"Mr. Jones," said the lawyer quickly, "get a stenographic report of the
case of the People against Howard Jeffries, Junior; get the coroner's
inquest, the grand 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 laconically.

CHAPTER XVI.

"Now, my dear young woman," said Judge Brewster, when the astonished
head clerk had withdrawn, "if we are going to set your husband free we
must get to work, and you must help me."

His visitor looked up eagerly.

"I'll do anything in my power," she said quickly. "What can I do?"

"Well--first of all," said the lawyer with some hesitation, "I want you
to see a certain lady and to be exceedingly nice to her."

"Lady?" echoed Annie surprised. "What lady?"

"Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Senior," he replied slowly.

"Howard's stepmother!" she ejaculated.

A clerk entered and handed his employer a card. The lawyer nodded and
said in an undertone:

"Show her in." Turning round again, he went on: "Yes--Howard's
stepmother. She's out there now. She wants to see you. She wishes to be
of service to you. Now, you must conciliate her. She may be of great use
to us."

Annie's face expressed considerable doubt.

"Perhaps so," she said, "but the door was slammed in my face when I
called to see her."

"That's nothing," answered the judge. "She probably knows nothing about
it. In any case, please remember that she is my client----"

She bowed her head and murmured obediently:

"I'll remember."

The door of the office opened and Alicia entered. She stopped short on
seeing who was there, and an awkward pause followed. Judge Brewster
introduced them.

"Mrs. Jeffries, may I present Mrs. Howard, Junior?"

Alicia bowed stiffly and somewhat haughtily. Annie remained
self-possessed and on the defensive. Addressing the banker's wife, the
lawyer said:

"I told Mrs. Howard that you wished to speak to her." After a pause he
added: "I think, perhaps, I'll leave you together. Excuse me."

He left the office and there was another embarrassing silence. Annie
waited for Mrs. Jeffries to begin. 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 kno