tiary."
As the lawyer went on talking there could not be a moment's suspicion
that the elder Dodge had been concerned in the plot of perjury.
Mr. Dodge had been guilty only of believing his son and of sharing
the latter's feigned indignation.
"Now, Dr. Carter has confirmed all of this over the 'phone, and
he assured me that Dr. Davidson stood ready to add his testimony,"
wound up Lawyer Griffin. "Mr. Dodge, what is to be done?"
"Why," stammered Bert's father, "we---we shall have to drop the
whole case."
"What?" raged Bert, his face going purple with anger. "Drop the
case on any such stacked-up mess of lies? Father, are you losing
all the nerve you ever had?"
"Young man," broke in Lawyer Griffin severely, "you do not appear
to have the slightest idea of values. I do not for a moment imagine
that your father will go any further in this matter. If he does,
it will be necessary for him to get another attorney."
"Why!" challenged Bert, glaring at the lawyer.
"Because the outcome of this case, if it reached court, would
be your indictment for conspiracy and the subornation of perjury.
The latter is one of the most heinous crimes known to the law."
"But I tell you this is all a tissue of lies trumped up against
me!" stormed young Dodge.
While this conversation was going on Dick and Greg remained silent
in their seats. They had no need to talk. They were enjoying it
all too much just as it was going.
"Do you expect, Dodge, that a court and a jury would take your
unsupported word against the testimony of two such men as Dr.
Carter and the Rev. Mr. Davidson? Do you imagine, for a moment,
that Fessenden and your other tools wouldn't become utterly frightened
and confess to everything against you? Do you imagine that anything
you could do or say would save you, Dodge, from going to the
penitentiary for ten or fifteen years?"
The attorney's cool, incisive manner brought Bert Dodge to his
senses.
A deathly fear assailed him. His knees began to shake.
"The case is too well fixed against me," he replied hoarsely.
"Ye---es, I guess you had better drop it all."
The elder Dodge now sprang to his feet.
"Drop it, you young scoundrel?" he yelled at his son. "Why did
you ever drag me into any such infamous piece of business? I went
into this believing that you told me the truth."
"I---I did, sir," stammered Bert.
"Bah, you are a perjurer, you young villain!" raged his father.
"Griffin, this
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