"Certainly," he replied, examining the subpoena; "go and tell all you know, or if you don't know anything, say so."
"I don't see why I should be dragged into the case—" she began brazenly.
"There's the reason," said the officer impatiently; "that subpoena has the power of bringing any man or woman in the city."
Seeing that resistance was useless, she sullenly accompanied them to a street-car, and was soon in readiness to be called upon for her testimony. The judge having disposed of the case then on trial, Mildred was again summoned to the bar, and the unwilling witness was sent for. She only had time to cast a reproachful glance at the man who, she feared, had betrayed her, and who tried, by his manner, to caution her, when the judge demanded her attention, he having in the meantime noted the fellow's effort.
"Stand there," he said, placing her so that her back was toward the man who sought to signal silence. "Officer, swear her. Now," he resumed severely, "any deviation from the truth, and the whole truth, will be perjury, which, you know, is a State-prison offence. I can assure you most honestly that it will be better for you, in all respects, to hide nothing, for you will soon discover that I know something about this affair."
After the preliminary questions, which were asked with impressive solemnity, he demanded, "Did you not leave the shop on Tuesday evening, and pass up the Avenue to——Street?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did you not look back twice, to see if you were followed?"
"I may have looked back."
"You don't deny it, then?"