The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1908-02-22 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHAPTER XIIL-HER LAST VISITOR.  For several moments after the carriage had passed out of sight Lord Alceston stood still on the pavement boat in astonishment. Then he slowly retraced his steps and met Thornton coming towards him. . . _  ething I don't quite understand about this," said the latter, mu.suigly "The woman is unidentified, friendless, penniless, and without relations. Yet she's being buried at some one's expense, and some one who has a bit of money, too, for although there was only one mourning carriage everything was turned out in uncommonly lliet style—not at all like an EastInd funeral—and that some one, with a very well-dressed young lady, goes to the funeral too. That seems strange." "We had better go to the place where they brought her from—the public-house— and make inquiries," Lord Alceston suggested. lie had recovered front his ourprise by this time, and had not yet made up his mind whether he should ten Thornton that he had recognised the occupants vi the mourning coach. _ . .  "That 's exact Ty-what I propose to do." Thornton remarked. "But you mustn't think of coming." he added, aa Lard Alceston turned round no though to accompany him. - "And why not?"  "Why nit, indeed! Can't you see? Supposing you were recognised, which is not at all unlikely, what would people think about the Earl of Alceston being down in these parts making left-handed inquiries about this unknown murdered woman? And besides, you are not fit for this sort of work. Alceston, if you will excuse my saying so. I should never get any information out of any one with you at my side listening." Lord Alceston was a young man who was fond of action, and he by no means liked abandoning the enterpriee in this way. "I'd much rather go with you, Thornton," he protested. 'I don't see that I should make much difierenoe." "I do. and I know more about such matters than you. If I'm to do any good in this matter, Alceston, I must hays my own way in this. The best thing you can do is to go home, and I'll come round and see you to-night, and tell you all about it—if there's anything to tell.. Lord Alceston shrugged his shoulders. "Very well; I suppose I must give in," he said. "It's ridiculous to suppob• that any one down here -would know me; but—"  "Oh, no, it isn't anything of the sort," Thornton interrupted. You forget that Scotland Yard has some interest in this affair. I'm not much of a sporting man, but I wouldn't mind betting you long odds that there will be at least one detective hanging round the `ltiaing Sun.' Any one who goes there making even the mast casual inquiries about the murdered woman will be a marked man at once. Thst doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned. because I happen to be a reporter; but if you were there—" "All right. Thornton. I'm afraid you're right. I'll go. But don't forget to look me 7up to-night!"  '-'T;;Usa—nodded, and watched him until he was out of sight; then he crossed the road and entered the "Hieing Bun." As he had expected, it was nearly full of curious gossipere standing around the bare counter and meted on the benches which lined the walls. It wee a motley scene, and difficult for an outsider to look upon with. out a shudder. But Thornton, though his quiet glance round had taken in the whole character of the place, eat slowly slipping his brandy and water with all the careless stolidness of a "habitue." No one would have guessed that that quiet, insigniiioant. 3ooking man who sat there with half-Glowed eyes was listening with eluarpened senses and never-ceasing vigilance to every qua*. tion and &ismer, to every chance remark and opinion which was bandied about, lie had not asked a single queotion or betrayed in any way the lees* earioeity about the eubject which was being po fiercely diecured. He had eons, to the coaolusion that he would in all probability learn more by sitting still and listening than by asking questions. And he wee right. What he heard aeon stimulated an in. terest which had not hitherto been very keen. He had reed of this murder, and had disiniesed it from Ms mind an one of • certain type with no special features about it. Probably he would have forgotten all shout it had it not been for Lord Morton. an old schoolfellow and fellow-ensinber a certain Bohemian club, one of whoa, unwritten rulee it was that among the w.bar, there 'beak be • mutual GU eteeteey,