Evening journal., 1916-02-26

don. some time after the episodes he
had narrated. had come to New York
and served on the Daily NetDS as a po-
lice reporter. The District Attorney
objected to this line OF questioning, but
the Judge permitted 1t to go on.
Finally the witness was brought
down to the night when he took Mary
Page to the door Of the cafe so that she
might see him. Langdon. within.
'Dm you notice anything peculiar
about Miss Pages appearance at that
time? And II SO, tell the jury what you
saw"
Il noticed that Miss Page seemed
terribly excited. and when we got to
the door that led to the cafe, there was
positively an expression Of horror on
her face. I never saw any one so un-
strung. She had on an evening gown,
Of course, and I saw" Brandon
paused again.
Yes? What did you seer" cried
Langdon.
II saw strange mark on her shout
der-finger-prints that came and went
in the most uncanny way. 1 was quite
unnerved myself. Miss Page was by this
time looking through the door at you.
Mr.. Langdon."
Inc prosecutor WAS on MS IeeL IN n
moment. Everyone was greatly excit-
ed. What did this strange testimony
mean? People whispered and craned
their necks.
Il objectl" shouted the District At
torney. This story has no bearing"
"Overruled," His Honor calmly said.
This testimony" cried Langdon, a
triumphant note in his voice, "will have
an important bearing on the line of de-
fense shall later adopt"
Il object again." fairly yelled the
prosecutor. "Such talk tends to preju-
dice the jury"
"Overruled," again the Judge drawled
"Is that the first time you ever saw
these marks?" Langdon asked.
yes, sir"
"And the last time?"
"No. Six years later
Tell the jury"
The witness coughed, as II preparing
for an ordeal.
1T was the night Of the opening Of
Miss Page in New York. I couldn't get
a seat. so ! stood in the rear Of the
house. near the side. After the second
act, 1 think it was. there was loud ap-
plause. and Miss Page came before the
curtain several times. I saw Dave Pol
lock in a box. and Langdon down in the
orchestra. I noticed that Miss Page
bowed directly to him more than once.
looked at my watch. I was a police
reporter then, and It was almost time
for me to be on duty at the station. So
I hurried away. Things were dun when
got there. so I sat in a corner near
the stove and must have become a lit
tie drowsy. Pretty soon-I can't tell
what time it was, but II must have been
a couple OF hours later-Langdon came
rushing in. He was looking for Mary
Page. We recognized each other and
was surprised to find him in such
place on such an errand. Then he told
me OF the murder of Pollock. You
could have knocked me down. I was
dazed. bewildered. The next I knew
Langdon had gone out hurriedly. The
police were as excited and confused
as I.
Somehow the night wore on. had
to stay on duty. In the moming. very
early, the prisoners We're brought out
from the pen. I hadn't slept much. A
paper was brought in. and I saw the
staring headlines. telling all about the
murder. That woke me up. l can tell
you."
Had the situation not been so tense
there might have been laughter here
= But the courtroom was so still you could
have heard a snowflake fall.
What was my surprise. an instant
later, to see Mary Page enter the room
, from a side door. in full evening clothes
but with no hat or coatl 1 could scarce
|. " believe my eyes, ] thought I'd gone
mad. or somethingl Why I'd just beer
, reading about her-and there she
stood, pale and beautiful, but bewilder-
! ed and frightened. A police officer took
! hold OF her. I knew 1 wasn't dream
ing then. and 1 started up too. the
newspaper still in my hand.
. "'Who is this womanT the sergeant
said.
1--WE don't know who she is the
officer answered. She wouldn't talk
She was pulled last night with a couple
Of
"Just then was close 70 her. She
didn't recognize me; she seemed
strangely dazed, almost hypnotized
, Then she caught sight OF the paper in
my hand, with its big type running
across the whole front page-'Sensa-
! tional Murder. She grabbed. and read
it, Mortified. and we all just stood there
= looking at her. without saying a word.
Even the sergeant was silent She
seemed TO devour the story. And then
' some vision must have come before
u her eyes, for she whispered something
; about a bottle. 'whskey'. and her face
and arms became tense. I looked at
: her bare shoulder. and that's when
. saw those strange finger-prints again.
I They came and went as before.
u couldn't believe it,
The witness paused. There was no
sound in all the room.
!. "Go on" urged Langdon, at last.
u "Then, the outer door opened, and
you. Mr.. Langdon. came in. You looked
tired. haggard, bedraggled You stin
had on evening clothes. remember"
i turning directly to the jury. what a
= sensation Mr.. Langdon's presence Gre
S ated. his name having been in every
- headline too. Miss Page saw him. He
went up TO her without a word, and
r, they embraced each other. And then
It Miss Page stepped forward to the SER
geant's desk and whispered, so low that
Il I could hardly hear her. give myself
up"
: CTo be continued)