Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1905-02-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MASK.  J. M`HUGH, Author of "Lone Point Light."  " Here is a letter, sir, addressed to you," said Mary, handing rue an envelope which she took off a writing desk placed by the window. I tore it open with nervous fingers, an  I tore it open with nervous fingers, and then stood staring in astonishment at the few pencilled lines it contained. "My Dear Dick,"—it ran—" I could not face the ordeal—l told you that I could not—so I have gone away. Some day you may learn that I have 'den wise in this. Meanwhile, and perhaps for many a long year, I must be lost to you all. And I implore you, for the sake of others as well as for my own, to make no effort to seek me or aid others to do ea.—Your unhappy friend, Fred Sandford."  My mind was in a whirl of distressed astonishment as I read the lines again and again.  " Heavens!" I groaned inwardly, as it flashed on my mind what trouble he might bring on us all and on himself by his folly. " Oh! the coward! the coward ! '  T---e-:  e-e---e-e ( i  "Oh, why not?" returned the coroner, irritably. After the evidence we have heard, his cannot be of much consequence; all the same, it is desirable that he should be examined. Tell him to kindly come at once." "He is not in the house," I replied hesitatingly, and trembling with anxiety at the effect of my words. And then, with the ready invention born of desperation, I went on hurriedly, "He was terribly distressed at the tragedy, and went out some time ago. I imagine he has broken down, and must have been obied to remain at some friend's place —possibly a doctor's." The itoroner looked surprised and displeased, and sat for a minute tapping the table irritably with his lingers. He looked at his watck furtively, and then suauenly addressing the room, announced the fact that young Mr Sandford's evidence, which he would have wished to procure, was not forthcoming. If there was any reason to believe it might be of any importance to throw light on this very sad tragedy, he would not for a moment hesitate to adjourn the inquest until the witness could be heard; but, in the fact of such evidence as had been heard—particularly in face of the medical testimony—he did not for a moment think it was necessary to tale sucki a step. He would content himuelf with hearing the evidence of the deceased's niece, and then the jury might return their verdict.  Miss Sandford was then called, and with symptoms of ranch distress commenced to give her evidence. As her emotion was very painful, after a few brief questions the coroner closed the examination.  The jury then unhesitatingly returned the customary verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind," and I heard the coroner give a sigh of relief, and look at his watch immediately on the termination of the proceedings. I felt that his obvious impatience to get away was a matter for which,to be thankful.  It was some little time before the house was emptied. The doctors and the police hung about the hall for a few minutes, talking over the matter. The police inspector, seeing me, came to me, and turned from general platitudes on the sad occurrence to inquire about young Mr Sandford. He was obviously suspicious at Fred's absence, but, pretending not to notice that, I treated the matter carelessly. A tall, quiet-looking man, who was with the inspector, put in a question or two difficult to answer, and I was glad when the pair took their departure. With a deep sigh of thankfulness that the worst was over now, I stood for a minute at the bottom of the stairs, deliberating whether to at once tell Mrs Bentley about Fred, or wait a little longer. Suddenly I was slightly startled to hear someone coughing in the diningroom, which I thought to be quite empty.  I entered the room, and was surprised to see the little lawyer, Mr Barton meditatively looking out of the window, his hands clasped behind his back.  He wheeled around sharply on hearing my step, aid stood facincr, me for a moment in silence, examining me critically with his keen eyes, while he tapped his left thumb with his gold pince-nez.  "They are all gone--a good thing," he at length said, abruptly, "and now comes the interval of thiuki.ng." I did not know what to reply, but, indeed, no reply was necessary. for the