The Cotton Factory Times. — 1886-04-23 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

CHAPTER L.  IRE STRANGER T 1 NEMER rotnrrtv. •  On the morning after this conversatiou, as Mr. Basel sat in his office at Moorwell, a letter, brought by special messenger from lialburu, was put into his hand. It ran as follows :  If Jr. Basel would render a great service to the Blackthorn° family lie is urgently requested to call this afternoon, between two and three o'clock, at the Bull's Head, Redburnt for the purpose of receiving important information in reference to the upproaching trial. If be inquires for the gentleman in No. 14 he will obtain an interview with the writer of this note. Meanwhile Mr. Basel is earnestly besought to keep this commnnication and the object of his visit to Red. barn a profound secret. If he tails herein, danger will befall.  "Donner Wetter," muttered Basel, after he had read and re-read this missive, "what is loose (what is up) now, I wonder. It might be a summons from the Holy Vehm. If I fail herein danger will befall I Danger to whom, or what? Shall Ibe hanged at midnight in a forest, or stabbed in my bed while asleep? But I will go. I shall be glad to render a service to friend Blacktliorne, and I feel very ourions to know what this mystery means. One has heard before now of traps being laid in this way to rob and murder people. But no—nobody would be so mad as to attempt such a deed at a house like the Bull's Head, and by broad daylight, too." _ _  He ordered the messenger to be called in. " Tell the gentleman who gave you this note," he said—" the gentleman in No. 14—that Mr. Easel will come. You can remember ?I " Yes, sir; I shall no forget. "But yon might. Everything is possible. See, give him this card—that will be surer." The card bore the words, "Mr. Basel will come."  Four hours later, as the clock of Iledburn parish church chimed three, Mr. Basel' s carriage stopped opposite the Bull's Head. It was a much larger house than the Bay Mare. A broad flight of steps led up to the great outer door, which, save for a few hours in the early morning, was always open. It was a busy place, and people were perpetually going in and out, for the Bull's Head was virtually the exchange and principal newsroom of the town. The corridor was littered with the boxes of arriving and departing bagmen, and, as Basel mounted the steps, he met a group of parcel-laden and red-faced commercial travellers, who, having eaten their dinners and taken their allowance of port, sherry, and brandy and water, were sallying forth to call on their customers. He went into the bar.  "Is there a gentleman staying in the house who occupies No. 14, Mrs. Broadbeam?" he asked of the landlady, a portly dame of commanding presence, decided manner, awl most unfeminine curtness of speech, who was engaged in pumping beer into a big jug. " There is, Mr. Basel."  " Do you know his name?" "I do not, Mr. Basel. An that I know is that he came here the day before yesterday by the Man. , chester coach, takes his meals in his own room, , and, so far as I know, has never been out except for an hour or two last night." " Confound the fellow," thought Basel, "It is only a clerk frotri Kean' s office, after all. What does ho mean by sending finch au absurd note and making all this mystery 7'' " ULU I see this gentleman, Mrs. Broadbcam ? I have business with him." "Certainly. Here, Tin:trims" (raising her voice). Whereupon Thomas, a stout little fellow. with a r9lAucl, rtAi tom TC4