“Can this be, Miss Trowbridge? Is Judge Hoyt capable of using a false witness thus, to win his cause?”
Avice blushed deeply, and her eyes fell before Stone’s inquiring glance.
“He wouldn’t be, Mr. Stone, except for—Judge Hoyt is a most honorable lawyer. He makes a fetish of punctilious practice. But there is a certain reason why—he might—”
“You needn’t say any more, Miss Trowbridge. I understand now. It is because of—pardon me if I seem intrusive,—because of you.”
“Yes, Mr. Stone,” returned Avice, simply. “Since you are here to help in this matter, I will tell you frankly, that if Judge Hoyt succeeds in winning his case and freeing Kane Landon, I have promised to marry him.”
Stryker had been dismissed, and the two were alone. With infinite pity, Stone looked at the sad-eyed girl, and intuitively understood the whole situation.
“I see,” he said, gently, “Judge Hoyt is going to sacrifice Stryker for you. It is a clever idea, and he will see to it, somehow, that the old man does not suffer penalty.”
“Yes, it is so. Judge Hoyt told me the only way to get Kane off, is to get somebody else to swear to that telephone message. If Stryker does this, they can’t prove Kane’s guilt.”
“It’s a desperate move,” observed Stone.
“It is; but Judge Hoyt is a desperate man. If he determines to do a thing, he sweeps away all obstacles.”