The Washington times., 1916-01-30
CHATTER II.

hurrTug workers, began to form ldie
little pools In the shadows OF the grim
Buildings where the law stages SO many
tragedies.
Hourly the pools grew larger. Soon
Ehe corridor that. led to tho courtron,
where Mary Page was battling for her
HIe ana liberty In the face Of over
whelminE evidence was filled with the
SLeateet crowd II had ever known.
From the window OF his taxi M II
thFesded its way through the heavy
traffic, LanEdon could catch glintDscs
2f the PEOPLE outside. and in spite OF
MS confidence In Mary'R innocence, his
heart sank. He was too good a iawyer
not to realize how important a factor
public sentiment was
He had felt ever since the eoroner's
inqUest that there had teen note
struck not only in the newspapers, .,
but by the public itself that declared
MARY guilty. There had even beer a
suntto suggestion that her plea Of mot
suiity was no more than mere for
He wondered .irrItably why Il was
that this 'curbstone jury" as he
termed Z eonte'nptuously to himself,
Solld not realize that Mary would not
ion. however much she had lonthed
Pollock. and whatever the provoentiun
70 ktl him. 1t was inconceivable that
z gifl who had reached the zenith 1T
hailed as one OF the greatest stars OF
the century, should deliberately fling
an that success aside to wreAk her
yehgeaHee or man:-and watch tie
As the young % lawSer YER IN IN Sis s foTSs eaP drew
up at the curb within a hairs breadth
three women hung over an early edition
OF Sn Afternoon, pnper whose fiarine
straight into his face:
LOVERS FIGHT FOR LIFE,
Old Sweetheart Defends Mary PAGE
Noted Actress. CHARGED
with the Murder
DAVID TIol.LocK.
Another woore.
The words bit like acid. and with a
ehudder of aversion LAngdon closed his
eyes to shut out the ugly sight. The
notoriety OF II wab in truth almost az
bitter to him as the awful, overshadow-
Mary's name should be dragged in the
mud OF public gossip-as an actress
who had shot a millionaire, while lust
outside the door, with laughter and
music ana lights, the great world sup
ped and d9nceSI He hated the thought
smirched, and had become a spicy
morsel to be rolled on the tongues or
those hungry for sensation: and there
were times when he was even glad
that Mary was in prlson-for there
81 least, in spite OF its grim horror,
there was a Bemblance Of peace.
Something Of that was in his mind
as he fought his way through the
crowd that pressed about him, shout
Ing his name, bombarding him with
questions and clinging to his arms in
a vain effort to hold him long enough
to make him talk-to get from him
some hint or clue as to what the day
might bring forth.
At the cell door the lawyer paused,
and quickly raised his hat. Unbidden
tears sprang to his eyes, for Mary was
knseling like a little child. her head in
her mothers lap, and the elder woman
was praying aloud:
And give us strength to go through
ms IN 50, daX, and grant Thy mighty justice
Justice. dear God. justice"' echoed
Mary. and no artistry of the great
actress could have given to that simple
prayer the poignancy that a great faith
and great sorrow gave il.
1t was in Langdon's eyes alone that
there were tears, for both women were
bFavely smiling when they greeted him.
and not even the ordeal of going into
court, not even the breathless. terrify-
ing moment when she stepped across
the threshold and saw that thronEed
room full Of strangers, caused that
Page.
'rhe. sight of her brought the crowl
of spectatorR sursing suddenly to ttair
Insnt or perhaps OF expectancy, but at
the, first rap Of the judges RaVel they
eubslded with satisfied settling back
into their chairs like that OF a FIRST.
night audience when the curtain rolls
There have been murderers placed on
trial who have never given any out
ward evidence OF their guilt while they
were In court; others, falsely accused,
who have shuddered under the shame
and infamy OF their terrible position
ana acted at moments, as though the
crime were indeed upon their heads.
mated into something higher than en-
durSnce and greater than mere pa
tleTce. "nd IL she were guilty then
she was the most amazing actress In
the woTld--this was the thought that
flashed through the minds Of those who
watched her, as she went quietly for
ward and took her place in the court
raom, the cynosure OF all eyes, hostile.
critical. curious. aud sympathetic. Yet
70 ap or them she was q riddle. a wom-
derfn riddle. = marvel 3f self-control,
q "ision of forlorh lOveliness.
Moro than one man or woman watch
snE. felt n sudden understanding Of
why she had succeeded upon the stage
.-since she could act like this 1t must
have heon born in her. this hypnotic,
histrionic ability. ThiS wonderful quality
of inagnAtism, augmented by youth and
beauty.
And yet for all her charm there was
Rtill that antAEonistic note IN the ut
tnosphere. a hostile sense Of her suilt
that La9geon at lcast felt poignantly.
Though he determined to meet the day
was a relief when the actual business
~ the trial began and Farley. the house
istActlve Of the Hotel Republic was
called as the hrst witness. TO him the
prosecutor said.
'"rell us as briefly a. possible what
happened on the night that David Pol
lock wAt murdered in the Hotel RE-
public" He straightened up and SPOKE
briskiv.
Il had come back from suppAr Find
~ late" he said, and made the round
Of the upstairs halls to see that the
noor clerks we're on duty and had
kothing suspicious 10 report then
sent hhck, to the lobby. There was a