The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04

there thrash out the whole bafflng mat ter as speedily as possible. Lifting the shadow from her life would be herculean task, he knew, but there was no swerving in his determination to face the situation squarey and consistently.
 Have you any idea'where you lost the purple poniard?" he asked.
 'I presume it went with the rest of my possessions when I was robbed by my cap tors'
 Bristow barely repressed groan at this reply. The poniard was the most damag- ing bit of evidence against Nerssa Seden. With it produced intact, one leg of the prosecution would be dislodged; but if it were never found, only some kind fate could save the girl from conviction.
 The lawyer had no doubt that the Italian band had wrecked its long=delayed ven geanee upon Dr. Selden. Yet the state ment of her grandfather had been in denial of this. Somehow Bristow could not bring himself wholly to discredt the old mans word Miss Wrightson was again perilousy near the verge of lis active suspicious
 ..You say your father presented you with a diamond brooch Christmas?" he asked suddenly.
 "Yes, she replied. Ut was beautiful thing and thought the world of it. It was seolen with my other things. In my haste I forgot to remove it before I left Laurens with my uncle."
 Eristows heart sank again. Doubtless she had dropped the bauble in the study before leaving. Yet how came it entangled in her fathers beard? A dozen ways in which this might have happened suggested themselves to him.
 "What have your relations with Anna Wrightson been of late-friendly or other wise?" was his next question.
 The girl looked surprised and, he thought, a trifle startled.
 "Why, they have been friendly-more than friendly, perhaps,' was the reply she gave. "You know she is the only mother I have ever known"
 "Yes, am aware of that. But have you two ever had any trouble or serious dis agreements?"
 Nothing serious of that nature ever ex- sted between us. She did object to my meeting my uncle so frequently, although she had not, as far as 1 know, the slightest idea who he was. l verify believe she thought I had love affair of some kind, or else father told her of my desire to go to my grandfather and she was seeking to dissuade me from doing so, at the same time concealinE the fact that she knew more of my fathers past than she cared to dis close to me. We have never, though, been on what one might call bad terms. But why do you ask these questions"
 That will be apparent in due time. Do you think you have ever said or done any thing to Miss Wrightson to make her wish you great harm?"
 Nothing in the world"
 The answer was so frank and natural that there could be no doubt of her sincerity, Brstow thought.
 Had there ever, as far as you can recall, been any trouble btween your father and Miss Wrightson?" was his next question.
 The request for this information brought a flush to the cheeks of the dead mans daughter.
 My father had high regard for Miss Wrightson," she admitted a trifle reluc- tantly, he imagined. q always fancied that some day he would marry her.'
 "And you would have objected to this?"
 "Most assuredly, whether justly or not. While Miss Wrightson is cultured and splendid woman, I have what perhaps are foolishly sentimental reasons for wishing father never to marry. Besides, I did not care to think of Anna as the mistress of my home. You may understand the anti-step.