Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1903-01-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ENGAGEMENT."  stances as you have described, to place any object which might prove of the utmost importance in the investigation of crime immediately in the hands of the police." " I am perfectly aware of that." "And yet you keep this letter--let me see? How many days?" "Nearly a fortnight. Well "Might I venture to ask why?" "For the simple reason," said Lord Fulton], with withering hauteur, "that I did not wish to be-in any way mixed up with affairs of the police." He did not add that in his heart there had arisen since that night an awful achin,o• doubt, the doubt that the figure which he had only vaguely  " And now are we to understand that you have conquered that feeling?" asked the detective with a thought of sarcasm.  "Now matters are different. My peritinal feelings do not como into play fliy longer. My son is in actual danger of falling a victim to an unpardonable blunder, and I desire to save him further annoyance."  "You are, of course, prepared peat your statement in Court, over the occasion may deman,_ "I am entirely at your disposal as a witness in the case."  to rewhen?"  "And you axe, therefore, equally prepared to explain the reason of your  strange and late visit. to Mrs Butt's house on that particular night ?" it was without any hesitation and with a firm clear voice that Lord Fulford repeated : "I am entirely at. your dispoFal." "Then there remains nothing further for the present, my hied," cone eluded Mr Bamford after a slight patine, " but for frie to thank you for your courtesy in ealliqg on me to-day. My only regret is that your visit should have been so tardy. You will, of course, not leave England for the pros/cot, I take it ?"  "Not for the present." "And Lord Heslington?" "I cannot speak for my son's move. ments. You have my promise to appear in this matter. It may be of interest to your staff to know that I am prepared to pay the sum of £lO,OOO for the apprehension, loading to the nitimate conviction, of Mrs Butt's murderer."  " I thank you, my lord, on bchalf of my men, whose enthusiasm will naturally be whetted by your munificent offer."  After a final exchange of courtmies, Lord Fulford rose at. last and took hia leave. A constable aAl•empanied him to his brougham, while Air Ilamford remained at his desk absorbed in thought, with the foreign letter spread out before him..  "What do .you make of it, Glassing ton F" h( said at last.  _ But there was no sound from the other side of the glass door. Mr Bamford called again. " Glastsington! Surely you haven't gone to sleep! Listen to the letter. It is in French. I am translating aa I read. I don't know if you speak French. 'Unfortunately, the upper half of the letter has been destroyed. So there is neither date nor the faintest indication as to whence this epistle emanates. But these are its contents:  "'Sir,--We have duly received your honoured letter, and will communicate with you in reference to the matter contained therein as soon as we have completed our preliminary investigations.  _ " Accept, sir, the assurance of mit earnest consideration, Jacques Menhault, "'Secretary.'  " Bald and meaningless enough in all conscience. It is all a got-up affair, and docs the F.tektle earl play a game so deep that he will lose himself in its mazes? Glassington! Why in the world don't you come when you are called ?" But still there was no reply, and at • last, impatiently, Mr Bamford pushed his chair aside, and looked in through the glass door. Gla.ssingtou was sitting in a chair, his long legs stretched out ad infinitum in front of him, his hands buried in his pcckets, his chin lost in the folds .of his necktie, deeply absorbed ia thought.