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

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A Startled Sob Caught at Mary.
Throat.
moment lie forgot The court the judge
and the witness on the stand, and
knew only, with binding rush of
JOY, that whatever happcned-she Low.
Cd him. That realization was surging
through Mary herself at the moment,
ana she felt as If she were seeing linn
for the first tlme-truly and fairly.
The protective maternal instinct that
Is always the real keystone OF a wo.
mans deeper love came to the fore for
the first time and was followed by q
swift fierce gladness that James Pol.
lock was dead, Whatever the tragedy
and the suffering that enmeshed her
Mt least Philip was safe, and at the
thought all the fear and the horror OF
the law left her, and she drew long
happy breath that was almost Il mute
paean of gladness that 1t was she who
could pay for his safety.
Langdon himself was equally shaken
by the wonderful little interlude that
had come like a streak of sunshine
through the dreary gloom of the court
scene but those about him attributed
the unsteadness of his voice 10 ex.
element, and only Mary guessed the
real reason and flushed rosi,y under
her own thoughts. W
"Mr. Daniels Langdon was asking
in that strange. choked voice, will
you please tell the court the circum.
stances Of the--the attempt upon my
life?n 81
Il didn't know it was, you know
protested Daniels. 81 understood it
was Just to be kidnapping
get you-Mr. Langdon, l mean-out OF
the way till after the opening of The
Seekers.
~ .1ou say Just Il Kidnapping Mr..
Daniels" broke in the judge harshly
did you not know that the law does
not consider kidnapping light Of
fenceY"
yes, I know" Daniels's voice was
husky and uncertain. II knew. but
all | had was invested in this new
play, and II james Pollock had pulled
ont then, I'd have lost it all and--I've
got a wife and daughter. / didn't
think any harm would come to Mr.
Langdon in fact, Mr.. Pollock prom.
ised it wouldn't or I'd never have lot
that man Shale take the watchmans
place.
When was that?"
During the rehearsas. as I said.
Jim came to me and said that Philip
Langdon was ,butting in too much, that
he was upsctting Miss Page and max
ing trouble for liim-that Is Pollock
aud he wanted him out Of the. way.
Then he said he had plan to kidnap
Langden and take him ont to the coun.
try till after the opening of the play
At first | wouldn't listen, but-finally
Ibid. 1t sounded simple enough.
was TO send for J.lngdon late that
night, supposedly to ask him some
thing about the Page contract In the
meantime we were to drug the watch
man and let Shale-Pollock' iackal
they call him, you know-take his
place. Then when Mr. Langdon was
leaving the watchman was to nab him
and carry him out to waiting auto
mobile and cart him off"
Were these plans carried out 2"
No. That is, not the latter part. 1t
was then that | found out about the
attempt at murder
viii you tell the court in detail just
what happened on that night?'
well. IL sent for Mr.. Langdon,"
said Daniels nervously. "and he came.
in the meantime we had given the reg
ular watchman knockout drops and left |
him IN corner of the balcony. and |
Shale took his place. When Mr.. Lang
don was leaving called this supposed
watchnian and, acting ON Jim's IN.
told him to show Mr.. Lang.
don out OF the stage door. But I tell |
you'--his voice rose suddenly to high. |
shrill note Of hysterical emphasls-"I |
tell You ! knew nothing Of that open
trap door in the stage. thought he |
was going to take him right out Of the !
theatre. And when I heard Mr.. Lang |
don's cry-I-I was too Mortified TO |
move for n minute. Then I rushed |
down and turned on the stage lights"
"Will you tell US what you saw
Il saw Mr.. Langdon hanging to the !
edge OF an open trap that led down |
some thirty feet to the cement cellar |
below, and Shale standing to one side, |
Milh.-A black Jack in his. hand.