Evening journal., 1916-02-19
CHAPTER u
Of1fNF ~
The Drama Of the Law.

CHAPTER u
The Drama Of the Law.
EATHEN the first pale shreds
NM OF dawn rising triumphant
above the river mists we're
hailed by the days shrill
whistles. a thin triclSle OF humanity,
detected from the main current Of
hurrying workers, began 20 form idle
little pools IN the shadow OF the grim
buildings where the law stages SO many
tragedies
Hourly the pools grew larger. soon
the corridor that led TO the courtroom
where Mary Page was battling for her
ufe and liberty In the face Of over
Nheiming evidence was filled with the
,rcatest crowd IL had ever known.
From the window OF his taxi as II
threaded it's way through the heavy
trafic. I.angdon could catch glimpscs
Of the people outside, and in spite Of
his confidence IN Msry's innocence. his
heart sank He was too good a lawyer
not 10 renlize how important a factor
public sentiment was.
lie had felt ever since the coroner's
inquest that there had been note
struck not only in the newspapers
but by the public itself that declared
MARY guilty. There had even been a
subtle suggestion that her plea Of mot
guilty" was no more than a mere
formality.
He wondered lrritably why Il was
that this "curbstone jury" as he
termed It contemptuously TO himself
could not realize that Mary would not
have ruined her career in such a fash
ION. however much she had loathed
Pollock. and whatever the provocation
to kin him. Il was inconceivable that
q girl who had reached the zenith OF
her career al eleven o'clock and had
been hniled as one OF the greatest stars
Of the century, should deliberately fling
all that success aside to wreak her
Vengeance on a man-and watch the
sawn come from cell In the Tombs
As the young lawyer in his cab drew
up at the curb, within a hands
breadth three women hung over an
early edition Of an afternoon papei
whose daring headlines flung thei
words like blow straight into hi
face;
LOVERS FIGHT FOR LIFEl
Old Sweetheart Defends Mary Page
Noted Actress Charged
with the Murder
Of
DAVID POLLOCK
Another Wooer.
The words bit like acid. and with Z
nhudder Of aversion Langdon closed his
eyes to shut out the ugly sight. The
notoriety Of IT was in truth almost az
bitter to him as the awful, overshadow-
ing fear. He hated 20 think that
Marys name should be dragged In the
mud OF public gossip-as an actress
who had shot a millionaire, while just
outside the door. with laughter and
music and lights. the great world
supped and danced. He hated tn,
thought that his love for Mary had
been smirched and had become a spic.
morsel 10 be rolled on the tongues o
those hungry for sensation; and Their
were times when he was even glal
that Mary was In prison-for ther
at least in spite Of its grim horror
there was a semblance OF peace.
Something OF that was In his min
as he fought his way through th
crowd that pressed about him, shout
ing his name, bombarding him wit
questions and clinging 20 his arms
vain effort 20 hold him long enoug
10 make him talk-to get from hil
some hint OF clue as 10 what the da
might bring forth.
At.the cell door the lawyer pause
and quickly raised his hat. Unbidde
tears sprang to his eyes. for Mary wa
kneeling like little child. her head
her mothers lap. and the elder woma
vas praying aloud;
And God give US strength TO 3
through this day. and grant TIL
mighty justice TO my little GIRL
Justice. dear God. justice!" echoe
Mary and no artistry Of the grei
actress could have given TO that simpl
PRAYER the poignancy that a great fait
and a great sorrow gave H.
II was In Iangdon's eyes alone ths
there were tears. for both women wer
oravely smiling when they greeted hin
and not even the ordeal OF going int
ccurt. not even the breathless. terrify
iag moment when she stepped acros
lhe threshold and saw that thronge
room fun Of strangers. caused tina
sereneiy simple calm 10 forsake Mar
Page
The sight OF her brought the crow
4 spectators surging suddenly 10 thei
feet with whispering gasp of excite
nent or perhaps Of expectancy. but q
he FIRST rap Of the judges gavel the
subsidized with a satisfied settling bac
nto their chairs like that OF a first
light audience when the curtain rol
ip.
There have been murderers placed
rial who have never given any on
ward evidence Of their guilt while IN
we're in court; others. falsely accus,
Who have shuddered under the shai
md infamy OF their terrible positi,
md acted. at moments. as though
crime were indeed upon their hea
But the serenity OF Mary was sui
mated into. something higher than
ks@ss mee