Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-05-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SYNOPSIS.  - - Sir Christopher Dering has been murderel under eirctunstances of the greatest mystery. Suspicion points to a groom, who was under notice to leave. He is arrested, but breaks pristei in a manner which leaves that .es escape has been assisted. Judith Garland, an unscrupulous woman, who. acts as cempanion to Lady Dering, yes from. nei , brother, Neal, what she considers a proof of , the guilt of Felix Dering, nephew of the deceased and heir to the title and estates, after Sir Christopher's little son Brian, i .t, child of a few summers. As she is n love with Felix, she determines .. use her knowledge to force him to give ue his betrothed,: Esther Carew, and marry her instead. Following out her plan she kidnaps little Sir Brian, and gives him to her brother to hide , in London. The toils begin to close around Felix. Meanwhile, Otto Hare, known es , the Golden Dwarf, emerges from a hermit life, induced by his small stature, because . of his love for Esther Carew. The girl hates and fears him, but her mother, realising the advantages of the match, is on his side. A Dr. Kraft, his resident physician, exerts a mysterious influence over Hare, and promises his help in winning Esther. Kraf! is connected with a one-armed sailor named Foley, who plays an important part in the story, and is brother-in-law to Caleb Forrester, the village chemist, who appears.to have some knowleege of the eeime. winch he keeps to himself. Hare proposes for Esther, but is persuaded to wait for awhile. He tells Kraft that Dering must be got rid of. To this end the (lector goes to London, and interviews Mrs Schwartz, who has little Brian in charge. Fel:a Dering finds r. message evidently written by his uncle, serathhei on a ridirg-whip. It lays his death on some person whose name begins with F—the remaining letters being obliterated. De Kraft's purchases arouse the curiosity ef Archibald Geckles. the chemist's assistant, who is in love with Connie Forrester. The doctor beceenes aware of this. Inspector Brasher, who is also an admirer of the chemist's daughter, warns her to keep her father from talking. Dr. Kraft plainly tells Esther Carew, that unless she accepts Hare, Daring's life in danger. Foley tries to blacktnail Felix Daring, but without succees. Felix makes out more of the writing on the dead man's whip, but is no nearer the saution of the mystery. He has a meeting with Caleb Forrester, who urges him to leave the country. Hare makes Esther promise to attend the garden party he is giving. He 1480 tries to conciliate Foley by granting him acmes to Wyreedale Park. Foley is caught by the Inspeetor, bet explains his presence, thereby affording what the officer cons. eler a. clue. Neal Garland decrees that Beal shall he effectively disposed cf, and Mrs Schwartz takes him away to an Eaet. E.sti baby farmer. Judith tels Felix Dering sire does not know which is guilty of the murder—himself or her brother. Dr. Krnft overhears her say as he leays Felix that she levee him, and he believes, thercfme, that ,the young man is flirting with his aunt a companion When the doctor mentions her brother to Judith she answers that she hes no brother. Geddes finds a curious. snapahet -I-photograph belonging to Kraft. who is very much disturbed that it should: have been ewe by him in particular.