the room, I tried to read in his face the nature of
his testimony, but it was inscrutable. Pickering was out in less than
ten minutes, and then Wicks was called. His legs seemed a bit shaky as
he started for the door and he gave me a parting look, half awe, half
terror.

Robinson paced up and down, his short stubby legs expressing confidence
and satisfaction. Every turn, he scrutinized Mary, as if trying to
place her in some criminal category.

At last Wicks came out, perspiring as if he'd been in a steam bath.
Robinson looked him over once, gave a snort of derision and passed into
the jury room. I wanted to ask Wicks some questions, but the poor man
fled before I could attract his notice.

Mary got up and walked over to the big windows where a flood of warm
September sunlight poured into the room. For a moment she stood gazing
down on the crowded square below, then suddenly turned and half sobbed:

"Bupps, I can't stand it! I may say something that will hurt Helen."

Great sobs shook her slender body. I went over and clumsily tried to
comfort her.

"Mary, dear, Helen didn't do it. When she is well enough, we'll be
able to find out all about it. Even if they do bring an indictment,
Helen can prove her innocence."

The sobs diminished to sniffles, and then to occasional sighs. She
opened her bag, extracted a miniature powder-puff and dabbed at her
small upturned nose spitefully. I knew that the storm had passed.

"I know--that--that I'm foolish to c-cry, but I just c-couldn't help
it."

A clerk opened the door and called Mary's name. She gave me a startled
glance and her face blanched. I thought she was going to break down
again, but suddenly I saw her raise her chin defiantly and an angry
sparkle come to her eyes. She snapped shut her vanity-bag and marched
toward the jury room like a soldier, sentenced to be shot, yet
determined to die bravely.

It was only after she had left that I began to think about my own
testimony. After all, the evidence was terrifyingly strong against
Helen. She had threatened to kill Jim. She had quarreled with him
just before their last ride, had chosen the back seat purposely, had
Jim's revolver with her, and knew she was being taken to see her lover
humiliated and threatened. Against all this, I had only a brother's
faith in his sister and those half dozen words cried out in a delirium.
A sickening certainty that they would indict Helen came over me. What
if