The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1916-03-10

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but ut best IN the eyes Of the world
he was only u lay figurc-a bit Of dead
flesh upon which hung the vibrant Iiv-
ing tragedy Of Mary herself.
The formal routine of the opening Of
court was hurriedly gone through. The
district attorney and Langdon held a
subdued and secret colloquy with the
judge. and then the first witness OF
the day was called.
MARY Page"
At the sound Of her name Mary rose
%unsteadily to her feet. her eyes turned
appealingly to Langdon. inc trembling
hand crushing back the little cry that
rose involuntarily to her lips. But HER
agitation was no more than an echo OF
the excitement that swept through the
crowded room. Somewhere a woman
caught her breath in a stifed sob, and
at the back the spectators clambered
upon their chairs, crowding forward
in spite Of angry whispers Of "Sit
down." and the sharp rap Of the
judges gavel augmented by the official.
"Order in the court!'e
TO Langdon alone the calling Of Mary
came as no surprise. and he was ut her
side in a moment, whispering reassur-
ance and urging her to answer as sim
ply and clearly as possible the qucs-
tons she was asked. His calm gave
her back some measure Of her own Sc
renity. and her voice was low but clear
as she took the oath and, stepping up
into the witness stand, looked down
upon that sea Of faces. For Il moment
they swan before her eyes, and with Il
catch in her throat she remembered
the last time she had looked down upon
crowded faces: looked down across the
footlights upon thousands Of smiling
lips and friendly eyes above a snow
storm Of a%pplauding white gloves. How
long ago 1t seemed. and vet how short
4 time! And now the faces that stared
up at her We're avid with curiosity.
some hostile. some sympathetic. but
all pallid with the ~voracity Of the sen
sation seeker.
Then her eyes, travelling beyond
them. met the tear dimnled ones OF her
mother leaning forward yearningly
from the witness bench. and because
Of the suffering on that face Mary
smiled. Her first answers to the 1ues-
lions OF the District Attorney were
spoken with quiet. dignity.
Miss Page. isn't it true that James
Pollock wished to marry yOu?"
Yes" The answer was lower now,
II a hot flush crept for u moment into
Mary's pale cheeks.
And you found his attentions un-
welcOme?"
Something in the tone brought her
head up sharply.
Il had told Mr.. Pollock that l could
not marry him." she said firmly, and
with a lauteur that wrung a little
whisper of admiration from the spec
tat0rS.
Abruptly the prosecutor changed his
train Of questioning.
"Now. Miss Page lie said harshly,
please tell the court exactly what
happened just previous to the time
when the r~evolverShOt was heard and
Mr.. Inngdon found you unconscious
'N''" "N hIutV Vltu Lldtu. ICSIu WIZ
the moment You left the banquet"
With Il shivcr Of aversion Mary clos
ed her eyes for II second: then, grip
ping the edge Of the witneSS-Stnnd, she
began speaking slowly ana with an oh
viO,S effort.
when the boy brought me the mes
Sage-l-waS glad to 20. They We're
drinking and were very noisy at the
banqnet-and l was tired. The boy
showed me the door Of the suite. and |
went in"
She paused and covered her eyes Us
If to shut out something terrible that
she saw.
Mr.. Pollock was in the ROOM" she
said at last. "He-he had been drink
ing-he wasn't himself-he could hard
ly stand. IIe-he said he wanted IL
talk to Inc alone for five minutes-anl
lie wouldn't let me out, though ! was
afraid and begged him to-"
did You try to get out: Was there
il struggle between you and Mr.. Pol
lock-"
h shook her head. "Not Them she
said. with IL little sob. But was
very angry-I told him he had trickcd
me-nld wouldn't listen to him. We
we quarrelcd over his being drunk,
and-he tried to make NE take n drink
of the whiskey myself"
\ shudder OF repugnance swept over
her, and her eyes grew wide and star
ing. and she swayed for n moment like
a flower in a storm; then. with Il ire
mendous effort, as one called back
from the borderland to consciousness,
she added hOarsely:
II remember striking at him-and
knocking the glass out Of his hand. !
heard 1t break-and them must have
fainted:!'
Mis- Page" came still another ques-
ton. IF you had refused James Pol
lock-if you feared him-why did yo,
grant him an interview late at night
in a private o at the hotel:"
Grant him an Interview! her voice