The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-18
PAGE 4

tarily easing the tension on his mlnd.
"But her bed has not been occupied" OBJ
jected the housekeeper tearfully. Come,
l will show YOU"
Almost mechanically he followed he-
down the hallway into a daintily appointed
bedchamber Here the housekeeper's dread
assertion was confirmed. The snowy bed
was smooth and undisturbed.
The distracted lawyer paused irresoluteiy
in the center of the room.
"This is beyond understandings ne ex-
claimed. "Where can she be? What black
mystery hangs over this house?'
Heaven only knows" responded the
housekeeper. perhaps she passed the night
with some friend in another part of town.
She frequently does that
The suggestion sent a glow of hope
through Bristow.
with whom would she be most likely to
stop?" he inquired eagerly.
But as he spoke cry from the house
keeper brought him to her side in fresh ap-
prehension.
"She has gone away.' gasped Miss
Wrightson pointing to closet, the door of
which stood ajar, disclosing fresh disorder.
"Her handbag and several of her favorite
articles of clothing are gone"
"You are sure of this?"
eyes. Only yesterday placed the miss
ing things in the closet for her."
"Where could she have gone?" asked the
attorney fearfully.
81 am at loss to imagine" replied the
housekeeper in perplexity. "But, after all,
/ may be mistaken in my surmise. 1t might
be we'll to telephone to those most likely to
know her present whereabouts"
She mentioned number of the missing
girls friends.
Having made a list of their names, the
attorney rushed across the street to a
drug store, where he received permission 70
use telephone. In rapid succession he
called number after number, but in vain
In the wild hope that she was merely on
a shopping tour, he called a number of
tradespeople. But the result was equally
diseouraging ~
With his mind in a whirl of doubt and
perplexity, Bfiseow hung up the receiver
For once his reSonreefulness had failed HIM.:
He knew not which way to turn. ForettFn
to the house and await the arrival 7of the
coroner seemed the only course left open
to him. Perhaps further investigation would
shed additional light upon the mystery.
Bristew found that the coroner, accom-
panied by DIR. Craig, had preceded him to
the house. The two men were talking to-
gether in the hallway and from the signisl-
cant abruptness with which their. colloquy
ceased at his appearance he inferred he had
been the subject of their conversation. Dr.
Craig drew him into the room adjoining the
library.
"Mr Bristow,' he began, a trace of
hesitaney in his voice, there is something
decidedly unusual in this case. Neither
Coroner Cameron nor myself can explain it
to our satisfaction and we are preparing to
hold an autopsy"
can autopsy"
yes"
"Then you believe"
'.That DIR. Drake Selden came to his death
from other than natural causes" finished
the physician gravely.
Bristow started, recalling the words of
the housekeeper.
prom what do you draw such an infer
encev he asked.
"Simply this: On the face of my dead
friend Is an expression that Immediately
attracted my attention. The features are
drawn into rigid lines expressive of intense
mental and physical agony, as if the doctor
had died in the throes of excrueiating tor
ture, the sensation of which had manifested
itself only an instant before consciousness
H.