 1 wasn't brought up that way. No. ma'am. I'm going to make a fight!" "It's useless." murmured Alicia, 6haking her head. "Judge Breweter doesn't think so," replied the other calmly. The banker's wife gave a start ol surprise. Quickly she demanded: "You mean that Judge Brewster has tncouraged you to?to?" "He's done more than encourage me ?God bless him'?he's going to take Up tin- case" Alicia was so thunderstruck that for a moment she could Und no answer "What!" she exclaimed, "without consulting Mr Jeffries?" She put her handkerchief to her face to conceal her agitation. Could it be possible thai the Judge was go? ing to act, after all, in defiance of her husband's wishes! tf that were true, what would become of her'' Conceal* men I would bt no longer possible. Discovery of her clandestine visit to Underwent 1 spartmenl that fatal Give us your Job work. night mint come Howard might still be the murderer, Underwood might not have committed suicide, but her visit to his rooms at midnight would become known. Judge hrewster was not the man to be deterred by dWIi culties once he took up a cane. He would sec the importance ol finding the mysterious woman who went se? cretly to Undi rwood's rooms that night of the tragedy. He consulted only his own feel? ings," went on Annie. "He believes in Howard, and he's going to defend him." Alicia looked at her anxiously as if trying to read what might be In her mind. Indifferently she went on: "The papers say there was a quar? rel about you, that you and Mr. Un? derwood weie too friendly. They im? plied that Howard was jealous. la this true?" "It's all talk," cried Annie indig? nantly?"nothing but scandal?lies! There's not a word of truth in it. Howard never had a jealous thought of me?and as for me?why?I've al? ways worshiped the ground he walked on. Didn't he sacrifice everything for my sake? Didn't he quarrel with his father for me? Didn't he marry me? Didn't he try to educate and make a lady of me? My God!?do you sup? pose I'd give a man like that cause for jealousy? What do the newspa? pers care? They print sruel state? ments that cut into a woman's heart, without givinj; it a thought, without knowing or caring whether it's true or not, as long as it interests and amuses their readers. You?you don't really believe I'm the cause of his misfortunes, do you?" Alicia shook her head as she an? swered kindly: "Xo, I don't. Heiieve me, I don't. Ycu were right when you said that at such a time as this one woman should staue, by another. I'm going to stand by you. Let me be your friend, let me hol ? you." Extending her hand, she said: "Will you?" Annie grasped the proffered hand. It was the first that had been held out to her In her present trouble. A lump rose in her throat. Much af? fected, she said: "It's the first kind word that?" She stopped and looked closely for a mo? ment at Alicia. Then she went on: "It's the queerest thing, Mrs. Jeff? ries, but it keeps coming into my mind. Howard told me that while he was at Underwood's that dreadful night he thought he heard your voice. It must have been a dream, of course, yet he thought he was sure of it. Your voice?that's ' queer, isn't it? Why?what's the matter?" Alicia had grown deathly pale and staggered against a chair. Annie ran to her aid, thinking she was ill. "It's nothing ? nothing!" stam? mered Alicia, recovering herself. Fearing she had said something to hurt her feelings, Annie said sympa? thetically: "I haven't said anything?anything out of the way?have I? If I have I'm sorry?awfully sorry. I'm afraid?I? I've been very rude and you've been so kind!" "Xo, no!" interrupted Alicia quick? ly. "You've said nothing?done noth? ing?you've had a great deal to bear ?a great deal to bear. I understand that perfectly." Taking her compan? ion's hand in hers, she went on: I "Tell me, what do they say about the woman a*ho went to see Robert Un? derwood the night of the tragedy?" "The police can't find her?we don't know who she is." Confidently she j went on: "But Judge Brewster will ' find hor. We have a dozen detectives searching for her. Capt. Clinton ac- | cused me of being the woman?you know he doesn't like me." The banker's wife was far too busy j thinking of the number of detectives "I Believed He-ward Guilty. Why Shouldn't I?" employed to find the missing witness to pay attention to the concluding sentence. Anxiously she demanded: "Supposing the woman la found, what can she prove? What difference will it make?'' "All the differ nee in the wr,rld." re? plied Annie. "She Is a most Im? portant wltnete." Firmly she went on: "She must be found. If she didn't <!mot Robert Underwood, she knows who did ." "But how can she know?" argued Allda. "Howard confessed that he did it himself If he had not con feased It would be different." "He did not confess," replied the other calmly "Mrs. Jeffries?he never confessed. If he did. he didn't know what he was saying." Alicia was rapidly losing her self possession "Did he fell you that?" she fr.is" d Annie nodd 'I "Yea Br Bernstein pays the no lice forc< d it oul of his ttr ri brain I made Howard over eyerj I of his life th.it night from the lima Send us your Job work. I he left m< fo the moment he was ar? rested. There wasn't a harsh word between them." She stopped short and looked with alarm a! Alicia, who had tinned ashen white. "Why, what's the matter? You're pale as death?you?" Alicia could contain herself no long? er. Her nerves were on the poiut of giving way. She felt that If she could not confide her secret to some one she must go ...ad. Pacing the floor, she cried: "What am I to do? What am I to do? I believed Howard guilty. Why shouMn't I? I had no reason to doubt his own confession! Every one be? lieved ir?his own father included. Why should I doubt it. Hut I see it all now! Underwood must have shot himself as he said he would!" Annie starred. What did Mrs. Jef? fries mean? Did she realize the tre? mendous significance of the words she was uttering? "As he said he would?" she repeat? ed slowly. "Yes," said Alicia weakly. Annie hounded forward and grasped her companion's arm. Her face flushed, almost unable to speak from suppressed emotion, she cried: "Ah! I begin to understand. You knew Robert Und u wood? Howard knows your voice?he heard you?talk? ing to him? Oh, Mrs. Jeffries! Are you the woman who visited his apart? ments that night?" The banker's wife bowed her head and collapsed on a chair. "Yes." she murmured in a low tone. Annie looked at her in amazement. "Why didn't you come forward at once?" she cried. "Think of the pain which you might have spared us!" Alicia covered her face with her handkerchief. She was crying now. 'The disgrace?the disgrace!" she moaned. "Disgrace!" echoed Annie, stupe- j fled. Indignantly, she went on: "Dis- I grace?to you? Hut what of me and Howard?" "Can't you realize what it means to be associated with such a crime?" she wailed. "Disgrace!" cried Annie contemptu? ously. "What is disgrace when a hu? man iife ic at stake?" "It seemed so useless," moaned Al? icia?"a useless sacrifice in the face of Howard's confession. Of course ?if I'd known?if I'd suspected what you tell me?I'd have come forward and told everything?no matter at what cost." Tearfully she added: "Surely you realize the position it puts me in?" A new light shone in Annie's eyes. What was this woman's misery to her? Her duty was to the poor fel? low who was counting the hours until she could set him free. His stepmoth? er deserved no mercy. Utterly self? ish, devoid of a spark of humanity, she would have left them both to perish in order to protect herself from shame and ridicule. Her face was set and determined as she said calmly: "It must be done now." "Yes." murmured Alicia in a low tone that sounded like a sob, "It must be done now! Oh, If I'd only done it before?If I'd only told Mr. Jeffries the whole truth! You speak of How? ard's sufferings. If he didn't do it, he has at least the consciousness of his own innocence, but I?the con? stant fear of being found out is worse than any hell the imagination can con? jure up. I dreaded it?I dread it now ?it means disgrace?social ostracism ?my husband must know?the whole world will know." Annie was not listening. Still be? wildered, she gazed with the utmost astonishment at her companion. To think that this mysterious woman they had t?een seeking was Howard's stepmother. "So you're the missing witness we have all boon hunting for!" she said: "I can't believe it even now. How did it happen?" "He and I were once engaged. I broke it off when I found him out. After I married Mr. Jeffries I met Un? derwood again. Foolishly, I allowed the old intimacy to be renewed. He took advantage and preyed on my friends. I forbade him my house. He wrote me a letter in which he threatened to kill himself I was afraid he meant it?I wanted to pre? vent him. I went to his rooms that night. I?-didn't tell Mr. Jeffries. When the truth Is known and I ac? knowledge that I visited this man? can you see what it means??what a ' fuss there'll be. Everybody will put the worst construction on it?" "Trust them tor that!" said Annie grimly. She was sorry for the wom? an's distress, yet. being only human, ': he felt a certain sense of satisfaction in seeing her suffer a little of what she had been made to suffer. They'll say that [-?God knows what they'll say!" went on Alicia dis tractedly. "My husband will be dragged through the mire of another public scandal his social prestige will ?oh. 1 dare not think of it?I know? m> duty is to that unfortunate boy. [ mustn't think of myself." "Have you the letter that Mr. Un? derwood wrote you?" demanded he I companion. "Yes?I've never been able to de stroy it. I don't know why I Kept jt but thank God I have it!" Moaning she went on: The disgrace!-?the disgrace!- It's ruin degradation! It's the end <>f everything! the end of everything!" tnnle regarded with contempt Ui,; prior, weak, walling creature who licked the moral COUrsge to do what was merely right Her voice was not unkind as she said: "I '?"li t want to disgrace you -or rem you Mut what sm I to do tell me, v hat am i to do?" "I lit n'l knon." ti onn< d her com pnnion helph ly. i low aid mil t be saved " MY?s " I TO hi: ( ONT1NUKD.) SMITH TURNS THi: TRICK. l*almctno Sonn tor's Speech Wins Amendment for tJie Child Wolfare Iii 11. Washington, Jan. 31.?Sen utar E. I). Smith, <<f South Carolina, made an exceedingly effective argument to? il iy at the critical point in the con? sideration of the Borah child welfare I :n. After i iveral amendments, design eed to prevent the invasion of homes without the consent of the heads of families) had lieen defeated and the last one <>f these amendments, offer? ed by Senator Culberson, of Texas, was about to be put to a vote, the junii r Senator from South Carolina addressed his colleagues to explain that he had promised to support the hill in the belief that its purpose was merely to concentrate the present child welfare activities of various departments and bureaus of the Fed? eral Government, in co-operation with the work of the State ofl.cials along the same line, but that the de ;t of these amendment, safeguard? ing the home from Inquisitorial in? vasions, had aroused his suspicion and that unless some such amend? ment were adopted he would vote I .iinst the Borah bill. Senator Sutherland, of L'tah. in? terrupt <-tl Senator Smith to protest against the amendment, but g'd de cidedly the worst of the col'?qiy. The vote was taken on the amend? ment of Senator Culberson immedi? ately after the South Carolina Sena? tor's vigorous remarks were conclud? ed, and enough Senators changed their attitudes to adopt the .mend ment. Then the bill passed, amend? ed. Senator Smith voting aye and Senator Tillmon voting no. If the bill had not been amended it would in all probability have been defeated. Senator Borah said during the de? bate that such an arhendment as was adopted would emasculate his bill. The Split Log Drag. New berry Observer: The split log drag is the solution - of the good road3 question. All that j is needed is to have plenty of them and then to use them whenever need? ed. A popular movement in favor of the drag will work wonders; and it is coming. Those who have not done so yet should register on the city registra? tion books If they hope to vote at the approaching municipal election. The county registration books will be open Monday, February 5th, and those who have not secured county I registration certificates may get them. "The Awakening of John Bond." the picture shown at the Lyric Mon? day evening, Is one that everybody In Bumter should have seen. It shows with startling clearness the ease with which consumption Is contracted and the need of an organized war against the dread disease, such as that now being waged by the Red Cross So? ciety. Ona of the canvassers for the re? duction In this county states that he ha- found that people living In Sum plant m< re cotton than do the farmers themselves. He says that clerks merchants, bankers, doctors, lawyers, horse dealers and every oth? er class of business in the city of Sumter Is represented among those planting cotton In this county. He say a that most of his time in hit w<>ri< a> canvasser has been taken up with tb se people living in town and not With those in the country itself./ However, he states that the past year has generally been a bad year with most of these town farmera and he has found that many of them are unite willing to curtail their acreage' in cotton during the coming year, Sumter County la doing fairly well in the campaign for the reduction of the cotton acreage, but it could do better. Every farmer should make up hla mind to Join the acreage re ductlon brigade. There is more mon t y In selling one bale of cotton for |7S than three bales for tho same amount. The count) treasurer and his as slatani had a hard time of it Wednes dn) taking In the money that was be Ing i>. Id In bj delinquents before an additional penalt) was attached 10 tbt .| tuxes. More than |8,0#9 WSJ taken In Wednesday in the office. Thursda) an additional penalty of une per cent waa attached to all un? paid taxea Keep the Children Busy. rii. children to do Httlo tbtr ? about the home It trains them to be USaflll. not awkward in later and more important affairs; It gives them occupation whllle they are small and It guards against selfish. Idle, unhandy members of an older society. Occu patlon makes happiness, and occupa? tion cannot be acquired too young.