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

wind, the Strnger crouched In clump of
shrubbery, intently scanning the silent
house before him. A long gray ulster con-
cealed the outlines Of his figure and soft
gray hat of prevailing mode was pulled we'll
over his eyes. At the sound of footballs
behind him he sprang erect and made for
the street with furtive celebrity, jerking the
collar of the outer garment about his ears,
obviously to BATTLE recognition. But, as
he gained the sidewalk, a sudden gust tore
the shielding cloth away, momentarily reveal
ing "a swarthy, foreign-looking face.
''Who is that fellow, l wonder; and why
was he spying around in this neighbor-
hood?" pondered Bristow, as the mysterious
unknown rounded an adjacent corner and
disappeared. "He must have been here for
no good purpose, else why his desperate
hurry to get away? Probably he is plan
ming burglary. l must put the doctor
on his guard"
Communing in this strain he turned on
his heel and strobe up the walk recurring
doubts concerning the outcome of an i'm
pending ordeal soon driving every thought
of the man in gray into the background of
his mind
Gordon Bristow, attorney at-law, was in
his twenty-eighth year. He was tall, clean
cut and wholesome looking, with an air of
breeding, good blood and honesty written
all over him. His smoothly shaver face was
strengthened by large mouth that
matched in firmness the chin it surmounted,
yet curved into kindly lines corresponding
with a certain gracious friendliness in his
eyes. These were gray and reflective of
the keenly analytical mind that lay behind
them.
Older members of the bar predicted for
Bristow an exceptionally brilliant future.
By sheer force Of ability and an infinite ca
pacity for work he had mounted high upon
the ladder of success. He was recog-
nized factor in local municipal affairs; his
social position was as assured as his pro-
fessional and political standing, and he
possessed "a snug bank account composed
of honestly and personally earned dollars.
But as he neared his destination on that
raw winter morning mental review of
past achievements failed to dispel in any
appreciate measure crying doubt en-
gen9ered by thoughts of the delicate and
to which he had addressed himself.
The young attorney was on his way to
plead what he considered the most i'm
portant case of his life. In short, he was in
love and about to submit his cause for pa
ternal adjudication.
Up to few months before the eternal
feminine had been excluded from the more
serious considerations of Gordon Bristow' S
life. 1t was not that he had been lacking in
sentiment or a deep reverence for woman
kind in the abstract. lie was welded to his
profession and his days, he told himself,
of his falling in love.
Nerissa Selden had taken her place in his
sentimental perspective in the most conven-
tional manner Imaginable, but thereafter
Biistow's inner consciousness was inhab-
tied by new and compelling element of
interest which he was not slow to recognize.
Before fortnight had elapsed he was fain
to admit that life would be joyless void
unless he could prevail upon her to share
it with him. But diffidence and the some
what obsolete idea that he could not honor
ably pay court to any woman without first
having gained the sanction of her family
had thus far restrained him from broaching
the subject nearest his heart. And, too, he
had deferred from day to day the ordeal of
complying with this rule in his code of
ethics for the father of the girl he loved
was not man whom a su.tor could APP
proaeh in anything i:e eonplacent frame
Of mind.
DR.. Drake selden was retired prac-
titioner, very wealthy and eccentric who
L q.