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

A Startled Sob Caught at Mary's
Throat.
moment he forgot the court, the judge
and the witness on the stand, and
knew only, with a binding rush Of
JOY, that whatever happened-she lov-
ed him. That realization was surging
through Mary herself at the moment,
and she felt as if she were seeing him
for the first time-truly and fairly.
The protective maternal instinct that
is always the real keystone Of wo-
mans deeper love came to the fore for
the first time and was followed by a
swift fierce gladness that James Pol
lock was dead! Whatever the tragedy
and the suffering that enmeshed her,
at least Philip was safe, and, at the
thought all the fear and the horror Of
the law left her, and she drew long
happy breath that was almost mute
paean Of gladness that it was she who
could pay for his safety.
Langdon himself was equally shaken
by the wonderful little interlude that
had come like a streak Of sunshine
through the dreary gloom of the court
scene, but those about him attributed
the unsteadiness Of his voice to ex-
citement. and only Mary guessed the
real reason and flushed rosily under
her own thoughts.
"Mr. Daniels" Langdon was asking
in that strange. choked voice, will
you please tell the court the circum-
stances Of the-the attempt upon my
life?
81 didn't know it was, you know"
protested Daniels. 81 understood it
was just to be a kidnapping-to-to
get you-Mr. Langdon, mean-out Of
the way till after the opening Of The
Seekers ,"
You say just a Kidnapping Mr..
Daniels" broke in the judge harshly.
did you not know that the law does
not consider kidnapping a light Of
fence?"
Eyes, I know" Daniels's voice was
husky and uncertain. II knew, but
all I had was invested in this new
play, and if James Pollock had pulled
out then, I'd have lost it all and-I've
got a wife and daughter. l didn't
think any harm would come to Mr..
Langdon; in fact, Mr.. Pollock prom
ised it wouldn't, or I'd never have let
that man Shale take the watchmans
place."
when was that?"
During the rehearsals, as / said.
Jim came to me and said that Philip
Langdon was butting in too much, that
he was upsetting Miss Page and max
ing trouble for him-that is Pollock
and he wanted him out Of the way.
Then he said he had a plan to kidnap
Langdon and take him out to the coun-
try till after the opening Of the play.
At first I wouldn't listen, but-fnally
Ibid. It sounded simple enough. l
was to send for Langdon late that
night, supposedly to ask him some
thing about the Page contract In the
meantime we were to drug the watch
man and let Shale-Pollock's jackal
they call him, you know-take his
place. Then when Mr.. Langdon was
leaving the watchman was to nab him
and carry him out to waiting auto
mobile and cart him off,"
"Were these plans carried out?"
"No. That is, not the latter part. It
was then that found out about the
attempt at murder"
"W1r you tell the court In detail just
what happened on that night"
''Well, IL sent for Mr. Langdon,"
said Daniels nervonsly, 'fand he came.
In the meantime we had given the reg
ular watchmau knockout drops and left
him in a corner Of the balcony, and
Shale took his place. When Mr.. Lang
don was leaving called this supposed
watchman and. acting on Jim's In
structions, told him to show Mr.. Lang
don out Of the stage door. But I tell
.y1o5Suyl'3hs T09ee sf6se SUD ddsh1y 20 "a high,
shrill note Of hysterical emphasts-T
tell you I knew nothing Of that open
trap door in the stage. / thought he