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

erated. Might not he be correct in the theory that Dr. Craig had so summarily re- jected? Trusted as she was, how easy it purloin the dagger from Nerissa's desk, steal to the study, strike the fatal blow and then erect about the girl practically impregna- ble wall of false circumstantial evidence!
 The remainder of the poinard could have been disposed of in any one of countless ways. The story of the quarrel and sue ceeding occurrences might have been clev- erly concocted by the wamon to shield her self from suspicion. The missing handbag and clothing might have existed only in the imagination of the housekeeper. And the brooch? Might not that have belonged to Miss Wrightson? Her frenzied efforts to gain possession of it supported this hypoth- esis. The woman's lame explanations and her avowals of belief in the girls innocence were not sustained by her surprising testi- mony at the inquest. Indeed, had she tried, it was doubtful if she could have set forth more damning array of evidence against Nerissa Selden
 These thoughts launched him upon a course of reasoning tending to absolve both Miss Selden and the housekeeper.
 There was no question in his mind that the sign had been branded upon Dr. Selden's flesh during his initiation into some mystic order. The symbol attached to the door possessed all the characteristics of warn- ing such as band of that kind might issue for spectacular effect. Doubtless it signi- fled that the physicians death had been de- creed. Yet, after the murder had become an accomplished fact why should it be neces- sary to affix another warning to the door? That this had been the purpose of the Ital- ian's visit to Crestmere he did not doubt.
 Perhaps-the thought seized him irresist- ibly-the girl had been kidnapped by the band and the sign was intended to con- vey the warning that she would be put to death unless heavy ransom were paid to se- cure her freedom. While there was nothing about the crude drawing to indicate to the mind of the uninitiated that any specific sum of money had been demanded, the doctor, as member of the order doubtless would have understood both the implied threat and demand.
 The idea gained in reasonableness with an accession of detail. How easily the girl could have been decoyed from her home? A dozen ways in which the abduction might have been accomplished suggested them selves to him.
 How could he effect the rescue of the girl, who was, he felt confident, prisoner awaiting ransom or death?
 The abduction theory-unless it were pos sible that the sign indicated that if the sup posed ransom were not paid Dr. Selden him. self would be put to death--led Bristow back to the assumption that either Miss Wright son or some one other than the daughter had been guilty of the physicians assassina- tion.
 In this connection came remembrance of when Bristow had suggested the probability of the housekeeper's guilt. Why had the old doctor taken so puzzling a stand? What was there between Miss Wrightson and the physician that caused the latter to cham pion her so ardently?
 Could Dr. Craig have aught to do with this murder? This seemed unreasonable. Had he killed his friend or possessed guilty knowledge of the crime he could easily have stated that death had resulted from heart failure and the case would have been closed. No, despite the fact that the physicians tes- timony had been strangely parallel to that of the housekeeper, Bristow felt obliged to absolve him from criminal collusion with Miss Wrightson. Perhaps he had loved the woman and was repelled by the idea that she was guilty, which suspicion might have suggested itself to him.