The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-03

of suspicion itself Every eye was on
Langdon now, hut except for a tight
ening of the muscles about his jaw he
gave no sign Of perturbation or anger.
The actor himself was uneasy now.
however, and cast Apologize glances at
both Mary and Langdon, moving nery-
ousy in the witness-stand as the pros
ecutor i9ok up his questioning again.
You say you overheard only part
of what was said before the police
came. viii you tell US where you
stood and why you heard only Il part?'
Yes, sir, The door opens out--as is
always the case in hotel rooms-and
when started TO open 1t I was behind
it and therefore not visible from the
room. But could hear what was said
when Mr.. Laugdon and detective Far
ley came out from the inner room of
the suite where they had gone to look
for Miss Page"
and when the police came, did you
remain in the room or did you join in
the search for Miss Pager
II joined in the search, and went
with the police down the fire-escape
and through the back street"
what had become OF Miss Page"
Il don't know
"Do YOU mean that the police did not
find whore she had gomez
"Yes."
"What did you d0f'
81 returned 10 the hotel got my hat
and coat and went home"
THAT is all" said the prosecutor
But the Judge leaned forward and
voiced the question that everybody in
the courtroom was mutelY asking.
"Do you mean to say that young
lady in an evening gown and with no
cloak walked, through that street back
OF the hotel and that no one saw her.
That you and the police got no clue
in your search"
"Yes, your Honor Mary Page had
disappeared absolutely. and no one
knows where she went.
Langdon smiled. anu the Judge sat
back with little exclamation that was
not complimentary 10 the police but
when the name of the next witness
rang through IN room NE leaned for.
ward again and spoke with some iili.
tation 80 the Prosecutor
Is il your Intention. sir, to develop
through the testimony Of THIS wit
moss the whereabouts OF Mis- Page
after the murder? 1t seems 10 mo
that that is the testimony that should
he brought forward now.
Your Honor. the movements OF
Miss Page between tie time size was
lcfI unconscious in the room ut The
Republic until the following morning
will have TO no told by Miss Page llcr
self. They are not known TO mo aul
! have no witnesses ~ testify IN hcr
whereabouts or actions. have. g.
fact hecn unable tn got anyone VIII
actually saw the prisoner during hcc
'h-i't' nv tiiNi ih'l~l 'VliV Nlttt WI
course. and | have in the meantime
called the sister Of James Pollock 20
develop an Important line in the case
for the State.
Again I.anglon smiled end tn
Judge sat lack with n littlc sh-ug, a.
amid murmurouS wave Of conmcnt
and curiosity the name Of the new
witness was repeated:
Ruth Pollock"
The sister Of the dead man who
throughout the earlier testimony had
sat nnnoticed among the throng, was Il
tragic figure in her trailing black gar.
ments as she went TO the stand.
Miss Pollock. you have known thC
prisoner, Mary Page, for some years
have YOU mott"
'Ncs. we were AT school together and
remained intimate friends afterwards
WAS your brother also Il friend Of
hers
'TIc was"
w 90 thNlt tNNl NibHRi iNihtlVil
ship than that Of mere friendship be
tween your brother and Mary Page"
Yes. They were engaged to be mar
ricd."
Even the Judge sat forward in hi
chair Mt the words, so simply uttered
and yet so sharply changing the aspec
of things, The prosecutors next ques
ton came quickly.
WAS your brother happy in his en-
gagcment;' he said
~ don't know how to answer tina
question. lie was happy because h
wanted to marry Mary, but he knew
| she didn't love him
IF Miss Page did not love YOU
brother, why was she willing to he hi
| wife, ..
The girl flushed and answered les
readily:
"Well, you see there were reasons
aud she had promised
"Will you please tell us those rea
sons?' r
A little gaSping sob wrcnched iron
n woman's oycrbuldened heart hrok
tho stiffness ny that question and Mrs