Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-12-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. The story opens on a bright winter morning at Portsmouth-terrace. Herleaden, not far from Shepherd's Bush, and the interest is at once centred on No. 5. Mrs Tidey oonveys the assurance to the outside world that something must be wrong with Mrs Butt, and the greengrocer advises that the police should be notified. A police inspector and two emstables are soon in attendance, and a search through the house is made. A ghastly murder has been perpetuated, and peer old Mrs Butt is discovered lying on the kitchen floor w:th her throat out, while the condition of the house goes to prove that the murderer was searching for something. The local patio° fail to obtain further evidence, and they place the matter in the hands of Scotland Yard. DetectiveInspector Glassington undertakes the job, after somewhat &Lessee handling from his chief, and travels to Harlesden, where he interviews Mrs Ticley, with whom he thoroughly ingratiates himself. Lady Mary Seratford and 'her daughter, Flora Beatrice, are at home that evening. Aelong the gists is a Mr Norman Vansittart. a man without means and social position, Rho is deeply in love with Flora Beatrice. This affection is returned, but Flora Beatrice has decided to marry Lord Heelington, the most eligible man in hr circle—when she is asked. But this same lord is entangl.ng himself with Miss Mabel Eyre, Lady Stratford's pretty governess. Norman Vanvitt-art returns home. Bowed down by his crushed hopes and shattered dreams, he longs to raise the veil of his own and his mother's past life. While he is alone he unlocks his mother's desk and proceeds to read a packet of old letters belonging to bor. Norman learns the true story of his birth. He is no longer a nameless outcast, but the legitimate son of the Earl of Fulford, while Lord Heslington, the favoured suitor of Flora Be.atrioe, is the son of Mrs Vansittart, the one who has kept Norman from rightful place all these years. Li the early morning Mrs Vansittart findsehat Norman has discovered her secret. Remorse and dread fill her map of woe to the brim, and she falls down dead. Flora Beatrioe and Norman Vansittert meet, and he forces her to confess that. she loves him. Norman obtains the promise of Flora Beatrice that. she will meet him ones again, and they both go their several ways. The story paeees over to Lord Heslington. Norman pays him a visit, and the halfbrothers confront each other. Norman produces his letters and makes his simple statement. But Lewd He.slington wishes the matter to lie over until the Earl of Fulfard's return, and to this Norman agrees, and so they separate. The Earl declines to diecuss the subject with his son, who finds the discovery weigh heavily upon him, and he neglects an engagement with Flora Beatrioe. He is drawn to declare his feelings towards Miss Eyre to whom he says a strange fatality had broken his life. Glassington is quite at fault over the murder case. He is walking in his garden. pondering over the matter, when he notices Norman Vansittart, his neighbour, doing the same thing. This recalls the fact of his mother's death, and he feels that he ought DO longer to neglect the young man. Norman accents his invitation for a chat, and tells him his story. Glasington can scarcely oontain his excitement at having the clue to the murder put into his hands O stra He goes to consult with his chief, and electrifies that worthy with his ideas on the Perpetrator of the crime.  of his mind," and in a few words he recapitulated each one. He had no further cause for complaint. Mr Bamford listened with breathless attention. He did not utter one word, nor even an exclamation, and when the detective had finished he offered no observation. He knew that there was something more to come, ale the ease was far too absorbing to risk the chance of agairi rousing the irascible detective's wrath.