The Glasgow courier., 1916-06-09

ly. and he said gruffly, "All right" and
allowed himself to be led up into the
stand.
The excitement Of the spectators can
be imagined.
Here was drama Of the most thrilling
kind-an unwilling witness in a SEN
sational murder trial, dragged to the
stand. forced to open his sealed lips
and tell what he knew.
"N1r. Shale," cried I.angdOn. what
had James Pollock asked you to do
for him on the night when he was
shot?"
HE asked me to get him the grey
suite at the Republic. He wanted to
get Miss Page in there for 4 quiet chat
80 he said"
did you do it?''
ayes. But. was kind Of sore. BE-
cause a man gets tired playin' errand
boy for guy that's dead crazy about
q skirt"
"What were you doing on the fire.
escape?'
The question came so sharply that 1t
held the whole room tense with it's un-
expectedness: but Shale did not vince
Jim told me to get out there. and
keep an eye out for anybody likely to
butt iu. He knew you could reach the
different rooms by it,
'Isn't 1t true that you and James
Pollock quarreled that night?"
Shale blanched.
Eyes, it's true" he said hoarsely
"Jim was devil when he was drunk
His face was beaded with perspira,
ton and his hand gripped the edge of
the witness stand till the knuckles
showed lividly.
He tried to look angry. but he sue
ceeded only in being tragically ridicu-
lOus.
Suddenly Langdon softened his voice.
"Where were you when Miss Page
came into the room?"
ION the fire-escape. standing datten-
ed against the wall. 80 that anybody
looking at the steps wouldn't see me-"
"Why did you re-enter the rOOm?"
Shale moistened his dry lips. then
with a gust of defiance flung up his
head.
IL went in because Jim called me, y
he said loudly. 'The girl had gone
hysterical She was laughin' and
shriekin', and he calls to me, For
Gods sake. Shale, see IL she's got any
smelling salts or anything In that
bag"
"And when you opened that bag you
found a revolver. didn't you" Lang
don's voice rang out triumphantly
George Shale, what did you do with
that revolver?"
For moment the man swayed as
he stood. then he laughed and t1ung
his hands wide.
II shot him with it, he shrieked. ~
shot him. didn't intend to do 1t. but
he was a dirty dog. He had threat
ened me again that very night. He
struck me-he called me his jackal =
and when I saw the gun-I knew my
chance had come. took it out and
walked around and said. Here's your
smelling salts-and when he turned to
take it shot him. Oh. my God"
He broke Off with STERN Of gasp
ing sobs.
Everyone in the room was on his
feet.
Even the Judge had risen.
Mary herself was standing swayins
like some lovely lily. the light Of
wondrous JOY shining in her eyes
while her lips murmured over and
over, "Philip-rhilip-Philip"
Then. high above the turmoil rose
the voice OF the District Attorney:
George Shale. you are hereby de-
clared under arrest. to be held to await
the action Of the Grand Jury!
Again pandemOnium broke out but
fell to silence when Mary, her eyes
drenched with happy tears. cried
softly:
whats to become OF me nOw?"
"Your Honor" I.anglon's voice wa.
exultantly happy. and his hand caugh
and clung to Mary's. "Your Honor, thu
defendant desires to know what is t,
become Of her?"
"She Is discharged" answered hi
Honor with a smile, and made no ef
fort to stem the cheers that rose. Ill
ing the room and echoing rar down tn,
corridors prOclaiming to the world a
large that Mary Page was free!
Still more cheering thrOngs greeted
her when she emerged from the prison
little later with Philip and her moth
er besides her. and they followed th,
speeding motor for blocks shOutin,
their acclamations and congratulations
while Mary nestled cOntentedly agains
Philip.
Forgotten were the days Of hOrro
following the death Of Pollock ant
her arrest for crime she knew moth
ing Of: forgotten even were the un
pleasant moments when Pollock pur
sued her with manifestations Of hi
unwclcome love.
1t was the most wonderful momen
Of her life.
"And you never suspected?" she sal