Evening journal., 1916-03-11
CHAPTER v.
Her Fathers Death,

Her Fathers Death.
~ PSYCHOLOGISTS and those sci
IL entists who study the human
brain declare that the focus OF
consciousness Is dual. and that
unless the sub-conscious mind supple
ments the conscious concentration. the
attention Is easily diverted. Thus a
sailor steering by the north star quiv-
ering In the tail Of the Little Bear Is
readily diverted by the flashing OF a
meteor across the heavens, since Il Is
only his outer consciousness that is
liked upon the star. but a whole swarm
n mcteors might have streakcd the sky
nnheeded when Ulysses life IN hand.
steered between Scylla and Charybdis,
and all the din OF the siege failed to
disturb Archimedes bent over his ng
ures IN the sand. For here conscious
and sub-conscious forces were welded
into great intensity In like fashion,
Mary Page sitting IN the prisoners
dock with the Damoclean sword of JUS
tice above her was now unconscious
OF the crowd in the court room. She
no longer heard the boys who slipped
from the reporters table TO the door
carrying the news of the trial for the
special editions. she no longer felt the
eyes OF the crowd upon her. She was
even unconscious OF the rustling OF the
papers on the Prosecutors desk. which
had at first rasped her nerves so un-
bearably. Now mind and soul were
alike concentrated upon Langdon and
upon the slow building OF the evidence
that was TO free her from the charge
OF having murdered David Pollock.
A tumult OF old memories was surg
Issnr nh n.rs tastNr 81
told OF the tragedy Of year before; Ca
tragedy that had so grim a sequel IN
the presently and yet there were
strange nightmarish blanks I'm those
inemories-spaces whore fact had 20
give place 10 Imagination. and during
which she had hung In the nulity OF
uncounted moments. merging like a
person under ether to momentary pain
scared consciousness. only to sink
whirling back into oblivion. And it
was OF these moments OF which Mary
herself knew only by hearsay that the
Witnesses We're now testifying
They were an odd contrast. these de-
Tenders OF Mary Mrs Page. slender,
frail. bowed with grief and anxiety:
Macpherson in his rough clothes and
high boots. a veritable Scotch giant with
square beard; two distinguished
looking men with the grave, kindly
faces of those whose lives are spent in
battling against the dual enemies OF
disease and mental suffering: Jeanette.
Mary's maid. and all the others whose
words were TO shatter the great. omi-
nous temple Of accusatory facts raised
up by the State
Mary did not realize the subtlety with
which Langdon was calling these WITT
nesses. In fact Il was doubtful N any
OF those IN the court room except per-
haps the Prosecutor and the Judge. ap-
preciated the skill with which he
brought out each detail In its turn
There was no confusion OF facts nc
forcing OF a conglomerats array OF evil
dence upon the jury: but bit by bit. as
one pieces together a jig-saw puzzle
he was hitting into a perfect pictur,
Tor those present the tragedy OF IN,
life of Mary Page.
In pursuance OF his method OF bring.
Ing out events as they had happened n,
had already. at n bar side conference.
asked permission 90 recall his witnesse,
second. or even a third time. Thu.
II came as surprise only 20 the spec
tators when Mrs. Page again took hel
place in the witness-box
She looked pitifully pale and wan
and Langdon's voice was very gentle
as he said:
Mrs. Page. you told us yesterday OF
how your daughter struggling with her
drunken father. was struck by him and
ned screaming from the house. viii
YOU tell the court please. what follow
ID that ilight? Did you go after her OF
remain at homer"
1T was impossible for me to follow
a. quickly as Mr.. Langdon did" she
said quietly. glancing toward the
Judge. $50 I stood al the gate watt
ins. feeling sure that Il would only be-
very few minutes before he would
return with my poor half -crazed girl
Was there anyone with youe"
At irst quite a group OF our neigh
oors were there. drawn by the soup,
of-ot-Mary's screams. But they soo,
tohowed Mr.. Langdon and I was LEI
DID you return 10 the house,,
went back as far as the windo--
she said in some hesitation. 80
was very cold and 1 wanted n %,
wrap but l--i-was afraid OF my hu,
band"
What did you see when YOU look,
in the window
Il saw my husband. sitting bv ii
table still drinking. At last. howev,
he fell over onto the couch asleep al
/ went in and got wraps and blanke
thinking to start OUT myself In scar
OF Mary. As came out OF the Gotta