om Washington.

"No," said Ryder quickly, "Judge Stott will detain me but a very
few moments."

Having delivered himself of this delicate hint, he looked towards
his visitor as if inviting him to come to the point as rapidly as
possible.

"I must apologize for intruding at this unseemly hour, sir," said
Stott, "but time is precious. The Senate meets to-morrow to vote.
If anything is to be done for Judge Rossmore it must be done
to-night."

"I fail to see why you address yourself to me in this matter,
sir," replied Ryder with asperity.

"As Judge Rossmore's friend and counsel," answered Stott, "I am
impelled to ask your help at this critical moment."

"The matter is in the hands of the United States Senate, sir,"
replied Ryder coldly.

"They are against him!" cried Stott; "not one senator I've spoken
to holds out any hope for him. If he is convicted it will mean his
death. Inch by inch his life is leaving him. The only thing that
can save him is the good news of the Senate's refusal to find him
guilty."

Stott was talking so excitedly and loudly that neither he nor
Ryder heard the low moan that came from the corner of the room
where Shirley was standing listening.

"I can do nothing," repeated Ryder coldly, and he turned his back
and began to examine some papers lying on his desk as if to notify
the caller that the interview was ended. But Stott was not so
easily discouraged. He went on:

"As I understand it, they will vote on strictly party lines, and
the party in power is against him. He's a marked man. You have the
power to help him." Heedless of Ryder's gesture of impatience he
continued: "When I left his bedside to-night, sir, I promised to
return to him with good news; I have told him that the Senate
ridicules the charges against him. I must return to him with good
news. He is very ill to-night, sir." He halted for a moment and
glanced in Shirley's direction, and slightly raising his voice so
she might hear, he added: "If he gets worse we shall send for his
daughter."

"Where is his daughter?" demanded Ryder, suddenly interested.

"She is working in her father's interests," replied Stott, and, he
added significantly, "I believe with some hope of success."

He gave Shirley a quick, questioning look. She nodded
affirmatively. Ryder, who had seen nothing of this by-play, said
with a sneer:

"Surely you didn't come here to-night to tell me this?"

"No, sir, I did not." He took from his pocket two