nd see me this evening, Brewster. Mrs. Jeffries will be
delighted if you will dine with us."

Alicia smiled graciously. "Do come, judge; we shall be all alone."

The lawyer bent low over her hand as he said good-by. Mr. Jeffries had
already reached the door, when he turned again and said:

"Are you sure a very liberal offer wouldn't induce her to drop the
name?"

The lawyer shook his head doubtfully.

"Well, see what you can do," cried the banker. To his wife he said: "Are
you coming, Alicia?"

"Just a moment, dear," she replied. "I want to say a word to the
judge."

"All right," replied the banker. "I'll be outside." He opened the door,
and as he did so he turned to the lawyer:

"If there are any new developments let me know at once."

He left the office and Alicia breathed a sigh of relief. She did not
love her husband, but she feared him. He was not only twenty years her
senior, but his cold, aristocratic manner intimidated her. Her first
impulse had been to tell him everything, but she dare not. His manner
discouraged her. He would begin to ask questions, questions which she
could not answer without seriously incriminating herself. But her
conscience would not allow her to stand entirely aloof from the tragedy
in which her husband's scapegrace son was involved. She felt a strange,
unaccountable desire to meet this girl Howard had married. In a quick
undertone to the lawyer, she said:

"I must see that woman, judge. I think I can persuade her to change her
course of action. In any case I must see her, I must----" Looking at him
questioningly, she said: "You don't think it inadvisable, do you?"

The judge smiled grimly.

"I think I'd better see her first," he said. "Suppose you come back a
little later. It's more than probable that she'll be here this
afternoon. I'll see her and arrange for an interview."

There was a knock at the door, and Alicia started guiltily, thinking her
husband might have overheard their conversation. The head clerk entered
and whispered something to the judge, after which he retired. The lawyer
turned to Alicia with a smile.

"It's just as I thought," he said pleasantly, "she's out there now.
You'd better go and leave her to me."

The door opened again unceremoniously, and Mr. Jeffries put in his head:

"Aren't you coming, Alicia?" he demanded impatiently. In a lower voice
to the lawyer, he added: "Say, Brewster, that woman is outside in your
office. Now is your opportunit