"Officer, bring the woman forward," commanded the magistrate.
Sophie, blue with terror, was almost dragged to the platform beside Hilda. Hilda looked stunned, dazed.
"Speak out!" ordered the magistrate.
"You have heard what this witness testified."
Sophie was weeping violently. "It's all a mistake," she cried in a low, choked voice. "I was scared. I didn't mean to tell the police Hilda was there. I was afraid they'd think I did it if I didn't say something."
"Tell us what you saw." The magistrate's voice was severe. "We want the whole truth."
"I was at our window. And I saw Hilda come along and go in at the family entrance over at Meinert's. And I'd seen Mr. Feuerstein go in the front door about an hour before. Hilda came out and went away. She looked so queer that I wanted to see. I ran across the street and looked in. Mr. Feuerstein was sitting there with a knife in his hand. And all at once he stood up and stabbed himself in the neck—and there was blood—and he fell—and—I ran away."
"And did the police come to you and threaten you?" asked the magistrate.
"Your Honor," protested Captain Hanlon with an injured air, "SHE came to US."
"Is that true?" asked the magistrate of Sophie.