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."