The Northern Guardian. — 1897-08-04 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

JOHN SHARP." -CHAPTER XXII. THN ADVIRTIEINKENT IN THE "STANDARD." Dr. Cartwright did not return home by the first train next day. The mere mention, on his part, of such a purpose being scouted as preposterous by his entertainer*. " 1 thought you spoke of three days at the least as the length of your visit," said his host " and now you try to sneak off at the end of one. If you do, Isbell think that you have taken a dislike to us —that we have offended you in some way. Besides"--speaking seriously—" I want to have a long talk with you to-day, if you don't mind." Iliad " said the doctor, " it's just what I should like. I should have proposed it myself before now, only I thought you seemed rather to fight shy of it."  " !" exclaimed the other ; "not in the least. Why—" He stopped abraptly. and the doctor, looking up to me why he did not finish his sentence, remained staring at him in blank amazement. " Whatever's up now " he asked himself, rather irritably. "Really, our young friend seems to be taking leave of hie senses altogether." They were again at breakfast when this occurred, and the morning paper had just been brought in. Ted Butritt had been glancing over it. columns in a careless way, with the air of one who feels certain that they are not likely to contain anything to interest him, when, turning the sheet, hie attention wee a•cidentally caught and held by something which appeared among the advertisements. The very last department, one would have thought, to have afforded him any entertainment. Whatever it was, there he sat, eompletely absorbed by what he saw—his eyes fixed, hie mouth slightly open, and a vivid spot, caused by excitement or some other feeling on each cheek. " Anything very remarkable in the paper this morning?" asked the doctor, with an affectation of indifference ; but noticing every change in the countenance before him from behind his epecteolee. This remark moaned the other to himself. He seemed annoyed that he had betrayed his feelings so openly, and, crumpling up the paper, threw it on one aide before answering : "Nothing whatever. There is absolutely no news worthy of the name ! "  "Now," thought the doctor, "is he deliberately telling an untruth, or what? Oh, certainly! I must get to the bottom of this ! " Aloud he merely observed, "There UMW' does seem to be much lathe papers now-a-days. Now,when I was in the 47th, etc, eta." Notwithstanding this last remark, he did. not forget to take an early opportunity of examining the paper. I wish I had noticed which page it was," he said to himself, ash. ran his finger down esch column is sueoeseien. 'Spanish Flumes." Fashionable Arrangements.'Agricultural Prospects." Sporting Intelligence.' It eouldn't have been any of those., Perhaps it was something in the 'Police New,' ? Let me en ! 'Ferocious Driving." Amman on Two Polies Constables." A Lunatic is, Westminster Abbey—Attempted Suicide.' Charge of Bigam_ y Against a Clergyman,' and the inane' ' Wife-beating.' A nice amprtment ! But I don't see anything likely to account for the boy's pears behaviour. Now I some to think of it, I believe that it was the advertisement sheet he was examining at the time. Suppose we try that? Artielee for Sale." Situationa Wanted.' 'Situations Vacant.' Land, Houses and Shops to Let." Miscellaneous.' Oh! I can't wade through all these. Besides, how could there be anything at all of an interesting or exciting nature among the Apartments to Let,' or 'Situations to be filled Up'? 1, It's absurd to think of such a thing! I could have understood it, be mused, "If it had been the 'Agony Column,' but the Advertisements ! I must have been mistaken, and yet it isn't often that anyone can succeed in deceiving Jeremiah Cartwright M.D.. Surgeon, ete., Late of the 47th. I wonder where he is now, and when we are to have that long talk he spoke of? Oh! here you are," as the door opened. "Think of the devil, you know, and— Hullo ! you look very much excited about some. ! What is it " '• lam excited," was the answer. "And you'll be excited, too, when you have heard all I have to say." Dr. Jeremiah stared at the young man in astonishment, and further expressed his feelings by a whistle. Then, "All rig!et," he said, "fire away itiv.l astonish me as much as yon like." "Not here," he answered; I want you to some with mete the roes that was my father's study, and when we shall be sure of not being disturbed, as I keep the key myself, and never allow anyone to enter it."  They crossed the hall ; Ted unlocked the door; they entered, mid he locked it again behind them. "What's that for! " asked the doctor, as he heard the key turn in the look. '' I want to prevent all possibility of interruption," was the reply. "Bliss me!" exclaimed his friend," you must have some very extraordinary statement to make. Hare you found the other man ?" "That is what I am going to tell you, and that is why I have broughtyou here." Dr. Cartwright looked round him with considerable interest. He noticed the dust,now lying thioktir than ever upon every object, small and great. He also noticed the worn leather chair stid standing before the writing table, and other tokens of a dead and gone promos. "Nothing been allowed to be touched," he murmured. "My young friend has allowrdeentiment to usurp the plane of brooms and brushes. All very well in theory, but unpleasant as regards actual practice." He sniffed two or three times, obviously in disapproval of the stale musty atmosphere of the room. "I suppose I mustn't suggest opening the window and letting in a little fresh air l—that would be sacrilege; bet I sever was much of a one for sentiment, particularly when accompanied by stnlnness." Ha dusted a chair with his pocket-handkerchief before venturing to sit down. Then he took ell his spectacles and polished them carefully. "Now," he as he settled himself, "I'm quite many to be astonished."  You asked me a moment or two beak whether I bad found the other man " said Ted—" moaning, of mime, the murderer. I hare."  "Quit; sure?" said the dootor, still preserving Dia equanimity. "You know, it doesn't do to make inieWas in a business of this kind. People are apt I. turn nasty if fahely amused, and we ars all of us," he sateladed„piouldy, °roaming one kg over the ethos, " we are all of us liable to err." "I wM give you the whole story from the day we parted. You know all that went beibre." 'TO RE