The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-22

thought he was going TO lit Langdon,
and l snatched 1t away from him and
dragged Langdon back upon the stage.
The very first words he said made me
realize he didn't know the real reason
or that open trap, SO I hid the black
jack behind me ard took Mr.. Langdon
10 the door myself and saw him safely
away"
did you see Mr. Pollock again that
night?"
yes. When I got back to the stage
found him there denouncing Shale'
for having failed to do his part, and
Wien asked him IL he had meant
murder, he said. 'Yesl / meant to have
him killed through All apparent acct
dent. What is more, / tell you here
and now, that III kill Mary Page and
iii Kill myself before Langdoa shall
win her. That's what Jim Polloc.
said, and that's what ! thought he had
one-that night. l SWEAR / didn't
go into that room! But heard them
quarrel, and | heard the scream and
the shot. And thought he'd done it
land ! ran away, in sheer horror
that's ALT Ny God, You must believe
me. It's true that quarreled with
Jim Pollock. not once. but many times.
It's true that he didn't play fair with
me, but can't you see that had ev-
erything TO lose and nothing to gain
by his dcath.. Its meant ruin to me-
and ruin to my wife and little girl
His voice broke pitifuly over the last
words. Leaning forward, he buried
his face in his shaking hands, waiting
for the next question But it didn't
come. That tragic outburst had car
ried conviction. not merely to Lang
don but to everyone in the room, and
whatever shadows OF suspicion had
hung over Mr.. Daniels faded before
the pitiful but indubitable yeracity OF
his story. The mystery, If mystery it
was, OF James Pol'ock's death was still
as impenetrable and the cords Of the
law that for time seemed TO be loos-
ening from about Mary Page, had
tightened agaln.
But to Mary and Iangdon that tes-
tifnony of the manager had brought
something that for the time at least
seemed greater than the law-an I'M
derstanding Of Mary's heart vision of
what might yet be il freedom could be
won for her
1t was n strange moment for great
love to find expression. and strange
story Which had Weakened it; and, !
while Lnngdon felt deep in his heart
that no words were needed after that |
glance of Mary's he could not forbcar
Following her to her cell when court |
had adjourned She glanced up at him |
with sudden shyness when he came in, |
and her hands went out waveringly. |
but whether to hold him off or TO cling |
she could not herself have told. Lang |
don had no doubts, however, and |
caught them close in his warm grasp |
and drew her to him IN Il silence more |
eloquent than words. Then, STOPPING
till his cheek lay against her hair, he |
whispered unstcadily;
"Mary. when Daniels told of james
Pollock 8 attempt ON my life, your eyes
Salu soiuetnmg TO me tnul tney nave
never said before. Did you mean It.
dear?" Then, as she chung TO him
mutely. he laughed softly and added:
in"F'know you did You can never
deny 1t now, my darling and when all
this Is over, am going to ask you a
question -and-and mako you put into
words what your eyes told me today.
May I, Nary
For an Instant she swayed against
him. her head buried in his shoulder,
then with 4 sad l!ttle sob she drew
back. a'' sei
"That's oil such a long, long way in
the future, Phil" she said YEARLY.
oh let's not even think Of it. There
,4. M.