Evening journal., 1916-04-01

20 bring before you the picture Of these
two young girls. so brave and hopeful
and hard working. whose positions and
good character were attacked by David
Pollock"
For a moment the judge hesitated
and the court held it's breath-aggres-
sive, even antagonistlc at the mere
thought Of losing the gay little witness
who was looking from the Judge to
Langdon with such childishly startled
eyes. Then his Honor said slowly;
81 cannot sustain your objection e
the testimony as irrelevant, sir. con-
slider all that has a bearing upon the
curious relations existing between Mr.
Pollock and Miss Page as OF paramount
Importance. At the same time" hs
added, turning to Langdon. Il would
suggest that you instruct your witness
70 conhne her testimony TO mere state
ments OF fact"
The entire courtroom, not excepting
the jury, heaved a sigh OF relief. anc
Langdons face showed flush OF tri-
umph as he asked:
How long did your engagement IN
a woman's Pledge last. Miss Barton?'
"Six weeks. but we only got salary
for four"
''Whore did the tour end?"f
1T didn't end. II blew up IN one.
tank rube town called Prindleville. II
was one Of those towns that have ths
railroad station on one side of Main
Street, the hotel and 'Opry' house al
the other and the rest OF the buildings
scattered about wherever they happen
ed to drop"
Again a gust OF laughter lifted
through the dlngy room, but Langdon
frowned and shook his head at Amy
"Never mind descriptions" he said
more sharply than he had spoken 50
far. for he feared that the judge in a
revulsion OF feeling might stop his wit
ness before she had told the story that
meant so much in the case for the de-
fence. But Amy, far from being awed
by his sternness, pouted at him with a
gay little moue and went on with her
story in her own fashion.
I'VE were all feeling pretty grouchy
when we hit Prindleville. because It had
been a losing tour the ghost hadn't
walked for a month, and nobody knew
whether we'd ever get back to New
York or not"
'Did you give the performances that
night?" broke in Langdon impatiently.
well, we started to, but II never gof
beyond the Undertaking stage, for the
sheriff blew in with badge as big al
a saucer and said that he'd been order
ed 20 hold all our trunks and props 10
unpaid board bills in the last fou
towns. and that meant that We wer
stranded with Broadway doing tn,
Sheridan act many miles away"
what did you do?"
I'VE did what a company always does
I'VE went back 10 the hotel and said
what we thought OF the producer and
tried 70 borrow carfare from the hotel
proprietor. That was when we saw
David Pollock again"
do you mean that Mr.. Pollock was
in the hotel when you got there?"
mo. but he arrived in town by the
last train. and walked into the lobby
while we were there"
did he speak 70 your"
Eyes. He came over and said he was
going through the town on a business
trip, and seeing Mary's name on an
eight sheet-you lnow-big poster-he
had jumped Off on impulse He said
he was awfully sorry that the tour had
ended so unfortunately. and begged her
TO let him arrange for our return to
New York"
did Miss Page accept?"
mo. She refused absolutely"
did she seem much agitated at see
ing him2"
Yes. She-she looked as II she
would scream n he touched her. She
held onto my arm 80 tight Il made a
black-and-blue spot; and you could see
the pulse In her throat jumping the
way Il does before a woman dissolves
into Mysteries"
Had you noticed that extreme nerv-
BUSINESS in Miss Page before?"
Yes. The day we saw Mr.. Pollock
at the Prentiss Agency"
Nov, Miss Barton, having refused e
accept Mr.. Pollock's offer. how did yot
secure nights iodging?"
THE proprietor OF the place was
decent old Rube with a fatherly ey.
and soft heart that wore the make -uT
OF a crouch. and when Mary offered
him ring that had been her mothers
as a pledge for our board, he kind o.
/ gulped and handed over the key to oul
room without a word"
you say our room. That mean.
that you remained with Miss Pager"
why. OF course" she said In obvious
surprise. you don't suppose I'd e
back on Mary, do your"
Langdon smiled. I'm not supposins
anything" he said gently "But wani
to make everything quite clear for tn.
court. and In order TO do that I may
ask a good many unnecessary cues
tions. SO will you tell us. please, ex.
actly what you and Miss Page did after
the hotel proprietor had given you the
key 20 your room?"
I'VE went upstairs and had a little
cry" she said whimsically, a furtivs
dimple showing as she spoke. Then
having powdered our noses and cheer
ed up left Mary resting while 7 went
to the head OF the stairs to see what
was doing in the office. and what had
happened to the rest OF the bunch"
Gould you see those in the Office
from the stairway"
Plainly. by going down 70 the first
landing and looking through the ban
isters.~