t. He kept me standing there six
hours, questioning and questioning until I was ready to drop. I tried to
sit down; he made me stand up. I did not know what I was saying or
doing. He told me I killed Robert Underwood. He showed me the pistol
under the strong light. The reflection from the polished nickel flashed
into my eyes, everything suddenly became a blank. A few moments later
the coroner came in and Captain Clinton told him I confessed. But it
isn't true, Annie. You know I am as innocent of that murder as you are."

"Thank God, thank God!" exclaimed Annie. "I see it all now."

Her tears were dried. Her brain was beginning to work rapidly. She
already saw a possible line of defense.

"I don't know how it all happened," went on Howard. "I don't know any
more about it than you do. I left you to go to Underwood's apartment. On
the way I foolishly took a drink. When I got there I took more whiskey.
Before I knew it I was drunk. While talking I fell asleep. Suddenly I
heard a woman's voice."

"Ah!" interrupted Annie. "You, too, heard a woman's voice. Captain
Clinton said there was a woman in it." Thoughtfully, as if to herself,
she added: "We must find that woman."

"When I woke up," continued Howard, "it was dark. Groping around for the
electric light, I stumbled over something. It was Underwood's dead body.
How he came by his death I have not the slightest idea. I at once
realized the dangerous position I was in and I tried to leave the
apartment unobserved. Just as I was going, Underwood's man-servant
arrived and he handed me over to the police. That's the whole story.
I've been here since yesterday and I'll be devilish glad to get out."

"You will get out," she cried. "I'm doing everything possible to get you
free. I've been trying to get the best lawyer in the country--Richard
Brewster."

"Richard Brewster!" exclaimed Howard. "He's my father's lawyer."

"I saw your father yesterday afternoon," she said quietly.

"You did!" he exclaimed, surprised. "Was he willing to receive you?"

"He had to," she replied. "I gave him a piece of my mind."

Howard looked at her in mingled amazement and admiration. That she
should have dared to confront a man as proud and obstinate as his father
astounded him.

"What did he say?" he asked eagerly.

"I asked him to come publicly to your support and to give you legal
assistance. He refused, saying he could not be placed in a position of
condoning such a crime and that you