The Washington times., 1916-02-20

COuHClOunuenH u 0hhhs anu tt1AN
unless the subconscious mind supple
ments the conscious concentration. the
attention IL easily diverted. Thus a
sailor steering by the north star culver
ing IN the tail OF the Little Bear In
readily diverted by the flashing of a
meteor across the heavens. since It IL
only his outer consciousness that IL
hSed upon the star; but q, whole swarm
of meteors might have streaked the sky
UNDECIDED when Ulysses. life In hand,
steered between Scylla and Charybdis.
and all the din OF the siege failed TO
disturb Archimedes bent over his fig
ures in the sand. For here conscious
and subconscioue forces were welded
into great Intensity. In like fashion.
Mary Page. sitting in the prisoners
dock with the Damoclean sword of JUS
tice above her. was now unconscious OF
the crowd In the court room. She no
longer heard the boys who slipped from
the reporters table TO the door carry
Ing the news OF the trial for the special
editions; she no longer felt the eyes OF
the crowd upon her. She was even
unconscious OF the rustling OF the pa
pers on the prosecutors desk which had
at first rasped her nerves so unbeara bly,.
Now mind and soul were alike concen-
traied upon Langdon and upon the slow
building OF the evidence that was to
free her from the charge Of having muir
dered Davis Pollock.
\ tumult of old memories was surging
about her. as witness after witness told
of the tragedy OF year before "a tragedy
that had so grim n SEQUEL In the pres
entb; and yet there were strange night
marish blanks In those memories
spaces where fact had to give place TO
and during which she had
hung In the nullity OF uncounted mo-
ments. merging like n person under
seriousness. only to sink whiriing back
into oblivion. And II was Of these mo-
ments of which Mary herself knew only
by hearsay that the witnesses were now
testifying.
They were an odd contrast. these
defenders of Mary. Mrs. Page. slen-
der. frail. bowed with grief and anN-
iety: MACPHERSON In his rough clothes
and high boots, veritable Scotch
giant with a square beard: two dis
grave, kindly faces of those whose
lives are spent in battling against
the dual enemies of diRease and men,
tai suffering: Jeanette. Mary's maid.
and all the others whose words were
to shSttcr the great. ominous temple
OF acdnsatory facts raised up BY the
State.
Mary did not realize the subtlety
with which LanIdon was calling these
witnesses. In fact. II was doubtful IL
perhaps tho prosecutor and the judge.
appreciated the skill with which he
brought out each detail in its turn.
There was no confusion OF facts, no
forcing OF a conBlomcrate array Jf
evidence upon the jury; but bit by
bit. as one pieces together n jig saw
puzzle. he was fitting into a perfect
picture for those present the tragedy
Of the life OF Mary Pave.
In pursuance OF his method OF
bringing out events as they had han
rened he had already. at "bar side
conference" asked permission to re-
call HIS witnesses a second. or even a
third time. Thus II came as a sur
prise only To the spectators when Mrs.
I'age again took her place In the wilt
She looked pitifuIIy pale and wan
and Langdon's voice was very Sentel
Mrs. Page, you told us yesterday
of how your dauGhter. struggling
with her drunken father. was struck
by him and fed screaming from the
house. viii you tell the court, please.
what followed that fISht? Did you
go after her or remain at homer
at was impossible fer me to follow
said quietly. glancing toward the
Judge. so l stood at the gate wait
ing, feeling sure that IL would only
be a few minutes before che would
return with my poor. half-craZed
girl"
was there anyone with you?
AT first quite a group OF our neigh
bors were there. drawn by the sound
of-of-Nsry's screams. But they 5000
followed Mr.. Lansdon. and l was left
alone"
"Did you return to the house?"
Il went back ms far rs the window"
she sad In some hesitation. Tilt was
very cold and I wanted to get a wrap
but I-l-wHs AFRAID of my husband"
What did YOU see when you looked
In the Window
II saw nv husbcnd. Stating by the
table still drinking. At last, however
he fell over onto the couch asleep. and
! went In and got wraps and blankets
thinking to start out myself in search
Of Mary. As | came out of the Gotta sc
| saw Mr.. Pollock drive M In his motor
ana, thinking he he'd news OF my child
I ran down the walk to MIN. He knew
nothing OF where she was. alas, but he
had heard rumor5 OF what had hap.
pened, While ! was telling him about |,
man. one OF the men who worked
near our home, came up and said thai
Mr. Langdon had sent him to tell ms
that posse of men was searching the
woods for Mary and hoped soon to find
her."
Diu MI. Pollock make any comment
on this?"
Yes. Ho said: My God she'll di,
out there In the cold. They must be {
PACK of idiots not to have found her II
this time Then he grabbed the othel
| man by tho arm and said: Get in tn,
car md show mo how to reach IN,
rlncc where tho searching party Is. III
End Mary promise you that"
did hc offer to take you with him"
Yes. but / felt that I must stay n
home I'm cnse--in case--they brought hel
back. or she wandered hack of her owr
accord"
did YOU go into the house after the,
had left?' Langdon's voice was yer,
gentle now. nnd Mrs. Pago smiled a
him. smile that was far sadder thar
tears as she said:
Mol wrapped myself up and sat n,
the steps. IL felt nearer to Mary GU
| under tho stars"
That is ALL Mrs, Page"
on his feet holding up an arrestinl
"NIrs, Page" he said harshly, on,
lean finger thrust toward her men.
acingly ~ your husband strucI
YOUR daughter and injured her so ter
Tibly that she temporarily lost he,
reason, why. doesn't she carry
why. she does" There was a not,
\ Of surprise in the quick answer, an,
Mary's fingers frightened ever so littl,
about the rail IN front Of her.
IT'S u possible to show the cour
| voice: a sneer born of the realiza
/ tiOn that sOmethinR must ha dona a.