The Washington times., 1916-02-13
CHAPTER Nv.
Her Mothers Story.
T HE DISTRICT ATTORNEY stood
Mt the window Of his private Of
hcc ndtoinlrr the court and

% HE DISTRICT ATTORNEY stood
Mt the window Of his private Of
fec adjoining the court and
stared down at the hurrying
throngs while one nervous hand beat
a devils tattoo against the somewhat
Erimy pane.
II had been raining. and the identity.
even the sex, Of the crowd was sub
merged beneath q sea Of bobbing black
umbrellas, between which the wet and
shining tops OF the motor cars darted
like huge black beetles. But the pros
ecutor saw neither the crowd nor the
traffic-ho saw only Mary Page She
had become almost an obsegslon with
him now, and though II was not yet
time for court aud there woro other
clients besides the State whose busi-
moss claimed his attention In his other
office, no had drifted here. as he had
drifted unwittingly each morning TO
mentally test the links In the chain of
his evidence against her.
II SHOULD be strong enough to bind
her upon the metclless wheel OF the
law. and yet he was conscious that
more than one OF It's links were weak
so weak. In fact, that not even his
mastery summing up for the jury had
been entirely able to gloss II over. He
did not doubt for a moment that Mary
Page WAS guilty OF the murder OF la
vid Pollock. but he had not PROVED
her 80 80 his own SUBTRACTION. Inc
intricacics OF what had at nrst seemed
30 simple case had multiplied with
almost incrediDle rapidity, and each
Clue that IL mad seemed must throw
an illuminating light upon the laDy-
ninth OF mystery HAD proved in turn 10
be mere will-o'-the-wisps that led deer
er into the maze.
lie had shown that Pollock was In
her eyes an enemy he had proved that
the dead man was a wooer whose put-
quit was unwelcon,e; he had shown
that twice during the recent years Pol.
lock mad forced Mary to promise 10 De
bis wife. but that once the necessity
for that stYp was removed she had
was surely motive enough; added t.
which. II she were not guilty nc felt
she would not have fed that night after
the murder. But that fight-that COM
plete disappearance within those few
short moments, presupposeo a confed-
erate-some one who had either let her
into another room In the hotel or into
one OF the houses whose backs looked
up across the narrow street. A confcd-
crate. on the other hand, meant pre-
nieditated crime. and the belIhop aud
those at the banquet had testified that
Mary had not cxtected to see David
Pollock when she went into the room.
Time after time rs he went back to
the tcstimony-to the fact that Mary
had had the revolver In her bag, HAD
gone into the room and HAD been
| found beside Pollock's body. he strove
| to glimpse somo faint clue that would
the meantime. II was Langdon's turn
| and the keen-eyed District Attorney
| wondered curiously just what defense
he wo1ld bring. IAndgon's continual
refusal TO cross-examine the witnesses
for the State had naturally kept his
defense wonderfully well hidden. Yet
when so much of the testimony had
concerned Langdon himself, cross-eX-
animation must perforce have been q
farce, and the prosecutor did not be-
lieve its absence part OF any deep
laid scheme.
The newspapers wore, however. full
of theories a. IN what the defense would
| be- Several claimed that II would be
Mary Pages honor another that Il
would he provcd thai Pollock shot him.
self when he found that not even his
support of her stardom could make
said that the real criminal would con
fcss'' when put upon the stand Nh
surd. all OF them. and yet the third the
DRY brought frown t. the lawyers
face. Suppose Leagdon himself cor
fessed to the murder! He didn't be,
lieve' Langdon had committed It. but
he loved Mary and he might perjurC
himself to save her.
Hello. Grief" 4 voice from tn,
door interrupted his revery and hi
Hello. sheenan. Have you got any
thingT'
The detective came in and shut th'
door.
lines you spoke Of. S,ade doesn't know
| anything except what he told, and I've
| traced Langdon's movements for thrc.
days before the murder, down to eacl
minute, and there's nothing to hang
ibid vow and out about the automo
biles marked IN that night?"
yep. but Casey was on the job a
that corner. and there wasn't as much
as a ghost of motor went into tho
street back OF the hote,. The back gates
of the houses were !ocked-had heer
tried by the Waterman lust few
minutes earlier. and the police were OF
the job anyway. on account OF the clut
there. The Page woman must have
gone down the hre-escape and climbed
into the hotel az another nocr-that'i
the only answer"
The prosecutor turned again to tn
window. IAN right" he said. curtly
Rut the detective fingered.
Say, Chief" he suggested. hesitat
ingiy. 'have YOU talked TO Daniels
/ IAlIlle rat Kuy NlNl tiiN ~
I saw him yesterday and he locks well
sick"
The prosecutor laughed. :.
YOU'D look sick yourself In hi
shoes." he said. Daniels has lost I
popular star II bully good show, ana
generous hacker through one little ~
, caliber cartridge-and the fortune h
had his hands on has flown the COOP
He doesn't know anything. I've puupe'
him dry ne powder"
A discreet knock sounded. and tn
bailIff put his head In at the door.
Ellis honor Is ready TO 30 into court
sir" he said; and with nod OF rel'e
tho prosecutor gathered up his papers
Defense begins today, don't NJ
asked the detective as he left. wins
do you guess It's Roine to be-"
'I'm not guessing ANYTHING" said tn
district attorney grim'y. except tina
his witnesses are going to have n bn
time when they get into my hands,H
saTeii me something l don't know.
chuckled the detective with honest al
miration. though after moment
nauae he added behind his superior
back. "But Mary Page has got IN
sympathy OF the crowd at that, b.
glory!
she had won the sympathy OF N
spectators now--there was no doubt OF |
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