The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1888-11-17 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHAPTER XXXIX.  The intelligence that he had received from Samuel Cheshire made Palmer very uneasy, In spite of his assurance to the postmaster. John Parsons Cook had never told his racing companion much about his relatives. He had however, gathered that Cook's father and mother were dead; and now here was the trouble some stepfather coming into the scene, disposed, perhaps, to ask all sorts of inconvenient questions, and to pry into matters that Palmer wished to be forgotten, or left to his own management. The conviction that Cook had no friends closer than Cook regarded him to be, had made Palmer confident that he would carry through his craftily planned schemes of murder and robbery, without danger from prying relatives. Mr. Jones, of Lutterworth, had not said much about the cause of death, except that he had doubted that Cook had died of apoplexy; but it now seemed to Palmer more than probable that Jones had not said all be thowtht. . . . _  He had not long to wait for the advent of Cook's stepfather, for between twelve and one o'clock on the Friday after Cook's death, Palmer observed Mr. Jones and an elderly gentleman, get out of the 'bus at the door of the Talbot Arms. Palmer was in the hotel at the time, and waited for Jones and the stranger in the passage of tae Talbot. Be darted a keen look at Jones' companion, and when he was introduced to the stranger as "Dr. Palmer" he saw that William Vernon Stevens, who was introduced to him as Cook's stepfather, was a shrewd, hard-boded man of the world.  Mr. Stevens shook hands with him, and midi_ . . . . .  "'The unhappy death of my son has brought me to Ilugeley, doctor. I want to see his body at once."  Then as if not wishing for another reply, but displaying a determination to straightway attain his purpose, he turned to Miss Bond, and said, _  _ _ , " I learn from my friend, Mr. Jones, that you are the housekeeper in this hotel. I want the key of the room where Mr. Cook's body is lying."  "-Mr. Palmer has had the key this morning," said Miss Bond. "Where is it, doctor ?" This caused Mr. Stevens to torn sharply round towards Palmer, with a questioning look on his face.  _ Palmer, though secretly annoyed at the words of Miss Bond, said quietly, "Oh, it is hanging in your bar, on the book, Miss Bond," and the housekeeper went to fetch it. _  _ When she brought it the gave it to Mr. Steve, 1., who then said, "Show me the way, Mr. Jones." Jones and Stevens then went upstairs. For a moment Palmer hesitated whether to follow them, as he bad not been asked, but concluding in his own mind that it would be better for him to be present, he followed them upstairs, and entered the room, close behind Mr. Stevene.  "It is a melancholy sight for you," he said, as he made his way to the head of the bed, and removed, without being requested, the sheet that covered the form of the Whited Cock. Mr. Stevens did not reply. He had evidently nerved eimself for the sight he beheld, and the first thoughts that fished across his mind were, that there was no appearance of emaciation from disease ; and he was especially struck with the tightness of the muscles across the face. All this time he said nothing to Palmer, who would have liked to have drawn him into conversation, in order that he might ascertain what was passing in the mind of this too direct and peremptory man. "Cover up the poor boy, Mr. Jones," Mr. Stevens