Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1907-12-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

GOODWIN."  Detective Derry arrived at Serivelsby Hall a few days before Ohrisimas, and the following evening arranged his pla.ns for the solution of the mystery. S`tationing themselves in a deed rooms at the head of the gtaircase which led from the bedrooms into the hall, where a faint gaslight glimmered, the detective and Goodwin awaited events. Mrs Goodwin had retired 01 her bedroom some time previously, but, being unable to sleep ' Lary liotosing to overy bound. 'Eho lon dock lowl  MEI  struck two, when Derry fancied he heard a key being gently, even cautiously, ineerted in the lock of the hall door. The door was opened quietly, and as quietly closed. Then there was a momentary pause as if the intruder wse listening at the foot of the stairs. Next footsteps were hoard, light, stealthy, swift, apparently the footsteps of a man. The watchers gazed iritemtly with an the ere they posed, expecting to see the dim shadowy outline of some human form, but, ae a matter of fact, they saw abealutely nothing> They heard every step, but were comic= of nothing, save a swift, cold icy feeling, which thrilled, any, almost froze them as the pound passed the recess. The steps went on, turning round the oorri. dor, passing closely the door of Mrs Goodwill's bedroom, after which a faint creak was beard? as if the mysterious visitor bad opened and gently closed a door. The detective and Goode win followed the sound, creeping along the eerridor, and then stood listening at the door of what was known as the "Guest Room." MI'S Goodwin, having heard the mysterious footsteps, hastily dressed, and joined her huehand aril Derry. She could stay no longer alone in her room, for she felt terrified with a nameless dread and horror. Derry opened the door as quietly as possible, but he and Goodwin saw nothing. The room was dark and silent. Mrs Goodwin, however, had but gamed int* the room a few seconds when, apparently from fright, she suddenly collapsed, and fell senseless like a log at the feet of her husband. She had seen ~omething which the men had not observed. Horrified., her nervous system had given way to shock. Carrying her to her room, her husband and Derry quickly administered brandy and ether restoratives, and upon her reoovery, .on little while after, she wa.s able to speak, narestting what she had seen.. "Never shall I forget that dreadful face," she said. "Upon the hearth, with his back to the fireplace I saw the Shadowy outline of a It WILI that of a man kneeling with hisitM bent, as if obeerving some objeot on the item Raising himself, he gazed at the door where we stood, and as if in some pale light I saw *way feature of that vile countenance. The black, threatening eyes, thin, cruel lips, and pm lug teeth. Some evil passion poagessed that which was that of a man of some forty yews  age.. Derry, a. man of iron nerves, listened intently, seexning little affected ; balt Goodwin, however, was visihly unstrung, and was anxious to know what was best to be dons. "Mr Goodwin, yon roay be sure WM ere on des track of some great crime. It is impcssible present to construct a theory to seoount for what has happened, but I have not the theduer of a doubt but what some creel murder has been committed. My duty is at on to go and inform the police authorities at Scotland Yard, and endeavour to discover whether there is record of any crime having been  here." Derry was not long in ascertaining tbst prior to the occupancy of "Manor House" by Major Macmillan it had been tenanted by a miserly old Jew of the name of Solomon, who, hin practically alone, and being reputsxl to be wealthy, hoarding his wealth at hams, had been mysteriously murdered. Ile MIS found one morning lying in a pool of Mood with lie throats cut. The doctors said he had been deed mirirne hours. No weapon was found, nor Isere there any signs_ of a struggle. me of his money which had been hAdm in secret peaces was missing, and it was oonjectnred that robbery was the motive of the crime. The detectives had done their best to discover the muivilerer, hut, utterly baffled, they had at len#h reluo• tautly to confess their inabilit7 to bring the perpetrator of the crime to justice. After hearing Derry's account of what bad tranivirvd at Seriveisby H&11 it was derided by the authorities at 'and Yard to send one of their smartest officers down to assist Derry ia trying to solve the mysterb  • ,•Th  ~, E