The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-18
FICTION

OF car near the rear OF the train.
For one perilous moment he was lifted
into an almost horizontal position by the
eddying air currents. To Bristow it seemed
impossible that the fugitive could escape
being hurled to his DEATH
Then he swarmed nimbly up the ladder to
the top of the car. The next instant curve
in the road hid him from view
The corpulent marshal shook an impotent
fist in the general direction of the train and
vented his chagrin in flow of language
both appalling and picturesque.
But Bristow said never word. The
weight of this fresh and utterly unexpected
calamity made rational speech impossible.
His hopes, rendered buoyant by the dicov-
cry of the sign of the circle and dagger in
possession of the man who had slipped so
neatly and daringly through the marshars
fingers, were dashed
A timid touch fell upon the lawyers arm.
He turned to find Marshal Metcalf standing
abjectly at his side.
'sYou don't blame me altogether, do you,
Mr.. Bristow?" he asked in almost fearful
accents. II done my best"
NO. Bristow magnanimously treasured
him. ''No man could dream that the fellow
would take such desperate chance. You
did all you could, am sure.~
They fastened to the telegraph office.
Messages describing the fugitive and order
ing his detention were sent to the author
tiles of all towns lying along the twenty
five mile stretch between Laurens and Gin
cinnati They also communicated with the
chief of the Cincinnati police, impressing
upon him the Importance of capturing the
escaped Italian. Thus, within the hour, the
same agencies that were working to find
Nerisso Selden had been put in operation to
apprehend the mysterious fugitive whom
Bristow firmly believed held the key to the
secret of DR.. Selden's DEATH
ga quarter to 2 o'clock" remarked the
marshal as they emerged from the office.
Just fraction more than four hours had
elapsed since Bristow entered the Selden
home without a care in the world. Truly
the march Of events which had shaped them
selves to his undoing had been rapid one.
To the lawyer it seemed as though an eter-
nifty of agony and despair had been crowded
into that brief space.
The officers next words reminded the at
torney that they must now hasten to face a
fresh ordeal. They reached the scene of the
inquest just as Coroner Cameron opened the
proceedings. He was holding his inquiry
in large room used for meetings of the
City Council and for the transaction of
other municipal business
There was ripple of interest as the
coroner seated himself after outlining the
case to the jury.
DR., Craig was the first witness called.
He took the oath and began his testimony
with the nonchalance of one who had long
experience on the witness stand.
The witness had been satisfied that DR..
Selden's death was due to unnatural causes.
This belief had been sustained by an autopsy
which disclosed that dagger, believed by
the witness to have been a poniard, had
been driven into the brain of the deceased.
The tip Of the weapon had been broken off
in the skull. He identified the purplish bit
of steel removed from the brain of the dead
man.
At this point he launched into a minute
and technical description of the nature OF
the wound and its consequences, confirming
the hypothesis of the coroner that the fatal
blow had been struck while the decedent was
bent over his study table or had been in a
similar attitude elsewhere in the room. After
further questions, he was dismissed and Cor
don Bristow took the stand.
The attorney began his testimony with the
discovery of the man in gray and proceeded