The Washington times., 1916-01-30
CHAPTER II.
The Drama of fha Law

SuhoinBs Where tue law stages SO many
tragedies.
Hourly the pools grew larger. Soon
fhe corridor that. led to the courtroom
life and liberty in the face " over
whelmins evidence was filed with the
Grsatest crowd 1t had ever known.
.srsoGa raom ths window Of his taxi rs it
Of the people outside, and in spite Of
his confidence in Mary's innocence, his
heart sank. He was. too good lawyer
rnblic sentiment was.
INQUEST that there had teen , note
su's sut * Hit tSe 9nN pnSc in t; the s
Mary guilty There had even been a
subtle suggestion that her plea Of mot
su,ity was no more than n mere for
Hs wondered irritably. why 1t was
termed It contenptuously to himself,
could not realize that Mary would not
ion, however much she had Ioathed
POLLOCK: and whatever the provoeation
to kill him. 1t was inconceivabie that
= girl who had reached the zenith "f
her career at II o'clock and had been
hailed as one OF the greatest stars Of
the century. should deliberately fling
an that success aside to wreak her
yengeanee or a man;-and W atch t,,e
dawn come from a cell In the Torts
As the young lawyer in his cat drew
up at the curb within a hairs breadth
three women hung over an early edition
St.S|nssf OF Sn sfsrmoon srS ,, PAPER whose f'3rins
straight into his face:
LOVERS FIGHT FOR LIFE
oqd Sweetheart Defends Mary PAGE
Noted Actress. Charged
with the E, Murder
DAVID POLLOCK.
Another Woore
The words bit like acid. and with a
shudder of aversion Langdon closed his
eyes to shut out the ugly sight The
notoriety OF 1t vas in truth almost az
Mary's name should be dragged in the
mud Of public gossip-as an actress
who had shot millionaire. while Just
music and lights. the great world sup
ped and danceS. He hated the thought
that his love for Mary had been
smirched. and had become a spicy
morsel to be rolled on the tongues Of
those hungry for sensation: and there
were times when he was even glad
ct least, in spite OF its grim horror
there was a semblance Of peace.
Something of that was in his mind
crowd that pressed about him. shout
Ing his name, bombsrding him with
questions and clnging to his arms in
vain effort to hold him long enough
TO make him talk-to get from him
some hint or clue as to what the day
might bring forth.
At the cell door the lawyer paused,
and quickly raised his hat. Unbdden
tears sprang to his eyes, for Mary was
knseling like a little child, her head in
mOfher'a ha NJ
was praying aloud:
And give us strength to go through
this day, and grant Thy mighty justice
TO my little girl"
Justice, dear God. justice" echoed
MARY. and no artistry of the great
actress could have given to that simple
prayer the poignancy that a great faith
and a great sorrow gave il.
1t was in Langdon's eyes alone that
there were tears, for both women were
hravely smiling when they greeted him.
and not even the ordeal of going into
court, not even the hreathless. terrify-
ing moment when she stepped across
the threshold and saw that thronsed
room full Of strangers, caused that
serenely simple calm TO forsake Mary
Page.
'rhe sight Of her brought the crow
"f spectators s,rsinE suddenly to tair
feet with "A whispering gasp of excite
lnent or perhans Of expectancy, but at
the first rap Of the JUDGES savel th"y
subsided with q satisfied settling back
into their chairs like that Of a FIRST
night audience when the curtain rolls
un.
There have been murderels placed on
trial who have never Gi"en any out
ward evidence OF their guilt while they
who have shuddcred under the shame
and infamy of their terrible position
and acted, at momen1s, rs though the
crime were indeed upon their heads.
Sprrnitv
mated into something higher than en-
dursnce and greater than mere pa
tience. md If she were guilty then
she was tho most amazing actress in
the world--this was the thought that
flashed through the minds Of those vino
watched her. as she went quietly for
ward aud took ner place IN the court
room, the CynosHre OF all cyes hostile.
CrtCal. curious and sympathetic. N"t
70 ap of them she wns a riddle. a won,-
t1erfhl riddle. a marvel Df self-control.
q sion Of forIorr lOvelness
More than one nan or woman watch
sne. felt n sudden understanding Of
why she had succeeded upon tho stage
since she could act like this 1t must
iIstrionic ability. rhic wonderful quality
Of magnetism, AUGMENTED hy youth aud
beauty
And yet for all her charm there was
eth that antaEonistic note in the at
mosnhere. q hostile sense ot her Guilt
that LaHgdon at Least felt roignartly.
Though he dctermined to meet the day
With squared shoulders and smile. It
WAS A relief when the actual business
~ the trial began and Farley. the house
G"thctivc Of the Hotel Republic was
called as the hrst witness. To him the
prosecutor said:
Tell us as briefly as possible what
happened on the night that David Pol
lock Wac murdered in rho Hotel Re-
public" He straigntened up and SPOKE
hriskiv.
Il had come back from supper Kind
o' late" he said, and made the round
Of the urstairs halls to see that the
hoor clerks were on duty and had
kothinC suspicious to report. then
Nert back to the lobby There was a
~. IL hnr in, i.