Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1889-06-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ILNARD AND SAW IN OHAIII.RSII3I. Jamie, you may be sore, was not a little startled when his visitor began by asking if he knew Dr. Watson, of Port Glasgow. At first he could say nothing, and the stranger misinterpreted his silence. . _ _  " Pardon me, I have not introduced myself," the visitor said, "and you are no doubt annoyed at being intruded on by one whose very name you do not know." "By no means," said Jamie, recovering himeelf. "Your question startled me. Was Dr. Watson a friend of yours r " No. Why do you say' was ?" Is Dr. Watson— ?"  -Dr. Watson is dead," said Jamie, gravely. " He was cruelly murdered by someone unknown."  The stranger sank into a seat and gaged at Jamie with • horrified look in his face. He was an elderly man, with iron-grey hair, large soft eyes, and a long beard,. whia, like his hair, was fast becoming white. His black elothei soggiwted that he was a clergyman, the extreme gentleness and courtesy of his manner seemed to forbid the idea.  " Dead I—murdered 1" he said. "Tell me, when did this happen?" "About five weeks ago," answered Jamie, regarding his visitor with an intereated look. There was something very pleasing in the minister's face, if minister he was. "Five weeks, five weeks," he went on, as if trying to remember something. "Then I question if he got my letter." Jamie said nothing.  4. Pardon rue again, sir." said the gentleman, rou:iing himself & little, "you must think it unmsnnerly of me to trouble you in this way, but the matter is one which makes me very anxious. My name is Meredith, the Rev. Charles Meredith. My niece, Kate, came over in your ship, and one part of my business is to thank you for your kindness to her. My brother is in the country at present, else he would have (wiled ere now." Jamie rose and shook his visitor's hand.  "You are happy in having such a nieoe," he said, warmly. "My name is Hhepherd, but perhaps you know that already." "I gnawed as innoh," said Itar' Meredith. " Kate has told me all about you. lam more troubled than I can tell with regard to Dr. Watoon's death," be went on. "I am in a very awkward position." "I am sorry to hear that," said Jamie, sympathetically. "The matter, however, is not oue about which I can venture to trouble you." "If I oould do anything, Mr Meredith, I should be very glad," said Jamie. "It is selfish of me to take up your time when you mast have so many things to attend to," returned Mr Meredith, betraying such an amount of consideration and common-sense that Jamie began to wonder what sort of a minister he could possibly be. "You see," he went on, " I sent two important documents home to Dr. Watson—a will and a marriage certificate—and I am naturally anxious to know what has become of them."  "Dr. Watson's widow would no doubt take every care of them," suggested Jamie. "No doubt," said the clergymen; "but unfortunately the matter was one that could not be attended to by anyone but the doctor hiwself--at least, I should think not." Jamie said nothing. Ile did not, indeed, feel any ourioeity as to what was troubling Mr Meredith so much, and did not for a motnent dream that it could be anything affecting Maggie Gray. The clergyman rose to go. "Once more I have to apologise for troubling you," he said, holding out his hand. "Not a bit." answered Jamie, warmly. "There ought to be a sort of freemasonry between those who are travelling along the same path." 'rile minister reared himself up to his full height and looked down upon Jamie with a pleased look in his kind, grave eyes. "Would that there were," ha said. "The Pittliarly love le big enough for as all. It comprehends us all alike, and ought to bind us In one. It will some Jamie aceompanied him on deck. "You must come and see us," be said as,