The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-21
The Strange Case OF
Mary Page

@~A y 0~
Continued from yesterdays Banner
With long breath of relief Langdol
turned back toward his seat. suddenl,
becoming conscious that he was hold
ing n crumpled scrap Of paper which
the baillh had thrust into his hant
some moments before. He remember
ed now that the court officer had sale
something when he gave it TO him. bu
he hadn't caught the words, and i
was with entire indifference that h'
opened the note and read the'bastill
scrawled words. But at the sight OF
them indifference gave place TO excite
ment. Crumpling the paper up i'll hi'
hand. he turned'sharply TO the bailiff.
Call George Brennan" he said, snC
there was triumph in his tones;
Brennan was the same ceancul
Young detective who had told Of the
disappearance of Daniels, and the frs
question asked him revealed what had
been in the note.
Ar Brennan. | have just received
q message which says that you have
found Mr. Daniels. VIII You tell the
court, please, the circumstances Of the
finding Of the missing man."
We'll. st wasn't exactly case OF
finding him. said the detective. with
smile. "You see-he just came home
I was hanging around the apartment
house in case anyone brought mes
sage to Mrs. Daniels when l saw him
come into the vestibule lie had =
three days growth OF beard on his face
and his CLOTHES were all mussed up as
il he'd been sleeping in them. He
looked like n bum after a three days
jas. but had no trouble recognizing
him" t.s
did he seem excited-or anxious to
get into the building without being
seen"
4 'iNo. He moved slowly, us If he was
dazed. lie hesitated quite a while be-
fore he rang the bell Of his apart
ment but as soon as he'd pushed it
be got impatient, and kept calling,
Hellor up the speaking tube, and
when someone answered he said Open
the door quick. It's me-your father.
When the latch clicked he went In, but
he made no effort to close the door
after him. SO | followed Both Mrs.
Daniels and the daughter were in the
doorway Of the apartment to meet him,
and while they were kissing and hug
ging him ! walked ill.,"
Did Daniels seem startled at the
sight OF your
NO He seemed sort OF stupid as if
he was sleepy, but when Mrs. Daniels
told him was detective and that lie
was wanted as witness in the Page
trial he woke up fast enough and got
very excited. He said be had nothing
to tell ana wouldn't accept service OF
any subpoena. i don't know any
thing' he Kept saying, and when I
asked him where be had been he said
he'd been on little spree TO forget his
bufiin3s troubles
"Did you tell him lie would have 10
appear in court?'
Yes, But it wasn't what | told him
about the law, but what his wife said
that seemed to convince him. she told
him she had every faith in him, and
that what lie had to tell wouldn't do
any harm. and for him to go. SO he
said he would If ia give him time 70
wash up"
is Mr.. Daniels in court nowt'
yes, sir. He is in the witness
room"
A stir Of excitement swept through
the room. but deepened to an ominous
whisper of suspicion when. Brennan
the bailiff summoned the
former manager OF Mary Page. For
Daniels skunk into the room with an
ashen face and trembling hands. Great
beads OF sweat stood out visibly on his
forehead, and his voice when he took
the oath was husky and uncertain. IL
ever guilt was written large upon any
man, 1t was apparently written upon
the erstwhile jaunty, theatrical mana
ger. The Judge, studying him with
eyes psychologically keen, wished he
had the full papers of this case before
him to learn more Of this new witness,
and inwardly vowed q recess TO study
them should the evidence take any I'M
expected turn. Daniels, however, re-
covered some measure OF self-control
under the preliminary questioning and
gave his occupation as manager of
the Covington Theatre" with a hint OF
pompousness, but Lnngdon's next cues
ton brought the startled look back into
his eyes.
mir. Daniels, you say you knew the
defendant well and that you starred
her in The Seekers Win you tell US
please, just what made you
sser'' '1.''-7y erzs,,s