The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-25

began erecLlnB a Darrlcdue dBdillSC lhe uoois which opened inward Just as he was roll ing a cask in place the portal was dashed open and three men sprang upon him.
 His assailants were roughly clad, villain ous-looking men. He did not recognize any of the faces as belonging to any of the men who had participated in the struggle in the court. At least, the shadow and the scar-faced man were not there. He found himself hoping that some thrust of his stiletto had placed the latter wretch far beyond the needs and desires of this world.
 Obviously, active resistance was useless; but Bristow determined to sell his life, if it they sought, as dearly as possible. Yet his efforts at defense were futile, and in moment he was trussed up more tightly than ever.
 Lying on his back, bound and helpless, he glared up at his captors. Strangely enough, he noted, they did not appear to feel any animosty toward him because of the struggle he had made. In a business like way they set about opening an oblong, coffin-like box which they brought from an adjoining hallway or apartment. When the lid was removed gag was placed in Brstow's mouth and he was lifted and placed in the box. Then the trie put the top in place and began mailing it down.
 A shudder shot through the imprisoned man. Were the wretches about to bury him alive?
 The intense peril of the situation made Bristow's senses preternaturally acute, enabling him to realize almost accurately everything that subsequently, transpired.
 When the last nail was driven home in his coffin-lke prison, the three men seated themselves on the box and conversed for some time in guarded but animated tones. Although their words were unintelligible to him, he inferred that they were devising ways and means of disposing of him.
 The initial sensation of fear that had assailed the lawyer vanished almost as quickly as it came, and he found himself conjecturing as to what his fate might be. Did the wretches mean to bury him alive as he had feared? Or worse, was it their purpose to convey the box to the river and sink it with it's living contents into the icy waters? Either fate was horrible enough to contemplate. He could not quite recon cile himself to the belief that the men, villains though they undoubtedly were, could be so utterly inhuman as to dispose of him so fiendishly. But he feared they would never permit him to escape with his life.
 It was, after all, probably their intention to transport him to some other part of the city, It was not improbable, he thought, that they had adopted this unique and un- comfortable means to ward off unpleasant investigation and inspire him with. fear that would effectually preclude him further meddlng with the Selden mystery.
 After lengthy barley, the captors lifted the box from the ground. Brstow felt him. self being carried out of the cellar. From the slanting position almost immediately assumed by his narrow prison he judged that he was being borne up flight of stairs.
 At the top of the incline the box was placed on the ground the sounds of a door being opened reached his ears and he was immediately assailed by an thrush of frigid air that told him he was near the open.
 The box was agaln llfted ana borne TOT short distance. It was set down none too gently. An immediate lowering of tempera- ture beneath him told the lawyer that his prison now repossd on snow-clad sidewalk.
 There followed short colloquy in which strangely familiar voice took part. Then came the sound of wheels scraping against the curbing. The box was lifted and one end placed on an elevated surface, presumably the bottom of wagonbed The receptacle