The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-27
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grip.
You know the window" he snapped.
Don't make monkey OF yourself and
get in any other. And remember this
I'll send you up. by heaven. II you
interfere-unless you're needed. You
watch for that sneak Langdon-thats
your job. Do you get meg"
Il got you the first time" answered
Shale cooy. though his mouth was
ugly. "Since when do you have to put
me wise twice?"
Pollock moved uneasIly and drew one
hand across his forehead. I'm not
taking any chances" he muttered.
and lighting cigar settled back In
the corner Of the luxurious motor.
Neither Of them spoke or moved till
the car drew up In front of the big
hotel.
The moment It stopped Shale slipped
out and hurried down the street, but
Pollock. pushing his way through the
gaily clad throng that filed the lobby
at this nfter-theatre hour went direct
to the elevator. his fingers closed
tightly around that key In he pocket
Once in the suite engaged for him by
Shale he threw or his coat and hat.
and ordering a whiskey-apd soda.
drank 1t almost at draught. Then
he began a restless pacing up and
down the floor. trying to estimate Just
how long It would be before the BAN
quet party would reach the private
dining-room.
At last after what seemed to him
hours of waiting he saw group Of the
players arrive and few moments
later the other members Of the supper
party passed his door. There remained
only Mary and Daniels still to come.
Trembling with excitement, he poured
himself another drink Of whiskey. gave
a swift glance out OF the window to
where Shale lowered on the fire.
escape. then took up his post close
to the door. Almost Immediately he
heard the hum of the elevator and
then Mary's voice.
"Oh, come on, Phil" she was saying,
81 shan't stay very long, anyway"
by all means come along" echoed
Daniels with assumed cordially.
You'll be welcome guest"
Pollock could see them now. for they
had passed his hiding place, and he
gave sigh Of relief as Langdon said:
mo, thanks-I won't come in. It's
supper for you. Mary and for your
company-and l feel little out Of
place. Don't get too tired. though
and I'll call up Tomorrow"
And Langdon came slowly down the
corridor which echoed now to the
sound of the tunultuous welcome to
Mary-"The New Start" He made his
way down to the lobby and settled
himself in chair from where he could
look UP at the door Of the banquot-
room.
Walters were hurrylng in and out
and Langdon could catch glimpses Of
the gay table with Mary. flushed and
excited, at one end, and could hear the
laughter and the little bursts Of ap-
plause? Once when hurrying waiter
left the door wide he saw Mary on her
feet protesting against the urgent
hands that were thrustlng a glass Of
champagne upon her.
With an exclamation Of anger Lang
don leaped to his feet, then sank back
again. He couldn't interfere-not now.
at any rate. He could. however. guess
that they we're urging her to drink
toast to the play. and he hoped that
that meant that Mary was soon to
leave. While he was impatiently
hoping that this was true, a bell boy.
who a moment or two before had gone
into the banquet room, came out fol-
lowed by Mary herself.
With a throb of glad relief Langdon
jumped up and hurried up the shallow
stairs to the corridor to meet him. but
to his surprise she was not In sight.
and only the bellboy was coming
leisurely along the hall 1t seemed
curious that Mary could disappear SO
suddenly.
Where did the young lady go?" he
demanded harshly. and at the tone the
startled boy cringed as If expecting
blow.
"Wots that to you?" he retorted I'm
pertinently. "She's gone where she waa
expected, that's where she's gone"
well, wherever 1t is take me there
l-ouick!" snapped Langdon. IF you
want authority for 1t go downstairs
and tell Barney that Mr.. Philip Lang
don wants you to take him there"
At the name the boy gave q quick.
choked cry, and with muftied I
thought It wasn't any funny joke" led
the way rapidly back down the cor
ridor.
Almost simultaneously the door OF
the banquet room opened and Daniels
face, strained and uneasy, peered into
the hall. Seeing Langdon, he hurried
towards him and was but a few feet
away when the boy paused abruptly
and pointed to the door OF Polloeks
suite.
'iShe's in there" he muttered. and
scuttled of. But not far. for even as
Langdon's hand was on the knob. there
came n woman's scream and the loud
report of a revolver echoing high above
the clamorous gaiety Of voices and Or
chestra. There was an instants terri
fled silence, and then the waves Of hui
mainly came surging down the corri-
dor. headed by the hotel authorities
But Lansdon and Daniels were already
across tho threshold OF the room where
Law the dead body of David Pollock and
beside 1t the unconscious form Of Mary
Page with revolver lying not five
inches from her limp fingertips.
A thin dribble of blood was running
across the carpet towards her. and
Langdon snatched her up out Of Its
way with sudden horror. and his
great fear found voice in desperate
cry:
:Mary! Mary. did you do this?"
1t was not Mary who answered, but
the hotel detective, who said sternly:
mot did she do this, but WHY did