"Now, little woman--t'ain't no kind of use carrying on like that! If you want to help your husband and get him out of his trouble you want to get busy. Sitting there crying your eyes out won't do him any good." Annie threw up her head. Her eyes were red, but they were dry now. Her face was set and determined. The captain was right. Only foolish women weep and wail when misfortune knocks at their door. The right sort of women go bravely out and make a fight for liberty and honor. Howard was innocent. She was convinced of that, no matter how black things looked against him. She would not leave a stone unturned till she had regained for him his liberty. With renewed hope in her heart and resolution in her face, she turned to confront the captain. "What has he done?" she demanded. "Killed his friend, Robert Underwood." He watched her face closely to see what effect his words would have on her. "Robert Underwood dead!" exclaimed Annie with more surprise than emotion. "Yes," said the captain sternly, "and your husband, Howard Jeffries, killed him." "That's not true! I'd never believe that," said Annie promptly. "He's made a full confession," went on the captain. "A confession!" she echoed uneasily. "What do you mean?" "Just what I say. Your husband has made a full confession, in the presence of witnesses, that he came here to Underwood's rooms to ask for money. They quarreled. Your husband drew a pistol and shot him. He has signed a confession which will be presented to the magistrate this morning." Annie looked staggered for a moment, but her faith in her husband was unshakable. Almost hysterically she cried: "I don't believe it. I don't believe it. You may have tortured him into signing something. Everybody knows your methods, Captain Clinton. But thank God there is a law in the United States which protects the innocent as well as punishes the guilty. I shall get the most able lawyers to defend him even if I have to sell myself into slavery for the rest of my life." "Bravo, little woman!" said the captain mockingly. "That's the way to talk. I like your spunk, but before you go I'd like to ask you a few questions. Sit down." He waved her to a chair and he sat opposite her. "Now, Mrs. Jeffries," he began encouragingly, "tell me--did you ever hear your husband threaten Howard Underwood?" By this time Annie had recovered her self-possession. She knew that the best way to help Howard was to keep cool and to say nothing which was likely to injure his cause. Boldly, therefore, she answered: "You've no right to ask me that question." The captain shifted uneasily in his seat. He knew she was within her legal rights. He couldn't bully her into saying anything that would incriminate her husband. "I merely thought you would like to assist the authorities, to----" he stammered awkwardly. "To convict my husband," she said calmly. "Thank you, I understand my position."