er, was fast approaching. Regularly Edward
Sommers had visited the imprisoned man, and upon the occasion of each
visit had endeavored to assure him of the possibility of escaping
from the charge against him.

The mind of Bucholz was in a chaotic state of worriment and unrest.
Between his confidences to Edward Sommers and the repeated warnings
of his counsel he scarcely knew what to do or what to say. At times
he would bitterly regret having informed Sommers of anything about
himself, and at others he would hug him to his breast as the only
human being upon whom he could rely.

To Sommers this experience had been a trying one indeed. He had been
compelled to endure the various moods of Bucholz with patience and
equanimity and to endeavor to disabuse his mind of frequent-recurring
doubts. Many times during his visits he would be vexed beyond
endurance at the doubtful questionings of his companion, which he
frequently found very difficult to parry or explain. Then, too, he
became extravagant in his demands, and required the choicest
delicacies that could be procured. He wanted new clothing, and even
expressed a desire that Sommers should procure for him a uniform
dress of the regiment of hussars of which he was formerly a
member--in fact, became so importunate in his demands and so
ridiculous in his fancied wants, that Sommers, fearful of affording
grounds for suspicion in the minds both of the inmates of the prison
and of the counsel for Bucholz, was compelled to emphatically refuse
to gratify his wishes.

These denials of course were productive of differences of opinion and
angry altercations. Fresh doubts would be engendered, which would
require the exercise of all the ingenuity of the detective to allay.
Bucholz seemed to have no idea that a liberal expenditure of money at
this time would be very injurious to his case, and that as Mr.
Bollman had sole charge of the money received from Germany, he would
naturally become suspicious of his client should he discover that
Sommers was supplying his wants from a source which his counsel was
ignorant of.

He thirsted also for a glance at the money which had been found,
especially the gold-piece with a hole in it, and besought Sommers to
bring it with him, so that he might feast his eyes upon the wealth
that was soon to be his. So frequent and imperious became these
demands that Sommers had the greatest difficulty in convincing him of
the danger to both of them which woul