The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-30

brother. why was she willing to be his wife?''
 The girl flushed and answered less readily:
 Well, you see-there were reasons and she had promised"
 will you please tell us those reasons?"
 A little gasping sob wrenched from woman's overburdened heart broke the stiffness at that question, and Mrs. Page suddenly dropped forward. hiding her face in her hands. With her own eyes tear -dimmed Mary stretched out her hands yearn- ingly, half whispering, Mother! Mo- ther!" and Langdon was at her side in a moment. She waved him back. and, drawing her veil across her distorted face, smothered the sobs that shook her thin shoulders like 8 storm. as the prosecutor repeated his question.
 Tt all happened several years ago f1ve-maybe six. Mary and were very good friends at that time. and I was at her home great deal So knew that-that-they were greatly in need
 
 of money"
 Was it pressing need, or do you mean simply that they were poor?"
 'Both" she said, hesitatingly. "They were poor but at the time I speak of overheard MT. Page say that there would be ruin for all of them, and that they'd be turned out on the streets un- less he got the money before morn ing. Mary overheard him. too. and when he went out she and sat try ing to think of some way by which we could raise money. It was while we were still talking that MT. Page came back. He-he-had been drinking, and he was waving a check around his head and cried. I've done a good turn for 8 friend and I've been well paid for 1t. The Lord helps those who help them selves He seemed terribly excited, and went out again almost immediately saying that he wanted to cash the check before the banks closed"
 Did MT. Page say who the friend was that had given him the checkT'
 "No: but we learned later."
 Whose check was it?"
 "My brother's.'
 "Was he interested in Miss Page at that time?"
 "Yes. He had always been. I think, but she was not at all in love with him. She had told me that" - "Yet he gave her father a check for a large sum-"
 "No" She flushed hotly now, and cast a timid glance at Mary, as if half deprecating the necessity of the testi- mony in spite of the circumstances that had built wall of horror and ha- tired between the erstwhile girl friends.
 "No," she continued after an in- stant's pause carefully choosing her words. That was just it. My brother had not-signed that check"
 Do you mean," broke in the Judge, "that the check was forged?"
 "Yes"
 "How do you know that?"
 "A detective sent by the bank came to the Page home while I was there and told Mrs. Page and Mary and me. Mary didn't believe it at first. but at any rate she said she didn't know where her father was, though we both guessed he-he-was in the bar of the hotel. He was mostly there. When the detective had gone Mary wanted to go and warn MT. Page. but thought it would be better to go to David; and we did. He was mortified when he found out that it was Mary's father who had cashed the check be- cause. not knowing. he had already told the police to prosecute the man to the limit Mary cried and begged him to do something to save her father, and David said, I'll save him for your sake. Mary, If you will prom ise to do something for me in return |"
 Did he say what that something was?"
 "No. She didn't even ask. She just said she would do anything in the world he wanted if he would save her father. So he went with us to the hotel and we got there just in time to save MT. Page from arrest"
 How did you save him, as you call it?"
 David told the detective that he had forgotten about giving the check to MT. Page and that it was perfectly good"
 And Miss Page was naturally grate- full to your brother for his having saved her father?" prompted the Dis trict Attorney, as Ruth broke off. not knowing how to go on.
 Grateful? Yes. She-she promised to marry him."
 "How soon were you told of the en- gagement?"
 Well" a faint little wrath of a smile crossed her lips. T had guessed what it was that my brother would ask Mary, and then I heard her tell MT. Langdon."
 Was MT. Langdon at the house at that time?"
 'No. he came while was sitting talk ing to Mrs. Page. Mary and David were in the next room, so went to let Mr. Langdon in. He stopped at the gate. looking at my brothers automo- bile, and I walked down the path to meet him. While we were coming back toward the porch the others came to the door. Suddenly David caught Mary up in his arms and kissed her. She seemed to struggle against him and. slipping away. ran into the house. MT. Langdon. thinking that my brother had kissed Mary against her will