The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04

he said. "It will be useless for you to involve the woman in the .way you pl: h. Colonel Bainbridge's testimony in corroho- ration of your own undoubtedly would bring about the desired result, but fear you will be unable to secure that testi- mony."
 There was cold gravity in the phy- sician's voice that sent sudden fear to Bristow's heart.
 "What do you meant" he demanded.
 Simply this: Colonel Bainbridge can live only through the agency of a miracle. If he does regain his health, it is practi- cally certain that his mind will be de- throned forever!"
 CHAPTER 10.
 Bristow walked back to his office with Dr. Craig's dread words burning in his brain and his mind in chaos of doubt, perplexity and sorrow. He was over whelmed by an unspeakable dread born of the fact that his partners apparently fatal injuries brought into the Selden case a fresh and frightful impeachment. Without the aid of Colonel Bainbridge's mature judgment and resourceful legal mind the young attorney saw fading almost his last tangible hope of saving Nerissa Selden from conviction as the slayer of her father. Other counsel must be obtained at once. It was problem that admitted of no delay, for the girls case undoubtedly would be placed at the top of the calendar. His only hope now lay in gaining a postpone Alo %~.o II of dangerous illness of the chief counsel for the defense, he was reasonably sure of ob- taining.
 When the lawyer reached his office the gray of evening had fallen. Without the presence of his jovial, kindly partner the place chilled him with it's air of utter deso- lation. Disconsolately Bristow threw him self into chair and gave himself over to a review of the Selden case in its new and still more terrifying aspect. He realized that he must thresh out it's intricate prob someone in whom to confide swept over him.
 Almost in immediate answer to his un- spoken prayer the door opened and Wig nolos, the Tribune reporter, burst into the room.
 "What is this new sensation?" demanded the newcomer after greetings had been ex- changed q mean the injury of Colonel Bainbridge in Miss Wrightson's home"
 It was the first time Bristow had seen Vignolos since they parted after the inter view with Nerissa Selden. In the reporter he now recognized pillar of strength and hope.
 "Sit down and I'll tell you the whole story" he responded, turning on the lights and showing a chair toward his visitor. You are just the man I need in this new crisis, but I must ask you to regard as sacredly confidential many of the things am about to disclose"
 "You may depend upon me absolutely just as I shall depend upon you to reveal nothing confidential to any other reporter. I came here to help you unravel this case in another capacity than that of newspaper sleuth, as you probably have surmised, and do not wish any rival to hamper me in my plans, which are vastly more important than mere news gathering"
 "I shall respect your wishes as I shall expect you to respect mine,' Bristow as sured him.
 Then, without further preamble, the young lawyer took up the thread of the days events from the time he left his office for walk until the present moment. When the lawyer had concluded, Vignolos sat for several moments buried in thought.
 "I think I have the key to the whole situation," he said finally. "If I am not mistaken, the relations between Anna Wrightson and Dr. Selden were more