The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-05-19
The Strange Case OF
Mary Page
Continued from Thursdays Banner)

when l almost became an unWlttng
accomplice in a murder, during the re-
hearsals of The Seekers
Whose MURDER
mir. Langdons."
A startled sob caught at Mary's
throat at the words and, lifting her
head, she looked at Langdon with such
an expression in her eyes that for
moment lie forgot the court, the judge
and the witness on the stand, aud
knew only, with binding rush Of
joy that whatever happened-she lov
ed him. That realization was surgins
through Mary herself at the moment,
and she felt as if she were seeing him
for the first time-truly and fairly.
The protective maternal instinct that
is always the real keystone of wo-
mans deeper love came to the fore for
the first time and was followed by
swift fierce Cladness that James Pol
lock was dead, Whatever the tragedy
and the suffering that enneshed her,
at least Philip was safe, and at the
thought all the fear and the horror of
the law left her, and she drew long
happy breath that was almost mute
paean Of gladneSs that it was she who
could pay for his safety.
Langdon himself was equally shaken
10y the wonderful little interlude that
had come like a streak of sunshine
through the drcary gloom of the court
scene but those about him attributed
Che unsteadncss of his voice to cX-
element AND only Mary guessed the
real reason and flushed rosily under
her own thoughts.
"NIr Daniels" IAngd0n was asking
in that strange choked voice. VIII
you please tell the court the circum.
stances OF thc--the attempt upon my
lifeF"
u didn't know it was. you know"
protested Daniels. II understood ii
was just to be kidnapping toto
get you Mr. langdon, l mcan-out OF
the way til after The opening of The
Seekers. "
You say Just Kidnapping Mr..
Daniels" broke in the judge harshly.
Did you not know that the law doe,
not consider kidnapping Il light Of
Cence?'
Yes, | know DanelS's voice was
husky and uncertain. Il knew but
all | had was invested in this new
play. and if James Pollock hud pulled
out then, I'd have lost it all and-I've
got Il wife and daughter. | didn't
think any harm would come TO Mr..
Langd0n; in fact. Mr.. Pollock prom.
ised It wouldn't, or I'd never have let
that man Shale take the watchman's
place
"When was thatf"
During the rehearsals, as | said.
jim came to me and said that Philip
Langdon was buttlng in too much, that
he was upscttlng Miss Page and max
ing trouble for him-that is Pollock
and he wanted him out of the way.
Then he said he had plan to kidnap
Langdon and take him out TO the coun-
uy till after the opening Of the play.
At first l wouldn't listen. but-fnaIly
Ibid. it sounded simple enough. ]
was to send for Langdon late that
night, supposedly to ask him some
thing about the Page contract. In the
meantime we were to drug the watch
man and let Shale-Pollock's jackal,
they call him. you know-take his
place. Then when Mr. Langdon was
leaving the Waterman was to nab him
and carry him out TO a waiting auto
mobile and cart him off"
Were these plans carried out?"
mo. That is, not the latter part. It
was then that | found out about the
attempt at murder"
"Will you tell the court in detail Just
what happened on that night?'
well, II sent for Mr.. Langdon.
said Daniels nervously, 'and he came.
in the meantime we had given the reg
ular Waterman Knockout drops and left
him in corner of the balcony, and
Shale took his place. When Mr.. Lang.
don was leaving | called this supposed
Waterman and, acting on Jim's in
structions, told him to show Mr.. Lang.
don out Of the stage door But tell
youths voice rose suddenly to Il high,
shrill note of hysterlcal emphasis-"l
tell You knew nothing Of that open
trap door in the stage. thought he
thought he was going TO hit Langdon
and snatched it away from him ant
dragged Langdon back upon the stage
The very first words he said made M
realize he didn't know the real reason
Of that open trap, SO hid the black
| jack behind me and took Mr.. Langdor
to the door myself and saw him safely
away
did you see Mr.. Pollock again tina
night|
Eyes. When got back to the stage
found him there dcnouncing Shalt
for having failed to do his part, an(
when | asked him If he had mean
murder, he said Yes! | meant to hav,
him killed through an apparent acct
dent. What is more, | tell you her,
and now, that I'll kill Mary Page ant
I'll Kill myself, before Iangdon shall
win her" That's what Jim Pollocl
said, aud that's what thought he hat
done-that night SWEAR | diln'
go into that room! Dut heard thou
quarrel, and | heard the scream ant
the shot. And | thought he'd done 1
was going to take him right out of th,
| fhnntrn And whnn [ henrd Mr. Lang