The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-07-28


cial support for the play in case Miss
Page left the company:' The QueS-
ton was quietly asked. but pregnant
with meaning that brought the blood
into Danie!S'S face.
''No. it wasn't be snapped. when
| found how dead set Miss Page was
against him, / knew he wasn't going
to win out in that game. l tried to
make my position safe, but he wouldn't
promise anything. unless promised to
arrange things so that you-I mean
Mr.. Langdon-was denied admission to
the theatre"
when did you have the last quarrel
on that subject with Mr. Pollock"
"On the day that "The Seekers
opened"
With an abrupt gesture Langdon
caught up the sheet Of paper on which
were pasted the torn scraps Of the
note to Pollock and held it up before
the witness.
"Mr. Daniels, did you write that let
ter to Mr.. Pollock?''
my Godl Where did you get that?"
The cry was confession, but Langdon
repeated his question. and this time
Daniels said with sudden sullenness:
"Yes. I wrote it,
"When?"
'The day The Seekers opened,
There-had been scene in Miss
Pages dressing room, and-and-I was
afraid the show would be Queered If
Pollock didn't let the girl alone"
"Why didn't you finish it?"
because Daniels hesitated and
moistened his dry lips with nervous
tongue, ''because-I-I-thought it
sounded pretty raw, and I'd better let
things go till saw Pollock that
night"
Again the ominous little murmur
that meant suspicion crept through the
room, and Daniels shuddered, grip
ping the sides of his chair to hide the
trembling Of his hands as Langdon
turned to the stenographer and said
quietly:
"Mr. Wilson, will you be kind enough
to turn to the testimony Of the bell
boy, .Joe,' as given yesterday and read
It, beginning with the words, was
there anyone in the hallway when you
looked backT'
There was q slight rustling Of pa
pers, when the clear voice of the ste
nographer rang out.
Question: Was there anyone in the
hallway when you looked back? An
swer: Yes. The fat man who had
been at the banquet. the one they call
ed Mr.. Daniels. Question: What was
he doing? Answer: He was standing
close to the door of the gray suit" with
his ear against it, as If he was listen
ing"
'"That will do, Mr.. Wilson. Now will
YOU please turn to the testimony OF
Randall Williams, and read the testi-
mony beginning with the words,
Where were you. when you heard the
shot?"
Question: Where were you when
you heard the shot? Answer: Just
outside the door Of the banquet room
Question: What did you DO? Answer:
1 ran down the hall in the direction
from which the sound came. Question:
Did you meet anyone? Answer: Yes.
I ran bang into Daniels at the corner
where the corridor turned / nearly
upset him, guess, for he caught at my
arm and held on as If to steady him.
self. Question:
"That will do, thank you,'' cried
Langdon sharply. "And now, Mr.. Dan
iels, will you tell US what you did when
you overheard the voices Of Miss Page
and Mr.. Pollock talking in the gray
suite and why you were so agitated
when you met Mr.. Williams"
Because the voice Of the manager
rose to a sudden scream, because l
thought he had killed them both-as
he had threatened to do!'
In an instant the prosecutor was on
his feet, but, quick as he was, the
Judge was quicker. The unexpected
turn HAD come in the evidence, and
his honor briefly announced a thirty
minute recess.
Had He been the stage manager.
rather than Daniels, he could not have
chosen a more dramatic moment to
bring the testimony to its temporary
close.
Every man and woman among the
spectators was keyed to the highest
tension by the swiftly moving events,
and to drop from these heights to the
hatness Of mere waiting strained pa
tience to the breaking point. The scrap
ing Of chairs along the hoor, the shut
fling of feet, the waves Of shrill whfs-
pering question and comment-ah the
sounds of restless humanity replaced
the tense silence which had gone be-
fore-and when at last the clock had
licked out it's slow half hour and the
bailif brought Daniels back to the wit
ness stand there was an audible sigh
Of refer from tie spectators that Under
any other circumstances would have