er threw up his hands with impatience.

"It's a matter of principle with me. Her devotion is not the question."
With a mocking laugh he went on: "Sentimentality doesn't appeal to me.
The whole thing is distasteful and hideous to me. My instructions to you
are to prevent her using the family name on the stage, to buy her off on
her own terms, to get rid of her at any price."

"Except the price she asks," interposed the lawyer dryly. Shaking his
head, he went on:

"You'll find that a wife's devotion is a very strong motive power,
Jeffries. It will move irresistibly forward in spite of all the barriers
you and I can erect to stay its progress. That may sound like a
platitude, but it's a fact nevertheless."

Alicia, who had been listening with varied emotions to the conversation,
now interrupted timidly:

"Perhaps Judge Brewster is right, dear. After all, the girl is working
to save your son. Public opinion may think it unnatural----"

The banker turned on his wife. Sternly he said:

"Alicia, I cannot permit you to interfere. That young man is a
self-confessed murderer and therefore no son of mine. I've done with him
long ago. I cannot be moved by maudlin sentimentality. Please let that
be final." Turning to the lawyer, he said coldly:

"So, in the matter of this stage business, you can take no steps to
restrain her?"

The lawyer shook his head.

"No, there is nothing I can do." Quickly he added: "Of course, you don't
doubt my loyalty to you?"

Mr. Jeffries shook his head.

"No, no, Brewster."

The lawyer laughed as he said:

"Right or wrong, you know--'my country'--that is, my client--''tis of
thee.'" Turning to Alicia, he added laughingly: "That's the painful part
of a lawyer's profession, Mrs. Jeffries. The client's weakness is the
lawyer's strength. When men hate each other and rob each other we
lawyers don't pacify them. We dare not, because that is our profession.
We encourage them. We pit them against each other for profit. If we
didn't they'd go to some lawyer who would."

Alicia gave a feeble smile.

"Yes," she replied; "I'm afraid we all love to be advised to do what we
want to do."

Mr. Jeffries made an impatient gesture of dissent. Scoffingly he
remarked:

"That may apply to the great generality of people, but not to me."

Judge Brewster looked skeptical, but made no further comment. The banker
rose and Alicia followed suit. As he moved toward the door, he turned
and said:

"Drop in a