Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1904-10-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

OOO. 'Ole 'Etherstone wont  spare expense. D'yer think 'umas natur' 'll stand it?"  Jordison made no reply. But tbe thought ran through his mind that he himself was equally dangerous to Lipp. Ile kept his hand in his pocket. "D'Ter think I'm goin' to put my neck in their dirty 'ands, or yours either," continued the ruffian, echoing Jordison's own thoughts. "I ain't such a babe and suckling." Jordison turned sharply round and caught the look in his servant's eyes— a murderous, evil look. He also saw a pair of thick muscular hands unpleasantly near the back of his neck. The man drew back, as he turned, and showed his yellow teeth. "That'll do, Lipp," Jordison said; "I'll see that Jermy and Susanson keep their mouths shut. As for me, I'm in the same boat as yourself. Now will you kindly go, as I want to read my letters and finish my breakfast, and mark you, Lipp, no tricks. You'll find me an unpleasant person to deal with, if you cut up rough. But if you stick to me, I'll stick to you. Do you understand?"  "Yes, gnvnor," the man replied; " hut gi' me your solemn oath—" Jordison rose to his feet and held out his hand.  "Here's my hand on it, Lipp, and my word of honour." The man took the proffered hand and peered into .Tordison s face. Then he grinned and the master knew what was passing through the servant's mind, and his face flushed. "Word of honour!" The phrase had come to his lips from the past when it had had a real meaning. He felt that it required some re-adjustment to suit the present circumstances. . .  "There's honour among thieves," he said bitterly; "you can trust me, Lipp." Swelp me bob, I believes yer, guynor. I'll stick to yer." "Neither Jvny nor Susanson must leave the house until I've decided how to keep their mouths shut. I can rely on you to see to that." "Right, guvnor," the man answered, as he slouched out of the room. When the door closed Jordison hastily swallowed a few more mouthfuls of breakfast, but his eyes never, left the letter which lay on the right of his plate, and 'every now and then he fingered it expectantly. The envelope was thick to the touch, and bore a monogram of B. and W., intertwined so gracefully as to be barely intelligible. When he had finished his breakfast he tore open the envelope, and, pulling out several sheets of paper, studied them carefully. The letter from Messrs. Briggs and Warlock ran as follows:  "Dear Sir,—ln accordance with your instructions we sent out our special agent to Valparaiso to investigate the supposed death of your son. We enclose you his report, from which we regret to learn that Mr Richard Behag is undoubtedly dead, and was in all probability murdered by his friend, Mr Arthur Sterions. Perhaps you will wish to let the matter end at this point If you desire to trace the murderer of your son, our services are at your dieposal. We have so far not gone beyond your instructions.—We are, dear sir, yours respectfully, "Bare as AND W ARLOCK ."  Enclosed was the following report, written on foreign paper in a neat but commonplace hand:— " Dear Mr Warlock,—l sailed for Buenos Ayres on August 9th in the Cabello,' and crossing overland to Valparaiso put up at the Viajero • Hotel. Within a few hours of my arrival I called on the Chief of the Police, and asked for his co-operation in the matter which had been placed in my hands. He treated ins with coolness, but when I carelessly pulled out my wallet on pretence of searching for a letter, and thereby disclosed a considerable bundle of English bank notes, his manner underwent a marked change, and at the end of half an hour we became the best of friends. This was a considerable, but a necessary expense, and I did it as cheaply as possible. Senor Donoso is a very proud man. He promised to search up the records at hm office. I gathered this would take time, as life is held cheap in t ho:le South American States, and the records