, 1916-04-06
SYNOPSIS

heoest Strickland is on trial for killing
Gerald Trask in the latter's library at
night. District 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
o~ombination~ 10 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
combination 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 it 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 unknown to his wife
Strickland entered the library. shot Trask
and was struck down by Glover. hi
money was stolen. Glover is called to
testify.
Glover tells of striking down Strickland
- IL S. Il 49,
ing the combination of the safe. Strick-
and tried to tear the card. he said. and
succeeded in tearing it almost in half.
Little Doris Strickland is called to the
stand against her fathers agonized pro-
test.
Doris Strickland tells Of her ather's
happy homecoming from Cleveland on the
fatal night. Before his return, she testi-
nes. her mother ~telephoned to the Jersey
downtown shopping the day before. she
tells daddy. Doris investigated daddy's
travelling bag and found a shining. me-
tallic object.
Then how did you happen to &c
down to see her yesterday"
"She wrote. asking me to come
down"
Strickland seated himself at the Ia
BILE, put his elbow on the table and
rested his chin on his right thumb be-
tween that member and the fingers.
When he spoke next the words came
slowly:
"You haven't met her for years; then
she suddenly asks you to come down
to Long Branch to see her. Why didn't
she come to see your
TyfA --.tI1- "
though she felt herself slipping. slip
ping down the precipice of her fate.
May Strickland still lied to her hus-
band. As Is usual in such cases, her
mind moved at terriD.e speed. sending
| the words almost trippllnsly from her
tongue. She had gone too far to re-
treat. She must at all costs convince
| Robert nowl Was that Doris moving
uneasily liz the next room? oh, for
her child's sake she must go on and
ON and on!
"She's critically Ill, and she wanted
to see me again" The words came
fast and faster. $50 she had me look
ed up We used TO be quite intimate
In school,"
Quite oblivious Of the torture he was
INJECTING on his wife. Robert Strick
land continued his unintentionally mer
CHESS questioning:
'How did she manage to write II
she's so il?"
Some one wrote for her"
From what is she s~ufferingY'
What is a terribly dangerous dis
ease? The first thing that entered
May Strickland's mind was "Pneumo-
MIA"
"Oh, she's dangerously Ill. thenr'
asked Robert.
"Oh. yes" said May, with an inward
sigh OF relief that she had chosen SO