, 1916-03-30
SYNOPSIS

1tsnt DIstrlct attorney Gray declares
Strickland killed Trask, with the aid of
an accomplish. who escaped, for the sake
OF 10000 in cash, which Strickland had
lust repaid to Trask. The defendant and
Trask were The only two who knew the
combinations 70 the safe. Important fig
ures In the case are Arbuckle. counsel for
the defense. and Glover. who was Trask's
secretary.
Strickland would not make defense.
but law compels him to do SO. Mrs.
Strickland disappeared after the shooting.
MRS. Trask. on stand, tells of telephone
call made on her husband. on the night of
his death, by a woman who would not
give her name.
Trask returned from Long Branch that
night and told Of giving by mistake the
of the safe to Strickland.
Mrs. Trask asked him in vain for name
OF woman who called him up. Glover and
Trask discussed Strickland and praised
him.
Mr.. and Mrs. Trask quarreled about his
attentions to other women, and she drag
ged out of the past that affair at Great
Neck thirteen years before. In which a
Miss Deane was involved.
Trask promised to reform, and his wife
forgave him, although 1t was only fear
Of a divorce suit that prompted him. Later
when the two had gone to their respec-
tive rooms the telephone bell rang again.
Trask answering to some one he called
May" who is unknow to his wife.
Strickland entered the library, shot Trask
and was struck down by Glover. The
money was stolen. Glover is called to
testify.
Glover tells of striking down Strickland
and taking from his pocket a card bear
ing the combination OF the safe. Strick-
land tried to tear the card. he said, and
succeeded in tearing it almost in half.
Il n ftAI. na-l, C@rFotrfo-a - Il
stand against her fathers agonized pro-
test.
Doris Strickland tells of her fathers
happy homecoming from Cleveland on the
fatal night. Before his return, she testi-
fes, her mother ~telephoned to the Jersey
railroad about a lost purse. Mother was
downtown shopping the day before. she
tells daddy. Doris investigated daddy's
travelling bag and found a shining, me
tallic object.
As he turned to the doorway he came
face to face with May Strickland.
about to enter the room. For a mo-
ment he hesitated; then made as IL to
go on. The woman saw him and drew
1 back. but her husband. looking past
, his departing friend, saw her and halt
, ed her with:
Come in, dear"
There was no way out for May
Strickland at this juncture in her life.
She could not retreat without evident
discourtesy to her husbands guest.
Reluctantly she entered the room. and
the die was cast whose throwing meant
so much In the lives of all four there
present. the woman. the child and the
two men. with others whose fates were
interviewer with theirs.
May Striekland's face was pale as
she entered the room. and a close OBJ
server might have see her hands
twitching her handkerchief nervously.
Her husband at that moment was not
a keen watcher. His mind was too
intent on the pleasure Of introducing
the wife who was the joy and pride of
his life and the man who had proved
himself so good a friend. Was 1t not
Trask who had made possible the sue
cessful trip to Cleveland which was to
result in the opening OF a new life for
his beloved May and Doris. rs well as
for himself?
Strickland's face beamed as he said:
81 want you to meet Mr.. Trask. May.
Jerry, my wife"
Both Mrs. Strickland and Trask bow
ed, the former in silence and the latter
with a formal Delighted. Mrs. Strick-
land" Then, having recovered his
poise, he said:
I've often heard Bob speak of you"
Strickland laughed. Yes, dear, Jer-
~ knows almost as much about you al
Ido."
Although the husband did not per-
ceiye 1t, there was strain apparent In
the grouping OF the three. Trask re-
lieved 1t by saying. well, I've got to
hurry away now"
Strickland answered impulsively:
"Oh, wait just u few minutes! Good
heavens. l want May to know you"
SORRY" said Trask, but I CANT
Some other time. Good night. Mrs
Strickland"
In a low voice, the words scarcely
audible, May Strickland replied, Good
night"
And now Trask turned his full face
upon her, laying just the faintest pos
sible stress upon his words: ~ hope 10
have the pleasure again, Mrs. Strick-
land. Good night" To Doris also
there was a "Good night" before Trask
left, followed by Strickland.
Mrs. Strickland followed them with
her eyes until she vas quite sure that
they were out of earshot; then In a hur-