The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, April 13, 1916, Image 7

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r The Strange Case of MARY PAGE The Great McClure Mystery Story, Written by I &EDER1CK LEWIS In Collaboration With JOHN T. M’INTYRE, Author of the Aihton Kirk Detective Stones! 'R*ad th* Story and See the Es-tanay Mo'dinf ‘Picture* Cop/ri^bt, 1915, ky McClur* PubQcmtfoa I SYNOPSIS.* •/ - !’d.v; stork*s of his wealth, bis strange Mary Page, actress, is. accused of the 1 ambitions and his life of glided 'ease, murder of James Pollock and is defended I but at best lu the e .ves of the world by her lover, PhiH;i Langdon. Pollock . , , „ was Intoxicated. Shale, a crook and tool was 011 '. v n l*' 1 ? figure-a bit of dead of Pollock, was 011 the fire escape watch- flesh upon which hung the vibrant liv ing for Langdon. THE DRAMA OF THE LAW W 1T1I the entrauee of the judge tin* turmoil of the vast crowd that filled the court room almost to Huff neat ion subsided into a tense wbis|»er of ex pectancy. The atmosphere was vi brant with It—taut us a violin string will h snapped und brought the throng surging wildly to its feet when some Mie shrilled: “Here she comes!" At the hn k of the room men find women fought In n frenr.v for foothold Upon the se-jt> thunder of Hu elntuomtis hy» the front win steady Wifi! i sIihhI Mary I shadow of 1hr Marr « a4 j lied for “sor >f chair*, dmwulng t!ie edge's ravel with thiir ■ria. while those nearer lung tfiVllly te.-ainsl the police t. yond whh h e. franc d by th«*i:tlm irnsini^Ts il^sw ioeial i, l<'" terr^- one**1»» eouie. The Ing tragedy of Mary herself. The formal routine of.the opening of court v\as hurried4y-gtme-througli. The district nttoniey and Langdon hold a subdued and secret colloquy with the judge, and then the first witness of the day was called. ■ , “Mary Pare!" '■ At the Bound <T her name Mary rxuf unsteadily to her feet, her eyes turned appealingly to Langdon. oti^ trembling hand crushing hack the llnh* cry that rose Involuntarily to her Ups. But IILit agitation was no more than an e'-ho of the excitement that swept through the crowded room. Somewhere n woman . “Sit the f Mary at tier eassur >14 K.MI jodre l* *1 at his watch snl then si caught her breath hi a stifled so at the back the spectator* clan ui*<>n their riHlrs. crowding f 1 ' In spite of iiirrry whispers oi down!” an«1 1 the sharp rap • Judge* gavel uuzmented by thei “Ol<ler Jll III r court J - * T'* la in- d #« uUhio the cfltlltis «»j en r e a * lot 1 *ur; riai*. atul.li u aide lu n i:i< »tii« lit. M am e at d tie ^ItC h«*r to a' *u < r ii Bto nm i «Ui jrtj nii | s»bi^. tin? ih'II* B III- \\ aa ankr). II ■ roltt h«*r ba< k sot up Lie muff of b«*r t» rotdty. and 1 i#*r 14»ln* wn« 1 Ihi a* »h • t.*»k Hu* •nitli utad. M4*i*|* Into Hi M - wi tor«a Mau l. 1.4»kr*l |J| M til It mt m- ti of f^ tHt For a tu llM’J* mt ram 1 lifforr tier t*> v%. bih! rat !i | In lie t throat. bIw rritN*r tb<* la»l tin** * #fir ha«l 1<*»<tmi d »* i rrontlr d fae p»; l«»»Ued dowuai f> fuorUt (■ihi th>'UfUt.d« of m Hi • •» d frl rfHlIjr rjpm al4»r«- a •lufyiti 4 app i.i udttt£ w hit r r lo\ fMi. lutic a; it i • rrtmr*L and yrt b«>a a ilur! Ami 1 n »w thr far% • that op af her orrv arid ot.b rtti expected to find Mr. Laugdou In that room!" “Oh! You had made arrangements then to meet Mr. Langdon there?" Again the satiric note crept Into the harsh voice, and a crimson tide rushed to Mary's pale cheeks. ‘Tile hoy told me.” she said with dig nity. "tliut Mr Langdon was waiting to speak to me. I fboughtdie had come to take me home." "The boy—what-boy?" The question leapt sharply now. "Wb/, the -bellboy who brought the message." she said In surprise, and. turning, pointed toward the group of witnesses where the small bellhop cowered, half covering his fhee with Ids shaklngfhnuds. For the moment at least every eye was upon him. and some of the hostil ity rmiMted fn>m those watching faces as » wave of surprised comment slip- led fr>>ni*Mp to lip. For after all. If Mary Page had iudcod - gone Into that room expecting Ijiugdon and not Pol io* k. It rohl (*<1 the murder of the lu famy of m,:| dolil»<'rntloti. Mary- hcrm-lf was Ih>iU surprised and confused by |be sudden turn of events ami. dl missed from the witness-box. returned to Iwr own s«*at li<*w,ldetfd ■t the seeming Importjfcf nltaeheil to wTail'Iiad liiBVIofdfe a|*IWIiM RA'IBITr "Tes. ,, an Id the boy. tteglnnlng to whlm|>er again. “Rut I didn't do It f. r that* I'd.dn’t think there wsw anv harm In. the message, lie says to me lays he. •It's Just a joke I'm playin' 011 her, Joe.’ he says. - l want to fool her' And he gimme.five dollaWt—and laugh ■d—and toll me to bo.it it—and 1 <11*1.‘ “That Is all, I think." said Langdon with satisfaction, und the boy crop: hack to the witness-bench, striving In vain for some of the Jaunty assurance, that had marked him in (tie earlier hours of theAUty- He had tliougiit lie would be a little hero afterJiis ,festi aibny and tlmt he would eiijoy tlio fleeting pubUcity: but lie was ashamed nf the laugh lie had made. The prosecutor himself was almost equally discomfited, for it had been his plan to build up stone by stone a tow erjng tpmple of evidence to prove that Mary Page inul in cold blood plotted and carried out the murder of James Pollock, and now the hoy's testimony had In a minute undermined.the whole structure. It forced him,to play his trump card at what ho feared was the and her eyes met the frightened on«*« of tbe mnid. wh i tiad risen with tiie. sppnuiit iiitrnt'ou of leaving the room.* But before she had reached the door the prosecutor had waved Mary from the.stand and the ilerk cnihd loudly: "Janet Beauchamp!" ^ * - ■» There wasw startled cty of "Oh. nlon Oie*u.!Y and the l'r<‘tichwoman punsifl, wringing h* r hai.ds. the center of at tention Slir made a half movement as if deletmiued to escape anyway and defy the law. but the sight of the po lice tlurt^ gu.arJe.l the exits aiid the stern repetition of her name brought her roluotmitly-bu |, li. ’ She murriinred h little prayer and criS'cd herself as'sh** took the oath, hut the c..ol friendliness of the prosecutor's voice reassured her “Janet, hi w lo..g have, you been in the < mploy 1 f Mbs Page?" “Two^-uo. tree years jd.-t season." “And was It ti 'ial for .<^i to leave he dressing roora wl'.en your nti •tre> - was getting ready f ir ibo street?” - ."No. ntous!ct:r-rslr!" "But you hud I eon told to leave her in this particular day?" "Told to leave!" Janet’s vplee rose .a nallle exclteuient'. "M ai non! Iliad 'nit ;; ue to ?■• 1 ••tito mil'lner. for t*.- CW l .iwaili s for ;;<• blue gown." "TCho tolil you t.i go?" .••JLc.sleur I'ai. s. he < - "tnc In, and Ue and u.adeiuoi He. they. (aik. and lie nay p nniuoi • otil.l I not go to gi*t *e new flowafri * r.t* orc’d Is'i’sincp re ■flioi's v.oui 1 not r*e ch*se for n y* half hour yet. And Mi's J’ • e she *u>\ «-cr taiutnent that I should go then, f< <1k ss by herself for you out?" s- I m. nn. I do r. > waa with a start of surprise that sb* recognized. In the new witness her erstwhile leading man. The mere sight of his graceful ftgnro and Ids. boyish facet that handsooM 'juvenile expression that wa* his stock hr trade brought a flood of memorle* surging over her, and the ■ hocked pity in his eyes made her realize keenly the difference that lay between Mary Page the prisoner—and Mary Page tho star. I •/. ■ His tesltinony was to a Ifreql extent a repetition of what bad gone before. He had liecn at the banquet; had seen the boy tiring the message to Mi o Page and had' bidden her g «*d i.i it when she left. A few inhniics lafcr the sound of the shot had taken him down the hall with tjie others and Into the room where Pollock and Mary lay -t te one dead-the other nn<oiiscions. “It was | who first urged that some one cpil the poikuv In* sai l in his well- trained. youthful voice, "I would have gone myself hut I wanted to be sure first whether I could lie of service to Miss Page." •*YY:> * that the reason you refused to leave the room when ordered to do so ill I* li l mi'in« ftttuW Ilttv ntarrO ' Ur BI|itflurtU‘. I ut *9 vormrlijr of lb# «m*d Tbe*. her rye*. tra<rllnx beyoml Ibrtu. t *et th c t or dtmti '.e>l onr * of her ne t MT Irsi ?li tf fora a rd yea rnlngly from the Wl tnr*o 14*t> t u ami 1 h*rau*e of l^ > stlfft Tin 4 : on it tat fan * Mary •aiVI. Hit fir*t r.ii«o 4* r* to tit >e quro IhHls of t’l. quirt dlgnli Ytturne; f were “Ml** Pa si Polio k wish *. pn't It tr «*•! tn i mrrj ue that Jam** “Tea.” Tin r nt.sner * sa lovn >*r now. ami a hot flu Mary a |ele< -ftrept for a Bftouv ml Into “Ami ytut found hla attenth ■ns un But It wa* an< rftitntf but stua ill In the eye* of llie • Alton icy ami IjSlimton. and 1 tirre f ra* n « :Irani ol tcnmnl' In tlie Uittrf ■ * #v q* „BM the wblniforiuc l**i r from die h 4H look tbe oath IVfore hr wr -tit Into tbe wit- ne** l**x. bonei ref. th t leaned forward and fro w tied t! |nwn at him “Do you Dfld* I k f«t JlVt] I. J * •#. he said whnt yon bi sve Just fakro t* an eni Ihf Ai ol that the taw ran pot you It t n for p erjury If y«4i do m t (ell taking that o*th th# c for* xaet tn •th after “Y* —yes, air!” Ntam f* -. rr t the hoy “111 te!l the tn p tnr f lawd^l I.Iglit langlitrr ran lb r««tirh t he room but the court i mt Imz ned lately called (of order. “ “Tell o« exac ft? wti i*t me*' •age yoa <arrb-*l to MM rtaons.** b ii) tho 1 i Par# In tbe l Attorn lomiurt quirt feigned • took the n;e« ar "It *4' • M «« 1 It I'ag* yon "Ye*, sir. it v iaa b, r And tho gent In iIn- grey »u It be i MT*. 1 •i-U MM Page Mr- lane Hon m Blit* tC see her here at ot.ee.' “ “Aud you dr!| vrted tbe me* sag* just “Have you avar aaan thia ravc'var ba- fara, Mi»a PagaT" , rut. In exep|*t for a har wrasl little sign* of be again called I •she could fli.ish t once." • "How lung KClc “Oh. J.* 1 • rai l ; know. .M yls* 1 minutes. I route then* are two i. >h p, and I went rt ci both ** “And I n’t It tr trh t Attonwy, a ward and f .irtv the wltoesK. "lu you rr»u»** in j;qu * etl Sir. Polhe'll e 1 n.- ■ ■ spoke mid thru* l The mail, will scream of !H*rr>r. mnrmnr <*f symp She a amid net at*- “han't It true?'* rotor barshlv “< »ute I F'e !' tn tILu ft "in the rnd-tr I tt Laogdao'a Liya oKm Oeovo Again • tho Hast or fur Tho rard hr Fa M In in 1 Ilun." id you had It at tho II del Itepub -Ye*' d It wrl I n I b d t< g In - the tone brought her arply, Id Mr. Mary Strotchcd Out On* Slant Hand. the door, and anotha*r wh1<|>rrlng wave Of sound ton liitangilde t<> he ended wortN swept over the room. Almost before It tl.a*al. bob'ever. Philip l^iiig- dAn. the bnlliiiut <young lawyer who was defending Mary Page^froi'i tlie ehurge of luunler anal w ho Jo his hut tie for her lift* was also hauling for his own tpl| pju<*' S, cilllla* ill. At sight of him Mary rose t» tier feet with n litth* < hil.llUTT* soli of relia-f and •tretclusl out one slim han I with a quivering sniPe that w as tttore poignant than '.cars and more pitiful than an outburst of grief "Poor little thing!” said some out and was instantly hushed by a burly policeman whose own eyes wen* sus picionsly damp ns Langdot). .with a smile a?; brave as Mary's own. took her hjuid and bent over her with u whispered word of hope and greeting. The Judge gapped fof order, and Langdon put hack his shbiYhlcrs with the gesture of one lendy for the bat tie.. Another day .in' tire great trial of Mary 1 ‘age had begun! it was a trial Which was engrossing talk to me alone for five minutes Pollock that I could Dot marry him.** she said firmly, and with a hauteur that wrung a little whlqier of admlrattoo from the 8|<e«* tatora. Abruptly'the prosecutor changed bis train of questioning. “Now. Mbs Page.” he *nld harshly, ••plea-4* ti ll the < otirt exactly what hupiiemsf Jit-d prrtrloua to tlie tlm<* When the revolver-shot was In ard and Mr. Igingdoti found you tiiicouscioua l«*slde l!u* mimier. <1 iumii. Begin with the moment you left the banquet.” With a shivOr of aversion Mary clos od her ojrs for a second; then, grip ping the edge of the witness-stand.-she beg in speaking slowly and wilh an oh rious eTort. "When tlie boy brought nit* the me* sage—I—was gla 1 to go. They wen- drinking mid were very noisy at the ban piet—and I was tired. Thq boy showed me tlie door of the suite, and I went In.” She paused and covered her eyes n' If to shut nut something terrible tliat she saw. "Mr. Pollock wtts In the room.” she said at lust. "lie—ho h: <1 been drink lug—he wasn’t himself-rlte eonld b ird ly stand. I!e—he said he wanted to an! that way lu Mi** Pag*7” “\e*. air.” ”Whr didn't you teatlfy to ihla at Hi ConMM-r's be|ue*t?” It wa* the Judge 1 this Hum*. * ern and Implaenhle, ami the buy in tlie wltnesa-bux cringed and burst Into teara. » "Tlrcy—they—n-never asked me wot the message wa* I was takln* to her 1—1 dlln't think It matterrd.” With nn exclamation of exnapcnitton the pn*e utor sat down, turning the small witness over t<> Langdon. Into whose tired face fresh hot>c bad n«w ! come. Ill* voice, ns bespoke to the boy. | was gent.exind friendly, and tbe suuf- fling lad wiping his eyes with tbe back id wa* It your habit.” the proas* < tuk t* u iMiliri illy iu«n kin^. II >»»ur UaUiC iluui I'aci*. to it- UuqiMU with • revolver lu your ied angrily. vrr n us lying on my dre*s • t lieu ter.” she. said, "and > (sag. iut* mliiig to give don. but-I forgot IL“ uui tho whole'••oimtry. fl'lie victories and he wouldn't let Die out. though i was defeats df the great war rmd the fine- i afmiil ami btygre I htm to." tuathuis of Wall streef-svere titieere- j "Lid you try to get out? Was there ' moniotjsly thrust into inside pages of n struggle between yo 1 and Mr. Pol tlie daily papers that the whole front ' l° ( 'fc?" sheet might be devoted to pliotograph jShe shook her head. "Not then,” she .after photograpli iyjd story after story said, with a little soh. "But—I was of the lovely young actress, who was very angry—I told him he had tricked i either a tragic victim of tlie lavr or—a murderess. f Colunin after cohtum had already me—anil I wouldn't 11-ten to him. We —we quarreled over his being drunk, umi-he tried m make .me take a drink "Do you understand, Jos, <that what you have just taken is an oath?" been r "'c'c'! a'"tit Pi's yniiiig girl, wbo of tla- v. by nr !;." of his Jnind nnswi-red him eagerly. He on the very edge, of triumph as a star ! A shudder of repugnance swept over soemed'ghad to find someone whodidn't i bad lieen, *ticl;ed Into flte niMle-urotn b(>r * ““<1 her oyos grew wide ainl star lighten him. of Taw bojieith tlie shadow of the ga!.|J b *'v mid slip swayed for a moment like S Tbe s'os: of bef youth ntnid | a flower in a st nin; then, v. ith a tre- poVerty and siirt*j*iiig. <if lie- first stage •access and her wonderful nbl’lty, had been told over and over, while woven, through It. I ki» a siiWmcrlng thread •of gold, was the *dorv. half hinted, half Nddlv detalhsl. «f fheJpve of PhlHp jinirl >n f«*r M iry utom he wa»qeM- a^emllng in the fato of twe-whellnlug artdeiv e and hSeX'dir*cle aavsterr.. . . Tht-'c werewtoHc*. •»—m*»r* jmstl *4—of Jvme* (*• Ib^h. who h*d l**efi found dead with \fa*T‘* Unenuaclan* fora mm 9nmr I-" le h<i»—atari** that kiatod mt «(h*r gtr** wka 4*m4m» Ilf* and of 1 h» wad wd ia mm *4 mendous effort..ns one railed hack from the borderland to coiiselousuciui. she nddeilhoarsely: "I remember striking at him—ami knocking the glass out of hi* Innd. I beard It break—and tlieu—I uiust have fainted!” _ . “Mb* Page.” came at ill aii<*|ier que* thtn. “if you had refu-cd Jai..*** l*ol luck—if you feared him -why did you grant him an Interview late at night “Joe.” said I.ang<J<)n. his voice futt of klmlm s*.;"1J)at night wasn't the first time you had seen Mr. Pollock, was It?” “No. sir,” sab! the boy In bis shrill young voice, "tveryboly knew James Polhx-li nr tho popu'biie He esme there a lot—him and Mr. Slade." “And he was pretty generous In his tip*, wasn't be-T* The .question was quiet, and tbe IH*trl< t Attorney, who bad made a move to Interrupt, aank hack without *i*?aklus aa tha boy an aweml:. “Oh ao-aa! fie could afford to b* “ hatidlwg Mary ”1 he revolt lug ta!>l<* at t I put It luto It to Mr Lai "It waa an iinfiwtuuate |o*a of mem j ory for Mr. Pollock.” said tlie attorney i dryly, with a glance at the Jury.'*'Then he abruptly waved the w.tncsa away, a* ti>"Ugli It would be a waste of time to question her further. Luugdou halt ed h**r. * "Will you explain to tbe court.'* he cried, "how that revolver earue Into your possession. Miss Page?" * -I fialniug courage at Ids tone, and the - smile that n< com pa tiled Id* word*. Mary turned toward the Jury and lu j that beautiful modulated voice that had held so many audiences sindl > bound, she told rapidly, but In detail, j the story of Pollock'* visit to her dress j Ing room on the afternoon of that fa tat day. She faltered a little over the recital of his abrupt proposal and. wo man-like, put In tho world-old apology for his brutality by the simple state rneut: “He was drunk, you know." Then, vividly, her slender hands grs turing and her voi e rising with poign 1 ant memories and pride of Langdon i she told of the latter’s entry in re spouse to her screams and of his hat tie witli Pollock. Tensely silent but with every nerve alert, the crowd lis 1 tenod ns She described how Pollock j had pulled l he revolver out of his pock -j et only to droR it "He tried to pick it up again," shg j add. unconsciously visualizing'for them the picture of tlie struggling men. "but I crawled close and snatched it up be fore he could reach it" She paused, and when she Would have taken up the thread of her story iigntn. Langdoii’s b. 1 nd stopjied her.~~ ‘‘That Is nil. thank you. Mis* Page," he said, nnd tlfp District Attorney, stir prise on his fuel*, "but with n new glint In hi* eyes, got quhMy to hi* feet. ' “I erave tho court'* p'*rn'!<uon to ask the witness one afore question,” he said, and a* tlie Jwlse*waved as- But the Jud/e'n L’ltemcut a ml tt'< by Detective Farley T* U»r'* voir* waa dry. “1 r**eutrd hla tuo*. Mr. 1 tbe yuuux a*lor “Ami t »»1dv duab Inc. ”1 waa her trodlac man and I feH | that It-It waa my plar* U> b* with her rather than that a let *f ahuuld bang about.” — Aa Involuntary »mll* rraanad d*>u a U|«. hut they grew gravo at the nest qiwtloU. “After your vjeciloa by Farley and Mr. langdon did y*u Ma** the hotel?” . “No. sir I waited la th* hallway taj ease I wa* wauled." “I»W1 you re-enter the roomf* “Ye*, alr-not tniinedlately. hat whaaj I heard a roufualoa of votera follow lag I the re-entry of th* booae detective and Mr langdoa.” "Coukl you bear what waa aakdT* Th* actor flushed and haaltatad. and then answered •lowly: . “Yea. air-lo iwrt." “Will you plena* repeat what part you beard?” “I beard Mr. langdon say. ‘But good God. there* only one door, the moat be aome place In here.* and tbe detec tive said. 'Well, she's not—yoa ran see that.' Then Mr. Langdoa said, There'a the window—perhapa she's out there— 111 see.' And hla vole* sounded queer and excited aa tf ha were frightened, and tha detective said. 'No, nothing doing on that, sir— Just rememlier, Mr. Langdon, that aa yet Bvereo way of knowing whether that shot was tired before or after yoa entered this room!' "Did Mr. latngdon reply?” “Y'es; he said. 'You d fool, what do you mean?’ But just then tbe po lice came up and ran In. and 1 went oa in with them, find the detective shout ed. 'Some of you go down that fire-ea* cape and hunt for a girl in an evening gown without either cloak dr hat—and one of you keep your eye on this man Langdon—he was either In this roona or at the door when James Pollock was murdered!' ” [Next installment, "My Tima Will Coma!"] <-—/. . “Was there any one else in tha room?" . ' «. his curt words that unless there was order in the court he would clear the room, wn« like oil upon the troubled waters of the sea of onlookers; and they sat In hushed fclleuce as Mrs. Page and Langdoji knelt beside the uueonseloiis form of the slim young prisoner, bathing her temples ami chaf ing her wrists until the momentary respite of uulllty forsook her and she opened her eyes' to the suffering of reality. At the sight of tbe fear on both Langdon'a ami her mother's face, tww- MEXICANS FOUGHT BANDITS 1 Carranza Troops Inflict Losses wi Thiiso Hoeing After Battle. Evidence of co-operation by Car ranza troops with the American forces hunting Villa, apparently dis posing finally of rumors that Col. Cano and hhf comYnand had deserted to Villa, came to the war department late Tuesday from Gen, Pershing. He reported an.engagement on March 29, .presumably near Guerrero, be tween Cano’s troops and one of the hands into which Col. Dodd scatter ed tbe main Villa force. . A^ this clash, in which Mannel Boro, leader of the outlaw*, la said to have been killed, took place oa sent Jhc asked y'owl.. , kti” vliu: the sea . nation hi* question would create: ■ aver, she struggled bravely to regala the tame day that Col Dodd struck “Ml** Pare, wa* then* anyone el*e her self-control and alien tbe clerk tha Villa army, official* war* qoa- In tbe room at tlie time this straggle called tbe next witness she was agala rlaced that lbs Carranza eolnma* was going ouY* T j lb her chair. Very white aad waa. hat iw*t era By Iti'the r**»m." asM ' erect, her pallid Up* art firmly to bold Mary! after an *:>s*sita he-tat too ba'k the threatening tVly* of emotion w*re actively eaaparatlaff with I ho Amarlcaaa. A » o 1 to a private r •*»«*< tbe It t, 1 ?“ “Great him aa laier^iewr her voire * * And aa. th* afehl when be naked twee la stAriM irotrH. ”1 dids t that naraagr to Mia* Pas*. That wa# why I waa ~ angry-I W care yoo a *«d 14* »!». <kla t h#r “There were |w-»^ le aad—and me maid, wbu bad been oat' ran In doling r<e exHteuwat* “ts ywnr aaaM J>nrt or lannnst)* ■aanrhaail ~~ “Yaw” Maryambw tW dor and wearlnons that «*•« sweeping over, Killed Ten Another et ranra troop* aad Ttlta plaro April 4 at . . . . _ ifcw bandits w*r kind [ wmarh mt a faiaun* M ms as rronca - - hSarrai as bar for a fotfo mml and ■ Th* drumming la her tor* and the ■tile wavns ad an assn that are tho aft