sing to the shooting?"

"I don't account for it," she replied, as she resumed her seat. "He says
he didn't confess. I don't believe he did."

"But three witnesses----"

"Who are the witnesses?" she interrupted contemptuously. "Policemen!"

"That makes no difference," he said. "He made a confession and
signed----"

Annie leaned forward. What did this questioning 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 Captain Clinton is a hypnotist, that he can
compel people to say what he wants them to say. Well, Howard is--what
they call a subject--they told him he did it till he believed he did."

She looked narrowly at the lawyer to see what effect her words were
having, but to her great disappointment the judge was apparently paying
not the slightest attention. He was gazing out of the window and
drumming 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 and partly pushed her back in the
chair.

"Don't go," he said. Then he added:

"Who told you he was a hypnotic subject?"

Her hopes revived once more. Quickly she said:

"Dr. Bernstein. Besides, Howard told me so himself. A friend of his at
college used to make him cut all sorts of capers."

"A friend at college, eh? Do you remember his name?"

"Howard knows it."

"Um!" ejaculated the lawyer. He took up a pad and wrote a memorandum 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 exclaimed eagerly.

The lawyer jotted the address down, and then he looked up.

"So you think I'm afraid of Mr. Jeffries, do you?"

She smiled.

"Oh, no, not really afraid," she answered, "but just--scared. I didn't
mean----"

Judge Brewster was enjoying the situation hugely. He had quite made up
his mind what to do, but he liked to quiz this bold young woman who had
not been afraid to show him where his duty lay. Striving to keep a
serious face, he said:

"Oh, yes, you did, and I want you to understand I'm not afraid of any
man. As to allowing my personal interests to interfere with my duty----"

Annie took alarm. She was really