Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1916-03-17


4 \ James Pollock was murdered"
The words of tine witness were like
a stone flung into a pool of subtle in
ference that sent ever widening ripples
of possibilities to lap the very shores
of suspicion itself. Every eye was on
I.angdon now. but except for tight
ening of the muscles about his jaw he
gave no sign of perturbation or anger.
The actor himself was uneasy now.
however, and cast apologize giances at
both Mary and Langdon. moving merry
susly i'll the witness-stand as the pros
ecutor took up his questioning again.
you say you overheard only a part
Of what was said before the police
came. viii you tell us where you
stood and why you heard only part?"
Yes, sir The door opens out-as is
always the case i'll hotel rooms-and
when started to open it | was behind
II and therefore not visible from the
room. But could hear what was said
when Mr.. Langdon and detective Far
ley came out from the inner room of
the suite where they had gone to look
for Miss Page"
And when the police came. did you
remain in the room or did you join In
the search for Miss Pager
III Joined in the search, and went
with the police down the fire escape
and through the back street"
~What had become of Miss Pager
Il don't know"
"Do you mean that the police did not
find where she had gomez
YES"
sWhat did you doT'
ST returned to the hotel, got my hat
and coat and went home"
THAT is ALL said the prosecutor
Rut the Judge leaned forward and
voiced the question that everybody IN
the courtroom was mutely asking.
"Do you mean to say that young
lady in an evening gown and with no
cloak walked through that street back
of the hotel and that no one saw her!
That you and the police got no clue
in your search?"
Eyes, your Honor. Mary Page had
disappeared absolutely. and no one
knows where she went"
Langdon smiled. and the Judge sat
back with a little exclamation that was
not complimentary to the police; but
when the name of the next witness
rang through the room he leaned for
ward again and spoke with some irri-
tatiOn to the prosecutor.
lis it your intention sir. to develop
tI,.n,ob tho tnStfD,npy nf THIS wit
ness the Whereabouts of Miss Page
after the murder? 1t seems to me
that that is the testimony that should
be brought forward now"
Your Honor. the movements of
Miss Page between the time she was
left unconscious in the room at the
Republic until the following morning
will have to he told by Miss Page her.
self. They are not known to me and
I have no witnesses to testify TO her
Whereabouts or actions. | have. in
fact, been unable to get anyone who
actually saw the prisoner during her
fight. The truth must come out. of
course. and | have in the meantime
called the sister of James Pollock to
develop an important line in the case
for the State
Again Langdon smiled and the
Judge sat back with little shrug, as,
amid murmurous wave of comment
and curiosity the name of the new
witness was repeated:
Ruth Pollock
The sister of the dead man who
throughout the earlier testimony had
sat unnoticed among the throng was a
tragic figure in her trailing black gar
ments as she Went to the stand.
Miss Pollock. you have knewn the
prisoner. Mary Page for some years,
have You mott
Yes. we We're AT school together and
remained intimate friends afterwards. "
WAS your brother also friend of
herSs''
He was
'Was there ever any closer relation
Zip than that of mere friendship be
tween your brother and Mary Page
Yes. They We're engaged TO be mar
ried."
Even the Judge sat forward in his
chair at the words. 50 simply uttered
and yet so sharply changing the aspect
of things. The prosecutors next ques-
tion came quickly.
"Was yonr brother happy in his en-
gagementF' lie said.
81 don't know how TO answer that
question. He was happy because he
wanted to marry Mary, but he knew
she didn't love him.
IF Miss Page did not love your
brother. why was she willing to be his
wife?s
The girl flushed and answered less
readily:
We'll. you see-there were reasons
and she had promised"
VIII You please tell Us those rea
sonsg~
little sasping sob wrenehed from
Il Woman's eyeTburdened heart broke
the stiffness at thai question. and Mrs
Pase suddenly droopel forward. hiding
her face la her hands. She knew only