They had hardly disappeared when a
cab drove hurriedly up and stopped at the curb. A young woman, heavily
veiled, descended, paid the driver, and walked quickly through the gates
toward the house.

Annie tried to feel brave, but her heart misgave her when she saw this
splendid home with all its evidence of wealth, culture, and refinement.
It was the first time she had ever entered its gates, although, in a
measure, she was entitled to look upon it as her own home. Perhaps never
so much as now she realized what a deep gulf lay between her husband's
family and herself. This was a world she had never known--a world of
opulence and luxury. She did not know how she had summoned up courage
enough to come. Yet there was no time to be lost. Immediate action was
necessary. Howard must have the best lawyers that money could procure.
Judge Brewster had been deaf to her entreaties. He had declined to take
the case. She had no money. Howard's father must come to his assistance.
She would plead with him and insist that it was his duty to stand by his
son. She wondered how he would receive her, if he would put her out or
be rude to her. Perhaps he would not even receive her. He might tell the
servants to shut the door in her face. Timidly she rang the bell. The
butler opened the door, and summoning up all her courage, she asked:

"Is Mr. Jeffries in?"

To her utter amazement the butler offered no objection to her entering.
Mistaking her for a woman reporter, several of whom had already called
that morning, he said:

"Go right in the library, madam; the other newspaper folk are there."

She passed through the splendid reception hall, marveling inwardly at
the beautiful statuary and pictures, no little intimidated at finding
herself amid such splendid surroundings. On the left there was a door
draped with handsome tapestry.

"Right in there, miss," said the butler.

She went in, and found herself in a room of noble proportions, the walls
of which were lined with bookshelves filled with tomes in rich bindings.
The light that entered through the stained-glass windows cast a subdued
half-light, warm and rich in color, on the crimson plush furnishings.
Near the heavy flat desk in the centre of the room a tall, distinguished
man was standing listening deprecatingly to the half dozen reporters
who were bombarding him with questions. As Annie entered the room she
caught the words of his reply:

"The young man who has inherited my nam