Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1916-04-21

Your Honor. and gentlemen of the
jury" Langdon's voice rose before the
words OF the prosecutor had died away,
the story which the witness is telling
has everything to do with the question
of the murder Of James Pollock. 1t
will show how again and again he
forced his attentions upon Miss Page.
and of the horror in which she held
him; and of the almost inevitable men
tai collapse that followed his brutal eff
forts to make her marry him If have
allowed the witness to tell the story in
her own way, it is simply that | wish
to bring before you the picture of these
two young girls. so brave and hopeful.
and hard working. whose positions and
good character were attacked by James
Pollock"
For a moment the judge hesitated.
and the court held its breath-aggres-
sive. even antagonistie at the mere
thought of losing the gay little witness
who was looking from the judge to
Langdon with such childishly startled
eyes Then his Honor said slowly:
Il cannot sustain your objection to
the testimony as irrelevant, sir ] con
slider all that has a bearing upon the
curious relations existing between Mr.
Pollock and Miss Page as of paramount
Importance At the same time he
added. turning to Langdon. 81 would
suggest that you instruct your witness
to eenfine her testimony to mere state.
ments of fact
The entire courtroom. not excepting
the jury. heaved sigh of relief. and
Langdon's face showed Il flush of tri-
umph as he asked:
How long did your engagement III
a Woman's Pledge last. Miss Bar
TOM"
six weeks. but We only got salary
for four.
Where did the tour end?'
1t didn't end 1t blew up in a one
tank rube town called Prindleyille. 1t
was one of those towns that have the
railroad station on one side of Main
Street. the hotel and 'Opry' house at
the other and the rest of the buildings
scattered about wherever they happen
ed to drop.
Again Il gust of laughter lifted
through the dingy room. but Lang
don fr0wned and shook his head at
Amy.
Never mind descriptions, he said
more sharply than he had spoken so
far. Amy, far from being awed by
his stcrnn2ss. pouted at him with a
gay little moue and went on with her
story in her own fashion
I'VE were all feeling pretty grouchy
when we hit PrindleNille because the
ghost hadn't walked for month. and
nobody knew whether we'd ever get
back to New York or not.
Did you give the performance that
night" broke in Langlon impd
tiently.
We'll, we started te. but it never got
beyond tis ticket-taking stage. for the
sheriff blew in with Il badge as big rs
a saucer ana said that he'd been or
dered to hold all our trunks and props
for unpaid beard bills in the last four
towns, and that meant that we We're
stranded with Broadway doing the
Sheridan act many miles away. We
went back TO the hotel and said what
We thought Of the producer and tried
TO borrow Carfare from the hotel pro
prietor That was when we saw James
Pollock again. He arrived in town by
the last train. and walked into the lob
by while we were there He came
over ami said he was going through
the town on business trip, and see
ing Mary's name on an eight sheet
YOU Knowing poster-he had jumped
off on impulse. He said he was awful
~ sorry that the tour had ended so
unfortunately. and begged her 10 let
nim arrange for our return TO New
York"
Did Miss Page acceptF
No She refused absolutely. She
she looked as If she would scream If
he touched her. She held onto my arm
so tight it made black -and-blue spot.
and you could see the pulse in her
throat jumping the way 1t does be
fore a woman dissolves into Mysteries.
The proprietor of the place was a
decent old Rube with a fatherly eye
and soft heart that wore the makeup
ef "a crouch, and when Mary offered
him Il ring that had been her mothers,
rs a pledge for cur board. he kind OF
gulpe.l and handed over the key TO our
room without a word
You say our room. That means
that you remained with Miss Pager
why. of course. she said in obvious
surprise. You don't suppose Id 90
back on Mary. do YOU We went up
stairs and had IA little cry she said
wbimsieaIly. d furtive dimple show
ing as she spoke Then. having pow
dered our noses 9nd cheered up, |
left Mary resting While | went to the
head Of the stairs to see what was do
ing ia the ofilee. and what had hap
pened 10 the rest of the bunch.
Gould you see those in the office
from the stairway
Plainly. hy going down to the first
landing and looking through the ban
isters
was the rest Of the company sfln
there
yes"
Was Mr. Pollock with them
Yes. he was playing a leading role
and making Il speech
.Coull ron hear what he saidf'
sure, of course missed the first
mart If it, bnf when ] got 70 the land
ine he was saying. i have always tax
on n great Interest In the theatre. and
can Thoroughly symPatlize with your