ied Dr. Bernstein, "the optical captivation of Howard
Jeffries' attention makes the whole case complete and clear to the
physician."

Captain Clinton laughed loudly.

"Optical captivation is good!" Turning to his sergeant he asked, "What
do you think of it, Maloney?"

Sergeant Maloney chuckled.

"It's a new one, eh?"

"No, captain--it's a very old one," interrupted the lawyer sternly, "but
it's new to us. We're barely on the threshold of the discovery. It
certainly explains these other cases, doesn't it?"

"I don't know that it does," objected the captain, shaking his head. "I
don't acknowledge----"

Judge Brewster sat down. Looking the policeman squarely in the face, he
said slowly and deliberately:

"Captain Clinton, whether you acknowledge it or not, I can prove that
you obtained these confessions by means of hypnotic suggestion, and that
is a greater crime against society than any the State punishes or pays
you to prevent."

The captain laughed and shrugged his shoulders. Indifferently he said:

"I guess the boys up at Albany can deal with that question."

"The boys up at Albany," retorted the lawyer, "know as little about the
laws of psychology as you do. This will be dealt with at Washington!"

The captain yawned.

"I didn't come here to hear about that--you were going to produce the
woman who called on Underwood the night of the murder--that was what I
came here for--not to hear my methods criticised--where is she?"

"One thing at a time," replied the judge. "First, I wanted to show you
that we know Howard Jeffries' confession is untrue. Now we'll take up
the other question." Striking a bell on his desk, he added: "This woman
can prove that Robert Underwood committed suicide."

"She can, eh?" exclaimed the captain sarcastically. "Maybe she did it
herself. Some one did it, that's sure!"

The library door opened and the butler entered.

"Yes, some one did it!" retorted the judge; "we agree there!" To the
servant he said: "Ask Mrs. Jeffries, Jr., to come here."

The servant left the room and the captain turned to the judge with a
laugh:

"Is she the one? Ha! ha!--that's easy----"

The judge nodded.

"She has promised to produce the missing witness to-night."

"She has, eh?" exclaimed the captain.

Rising quickly from his chair, he crossed the room and talked in an
undertone with his sergeant. This new turn in the case seemed to
interest him. Meantime Mr. Jeffries, who had followed every