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


 exist, Bristow's hopes rose afresh. It was comforting, too, to know that his theories were shared by man who patently knew whereof he wrote. He wondered just how much he knew about the Black Hand that he had not dared to write. After much thought, he concluded that it would not be bad idea to get in touch with the reporter. He would, the lawyer felt, prove an invaluable ally.
 The meal finished, Bristow prepared to leave the eating place. He was paying his check at the cashiers desk when he caught fleeting glimpse of familiar figure hur- rying past the window.
 It was the man in grayl~
 Coming as it did upon the heels of his determination to find the man in gray, the sudden appearance of that individual aroused Bristow to immediate action. Dart ing out of the chop house, the lawyer shot swift glance after the hurrying figure. His eyes had not deceived him. Walking rap idly out the avenue was the individual he had encountered that morning in the grounds at Crestmerc.
 Bristow immediately started in pursuit, determined to accost the man and demand from him an explanation of his actions ear Her in the day. Just as his hand was stretched forth to clutch the gray sleeve an Illuminating idea crossed the attorneys mind.
 If the man had aught to do with the dis appearance of Miss Selden, it was not un- reasonable to suppose that he was now hurryng to her place of detention. With this thought came sudden determination to shadow the stranger.
 Progress was necessarily slow, owing to throngs of early theatregoers. More than once Bristow lost sight of the man he was trailing and only recovered the trail by in- considerably bursting through crowds, much to the detriment of divers New Year pack ages.
 The promise of snow had been fulfilled. As the lawyer crossed Ninth street at it's intersection with Central avenue the shop windows glowed like splotches of yellow translucence through swirling snowflakes. The man in gray pushed onward with swing ing stride
 When Thirtieth street was reached Bris- tow became possessed of the uncom- foratbe suspicion that he was being fol lowed. With start, he glanced back. He was being followed; there could be no mis- take about the purpose of a man few feet behind him.
 Determined to assure himself of the in- dividuals intentions, the attorney stopped suddenly The man he suspected of trail ing him also paused. Bristow then assumed a swifter gait. The man behind immediately accelerated his pace.
 Was it himself or the man in gray whom the mysterious third person was following? was the question which flashed through Bristow's mind
 For an instant a compelling fear half formed in his mind. It was decidedly nerve-trying to be trailed through a ques- tionable quarter of large city by man whose motives were ostensibly sinister. Bristow felt the full force of the dread un- certainty that accompanies such situation.
 Twentieth street was reached. The neigh borhood in which Bristow found himself possessed characteristics of evil all it's own. It was dimly lighted, foul with undefinable odors, inhabited by polyglot population. From the saloons1zthat abounded rose medley of boisterous sounds. Here and there , dark figure slunk' furtively along Hith- erto the man in gray had made no attempt to deviate from his orgiinal course. Now, however, he turned without warning and disappeared in the mouth of dark alley way.
 Bristow paused irresolutely. Beyond the entrance to that gloomy way lay-what?