The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
CHAPTER VI.
The Nurse's Story.

" ANGDON, opening the door of tht
 witness-room. glanced in. 4 sharp little frown of anxiety
 etched two fine vertical lines between his eyes; but at sight of the tall, trimly clad woman talking to the doctor a smile of relief replaced the scowl. He came forward eagerly,
 "Thank goodness you were able te get here" he said, taking her hand ir both of his. Tt means so much to us to have you: and yet under the cir cumstances I didn't like to insist, ol call the law to my aid. How is the recalcitrant patient?"
 ''Oh, the patient is doing splendidly thanks" she answered with a smile but I should have come anyway, duty or no duty. How is Miss Page bearing up?"
 Very bravely, all things considered '' said Langdon; but now his tone was grave with hint of wistfulness.
 Another day of the trial was begun.
 As on the day before, so fraught with terrible revelations, 1t was Mrs. Page who was the first witness.
 T have only a few questions, Mrs. Page" said Langdon gently, "but l must ask you to tell the court the events that directly followed upon the death of your husband"
 'T-Tm afraid that what happened directly afterward is not very clear to me-" she said with unconscious pathos. "It--it-was a terrible shock, of course" Her lips quivered.
 Just answer my questions then. How long after your husbands death was it that you learned the where abouts of your daughter?'
 Tt may have been an hour-or per- haps less"
 Do you remember what 1t said?'
 ''Yes; it was from Philip and said, Don't worry. Mary is safe in pr. Jamisons home. For obvious reasons advise you not to come here till later. will then explain all.'"
 what did you do upon reading the note?"
 T went and got my hat and cloak to go to her, but David Pollock drove up in his automobile just as Twas going down the path to the gate. He insist ed that return to the house and talk to him. He was very excited and urgent, but showed him the note from Phil--from MT. Langdon, mean-and asked him to take me to the doctors s in his car. He said he would if I would give him five minutes converse ton first; so we went back to the house. He said he hated to disturb me at such a time, but that I must re- member that Mary was his fiancee, and he was getting tired of MT. Lang dons attitude. I am the one who should have taken care of her last night he said and I demand that you immediately stop Langdon's interfer- ence.' told him that my poor child had suffered enough; that I would not in any way interfere in the future. In fact, I--I blamed him for the awful tragedy of the night before. It seemed to me that but for him my daughter would be safe and well and my hus- band living, and told him so. He said that if I would not deal with Langdon, he would. and that he would expect Mary to keep her word to him. Then he left At the gate he met a boy coming in with a note, and after some talk. he gave the boy some money and took the note himself. He tore it open and read it; then, crumpling it in his hand as if angry, he flung it aside and got into his motor. As soon as he was out of sight I ran out and picked up the note. lit was addressed to me, and 1t said: I am taking Mary to Dr. Fosters sanatorium outside the city. She bears up bravely under the news of her fathers death. Will call later Philip The next I remember is lying on the bed in my own room and hearing our doctor say, It's all too much for her. I wish to God she had some relatives or someone to help her."
 That is all. Mrs. Page, unless the State has some questions to ask" His voice rose interrogatively. but the prosecutor shook his head,
 .sDr. Angus Fosterl''
 Only the fear of the dire threat of the judge to "clear the room if there was any disturbance" held the specta- tors silent at the sound of that name, for Dr. Foster had played his role in many another courtroom, while his fame was byword all over the world Kings of Wall Street owed their grip upon affairs to his care when mental breakdowns seemed inevitable.
 He was not a tall man, but the dig nity of his carriage. and the way he held his shoulders, lent him an appear ance of great height as he took his place in the witness-box and held up his right hand to take the oath.
 'Dr. Foster. you specialize in diseases of the brain, do you not?"
 T do. In both mental and nervous sff.