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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1912)
I ll Tie Twn?n I - II n DEGREE 1 1 kA Narrative Metropolitan Life 1 By CHARLES KLEIN and ARTHUR HORNBLOW ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAT WALTERS (Copyright, law, by (i. w. limingaimi GouipanjJ SYNOPSIS. Howard Jeffries, banker's son. under the evil Influence of Robert Underwood, fellow-student at Yale, leads a life of dis sipation, marries the daughter of a gam bler who died In prison, and Is disowned by his father. Ha Is out of work and In desperate straits. Underwood, who had once been engaged to Howard's step mother, Alicia, is apparently In prosper ous circumstances. Taking advantage of his Intimacy with Alicia, he becomes a sort of social highwayman. Discovering his true character, Alicia denies him the house. He sends her a note threatening ulclde. Art dealers for whom he acted as commissioner, demand an accounting. He cannot make good. Howard calls at his apartments In an Intoxicated condi tion to request a loan of $2,000 to enable him to take up a business proposition. Howard drinks himself Into a maudlin condition, and goes to sleep on a divan. A caller Is announced and Underwood draws a screen around the drunken sleeper. Alicia enters. She demands a promise fmm Underwood that he will not take his life. He refuses unless she will renew her patronage. This she refuses, and takes her leave. Underwood - kills himself. The report of the pistol awa kens Howard. He finds Underwood dead. Howard Is turned over to the police. Capt. Clinton, notorious for his brutal treatment of prisoners, puts Howard throueh the third degree, and finally gets an alleged confession from the harassed man. Annie. Howard's w.ife. declares her belief In her husband's Innocence, and calls on Jeffries, Sr. He refuses to help unless she will consent to a divorce. To save Howard she consents, but when she finds that the elder Jeffries does not In tend to stand by his son, except finan cially, she scorns his help. Annie appeals to Judge Brewster, attorney for Jeffries, Br., to tnke Howard's case. He declines. It Is reported that Annie Is going on the stage. The hankrr and his wife call on Judge Brewster to find some wav to pre vent It. Annie again pleads with Brew ster to defend Howard. He consents. Alicia is greatly agitated when she learns that Brewster has taken the case and detectives are looking for the woman who called on Underwood the night -of his death. Alicia confesses to Annie that she has a letter from Underwood threatening ulclde. CHAPTER XIV. Continued. "And you know what mine are!" exclaimed the banker, hotly. "I re fuse to be engulfed In this wave of hysterical sympathy with criminals. I will not be stamped with the same hall mark as the man who takes the life of his fellow being though the man be my own son. I will not set the seal of approval on crime by de fending It" The lawyer bowed and said calmly: "Then, sir, you must expect ex actly what is happening. This girl, whatever she may be, is devoted to your son. She Is his wife. She'll go to any extreme to help him even to selling her name for money to pay for his defense." The banker threw up his bands with Impatience. "It's a matter of principle with me. Her devotion Is not the question." With a mocking laugh he went on: "Sentimentality doesn't appeal to me. The whole thing is distasteful and hideous to me. My Instructions to you are to prevent her using the family name on the stage, to buy her off on ber own terms, to get rid of her at any price." "Except the price she asks," Inter posed the lawyer, dryly. Shaking his head, he went on: "You'll find that a wife's devotion Is a very strong motive power, Jeffries. It will move Irresistibly forward in spite of all the barriers you and I can erect to stay Its progress. That may sound like a platitude, but lt'a a fact nevertheless." Alicia, who had been listening with varied emotions to the conversation, now Interrupted timidly: , "Perhaps Judge Brewster la tight, dear. After all, the girl Is working to save your son. Publlo opinion may think It unnatural" The banker turned on his wife. Sternly he said: "Alicia, I cannot permit you to In terfere. That young man is a self- confessed murderer and therefore no on of mine. I've done with him long ago. I cannot be moved by maudlin sentimentality. Please let that be final." Turning to- the lawyer, he said, coldly: "So, In the matter of this stage business, you can take no steps to re strain herr The lawyer shook his head. "No, there Is nothing I can do." Quickly he added: "Of course, you don't doubt my loyalty to you J" Mr. Jeffries shook his head. "No, no, Brewster." The lawyer laughed as he said: "Right or wrong, you know 'my country' that Is, my client "tis of thee.'" Turning to Alicia, he added, laughingly: "That's the painful part of a lawyer's profession, Mrs. Jeffries. The client's weakness Is the lawyer's strength. When men hate each other and rob each other we lawyers don't pacify them. We dare not, because that Is our profession. We encour age them. We pit them against each other for profit. If we didn't they'd go to some lawyer who would." Alicia gave a feeble smile. "Yes," she replied; "I'm afraid we all love to be advised to do what we want to do." Mr. Jeffries made an Impatient ges ture of dissent Scofflngly he re marked: "That may apply to the great gen erality of people, but not to me." Judge Brewster looked skeptical, but made no further comment The banker rose and Alicia followed suit As he moved toward the door, he turned and said: "Drop In and see me this evening Brewster. Mrs. Jeffries will be de lighted 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 doubt fully. "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 20 years her senior, but his cold, aristocratic manner intimi dated her. Her first impulse had been to tell him everything, but she dare not. His manner discouraged her. He would begin to ask questions, ques tions which she could not answer without seriously incriminating her self. 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. 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 lit tle 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 unceremon iously, and Mr. Jeffries put in his head: "Aren't you coming, Alicia?" he de manded, impatiently. In a lower voice to the lawyer, hot-added: "Say, Brewster, that woman is outside in your office. Now Is your opportunity to come to some arrangement with her." Again Mrs. Jeffries held out her hand. "Good-by, Judge; you're so kind! It needs a lot of patience to be a lawyer, doesn't it?" Judge Brewster laughed, and added in an undertone: "Come back by and by," The door closed, and the lawyer went back to his desk. For a few mo ments he sat still plunged In . deep thought Suddenly, he touched a bell. The head clerk entered. "Show Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Jr., In. The clerk looked surprised. Strict orders hitherto had been to show the unwelcome visitor out He believed that he had not heard aright "Did you say Mrs. Jeffries, Jr. Judge r "I said Mrs. Jeffries, Jr," replied the lawyer, grimly. "Very well, Judge,", said the clerk, as he left the room. Presently there was a timid knock at the door. "Come Int" called out the lawyer. CHAPTER XV. Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease, This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unex pected that it came like a shock. For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys. Her requests for an Interview bad been met with curt re fusals. They either said the Judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen. At last, evi dently acting upon orders, they flat ly refused to even send In her name, and she had about abandoned hope when, all at once, a clerk approached her, and addressing ber more politely than usual, said that the Judge would see her In a few minutes. Her heart gave a great throb. Al most speechless from surprise, she stammered a faint thanks and braced herself for the lnterv'-w on which so much depended. Foi the first time since the terrible affair had happened, there was a faint glimmer of hope ahead. If only she could rush over to the Tombs and tell Howard the Joyful news so he might keep up cour age! It was eight days now since Howard's arrest and the trial would take place In six weeks. There was still time to prepare a strong defense if the Judge would only consent to take the case. She was more sure than ever that a clever lawyer would have no difficulty in convincing a Jury that Howard's alleged "confession" was untrue and improperly obtained. In the intervals of waiting to see the lawyer, she had consulted every one she knew, and among others she had talked with Dr. Bernstein, the noted psychologist, whom she had seen once at Yale. He received 'her kindly and listened attentively to her story. When she had finished he had evinced the greatest Interest He told her that he happened to be the physician called in on the night of the tragedy, and at that time he had grave doubts as to it being a case of murder. He believed it was suicide, and he had told Capt. Clinton so, but the police captajn bad made up his mind, and that was the end of It Howard's "confession," he went on, really meant nothing. If called to the stand he could show the Jury that a hypnotic subject can be made to "confess" to anything. In the inter est of truth, justice, and science, he said, he would gladly come to her aid. All this she would tell Judge Brew ster. It would be of great help to him, no doubt Suddenly, a cold shiver ran through her. How did she know he would take the case? Per haps this summons to his office was only to tell her once more that he would have nothing to do with her and her husband. She wondered why he had decided so suddenly to see her and, like a flash, an idea came to her. She had seen Mr. Jeffries, Sr., enter the inner sanctum and, in stinctlvely, she felt that she had something to do with his visit The "It's Your Duty to Do It" banker had come out accompanied by a richly-dressed woman whom she gtiessed to be his wife. She looked with much Interest at Howard's stepmother. She had heard so much about her that it seemed to her that she knew her personally. As Alicia swept proudly by, the eyes of the two women met, and Annie was surprised to see in the banker's wife's face, instead of the cold, haughty stare she expected, a wistful, longing look, as if she would like to stop and talk with her, but dare not In an other Instant she was gone, and, obey ing a clerk, who beckoned her to fol low him, she -entered Judg Brew ster's office. The lawyer looked up as she came In, but did not move from his seat Gruffly he said: "How long do you Intend to keep up this system of warfare? How long are you going to continue for clng your way into this office?" "I didn't force my way in," she said, quietly. "I didn't expect to come in. The clerk said .you wanted to see. .ma, The lawyer frowned and scrutinized her closely. After a pause, he said: "I want to tell you for the fiftieth time I can do nothing for you." "Fifty?" she echoed. "Fifty did you say? Really, it doesn't seem that much." Judge Brewster looked at her quick ly to see if she was laughing at him. Almost peevishly, be said: "For the last time, I repeat I can do nothing for you." "Not the last time, judge," she re plied, shaking her head. "I shall come again to-morrow." The lawyer swung around in his chair with indignation. "You will?" Annie nodded. i "Yes, sir," she said, quietly. "loure determined to force your way in here?" exclaimed the lawyer. "Yes. sir." 11 v j uuo uauficu uib ucbi niiu ilia fist I "But I won't allow ltl I have some thing to say, you know! I can't per mit this to go on. I represent my client Mr. Howard Jeffries, Sr, and he won't consent to my taking up your husband's case." There was a shade of sarcasm In Annnle's voice as she asked calmly: "Can't you do it without his con sent?" The lawyer looked at her grimly. "I can," he blurted out "but I won't" Her eyes flashed as she replied quickly. "Well, you ought to " The lawyer looked up In amaze ment. "What do you mean?" he demanded. "It's your duty to do it," she said, quietly. "Your duty to his son, to me, and to Mr. Jeffries himself. Why, he's so eaten up with his family pride and false principles that he can't see the difference between right and wrong. You're his lawyer. It's your duty to put him right It's downright wicked of you to refuse you're hurting him. Why, when 1 was hunting around for a lawyer one of them actually re fused to take up the case because he said old Brewster must think How ard was guilty or he'd have .taken it up himself. You and his father are putting the whole world against him, and you know it." The Judge was staggered. No one in his recollection bad ever dared to speak to him like that He was sc astonished that he forgot to resent it and he hid his confusion by taking out his handkerchief and mopping hi forehead. "I do know it," he admitted. "Then why do you do It?" shi snapped. The lawyer hesitated, and then h said: "I that's not the question." Annie leaped quickly forward, am! she replied: "It's my question and as you . say I've asked it 50 times." The lawyer sat back In his chali and looked at her for a moment with out speaking. He surveyed her crlt ically from bead to foot, and then, ai if satisfied with his examination said: (TO BE CONTINUED.) Collars of Honor. In France the Society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Animals deco rates dogs that have distinguished themselves by deeds of bravery with a tastefully designed "collar ol honor." Among the animals decorated lr this way one of the most celebrated is Basshus, a large bulldog, whose spe clalty Is to stop runaway horses bj Jumping up and seizing them by th bridle. It is calculated that this in telligent animal has already saved th lives of eight persons, If not more. Pautland, a Great Dane, received i collar for saving his mistress fron the attack of a footpad, and Turk, i splendid Newfoundland, has had slm ilar honors tor rescuing young chll dren from drowning on several occa slons. The Sunday Magazine. ZVT-ll ... nuxiey rnew u. Huxley, the brilliant English set entlst and man of letters, was un usually quick and subtle at repartee Once while dining with Albert Spen cer and another friend at the Athe naeum, the conversation flagging Spencer remarked: "You would little think it, but 1 once wrote a tragedy." Huxley answered promptly: "1 know the catastrophe." Spencer declared it was impossible for he had never spoken about it be fore then. Huxley insisted, and Spencer asked what it was. Iluxlej replied: "A beautiful theory, killed by I nasty, ugly little fact!" Youth's Com panlon. "Leaking Heart." In the realm of medicine "leaklnj heart" means simply that the valvei of the heart are so Impaired fron one cause or another that they fal to perform their functions perfectly According to recognized medical au thoritles, there are certain diseases notably Inflammatory rheumatism that tend to break down the valves ol the heart The disease may leave tbesi delicate pieces of human mechanlsn so impaired that they do not fltthell places perfectly. The result of this i that with each pulsation of the. hear by which the blood Is pumped lnti the main arteries there is a little leak age through the valves. This causei the heart to make an extra contrao tion, or "murmur," to expel th leakage. Mora Up to Date. k She (enthusiastically) I think Pain, Beach Is Just a perfect Garden ol Eden, don't you? He Yes, but er a trifle mor dressy, don't you think? Boston Transcript A Compliment Now. "But, mamma, you told me never U call a person a pig." "But, daughter, that was before tht price went up." Houston Post PLANS DRAWN ON BACK GERMAN OFFICER TATTOES OUT LINES OF FORT ON FIANCEE. ; The Scheme of the Lieutenant to Mar ry on $25,000 Obtained From Rue la Wat Frustrated When His 8weetheart Was Searched. Berlin. The approaching trial of a young army officer who turned traitor In order to get money to wed and tat tooed the plans of a fortification on the back of his fiancee so that she might go to Russia without detection and win the 125,000 offered for the in formation, is expected to be the moBt sensational In the history of the Ger man army. August Schorveder, a lieutenant in the garrison at Posen, was madly In love with Ida Mullerthal, a pretty Ger man girl. Both were poor and their marriage seemed hopeless. Other ac counts have It that they were not en gaged. The despair of the couple be came known to a Russian secret agent who long had been trying to get the plans or the fortress. He cul tivated the acquaintance of the couple and, having studied his man, came out frankly and made the o nicer an offer of 125,000 If he would get the plans and deliver them In Warsaw. Schorveder found no opportunity to got his bands on any of the valuable blueprints and drawings of the fort ress. He know he was watched close ly, as were most of the officers. He took counsel with his fiancee. He pointed out that if he drew the plans on paper, they' could not be sent by mall. They might be detected and aguln he did not propose to give up the plana until he had the money. Woman's wit suggested a way. "Tat too the plan on my back and 1 can . travel to Warsaw without fear of de tection," cried the girl. At first, he would not henr of it. He pointed out that the operation would be painful and that she would have to expose her back to others. "But see, It will culminate In our happiness," Insisted Ida. It elided with an adoption of her suggestion. That very night Schorveder began the painful operation of tattooing a rough plan of the fortress on bis fiancee's fair shoulders. The torture was so Bevere that the girl frecruently begged him to stop. The work occupied sev eral nights and the lieutenant as suaged the pain with many a kiss on the ugly red marks. , Frauleln Mullerthal traveled to War saw. She was kindly received by the governor, who had been advised that a young woman was coming with "Im portant Information." "Where Is the Information you were to bring?" ho asked. "Here," replied the girl, taking off her blouse and showing her shoulders. "Wonderful," said the governor, who quickly recognized the salient points of the fortress In the rough sketch. The stipulated sum was paid her. But the Posen military authorities had become suspicious of Schorveder. He had been seen In company with the Russian agent and Ida Muller thol's trip to Warsaw become known. Suspicions were strengthened by the freedom with which Schorveder and his fiancee suddenly began to spend money. The girl's borne was search ed, but nothing was discovered. Still the military authorities were uncon vinced. They decided to arrest her. Taken to Jail she had in accordance with rules and regulations te be searched by a matron, even to the point of disrobing. In vain she plead ed that she had done no wrong. As the prison matron asked her If there were any scars or Identification marks on ber body, Ida Mullerthal knew that all was discovered. As the girl's waist came off the matron saw the plan on her shoulders and the secret of the sudden wealth was out Ida dropped to the prison floor sobbing hysterically. . HIT BY FAST EXPRESS TRAIN Girls Tell How Millionaire Lounaberry Committed Suicide Crying "Come on Kid I New Rocbelle, N. Y. That Jamat Ben, AU.Hagtn Lounaberry, son of the late Richard P. Lounsberry, a million aire resident of Bedford, Westchester county, and a grandson of James B. Hagln, the noted horseman of Califor nia, committed suicide by standing in front of an express train on the New York. New Haven & Hartford rail road at Larchmont the other day waa borne out by two women who wit nessed the tragedy Misses Saran Shivers of Larchmont and Lillian Weyman of Philadelphia, who was vlBltlng Miss Shivers. Miss Weyman said: "When he Jumped over the fence I called to him that a train waa com ing. He waved his hand at me and called out 'So long, Mary.' Then as the train approached he stepped Into the middle of the track, spread out his arms and called again; 'Here she comes; come on, kid!' The locomotive killed him lnstantlv."