Evening journal., 1916-04-29
CHAPTER XII.
Maggie Hale.
'~ATHAT is your name7"
WMI Maggie Hale"

Wv "And your occupation7"
For a fraction of a minute
she hesltated and then answered light
iy. Il am out OF employment just at
present. 1 was private secretary to
Theodore Barker"
flicker OF mutual amusement shot
from Langdon's eyes TO those OF the
Prosecutor. and the spectators with a
whispering rustic OF interest leaned
forward TO stare. for Texas" Barker
was striking figure I'm the city
His millions amassed by the mascu-
fine love OF taking a chance would
have made him notable anywhere, but
Texas" the gambler enlarged that
notability TO the spectacular. though
his constant clashes with tho police
had recently robbed him Of some OF his
more exclusive patronage.
To Mary Page alone the name Bark
or meant nothing. and the sudden Gag
erness in her manner was due not 20
the expectation OF a bit of sensational
testimony, but because this was the
woman she had been supposed to be
on the night when tho police dragged
her 20 JAN.
This new witness was. however not
a woman 70 bring from Mary anything
but an uncomfortable shudder Of aver
sion. For she was OF the hard mouth
ed. bold-eyed type whose profession
Il Is 10 make herself attractive 20 men.
She was the decoy Of the great gam
bling he'll back OF the Hotel Republic,
and Mary wondered vaguely what on
earth she could possibly know OF the
tragedy. that after so many weeks
seemed no nearer solution.
The Prosecutor wondered much the
same thing. and the Judge made a
mental note 10 warn Langdon that
witnesses whose characters were not
beyond reproach detracted from rather
than added to case.
And he made that resolution in the
face OF the twinkle OF amused rocog-
milton that Maggie Hale had shot him
when she took the stand. For all
kinds and all classes met at Barker's.
and II was with this famous place that
Langdon's first question dealt.
As secretary 20 Mr.. Barker you must
have been frequently at his establish
ment back OF the Hotel Republic. were
you not?"
I was" the witness answered read
ny. but mostly I'm the daytime. ]
had my evenings free"
There were evenings when you were
there. though. were there not?'
"Oh. lotsl" Her tone was freighted
with easy amusement Sometimes ]
met up with a party for dinner or a
show. and then we'd drift about to try
and bank at The House"
She smiled. and several men in the
courtroom smiled too.
Miss Hale, we're you a friend OF Da-
vid Pollock?"
I knew him; knew him pretty well.
He was at Barkers a good bit"
Were you at Barker's on the night
that he was shot?'
Yes, but early. Somebody tipped me
on that the air was fresher at a caba-
ret"
A snigger OF repressed mirth filtered
through the room at this hint OF the
big raid, but Langdon frowned.
Had you seen Mr.. Pollock that
1ay?"
mo. Not since the night before"
Miss Hale. isn't Il true that YOU
were 70 have Joined the supper party
for the company that Mr.. Pollock and
Mr. Daniels we're giving?'
mo. ] wanted TO. but he said Il was
purely theatrical Then bet him
would come anyway"
Why were you particularly anxious
to attend that party-on Mr.. Pollocx's
account2"
Not on your lifei I knew that there
was going to be some crooked work
pulled OF. but couldn't prove It. /
! had a grudge against someone who
was In on it. and wanted TO queer
the deal.T
win you tell us please what thai
deal was2"
The wonap twisted her hands 20.
gether nervously, and her eyes dartes
among the spectators as II searchinr
for a menacing face. then she sale
slowly:
-Ths--the deal wasn't pulled on an,