me the same questions when I spoke
to him. I suppose he thought from our intimacy that I must have been
acquainted with him before he was arrested."

With this explanation, and the ingenuous manner in which it was
given, the mind of Mr. Bollman seemed to be at rest upon this
subject, and their further conversation related to the case in which
Sommers himself would appear as defendant, and in which Mr. Bollman
was to act as his counsel.

Sommers informed him that he had seen the gentleman whose name had
been forged, and that, in consideration of the family connections of
the accused, he had agreed not to appear against him, and that there
would be very little danger of his conviction of the crime of which
he was charged.

This appeared to be very gratifying information for Mr. Bollman, who
therefore anticipated very little trouble in clearing his client and
earning his fee.

It was further arranged between them that a letter should be sent to
the relations of Bucholz in Germany, who had not as yet displayed any
sympathy for the unfortunate man or made any offer of assistance to
him, during the hour of his trial.

One noticeable feature of their conversation was the evident
avoidance by both of them of a discussion of the probable guilt or
innocence of the accused man, nor did either declare his belief in
his innocence.

Mr. Bollman expressed himself very carefully: "I have followed up the
theory of his guilt, and it does not agree with his own statements or
those of other people. Then, again, I have taken up the theory of his
innocence, and this does not agree with his story either. It is a
most extraordinary case, and sometimes it seems to me that it cannot
be otherwise but that William Bucholz is the guilty party; and then,
again, there are some of his actions that tend positively to show
that he did not do it. I am at a loss what to say about it myself."

Sommers gave Mr. Bollman to understand that he believed in the guilt
of the accused man, but that, in despite of that fact, he was willing
to help him to the extent of his power.

And so they parted, and Edward Sommers returned to Bridgeport to be
near his fellow-prisoner, and to carry out the plan which was to be
entrusted to him.

As he stepped from the train upon the platform, he was surprised to
see the figure of Thomas Brown standing in the doorway of the
station, evidently waiting for the train to bear him away for the
time. Upon making inquiries h