The Mark of Cain

They reached the street, when Fibsy cried out,

“Good gracious, I left me paper!” and he darted back into the restaurant, returning, after a moment’s delay, with the newspaper under his arm.

“Now we are off,” he said, and with Judge Hoyt, he walked briskly back to the lawyer’s office.

CHAPTER XX

FLEMING STONE

That same evening, Judge Hoyt went to see Avice, and he acknowledged that he was about at the end of his resources.

“Then you have failed?” said the girl.

“Not yet. But I shall, undoubtedly, unless – ”

“Unless you resort to dishonest means?”

“Yes; exactly that. I don’t want to, and yet, – for you I would perjure my soul!”

“What would it be, this dishonest procedure?”

“I’d rather not tell you. It would be better all round that you shouldn’t know.”

“But I must know. Tell me.”

“I’ve not thought it all out.” Hoyt passed a weary hand over his brow. “For one thing, the worst point against Landon is that person who telephoned and called Mr. Trowbridge ‘uncle’. If I could get some one to swear that he did that, it would go a long way in Landon’s favor.”

“Some one who didn’t really do it, you mean?”

“Yes, of course. It would be perjury, and it would have to be handsomely paid for.”

“How wicked!”

“Don’t think for a moment that I don’t realize the wickedness of it! Even you can have no idea what such an act means to a man, and a lawyer. A hitherto honorable lawyer! Oh, Avice, what a man will do for a woman!”

“I’m not sure I want you to.”

“You want Kane freed?”

“Yes, oh, yes!”

“By fraud, if necessary?”

“Y – yes.”

“Avice, you are as bad as I am! For one we love, we stop at nothing! You would perjure your soul for Landon; I, for you! Where’s the difference?”

“I won’t, Leslie. I can’t! Don’t do that awful thing!”

“And let Landon be convicted?”

“Oh, no, no! Not that! But wait, Leslie, I have a new plan.”

“Oh, yes, I forgot you were going to save Landon by your own exertions!”

“And I am. Have you ever heard of Fleming Stone?”

“Of course I have. Why?”

“I’m going to get him to find the murderer.”

“Avice! what nonsense. You mustn’t do any such thing!”

“Why not?”

“Because it is absurd. We already have Duane on the case. He is a well-known detective and would resent the employment of another.”

“Do you suppose I care for that? If Fleming Stone can free Kane he shall have a chance to do so! I have fifty thousand dollars of my own, and I’ll spend it all, if necessary.”

“It isn’t the cost, dear. But one detective can hardly succeed where another good one failed. And, too, it is too late, now. A detective must work before clues are destroyed and evidence lost.”

“I know it is late, but Stone is so clever. He can do marvels.”

“Who told you so?”

“I won’t tell you.” For Avice knew if she said either Fibsy or the clairvoyant, Hoyt would laugh at her.

“Be guided by me in this, dear,” said Hoyt, earnestly. “Don’t send for this man. He will do more harm than good.”

“Do you mean he will find out for sure that Kane did it?”

“Never mind what I mean. But don’t get Fleming Stone on this case, I forbid it.”

“You’re too late,” returned Avice; “I’ve already written to him to come and see me.”

“In that case, there is nothing more to be said. We must make the best of it. But at least let me be here with you when he comes. I think he will want a legal mind to confer with.”

“Indeed, I shall be very glad to have you here. Why were you so averse to having him, at first?”

“Only because it is so useless. He can discover nothing. But if you want him, that’s enough for me.”

The next evening Hoyt called on Avice again.

“Heard from Stone yet?” he asked.

“No, not yet.”

“Well, I don’t believe you will. I hear he’s out West, and will be gone some weeks yet.”