ickly forward as she came in and led her to a
chair. Captain Clinton and Mr. Jeffries eyed her in stolid silence.
Looking around in a nervous kind of way, Annie said quietly to the
judge:

"May I speak to you alone, judge?"

"Certainly," replied the lawyer.

He was about to draw her aside when Captain Clinton interfered.

"One moment!" he said gruffly, "if this is all open and above board, as
you say it is, judge--I'd like to ask the young lady a few questions."

"Certainly, by all means," said the judge quickly.

The captain turned and confronted Annie. Addressing her in his customary
aggressive manner, he said:

"You promised Judge Brewster that you'd produce the woman who called at
Underwood's apartment the night of the shooting?" Annie made no reply,
but looked at the lawyer. The captain grinned as he added: "The witness
wants instructions, judge."

"You can be perfectly frank, Mrs. Jeffries," said the lawyer
reassuringly. "We have no desire to conceal anything from Captain
Clinton."

Annie bowed.

"Yes," she said slowly; "I promised Judge Brewster that she would come
here to-night."

"Did she promise you to come?" growled the captain.

"Yes."

"Well, where is she?" he demanded.

"She hasn't come yet," she replied, "but she will, I'm sure--I know she
will."

"How did you come to find her?" demanded the captain suspiciously.

Annie hesitated a moment and glanced at Mr. Jeffries. Then she said
hesitatingly:

"That I--I cannot say--now."

Captain Clinton's massive bulldog jaw closed with an ominous click.

"Decline to answer, eh? What's her name?"

She remained silent.

"What's her name?" he repeated impatiently.

"I cannot tell you," she said firmly.

"Do you know it?" he bellowed.

"Yes," she answered quietly.

"Know it, but can't say, eh? Hum!"

He folded his arms and glared at her. Mr. Jeffries now interfered.
Addressing Annie angrily, he said:

"But you must speak! Do you realize that my son's life is at stake?"

"Yes, I do," she replied quickly. "I'm glad to see that you are
beginning to realize it, too. But I can't tell you yet----"

The judge turned to the police captain.

"I may tell you, captain, that even I myself have not succeeded in
learning the name of this mysterious personage." Addressing Annie, he
said: "I think you had better tell us. I see no advantage in concealing
it any further."

Annie shook her head.

"Not yet," she murmured; "she will tell you herse