she did--? What if she should confess?

In some way I had to save Helen if only for mother's sake. After all,
Woods, too, had threatened Jim. He knew Jim had proof of his
dishonesty. He had made the engagement and had asked Jim to come
alone. At this point of my review of the facts I decided to tell the
jury all. If Woods was at the country-club the entire evening he would
be able to establish a complete alibi and my testimony would not hurt
him, while it might be enough, if I could make it so, to hold the jury
until Helen could testify. Hearing steps outside, I turned to see the
object of my mental attentions walk into the room.

"You here, Woods?" I queried.

"Yes. Those admirable servants of your sister's gave the police just
enough of the vulgar details of that meeting between Felderson and
myself to make them think I--well, they ordered me to report and here I
am."

He looked worried and irritable. For the first time I realized what
the man must have gone through during the last few days, with his
business troubles and Helen's injury. How he had met his obligations
without Helen's money, I didn't know.

"I should have thought you'd have been glad to testify to save Helen
from an indictment."

Woods whirled around. "You don't mean to say there's a chance of that,
Thompson? Why, she didn't do it, she couldn't have done it. She--she
isn't capable of doing such a thing. It's monstrous. I've read the
rot that _The Sun_ has been printing, but I didn't think--I can't think
any one would take it seriously." A gray shadow seemed to fall across
his face.

"Felderson was shot from behind and Helen was the only one with him," I
threw out, watching Woods closely to see what effect my words would
have on him. The man looked as though he knew more about the crime
than I had supposed.

"I know that! But haven't people sense enough to see that Helen is
utterly incapable of such an act. Good God, they must be blind!"

I was brought back to the business on hand by hearing my name shouted.
They must have let Mary out by another door for when I entered the jury
room she was not there. It was hot and stuffy, smelling of stale
tobacco and staler clothing. I noticed that the jurymen seemed deeply
interested and that they were, for the most part, a rather intelligent
lot. The foreman, a near-sighted business-looking person, seemed to
radiate sympathy through his glasses. The district attorney,
Kirkpatric