The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-27
CHAPTER III
rhe. Drama Of the law.

NV Of dawn rising triumphant
wv above the river mlsts were
hailed. by the days shrill
whistles, thin trlckle Of humanity,
DETECTED from the main current OF
hurrying workers. began to form Idle
little pools In the shadow Of the grim
buildings where the law stages so many
tragedies.
Hourly. the pools grew larger. Soon
!he corridor that led to the COURTROOM
where Mary Page was battling for her
life and liberty in the face of. over
whelming evidence, was filled with the
greatest crowd It had ever known.
From the window of his taxi as 1t
threaded its way through the heavy
traffic, Langdon could catch glimpses
Of the people outside. and in spite OF
his confidence in Mary's innocence, his
heart sank. He was too good lawyer
not to realize how important a factor
public sentiment was.
He had felt ever since the coroners
inquest that there had been note
struck not only in the newspapers
but by the public itself that declared
Mary guilty. There had even been a
subtle suggestion that her plea of mot
guilty" was no more than mere
formality.
He wondered irritably why It was
that this "curbstone jury" as he
termed 1t contemptuously to himself.
could not realize that Mary would not
have ruined her career In such a FASH
ion, however much she had loathed
Pollock. and whatever the provocation
10 kill him. It was inconceivables that
q girl who had reached the zenith OF
her career at eleven o'clock and had
been hailed as one of the greatest stars
Of the century. should deliberately fling
all that success aside to Wreak her
vengeance on man-and watch; the
lawn come from cell In the Tombs.
AS the young lawyer in his cab drew
Up ut the curb. within hands
breadth three women. hung over an
.arly edition of an afternoon paper
whose harlng headlines flung their
words like blow straight into his
ace:
LOVERS FIGHT FOR LIFE!
DID Sweetheart Defends Mary Page,
Noted Actress. Charged
with the Murder
of
DAVID POLLOCK
Another Wooer
The words bit like acid, and with a
,hudler of aversion Langdon closed his
eyes to shut out the ugly sight. The
notoriety of Il was in truth almost as
bitter to him MS the awful, overshadow-
Ing fear. He hated to think that
Mary's name should be dragged in the
mud of public gossip-as an actress
who had shot millionaire, while just
outside the door. with laughter and
music and lights. the great world
supped and danced. He hated the
thought that his love for Mary had
been smirched and had become a spicy
morsel to be rolled on the tongues OF
those hungry for sensation; and there
were times when he was even glad
that Mary was in prison-for there
at least. in spite Of its grim horror
there was semblance Of peace.
Something Of that was in his mind
MS he fought his way through the
crowd that pressed about him., shout
Ing his name, bombarding him with
questions and cllnging to his arms IN
vain effort to hold him long enough
To- make him talk-to get from him
some hint or clue as to what the day
might bring forth.
At the coll door the lawyer paused
and quickly raised his hat. unbidden
tears sprang to his eyes, for Mary was
kneeling like little child, her head in
her mothers lap, and the elder woman
was praying aloud:
"And God give us strength to &c
through this day. and grant Thy
mighty Justice to my little girl"
"Justicc, dear God. justlcc!" echoed
Mary. and no artistry Of the great
actress could have given to that simple
prayer the polgnency that great faith
ind a great sorrow gave 1t.
II was in Langdon's eyes alone that
,here were .cars for both women were
braycly smiling when they greeted him
ana not oven the ordeal Of going int
ccurs. not even the GREATNESS. terrify-
,ng momont whom she stepped across
The threshold and saw that throngec
room full Of strangers, caused that
eercrely simple calm to torsake Mary
Page.
THO sight Of her brought the CROWD
ot spectators surging suddenly to theil
feet with a Whispering, gasp Of excite
mont or perhaps Of expectancy, but a.
Tho first rap Of tho judges gavcl they
vubsided with satisflsd settling bach
into their chairs like that Of a first
night Audience Wien the curtain roll;
Up.
There have boen r.1rrderers plac.d OF
trial who have mover given any out
ward evidence of their guilt while the.
we're in court; others. falsely accused
who have shuddered under the shame
and infamy Of their terrible position