The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11

l felt positively fiendish in my gratifica-
 ton. No thought of pity or remorse came to me, nor did I pause to consider how heinous my life had been until death stared me in the face. Then, when my hdeous nature was revealed to me in all it's de- formlty, determined to save the girl-the only time have done so since attempted to get the brooch away from you''
 "You cannot save herv' cried Bristow in agony. "The evidence is too damning''
 T went to the study that night with murder in my heart," cried the woman wildly. q am guilty in the eyes of God. Let me assume the crime. I have already willed her all possess and relinquished my rights in her estate''
 What do you mean?" demanded the man hoarsely.
 Il shall sign confession which you will complete as l dictate. No one will question the word of dying woman. Nerissa will be acquitted. If I do not do this she may be condemned to death and will be a mur- deress after all''
 Bristow shrank back with gesture of repugnance. That would be perjuryn he cried.
 Do not let your Quixotic sense of honor again stand between her and freedomn' pleaded the dying woman. "You love her, we both of us know she is innocent. and no harm can come to me. You can still prose- cute you- search for the real assassin and. when he is discovered, there will be time enough to make known the plan used to save her. You must not--you shall not thwart me!''
 Something deep within Bristow's heart told him to accept the woman's plan. It was wild impulse, he knew; but it came to him that in this tangled case strange steps taken on the spur of the moment had netted more satisfactory results than had his most carefully laid plans.
 q will do you wish" he announced, coming to sudden decision.
 When he had completed the confession to her satisfaction, the woman seized the pen and traced her signature. Bristow inscribed his name witness. Then the false state ment that was designed to free the girl he loved went into his pocket
 He turned to the woman. From her face had gone the dragging expression of pain. A serenity almost angelic overspread her features The feverish glow in her eyes gave way to wan still light. As he looked an almost imperceptible tremor passed over her. Then she fell back and breathed no more.
 Anna Wrightson, on the heels of her atonement, had passed from the earthly bar : to the eternal tribunal
 Hurriedly Bristow summoned assistance. Dr. Craig hastened in.
 "lt is-is--all overw he said huskiIy.
 As he spoke the queer dwarfish creature who had followed him into the room threw itself prostrate across the form of the dead woman.
 And to both men came the memory of Dr. Selden's grave under gray, wintry skies, and of hideous, misshapen thing sobbinr on the coffin of the father it had never known!
 Bristow, an hour later, was alone in his room at the hotel. It was a cheerful place, pleasantly situated and softly lighted but to him it had become chamber of inquisitorial tortures
 The first mad impulse to adopt the plan of the dead housekeeper had faded before his stern, unyielding sense of duty and honor. The desire to free the girl he loved was as strong within him as ever, but he old himself her liberty must not be won at such a sacrifice.
 He had no need to question himself as to ger probable attitude in the matter. He Inew she would suffer the ignominy of leath of imprisonment rather than be freed y fraud or to learn that the father she lad worshipped had upon his soul the stain