Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-04-26 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

LFILIL 26, 1.  "Otto said five o'clock,," muttered the German, and glanced at his watch. "1 have just timed myself beautifully, there are fifteen minutes for my diplomatic performance, provided the fair maiden is at home. At five o'clock the iron must be ha for the Golden Dwarf to strike. Donnerwetter! his latest caprice has caused me sufficient trouble."  Joseph Kraft., thus soliloquising, marched up the Rosery path and rang at the bell in the porch. Barbara, the pretty parlour-maid, answered the summons. The German presented his card.  "My visit is to Miss Carew," he murmured, slipping a florin into Barbara's palm. The maid rejected the gift. "I will take your card to Miss Carew," said Barbara curtly, "will you step into the sitting-room, sir ?" She piloted him to the cool, flower-scented apartment and want away. Kraft pulled at a large red ear. "Singular," commented the German, 'an independent domestic. Doubtless of the faithful servant variety, and dangerous." • He beguiled his wait by a tour of the chamber and its surroundings. "Artistic, but cheap," he, decided, Otto will be a great catch for Mamma Carew. It is Esther we must bend. And," he added, pausing in his stride, "I think I have found the way." Another inspector of his fine "hunter" interrupted this monologue. " Miss Esther is tardy," fretted the German. "I should have postponed my call on that impudent Scotch chemist ; Otto will be here before the iron is heated."  A slight sound checked his cammunings, and he advanced to greet Esther herself. She had entered with hesitation, her blue eyes troubled, her colour heightened. "Dr. Kraft," she faltered, "I —I am afraid I do not, remember you." The German bowed low. "You see in me a sincere well-wi,her, Miss Carew," he said; "yet I own we have not met before. But will you not be seated—l must discharge my errand quickly or it will be too late." Esther sank upon a lounge, startled and anxious. "In a few moments," pursued Kraft, standing by her, his huge bulk huger than ever, "an acquaintance of mine, Mr Otto Hare, will arrive to seek from you a definite response to his overtures. Pardon my freedom, Miss Carew"—he broke off, for the girl had risen proudly—" when I say that I speak for Mr Felix Daring's advantage I know you will hear me out." Horrified, Esther Carew fell back in the wide settee.  is invariably inserted by the male user. An idea came to the Scotchrnan. He allowed his hand, occupied with the screw of the syringe, to slip and hit sharply the starched cuff of Joseph Kraft. It shot the linen clear of the wrist and Geddes saw the plump flesh almost to the elbow. The skin was whole and healthful; the German's hypodermic syringe was not for his own behoof. For whose, then ?—Kraft had gained, to the persistent brain of the Sootohrnan, and additional element of mystery.  "Mr Dering," added Joseph Kraft, "is menaced with a frightful danger. Mr Hare has secretly obtained proof that on the night of Sir Christopher's murder, his nephew—despite all statements to the contrary—was is Wyresdale. If you were to harden yourself against Mr Hare's suit I would not take a, bad half-crown for Mr Dering's life." ' Esther gazed at the author of this estimate, pallid and tremulous. Kraft glanced from the long French windows of the apartment. "Heavens , he cried theatrically ;  Geddes apologised fitted the fresh "Mr Hare's carriage has stepped at needle, and reoeived payment. His the gate. He must not, see me or he customer bade him a beaming adieu will guess that I have been trying to and strolled out of the shop. In the serve his rival. I can escape an to High - street the German's features the lawn. Remember, Miss Carew, underwent a sudden change. Felix Dering's fate is in your charge." "Deuce take the fellow!" he snarled, The German slipped out of the room that was done on purpose. Mr Geddes by a curtain window, as Otto Hare, is inquisitive. Henceforth Ido not piloted by Barbara, gained the door. patronise the Wyresdale Pharmacy, I Helpless and unnerved, Esther behold am not sure I was ever wise to approach her the tiny form of the patronise it." Golden Dwarf. Diminutive as it was, Walking at a smart, but awkward she noticed anew its masculine strength paoe, Kraft cleared the principal and elegance. Otto Hare's black thoroughfare of Wyresdale, and soon PuPI trye Jam up.reial 0.10 dnd was in the neighbourhood of the white of ineroilalig admiration.l 2tSlli su , villa near the croes-roes. (To be continued.)