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 someone to swear that he did that, it would go a long way in Landon’s favor.”
“Someone who
