Evening journal., 1916-04-01
CHAPTER VIII.
AmNln Stellar RoIe.


ATATURE had intended Amy Bar
nj ton TO be a great actress.
Emotional roles OF any sort
would have sat absurdly upon
her slender shoulders. but in the part
OF the insouciant ingenue she never
failed TO score. Sho was the quaint
blending which modern life has evolved,
OF an old fashioned small town up
bringing. veneered with a bright crust
of bravado born Of battling for her liv-
ing in city brimming with tempta-
tions, but she had never lost her gay
defiance nor had she lost the corner
stone Of her simple creed, "Be decent.
loyal TO your friends and don't go
around with a Crouch"
Her gaiety was infectious. and as she
tripped up the two steps TO the wit
ness-chair she nodded a familiar greet
Ing 10 the Judge and smiled at the jury.
Miss Barton" said Langdon, 'you
have told US OF the experience with Mr.
Pollock that led 90 your sudden resig-
nation from The Blue Feather COM
pany Did you see him at any time
after that?"
"see him againi" she retorted. why
that man was a regular epidemicl" A
delighted giggle greeted the words.
emanating from the Jury-boN itself
1--WE bumped into him the day we land
ed our first real Job for the road. We
were on our way TO the prentiss Agen-
cy. Wed been there before and they'd
handed us the call again sign, so We
were playing a return date though we
hadn't much hopes. Old Miss Prentiss
Is such a sour old maid she'd never
hand anybody a job IL she could ge'
her commissions any other way but
she has the inside with some OF the
good managers and you can't overlook
any bets In the show business. So We
went back, and while we wero going
down the hall Mary looked so blue that
I had TO play Little Sunshine with
much business OF Tve-a-hunch-that-
well-land- -today-to try and make her
smile and look pretty for any possible
manager. That's why we didn't see
David Pollock till we fairly bumped
into him, and he made a grab for
Mary's hand. Then he began TO spill
out an apology. He said he'd been
searching every theatrical agency and
every theatre in town looking for Mary.
I've been wretched, Mary he said. 1
think must have been crazy that night
H.
and angry and hurt besides. and lost
my head. Won't you forgive me? I'm
not going 20 bother you any more. but
can't live without your forgiveness
BY that time Mary had got the power
ef speech back and she jerlSed her hand
away from his as II Il burnt. I am
perfectly willing 70 forgive you.' she
said, and accept your apology. but I
so not care TO continue any acquaint-
snce with you With that we both
sailed by him and into the office. where
there was a fine young lineup OF leads
and heavies and capital rs. waiting 20
be selected by a manager who was
.loseted with Miss Prentiss"
did you and Miss Page secure posi-
lions in that new company?''
"Yes. The minute the manager spot
ted Mary, he picked her for the lead
because she was the proper type. and
Mary, the darling. said she couldn't
take the Job unless / went along too
So he handed me an ingenue role with
about ten sides and twenty-five beans
as salary. Old Miss Prentiss was so
friendly after that I thought she was
going to kiss US goodbye. but she
didn't and we got away with our first
call for rehearsal and our contracts
tucked in our handbags. Mary's in
cluded the fact that she was TO be fes-
tured IN the play which had the giddy
moniker OF a Woman's Pledge"
May Il please the court" broke In
The prosecutor. getting iazily 20 his feet.
"ar this is no doubt very interesting
delightful. IN fact and might prove OF
great help TO US n we had stage aspi-
rstions. But" with a sudden change
OF tone) I'VE are here 20 decide the
guilt OF innocence Of Mary Page whom
the State declares to have murdered
David Pollock. fail TO see. your Hon
or. where the somewhat rambling fable
In slang which the witness Is telling
has any bearing upon this case"
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 David Pollock. II
VIII 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 ef.
forts 70 make her marry him. II I hav,
allowed the witness 10 tell the story ir
her own way. 1t is simply that I wish