The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-25
PAGE 6

SOluSioIl LII lu6 pIODltii WOulQ eApidtfl away many phases of the mystery with which the lawyer had invested him. However, il would have the effect of completely shat tering Bristow's carefully constructed theory that he was implicated in the mur- der of Dr. Selden or the disappearance ot the physicians daughter. This would throw the attorney back upon the hypothesis that Miss Wrightson was the guilty one. He still Loyalty refused to consider the possibility of Nerissa's guilt.
 "Come, old fellow,' continued the man in gray, breaking in on his thoughts. "There is place down the line bit where we can get something hot. You need it.
 Bristow followed his companion to cafe where few warming decoctions prescribed by the man in gray soon revived his flag ging strength.
 'Ten-thirty," remarked his new-found friend after moment, glancing at his watch. "We have plenty of time. If you are not too much Jagged, suppose we stroll back and see what McCafferty and the boys bagged. Ten to one they nabbed the whole bunch."
 <1 otuiiiAih5 Sul PiioC dVaitSo thCAh @e ciic scene of the recent raid. Grouped about an empty patrol wagon, their faces ex- pressing every shade of anger and morti- fication, were the officers who had partici- pated in the affair.
 "What does this mean?" demanded the man in gray, chagrin and incredulity in his voice.
 "Mean? It means that every blamed scoundrel of them got away" There was red wrath in McCafferty's voice. "But when we fired into the crowd after the lights went out there was scream. Pm sure one of the gang was hit, but he lived"
 "How do you account for the wholesale escape?"
 "When we got the lights switched on there was not blooming Dago in sight A trail of blood led to trapdoor opening into cellar. We followed it down a lad der and found that the men had passed back to the street, where they scattered. Any way, they seemed to have faded into thin air. tell you, count, it's-it's-"
 The sergeant paused for want of an ex- pletive strong enough to express his feel ings.
 "It's beastly shame" conceded the man in gray. Ut will be particularly hard on me, sarge. I have an active premonition that this community will be made too warm for my personal health and general well fare.'
 Not this evening"" treasured the ser geant. Mot while little Terry McCafferty Is on the job anyway. Pile into the wagon, s0u two, and we'll take you anywhere you think the bad men won't get you.'
 As he spoke McCafferty shot an enigmat- ical glance at the man in gray. The latter drew him aside and the pair conversed in undertones for several moments. From GOV ert glances they shot in his direction Bristow knew their conversation concerned himself. strange feeling of uneasiness crept over him. What could this secret coloquy from which he had been so obviously excluded portend?
 Take us to the office, if you will,'' said the man in gray finally, raising his voice.
 The attorney was heartsck over the result of the raid. He found himself, by strange and disappointing freak of fate, no nearer the solution of the baffling double mystery than he had been at the beginning of his inn petuous journey from Laurens. The man in gray was clearly above suspicion Bris- tow had undergone incalculable perils and hardshps, only to find himself face to face with defeat It was utterly disheartening, he told himself bitterly.
 While he was still marveling at the in- fluence his companion had yielded to enable him virtually to commander patrol wagon