The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1882-11-18 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHAPTER XII.  BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.  Jasper Brothewood's sudden and serious illness was a heavy blow to the detective. Each hour the unhappy man grew worse, and the fever grew more intense. Boon he lost conscious. ness, and ghastly phantoms seemed to haunt him, for he writhed as if in deadly fear, and, gnashing his teeth; shrieked aloud for mercy. The doctor, who had been hastily summoned, said that the attack was a bad one. The patient, he declared, must be tended with great assiduity and watched with the utmost care. He was hovering between life and death; at any moment, too, he might lay violent hands upon himself. It would be necessary to call in the aid of a professional nurse, for old Mary was useless, and protested against the most trifling expenditure of money. Following her instinct, and doing what she believed Jasper would approve, she was more anxious to save money than her master's life. John Foley was in a most awkward position. He had no excuse f r interfering in Mr. Brothewood's concerns, and, indeed, had there been anyone there who had a right to take care of the house he probably would have been sent about his business. As it was, he had by the exercise of considerable tact got the doctor to recognise him as a friend of the invalid's, and to consult with him upon various matters connected with the sick-room. Nor did Mary resent his intrusion as fiercely as might have been expected. He was free with his money. and he kei t her plentifully supplied with whisky. As the discovery of Jasper's guilt would mean the loss of eight thousand pounds, besides an allowance of one hundred pounds per annum, Foley resolved that the hideous task he had set Brothewood must be undertaken by himself. The bedstead that hung midway in that pit must be brought up, and if necessary destroyed, while the body of the murdered man must be hurried in quicklime without further delay. Besides being unspeakably horrible, the course he had resolved upon was not free from danger. It was one thing to hold his tongue upon the subject of Jasper's guilt, but quite another to assist in destroying the fcetid evidence of it. But John was playing for a heavy stake, and now was not the time to encourage scruples. He could not accomplish what he wished without assistance, and again he availed himself of the services of the ever-willing Bill Duggins. Taking the housebreaker further into his confidence went sorely again,t the grain with the detective, but there was no help for it, and all things cmsidered he was not running a great risk in doing se. Bill was scarcely likely to prove treacherous, and if Jasper on his recovery went abroad there would be no chance of the . burglar levying black-mail upon him. John lost no time. The night following Jasper's attack found him and Bill again at work, this time inside the house, and at the door that had been walled up. He had explained to Mary that he was acting under Mr. Brothewood's instructions and entirely in that gentleman's interest. She exhibited no suspicion, and while the two melt worked she sat by her master's bed. " This is a rum go, this is," said Bill as he loosened the bricks, "first outside the house, and then inside; pulling down and building up, making holes