Evening journal., 1916-02-19

the witness. isn't It true that when
you came in you saw Miss PAGE
threaten Mr. Pollock with this re-
volver2'
He caught up the weapon as he spoke
and thrust it under her eyes. The
maid. with a quivering little scream OF
horror shrank back amid a murmur OF
sympathy from the crowd. She could
not speak.
Isn't it true?" persisted the prose-
cutor harshly. Answer my question
or tell US just what you did see when
you came into the theater upon your
return from the errand."
Bursting into storm OF tears. Janet
flung out her arms in wild gesture
ct is true" she sobbed. "Mees Page
, my mademoiselle, she was standing
/ and she had ze revolver-pointed at
Mr.. Pollock-and he-he-ran out Of
re ROOM"
At the words. Mary, whose hands
had been twitching nervously through
; out the maids testimony, rose to her
r feet with a little gasping cry as il she
would speak; but before the words
came she swung suddenly about and
crumpled into a little heap on the
floor.
= In an instant the whole room was on
]
u dock and the sobs of the maid we're
= echoed by more than one woman
{ among the spectators, where sympathy
for the time ran high, though the
0 pendulum swayed back when someone
said shrilly with a derisive laugh:
"She's a good actress. is Mary Pagel"
e But the Judges gavel quelled the ex-
citement and the dire threat back OF
his curt words that unless there was
e order in the court he would clear the
room. was like oil upon the troubled
= waters of the sea of onlookers, and
they sat in hushed silence as Mrs. Page
and Langdon knelt beside the uncon-
scious form of the slim young prisoner.
bathing her temples and chahng her
wrists until the momentary respite OF
nullity forsook her and she opened her
eyes TO the suffering Of reality.
At the sight of the fear on both
Langdon's and her mothers face, how
ever, she struggled bravely to regain
her self-control. and when the clerk
called the next witness. she was again
in her chair. Very white and wan, but
erect, her pallid lips set firmly to hold
back the threatening tides OF emotion
and weariness that were sweeping
over her.
The drumming IN her ears and the
little waves of nausea that are the
aftermath Of a fainting fit made events
blurred to her for little time and Il
was with a start Of surprise that she
recognized in the new witness her
erstwhile leading man.
The mere sight of his graceful figure
and his boyish face; that handsome
juvenile expression that was his stock
in trade brought a flood of memories
surging over her, and the shocked pity
in his eyes made her realize keenly
the difference that lay between Mary
Page the prisoner-and Mary Page the
star
His testimony was to great extent
a repetition of what had gone before.
He had been at the banquet; had seen
the boy bring the message to Miss
Page and had hidden her good night
when she left A few minutes later
the sound Of the shot had taken him
down the hall with the others and
into the room where Pollock and Mary
lay-the one dead-the other uncon-
scious
1T was I who first urged that some-
one call the police" he said in his we'll
- trained. youthful voice Il would have
ID gone myself but I wanted to be sure
M first whether I could be of service to
or Miss Page"
a. WAS that the reason you refused to
leave the room when ordered to do so
10 by Detective Farley?" The prose-
cutor's voice was dry.
Il resented his tone. sir" answered
W. the young actor. And besides" flush
e ing, Il was her leading man and felt
nc that tit was my place to be with
~, III her rather than that a lot of strangers
~ should hang about"
=. An involuntary smile crossed Lang
don's lips, but they grew grave again
II, at the next question.
~ After your election by Detectivs
a. Farley and Mr.. Langdon did you leave
= the hOtel?"
nv No, sir. waited in the hallway in
81 case I was wanted"
,d Did you re-enter the room?"
ne ''Yes. sir--not Immediately but when
ho heard confusion Of voices following
od the re-entry OF the house detective
be and Mr.. Langdon."
re could you hear what was said?"
The actor flushed and hesitated, and
=. then answered slowly:
"Yes. sir--in part"
"Win you please repeat what part
you heard?"
80 Il heard Mr. Langdon say. But good
God. there's only one door; she must
be some place in here. and the de-
tective said, Well, she's not-you can
'er see that Then Mr.. Langdon said,
There's the window-perhaps she's
'se out there I'll see And his voics
sounded queer and excited as IL he
Tor were frightened. and the detective said,
'No-nothing doing on that sir-just
remember Mr. Langdon, that as yet
nd I'VE no way of knowing whether that
nd shot was fired before or after you
get entered this rooml"
re Did Mr.. Langdon reply2"
alf Eyes: he said, You damn fool, what
ay do you meant? But just then the
for police came up and ran in. and went
for on in with them. and the detective
shouted. Some Of you go down that
escape and hunt for a girl in an
not evening gown without either cloak or
lty hat-and one of you keep your eve
IHe on this man Langdon-he was either in
re this room or at the door when David
see Pollock was murderedr"
CTo be continued)