Evening Express

Wise and Otherwise. Professor Garner claims to have positive proof that monkeys can talk; but unless they have something more important to say than most of the people who are talking now. it is to be hoped he will not translate for them. "A woman's no means yes.' said the man of twenty, who naturally knows all about women, That may be the rule, assented the married one. "but it doesn't work both ways. Unfor- tunately, a woman's yes doesn't mean 'no.' "13 your friend an expert handwriting wit- ness?" inquired one spectator at Renne-s. "Xo." answered the ether. "He doesn't con- fine himself to handwriting. He's an all-round expert. He can testify on any side of a case." Bilkins: It's a mistake about people being made one when they are married. My wife and I were made ten. Wiikins: Made ten? Bilkins: Yes; she's the one and I'm the cipher. "So you're our new governess, are you?" "Yes. dear." "Well, I want to tell you one thing—I'm one of those children that can only be ruled by kindness, so the first thing you do you'd better buy me a box of candy. Mrs. Flyn: Is Alderman Clancy a friend of your family? Mrs. Grogan: He is not. Befoor election he promised to git me boy Patsy a Government job, and after the election he directed me boy to a recruiting office. When Mabel plays at whist, I vow, Quite frantic she will make one. She drives me crazy with her tricks. But she can never take one. The Professor: Dis shentleman has few f tallends—but he is plest mit a magnifisent memory! The Subject: Just write thot on a bit o' paper, guv'nor. so as I can remember to tell the wife when I git home! Ethel: Does your father know of your en- gagement yet. May? May: No; but I told him I meant to accept James if he offered himself. and he said he'd "be blessed if I did!" So I know it Will please him. Bronco Pete: I see there's 500dols. reward for Hurricane Bill. Reckon the sheriff' ketch him? Rabbit Pete: No Bill was cute enough to get the sheriff's wife to elope with him when he skipped. The ole man wouldn't bring him back for a million. j Smith: I noticed you didn't speak to Brown when you passed him this morning. What's the trouble? Jones: He insulted me yesterday—called me an old fool. Smith: Well. you must remember that you're not as young as you used to be.; "By George, I'm glad I wasn't Methuseleh!" "Why?" "Think what a strain it would be to pay the premiums for as many years as that on the life insurance I carry." "Which do you prefer," said the oaller, "golf or whist?" "Golf." answered Mrs. Blykins promptly. "It fatigues my husband so much when he plays it that he doesn't talk about it in his sleep." (■ "I'm against all existing conditions!" screamed the Anarchist. "Well, you're up against a hard thing, that's all," commented a man in the crowd. "Mr. and Mrs. Dinkelspiel have Invited us to their silver wedding," said Mrs. Larkin to her husband. "Isn't it a German silver wedding?" asked Mr. Larkin. A small boy dashed breathless into a mer- chant's office. "Is the guv'ner in?" "Yes; what do you want?" "Must see him myself Most pertickler." "But you can't, he's en- gaged." "Must see him immejit. Most per- tickler." The toy's importunity got him in. "Well, boy, what is it you want?" said the merchant, anxiously. "D'yer want a orffice- boy. sir?" "You impudent young rascal! No. we've got one." "No, you ain't, sir; he's jusc bin run over in Cheapside." Boy engaged. Mr. Meeker stepped into the kitchen a moment to speak a word to the new girl. "Verena," he said, "when you bring the turkey to tiie table place it before Mrs. Meeker. She will tell you to take it to me, and you can do so. This will start things right, and youll get along with Mrs. Meeker without any trouble."

BOERS MAY NOT WAIT FOR AN ULTIMATUM. 10, TV HITEFRIARS-STREET, I'LEET-STREET, LONDON, MONDAY NIGHT. The Transvaal reply to the latest British dispatch makes an immediate meeting of the Cabinet necessary. With the exception of Lord Lansdowne and Mr. Goschen, every Minister is within a few hours' journey of town, and no difficulty will be experienced in convening a full attendance. In accordance with 'Mr. Chamberlain's message, the Cabinet will now have to consider the situation de novo—"If the State document"—the reply of the Government of the South African Republic—should be negative and inconclusive, I am to state that her Majesty's Government must reserve to themselves the right to re-consider the situation- de novo, and to formulate their own proposals for a final settlement." That the reply is inconclusive as well as negative cannot be denied. It is in- conclusive on the suzerainty. It is directly negative on the subject of the use of the English language and on the pro- position to place the British proposals before the Raad. The Next Step. Exactly what the Government will determine is, of course, a matter of con- jecture. In the best informed circles it is considered they have no option but to place their demands in the form of an ultima- tum, the disregard of which must lead to war. It is, however, considered more than probable that war will break out before the ultimatum is delivered. Knowing that war must come, it will be the endeavour of the Boers to seek an early advantage. This they can do by at once occupying Laing's Nek and blowing up the Charles- town Tunnel. They are in a position to do this now. but in a week's time our troops will be on the spot, and the task will be impossible. In considering this matter it must always be remembered that the Boers are a law unto themselves, that they do not wait for the word of command, or even for war to be declared. It was the independent action of a score of young Boers taken at a time when Joubert and his generals had decided to trek that led to the Majuba disaster, and South Africans here give it as their opinion that the Boers on the frontier will take indepen- dent action without waiting for instruc- tions. At anv rate, there is that danger to be feared. If. as is reported, the Orange Free State has joined the Transvaal, we may expect the Boers from that territory to occupy Van Reenen's Pass, entrench a force at Normals Port. and cut all railway communication at Bethuli Bridge, whilst a raid on Kimberley would bp one of the first coups to be attemoted. This is taking a very alarmist view of th° situation. It is. however, a view that is held in military circles here this evening. Orange Free State. The action of the Orange Free State in rushing into the dispute just now can onlv be attributed to fanatical sympathy with their brother Boers. Under the Potchef- stroom Treaty the State can abstain from assisting the Transvaal against her enemies if, in its opinion, the cause is not a just one. It was this proviso which so offended President Kruger, and which caused him to return to his country in so dissatisfied a manner. There can, how- ever. be little doubt but that Mr. Fischer, who has been in constant communication with the two States for the past three years, has removed the obstacles which stand in the way of the Orange Free State, and secured its support for the Transvaal. That the Boers in the Free State honestly sympathise with the atti- tude taken up bv their fellow-countrymen in the Transvaal is scarcely credible. In the Free State a two years' residence qualifies for burghershit). and the laws are most just to all Uitlanders. Presi- dent Steyn's action is far from being unani- mously approved of. Private telegrams which reached town to-night stated that many of the Free State Boers are leaving the country as a protest, and that it is the younpr Boers who are forcing'the State into a quarrel in which it has every- thing to lose and nothing whatever to gain. Mr. Francis J. Dormer and the Boers. An unusually interesting letter appears in this morning's "Times" from Mr. Fran- cis J. Dormer, who for the past thirty years has been opposed to a policy of coercing the Transvaal Boers. He now sorrowfully confesses that the events of later days have shaken his faith in the soundness of his convictions, and he has come to the conclusion that it is the duty of her Majesty's Government, with the least possible delay and at the least pos- sible expense of blood and treasure, to get the future of South Africa into its own hands. Mr. Dormer is but one of many others who have been converted by Boer obstinacy and brutality to take up this attitude. Not the least important factor to this end has been the importation into the Grondwet of a provision that all coloured persons may be required to co- operate in maintaining the independence of the Republic, which, in other words, means that the Boers intend to make use of the savages in the Transvaal to fight asrainst us if we take aggressive action. When we take into account that the British Government are now placing forces on the frontiers of Swaziland and Basuto- land to prevent the savages, who are only too anxious to have a smack at the Boers, from assisting us in any campaign we may take, this action of the Boers is brought into fearful prominence. Theatrical Novelties. There are three novelties to be produced this week in the theatrical world. First and foremost, of course, comes the produc- tion of "King John" at Her Majesty's Theatre. This will be followed by "The Moonlight Blossom," at the Prince of Wales's. and on Saturday night we shall have "An Interrupted Honeymoon," at the Avenue. It is the intention of Mr. Tree to give to each visitor at Her Majesty's at any one of the first twenty performances a choice little book contain- ing the literary and stage history of the play.

WALES DAY BY DAY Even the Welsh Nonconformist minister has now lost faith in Oom Paul. Members of the Guild of Welsh Graduates require long notice of events to come. A reminder has just been sent out that the guild will meet on the 1st of November. The hall-keeper at Swansea Town-hall has resigned. His familiar figure, and that of his wife, will be much missed. Is this another case of disgust witn the assize courts? Another agitation has been started to hold Swansea. Town Council meetings in tha even- ings, and Councillor David Williams has given notice for Wednesday's meeting that they should be so held in future, A man who knows the clubs at Cardiff very thoroughly says he doesn't know whether it is the Tory clubs or the Radical clubs which are more emphatic that the Transvaal situa- tion has now become intolerable. Old Moore has issued his predictions for 1900, and we note with regret that he doesn't pro- mise that Canton Bridge will be lit by electric light next year again. Even if ths corporation has no idea of art, hasn't it a sense of shame? It is just as well that the great boycott is dying a natural death. The chief sufferers were the poor onion men from Brittany, who were imperiously ordered away from the doors of people who had decided to have nothing more to do with France in any shape or form. It looks as if the dogs are to get their own back. A Queen-street tradesman has a notice in his window: "Wire Dog Muzzles as Required by the Board of Agriculture." When the required muzzle is strapped on Board of Agri- culture's nose Towzer's revenge will be com- p! 2te. A much larger number of lunatics pass through the Cardiff Workhouse during the summer than winter. So Mr. F. J. Beavan told the finance committee on Monday, when some- one noted the large-amount of wages which had to be paid for extra attendance for lunatics during July and August. Carmarthen confidently expects that its new concrete cycte track next year will prove to be the Golgotha of existing records. The oval is Ibur laps to the mile, and combines the best racing principles of gradients and angularities of the very few tracks of a similar character yet constructed in th-3 United Kingdom. A tall retired sergeant who had fought at Tel-el-Kebir entered the Grand Theatre, Swan. sea, a few nights ago. In the constable who happened to be on duty outside he recognised a brother-in-arms at that engagement-in fact, the two men slept next each other in the cam- paign. We need hardly say it was a "tre. menjus meeting." Mr. J. E. Southall, of Newport, is about to start for South Africa, where he will remain for an indefinite period, extending probably from three to six months. Mr. Southall's health has not been very good of late, and he thinks that the air of Cape Colony, with a smel of British and Boer powder in the Trans- vaal, may prove a useful tonic. What must an occasional peep at the world be like? A woman named Bridget Collins- an item in the human scrap heap in Cardiff- was before the magistrates yesterday, and a police-inspector told the bench that, with the exception of one week, the woman had been in gaol for the past twe-ve months. On this occasion, however, she was discharged. Th-3 Rhondda miners' delegates made a happy choice on Monday, for in Mr. Tom Evans. the newly-elected member' of the South Wales miners' executive, they have an exceptionally keen man, who came tip th3 front by the force of his intelligence ancf moderation during the troubled days and weeks of the great strike.- He is a checkweigher at the Penygraig Colliery. A correspondent suggests that Miss Violet Vivian's dog got angry because he was probably stung by a bee. The suggestion, we suppose, is that Mies Vivian should have humoured the dog tili it calmed down. These suggestions, it will be seen, are always made by those who didn't have to tackle the dog at a moment's notice. In fact, they are generally sent by post. Visitors to Aberystwith are familiar, with Tylwch Station, the scene of the recent fatal accident. The next station or so is Pant-y- dwr, the hollow of the' waters from which the Severn and the Wye radiate on their several courses, and where for years the "station- master" was a hale-looking woman, who sig- nailed trains with a flag. Tylwch is one of the best-cared-for stations on the route, and the ingenuity and taste exercised in floral deco- ration and in making the most of the circum- scribed ground as noticeable as at the station at Talyllyn, where the statienmaster grows flowers and farms bees, and has monumental records to various blackbirds and robins which have been amongst the lost friends of his official career. The Beaufort boy to whose performance of attending school without missing a single attendance for nine years we called attention last week has not long been allowed to hold the record. The "School Board Chronicle" for Saturday last publishes an account of the opening of a new playground at Llangollen on the previous Saturday, when addresses were delivered by Mr. J. Herbert Roberts, M.P.. and Mr. L. J. -Roberts, her Majesty's inspector. "One of the most interesting features of the meeting," says the "Chronicle," "was the pre- sentation of a silver watch to one of the pupils—Abel Roberts-who, as far as is known. has made an unsurpassed, if not an unequalled, record of school attendance. He was heartily cheered on ascending the platform to receive the watch at the hands of Mr. L. J. Roberts. The watch is inscribed, 'Presented to Abel Roberts for having attended the Llangollen Board Schools without a single omission for eleven years, July, 1899.' Can any Welsh or English boy equal this? Here is another reminiscence of General Picton. It comes apropos to the discussion as to General Sir Thomas Picton's movements immediately before his departure for Water- loo. Tregib, the seat of Mr. J. W. Gwynne- Hughes, near Llandilo, is one of the last places visited by the gallant soldier after receiving orders to proceed to the front. The extract is from a speech delivered at Llandilo by the late i Mr. D. Pugh, M.P., of Manoravon, in November, 1879, on the occasion of the coming-of-age of Mr. J. W. Gwynne-Hughes. Mr. Pugh then said "he was old enough to remember their dear old friend Colonel Hughes, of Tregib, and the friend of Picton, and he could tell them a little anecdote suggested by the two names which some of them might not have heard. When Bonaparte came out of Elba and Picton was ordered off, he called on his old friend at Tregib, and there they sat down to examine a map of what they supposed would be the course of future operations. Old Colonel Hughes pointed to Brussels and said, 'Before the French come here we shall have an awful game of hacking.' So it happened, and near that very spot soon afterwards Picton lost his life." The late Colonel Hughes mentioned by Mr. Pugh was the great-grandfather of the present squire of Tregib, as well as great- uncle to Colonel Gwynne-Hughes, of Glan- cothi. and it is interesting to note that the Grand Old Man of Carmarthen (Mr. George Bagnall) well recollects Colonel Hughes riding at the head of the Carmarthenshire Miutia in the early years of the century.

SUFFER]N S OF THE WELSH .SETTLERS. The Rev. Hugh Davies, one of the two Welsh clergymen sent out some years ago to Pata- gonia, in the current issue of the "Llan" details his experiences of the recent inunda- tion of the Chupat Valley and the exciting experiences he and his family passed through. "The flood," writes Mr. Davies, "came in contact first with my holding about mid-day of Saturday, August 23, and I soon discovered that the water would forthwith leap over the watercourse to the land of my neighbours and myself. I went to St. David's Church to place the embroidered silk covers of the altar-the work of the Hon. Miss Eleanor Pennant. Pen- rhyn Castle—the a:tar books, the lectern Bible and that on the pulpit shelf, and other objects in a place of safety should the water reach the church, which stands on an eminence-about the highest point in that part of the valley. My sons at that time were engaged in driving the cattle to the adjoining hills. They returned as I was coming from the church, and shouted, 'Father, you must take grandmother at once in the trap to the hills, or the water will be too deep for you to pass through, and we'll follow with as much food and other things as we can carry in the wagon.' There was no time for preparation, only just sufficient to catch the horses. I had scarcely time to secure my cleri- cals, Prayer Book and hymn book, my writing- desk, and letters of Orders. You can easily imagine my feelings at being compelled to leave behind my home, with my books and my furniture. We had to rush past St. David's Church, being unable to turn in to breathe a prayer to God on this, the shortest day of our year, or to know whether we would be ever per- mitted again to worship God in that shrine which we loved so dearly, and thank Him for our escape from a danger which threatened to involve the whole valley in ruin. Think of it, myself and family in the depth of night obliged to flee for our lives over miles of road through slush and water, the horse frequently up to his body. Every minute seemed an hour, and we feared at each step that the water would overtake us before we reached the hills. My sons and daughters trudged behind, carry- ing everything they were able hurriedly to pile on the wagon. At length we reached the house we were making for, and was welcomed by the owner, one Mr. Hutchins. It was now half-past nine o'clock at night. On reaching the house we found that it contained as many as seven families—thirty-seven souls in two rooms." Another clergyman, the Rev. D. G. Davies. writing to Canon Thomas, of Holyhead, also sent a brief account of the inundation. This gentleman, was able to secure most of his fur- niture, but it was seriously damaged through exposure to the rain and the snow. Most of the houses had been swept away. but no lives were lost. His church was standing, and Trelew was safe. Earnest appeals for funds are made, and contributions may be sent to the Rev. Hugh Davies. Hafod Unig, Valley Superior, Colonia del Chupat, and also to the Rev. D. G. Davies, Trelew, Chupat.

WORKHOUSE FARE AT CA RDI FF, PULPIT REFERENCES TO THE "WESTERN MAIL" EXPOSURES. Harvest thanksgiving services were held at the Victoria Baptist Chapel, Cardiff, on Sunday last. In the course of an eloquent sermon in the evening the Rev. J. O. Hughes, of Aber- sychan, dwelt at length on the visits of the "Western Mail" commissioner to the wQrk- houses, and remarked that such an enterprise as that undertaken by the "Western Mail" deserved the^ gratitude, not only of the Chris- tian Church, but of humanity at large. He compared the amount epent on the Army and Navy with that spent on the poor of this country, and expressed a hope that the labours of the "Western Muil" would bear much fruit in the better relief of the poor.

HEAD CONSTABLESHIP OF NEATH. PETITION FROM THE TEM- PEBANCE PARTY. The local temperance party have issued cir- culars and a petition praying the Neath Town Council to place the police under county regime, and, failin? that, to appoint a head- constable in succession to Mr. Evans, who retires at the end of this month, from appli- cants outside the borough. Grave insinuations are made against tha existing force, which, adds our correspondent, are as untrue as un- fair. A leading member of the temperance party told our representative that if the town council disregarded their agitation an appeal would be mad' to the Home Secretary. A copy of the petition has been sent to all the local chapels. and the result of the members' decisions will be know shortly. At two places of worship on Sunday a unanimous vote in favour o? the petition was adopted.

WATER POLO. WALES V. SCOTLAND. For the international water polo match, Wales v. Scotland, which takes place at Pen- arth on Monday evening next, the 25th inst., the committee of the Welsh Amateur Swim- ming Association met at Cardiff on Monday, and selected the following side to represent Wales:-Goal. E. C. Lane (Newport); backs, H. J. Herbert (Newport), F. C. Lee (Penarth), and D. A. Sutherland (Swansea): forwards, W. Doherty (Swansea), E. A. Fry (Penarth). and J. Wallace (Penarth). Reserves: Goal, H. Mills, (Swansea); back, J. G. Coppock (Cardiff); for-! ward, F. S. Coppock (Cardiff). The only change from the team that met find was defeated by England is that D. A: Sutherland re-places his club-mate, J. Rowan. The Scotch team is as follows :-Goal, F. Marshall (Warrender), cap- tain; backs. W. C. S. Taylor (Western Baths); J. Martin (Northern), and L. McKenzie (Edin- burgh Hibernians); forwards, W. L. Russell (Western Baths), W. Dick (Belmont), and J. Taggart (Western Baths). The game com- mences at 7.30 sharp. Referee, Mr. George Pragnell, hon. secretary E.A.S.A.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT'S VISIT TO NEW TREDEGAR. In connection with Sir William Harcourt's visit to Ebbw Vale and New Tredegar on Wed- nesday, the order of proceedings will be as follows:—Twelve noon, managers will receive Sir Wü1¡am at the Ebbw Vale County School for the opening of the school; 12.30. procession leaves the school for the Central-hall; 1.30, luncheon at the Central-hall; three, speeches. In the evening Sir William will deliver a politi- cal speech at New Tredegar at 7.30.

AN ALLEGED SURREPTI- TIOUS WATER SUPPLY. The Swansea Corporation, whilst extending one hand of amity towards the Great Western Railway, have, it is reported, just been detected in the act of robbing them with the other hand. The circumstances from one point of view are somewhat humorous; whether the company will so regard it is another question. Firstly, we must say that there has been an outcry at Swansea for the past two or three years that the corporation of that borough laid their Cray water main some years before the new supply was ready, and that hundreds of tons of pipes (representing a large amount of more valuable metal) have been simply buried in the earth to wait until called for. That is not entirely so. People who wondered how, after these months of drought, the Swan- sea Corporation could proudly boast that they have one, two, or three months' supply in the reservoir may be helped, perhaps, to a partial explanation by the latest bit of news from Swansea. It has just leaked out-not the water, but the news. The new pipes have been used—but not for the Swansea Corporation's own water. It is asserted that they have laid unlawful hands on such water as they could get hold of en route down Swansea Valley. The pipe3 naturally pass by some very desirable little streams this dry weather! One of these has been, so to speak, "kidnapped." Things went on gloriously! The limpid flow gurgled down the dry throats of the new pipes, and sped away to Swansea reservoirs to refresh the palates of the heated inhabitants, and the corporation water committee rubbed their hands with glee, and to the critics who had ventured to say they had buried the money they said, "Look there; take it out of that, my bucks!" That is to say, they said it in their sleeves; not openly. I was a lovely little supply, and as long as it was kept dark it did grandly. But presently the Great Western Railway found their canal shrinking. It got horribly thin and un- healthy-looking, and the officials began to scratch their heads in wonderment as to what was curtailing it of its fair proportions. It had never been in such low condition before. Careful investigation resulted in the discovery of the erratic flow of their source of supply which had been "picked up" as an "incon- s;dered trifle" by the corporation. They tapped here and there on the earth; we are not sure whether a diviner followed them or not, and when they discovered it speeding away to Swansea they sat them down by the waters of Babylon and wept. and hung festoons of harps on the willow trees The murder was out, and the corporation speedily made restitution of the borrowed water. Whether the corporation will "hear further" from the Great Western remains to be seen. If not, it may be augured that the company have bestowed a temporary blessing on the parched populace, and that the corporation (in a way natural, we suppose, to things which have "no souls to be saved or bodies to be kicked") have benefited thus far by the surreptitious little transaction!

LABOUR UNREST1 IN SOUTH WALES. THE SECRET EXPLAINED. In the course of a lengthy leader on "The Secret of Unrest in South Wales," tho "Financial Times" on Monday states:—The secret is now out. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain has been at work, and the dis- content it has been silently but assiduously fostering among its members has just aa stealthily permeated the leading branches of labour in the Welsh coalfields. New combinations beget new complications, and the unquestionable growth of the Miners' Federa- tion in the Welsh basin has evidently reminded the colliery proprietors that they have a good deal to do yet before their house is set in order. The Coalowners' Association was a strong organisation, and it fought and won the last five months' struggle, at a cost of close on £ 400,000. Meanwhile a body of owners who kept aloof from the masters' association were working night and day, reaping excep- tional profits, and complacently, watching others bear the heat and burden of the common battie. The question, therefore, arises whether the non-associated firms should be allowed to secure the protection the asso- ciation offers in time of crisis. The admission of certain of these companies a few moil tl's ago precipitated the dispute in the Swansea Valley, and led to the withdrawal of Sir W. T. Lewis, together with his collieries and those of Lord Bute, from further connection with the association. The annual output thus struck off from the employers' combina- tion is a serious m-itter. but not nearly so important as the loss of the strong-minded ma-i who founded the, association and led it with almost unchcquercd success through a sea of trobules. The question is again raised by ths reported application of the Cambrian Collieries Company for admission to the associated ranks. If it be wrong to profit by one's neighbour's troubles whtn interested in tleir cause, then Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., of the Cambrian Company, was chief—and also a prosperous—offender between April' and September last year. If he is to be accepted, especially after doing his best to eject Sir William Lewis out of the chairman- ship, then, it ;s asked, where can the line ba drawn? And if he and others be permitted to join, now that signs of further strife darken the horizon, is there not a risk that some of the older members who can ill be spared may join Sir William Lewis in shaking off the dust of the association from their shoes? These are points which are adding to the anxiety which experienced observers are feel- ing in regard to the situation. To copa with the increasing forces of the colliers' Union a much more complete and powerful organisa- tion is imperatively needed. Yet the per- sonal element influences them as a body more I than the federation leaders allow it to affect them. Moreover, that has been the case among the coalowners ever since the steam coal trade became a leading industry.

MUZZLING ORDER. A BATCH OF OFFENDERS AT SWANSEA. i At Swansea Police-court on Monday the first batch of offenders against the muzzling order was dealt with by the bench. In half a dozen cases which had occurred on the morning of the 8th inst., when the order came into opera- tion, 'the Bench decided not to convict. Of the other cases four were dismissed, three adjourned, and fines of 5s. were imposed in six instances. The Alleged Rabies Near Llandovery. The Llandovery dog which is alleged to be rabid is still at large, although the police have made every endeavour to capture it. The two dogs which it bit have been destroyed.

CARDIFF SAILOR DESCRIBES I THE OPERATIONS. One of the crew of a Cardiff vessel, writing home to his employe.-? from Theodosia, describes the performance of fumigation. The crew of the vessel were under the impression that no fumigation would be necessary at Theodosia, as they had come direct from Alexandria, where they had previously been in quarantine. They were, however, mis- taken. He writes:—"We had to go through a very disgusting performance on the 8th of September. To begin with, all the crew had to go on shore to be examined by a doctor. After that we returned on board, and sent on shore all dirty clothes, &c., to be smoked and boiled. Then all the crew had to come out of the ship and go on shore again, where we had to go into a room, undress, and then pass into a bathroom and wash; from there into a third room, where we had to stay naked for forty minutes, while our clothes were being smoked. The crew were divided into two lots, and I was in the first, which consisted of the officers and myself. I demanded cloaks, which, after a little hesitation, were supplied. But the second batch, eighteen in number, were not so supplied. Lady passengers have to go through the same performance, only they don't bathe at the same time as the men."

When the Cow Dies we hear how much milk she gave. But we ought to have heard of it before. Pity to leave the good things we have to say about our loved ones until they are gone. Flowers on graves are right and seemly, but it it better, we think, to give love-tokens to the living rather than the dead. The Cow gave good milk, and much of it, during a long life, but report said nothing of it, and thought less; but at her decease her virtues told out were so many 'twas enough to resurrect her. "My late wife," or "my poor dear husband," said with a semi-sanctimonious whine, is enough to make the poor creatures turn in their graves. They gave a lot of milk. but they themselves were never told of it. Page Woodcock, of Lin- coln, does a lot of good all the year round. it's talked of now, and will be long after he has shuffled off this mortal coil. His famous Wind Pills for the cure of Indigestion, Wind on the Stomach, Liver Complaints, Spasms, Sick Headache, Costivene33, Biliousness, &c., keep many a, one from going to an early grave, and make life a glad, bright thing. A Gentleman in a provincial town said to a friend a few days ago, "Who's your Doctor?" Said the other, "I never need one; about the only medicine I ever take is Page Woodcock's Wind Pills." If you doubt our word send us your name and address, and we'll tend the names of these Gentlemen. Every hard-driven business man, every tired, weary house-wife, every working man and woman, often prevented by their working con- ditions from taking sufficient exercise, should take Page Woodcock's Wind Pills, and do it at once. Page Woodcock's Wind Pills being purely Vegetable, Tasteless, and Mild and Tonic in their action, may be taken with perfect safety by the most delicate of either sex. Children may safely take them in reduced doses. All Medicine Vendors at Is. Hd. and 2s. 9d. Post free for price by Page Woodcock. Lincoln. E7412-2-14

SECONDARY EDUCATION THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TO THE FORE. A meeting will be held at the Town-hall, Cardiff, on October 5, the object being the promotion of secondary education for the middle classes by means of the Church of Eng- land public schools, commonly known as the Woodard Schools. Lord Windsor will take the chair, and most influential support has been promised by the leading clergy and laity of the neighbourhood.

DEATH OF MR. J. H. TEAS- DALE, PEMBROKEDOCK, The death occurred on Saturday, at the age of seventy-one, at his residence, Queen- street West, Pembroke Dock, of Mr. Joseph Hugh Teasdale, J.P. The deceased gentleman was the oldest tradesman in Pembroke Dock, and was formerly an extensive shipowner. He was a. J.P. for the borough of Pembroke, and was at the time of his death a governor of the Pembroke Dock Intermediate and National Schools respectively. He was the first presi- dent of the Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven Chamber of Commerce, and one of the oldest supporters of the Pembroke Dock Mechanics' Institute.

THE BANKRUPTCY OF BARON CLANMORRIS, In Belfast Bankruptcy-court on Monday John George Barry Bingham, Baron Clan- morris, on adjudicated barkrupt, made appli- cation to have the adjudication annulled, on the ground of non-residence within the juris- diction of the court. In reply to questions, his Lordship said he had resided in several places. He was now staying at Bangor Castle, County Down, where he had been visiting on and off for the past 21 years. His ten children were c born there, and his notepaper was stamped w:th that address. He was served with the adjudication papers on his return from Lon- don, where his address was 31, Brook-street.— His lordship was examined at considerable length, and tho case was adjourned for a week.

MISCHIEVOUS CONDUCT AT PENCOED. A singular outrage was perpetrated on Sun. day night at the Tybryn Brickworks, Pencoed, owned by a Mrs. Davies, of Cardiff. When work was commenced on Monday morning at half-past six it was found that the masonry around the boiler had been very seriously damaged by an explosion. The explosive used was evidently dynamite. The affair seems to have been deliberately planned, as a crowbar had been taken from near the office and used had been taken from near the office and used to complete the work of the explosion by prising away the masonry from the boiler. The damage is estimated at between C15 and £20.! The manager, Mr. Thomas Thomas, inspected i the place on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, when everything was all right.

CHURCH CONGRESS PROCESSION ABANDONED. The Central News states, that the clerical procession through the streets on the occasion of the opening of the Church Congress in Lon- don which was originally contemplated has been abandoned.

PREPARATIONS AT CARDIFF BARRACKS. "EXPRESS" BOYS SEIZED WITH WAR FEVER. From inquiries we have made we find that arrangements have been made at the Cardiff Barracks, the depot of the 41st (Welsh) Regi- ment, for calling up the First-class Reserves and supplying them with their outfits to re-join the colours. As the barracks are not large enough to accommodate the men, a number of tents have been requisitioned, and are now stored at the depot. The 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, which is now stationed at Aldershot, has received notice to hold itself in readiness for active service in South Africa, and, as far as present arrangements have gone, it will assist in keeping open the communications between Durban and the front. The battalion is now about 770 strong, but, as no men under nineteen years"of age will be allowed to pro- ceed to South, Africa and others may be medically unfit, the Reserves will be called upon to bring the strength up to 1,000. The 2nd Battalion is stationed at Ahmednugger, and is not likely to be called upon in the event of war with the Boers. Inquiries with regard tD recruits elicited the information that during the last two months there has been an increase in the numbers passed at the depot, but this is not attributed by the authorities to any rumours of war. This is negatived, however, by the martial spirit shown by fourteen "Express" newsboys who had evidently caught the fever, and went up to the barracks to join. They were all about seventeen years of age, and were persuaded to join the Militia. They are now doing their seven weeks' train- ing, but it is to be hoped that the Transvaal trouble will be over before they are sufficiently seasoned to transfer to the line battalions. Colonel Cresswell Interviewed. Colonel Cresswell, C.B., V.D., commandant of the 3rd V.B. Welsh Regiment, informed a "Western Mail" representative on Monday evening that he had only received one applica- tion for service in South Africa, and that was from a young officer, who desired to be attached to the 41st Regiment. This applica- tion he had duly despatched on its circuitous journey to the War Office, and as only a week had gone since its despatch he had had no reply. "I don't think." said Colonel Cresswell, "that the Government will accept any of these Volunteers from the rank and file, but, in all probability, the officers who offer their services will be accepted." Asked why no men had volunteered for active service, Colonel Cresswell said times were too good. Had this war trouble arisen during the strike South Wales would have been to the front with Volunteers. Commenting on the chances of war, he considered that a conflict was not very far off. All along the dilatori- ness of the Government had been most sur- prising. I Death of a Welsh Uitlander. The death took place at Ruther- lane, Haverfordwest, last week of a young man, named Mr. James Mathias, who ha-d come home from the Trans- vaal for the second time within four years to see his friends and to recruit his health. Some time ago he favoured our Haverfordwest corre- spondent with an interview, which appeared in these columns, giving his views on the strained situation out there. He was then fully under the impression, and so were all the English in the Transvaal, that war would come before very long, and put the long-standing questions right. Mr. Mathias showed at the time of the raid that he was perfectly prepared to fight shoulder to shoulder with his fellow-country- men in Johannesburg, for he was under arms at that historical time, and was ready to go out to the succour of Jameson had that "reformer" not moved at the wrong time, and had not the Uitlander force been practically without ammunition.

WOMAN'S STRANGE DEATH AT CHEPSTOW. Mr. Fothergill Evans, the newly- appointed coroner for the manor of Chep- stow, held his first inquest on Monday, at Chepstow Police-station, for the purpose of inquiring into the death of Ann Wat- kins, alias Carney, about 70 years of age, of Orchard-place, who was supposed to have been killed by falling downstairs some time on Saturday night.—Alfred Tilley deposed that he lived with deceased. He met her about ten o'clock on Saturday night, and they went home together. Wit- ness was not sober, and deceased was also under the influence of drink, but not so much as he was. He laid down on the sofa downstairs without undressing, and deceased took his boots off for him. He wedt to sleep, and did not know anything more until about 9.45 a.m. on Sunday, when he found deceased lying in the room, at the bottom of the stairs, in an unconscious condition, but did not know at the time that she was dead. She was fullv dressed with the exception' of her bodice and boots. A broken rail of the balusters was lying on her, and upon her skirts was a bottle of water, which she, was in the habit of taking upstairs at nights with her. Under her were a couple of trousers of his which he saw hanging across the balusters on Saturday after-' noon. He and the deceased had had no quarrel on Saturday night.—A next-door neighbour, named Whitchurch, and his son, deposed to hearing a noise in deceased's house at between eleven and twelve o'clock on Saturday night, and the lad alleged that he heard cries of "Oh!" and groans for! about ten minutes. The Whitchurebes,bow- ever, took no notice, and did not inter- fere, quarrels between Mrs. Watkins and, Tilley being of frequent occurrence.-The inquiry was adjourned until to-day (Tues- day) to give the doctor an opportunity of making a post-mortem examination.

SIR EDWARD CLARKE'S VISIT TO SOUTH GLAMORGAN The visit of Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., the ex-Solicitor-General, to South Glamorgan. has been fixed for Tuesday, October 3, when h3 will address a great Unionist meeting at Andrews-hall, Penarth, and not at the Romilly- hall, Barry, as at first reported.

FOOTBALLERDEATR. Bettie Hollins. 20, a member of the Wolver- hampton Wanderers football team, has died in the local hospital, as the result of an accident to his ankle during a practice match a month ago. He underwent a surgical opera- tion on Sunday.

A FAREWELL DINNER AND A HEARTY SEND-OFF. In connection with the return of Mr. W. Pritchard Morgan, M.P., to China, it may be of interest to re-call what took place at Shanghai on the eve of the departure of the expedition arranged by Mr. Morgan for the exploration of Szechuen. According to the Singapore Free Press" of January 11 last. Mr. W. P. Morgan entertained a large and distinguished company to dinner on New Year's Eve. the company including represen- tatives of the British, American. Chinese, and Russian nations. Amongst those present was Mr. Liu Hsiao-hsun, Imperial Commis- sioner for investigating commercial affairs in China and foreign countries, who had just recently been appointed, in addition to the important post of president of the associated corporations, which is a combination of four companies, to -;hom is to be entrusted the task of developing the mineral and industrial resources of the province of Szechuen.— Baron G. de Gunsbe-g, the Russian Political Agent in China, proposed the health of the Queen of England and the continued prosrerity of the commerce of Great Britain, one impor- tant move towards the furtherance of which they were at the moment assisting to initiate. -This was ably responded to by Mr. Pritchard Morgan, who, in the course of his remarks. called attention to the friendly relations and the blood ties which existed between the Queen and the Czar, and which he thought should be fostered and strengthened by all the means in the power of both peoples.-Mr. Mackintosh Fergusson, of Pittsburg, Penn., U.S.A., one of the leaders of the expedition, proposed the health of the Czar, and progress and prosperity to the commerce of the Russian Empire, the advancement of which, particularly in the East. was of such great importance in the opening up of the natural resources of what was probably the largest portion of the earth as yet unexploited.—Baron Gunsberg replied, dwelling strongly upon the friendly relations which he said existed at the moment between Great Britain and Russia, despite all that wag said by the newspapers of both countries, and the continuance of which was, he affirmed, the strongest desire of all those who had the best interests of Russia at heart.—Mr. Morgan pro- posed the health of the President of the United States and the prosperity of the Ameri- can people and their commerce.—Mr. William Adams, an experienced American-Australian explorer, responded in an able speech, in the course of which he dwelt on the union of blood and traditions between the British and the Americans, which was being for the first time recognised politically, and from the ade- quate recognition of which he, and he thought many of those present, hoped to see such good results in the not distant future.—Mr. A. M. A. Evans, a prominent merchant, who has been appointed the local representative of Mr. Morgan during the latter's absence at home, proposed the health of the Emperor of China, the prosperity of her people, and the con- tinuance of that development which they all hoped was now being inaugurated.—This was responded to by Mr. Tong Kid Son, the Compradore of Messrs. Jardine Matfreson and Co., who in an able English speech said he and most of the Chinese with whom he came into contact hoped to see much good come out of past and present events in China, the t'me being now ripe, in his estima- tion, for some of those long looked-for results to be accomplished. Baron Gunsberg proposed the health, pros- perity, and success of Mr. Morgan in a most complimentary speech, during which he again specially dwelt upon and emphasised the good feeling between the Czar and the Russians towards Great Britain and the British, the con- tinuance and reciprocation of which was so greatly desired by- all his countrymen. He referred to the great importance of the open- ing up of the province of Szechuen, and said the Chinese authorities could not have placed the matter in better hands. The party broke up shortly before midnight, when the members of the expedition, the European contingent of which is under the command of Mr. Burn-Mur- dock, the Chinese being headed by a high official, were seen to their boat, which started shortly after their arrival, thus starting them on their long and arduous journey to the utmost borders of the largest province of China, Szechuen. Mr. Pritchard Morgan, accompanied by his daughter and secretary, started the next night by the Cearman mail steamer, the Prinz Heinrich, ,for England to attend to his Parlia- mentary duties in the House of Commons. There was a large gathering to wish him bon voyage, amongst these being a number of Chinese. officials and merchants, and the grand display of fireworks-the Celestial method of showing respect and goodwill—was declared by all the foreigners present to have been the fineat, ever seen on the Shanghai Bund.

POOR-LAW OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Poor-law Officers' Associa. tion for the counties of Glamorgan and Mon- mouth was held at the Caerleon Schools. New- port, on Thursday, Dr. J. Milward, Cardiff, pre- siding. The financial statement was presented showing a balance in hand of the association of 910 8s. 9d. It was decided to ask the national council to print a report of the proceedings of the council during the year, together with other statistics, for distribution among the officers. The Fixity of Tenure Bill for assis- tant overseers was discussed, as was also the expenses of the Worcester libel case, but no action was taken in either case. The delegates. after the completion of the business, visited the various places of interest in "Ye Antient Citie."

BAZAAR AT BARRY. Extensive arrangements are being made for holding a three days' bazaar at the Romilly- hall, Barry, this week, under distinguished patronage, the proceeds being in aid of the Barry Parish Church. The bazaar will be opened to-morrow (Wednesday) at one o'clock by Lady Arabella Romilly on Thursday, at 2.30, by Lady Eva Wyndham-Quin and on Friday, at 2.30, by Lady Batrica Stewart. In addition to numerous stalls laden with useful and fancy articles, there will be a variety of other attractions, and Mr. Arthur Roberts' orchestral party will be in attendance each evening.

INQUESTS AT PORTH. Mr. R. J. Rhys on Monday held an inquest at. Porth Police-court touching the death of Charles Jones, a collier boy, residing at 3, Syphon-street, Porth, who died on Saturday night from injuries received earlier in the day at the Upper Cymmer Colliery.—The jury re- turned a verdict of Accidental death." Mr. Rhys also held an inquest touching the death of a child, William John Jones, son of John Jones, stoker, 91, North-road, Porth. The deceased picked up a box of matches which were near him, and by some means fired the contents. His sister found him all ablaze. Dr. Joyce was sent for, but the child died early on Monday morning.—The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death."

(COPYRIGHT.) THE CHAIN OF OUR SINS. BY MISS M. E. BRADDON. Author of "Lady Audley's Secret." "The Fatal Three." "The Day Will Come," "Lost for Love," "The Doctor's Wife." "Whose Was the Hand?' "One Life. One Love," "Thon Art the Man," "Sons of Fire," <5ec. CHAPTER XV. THE BOYHOOD OF OLIVER GRESWOLD. After the drawing-room meeting in Russell- square, Arnold became on very friendly terms with Wilmot's Ida, and was induced to join the lovers in visits to picture-galleries and other places of public entertainment, to which the young lady went in custody cf a scricus aont, whose piety was tempered by an insati- able thirst for mundane pleasures, and who talked in the same breath of her favourite parsons and her favourite actors. This lady had battened upon her elder sister's bad health and enjoyed all the privileges of a chaperon, which included every picture-gallery in London, a good many of the best morning, concerts. light luncheons at the nicest West- end confectioners or cafes, and stalls at the Lyceum and Haymarket for every new play, the expense of which entertainments Wilmot cheerfully defrayed for the delight of being with his Ida. As he grew more intimate with the young lady Arnold was able to question her freely about Oliver Greswo!d, and from her he learnt all that the Borrodaiies knew of Lord Hild- yard's unpaid secretary. He had been allied I with his lordship for six or seven years, Ida told Arnold, and his attachment to Lady Violet was an open secret to all the world except that "dear old mole," Lord Hildyard. who could never see anything outside St. Giles's or Whitechapel. Did Ida think that he would consent to his daughter's mariage with Greswold? Ida, thought he would sacrifice all caste prejudice if Mr. Greewold were to come into a fortune. and were able to help the great cause with money as well as his brains. Mr. Greswold had great expectations from a miserly grand- father. who lived in a dismal old house on Clapham Common, surrounded by gardens and paddocks that were supposed to be worth a fortune as building land. "He keeps that poor young man dreadfully short of money, and wouldn't even let him go to the Bar. because it would cost something. Father says he has just the clothes he wears and his board and lodging at Clapham; so it is im- possible for him to put himself forward as a suitor for Lady Violet till his grandfather dies. However, as the old wretch is nearly ninety it's to be hoped he will make up his mind to do that before long." "But, is Mr. Greswold sure of being his grand- father's heir?" "Oh, no doubt such an old wretch might leave everything to a hospital; but there are no other relations; and Oliver Greswold has been brought up in his grandfather's house, so that ought to mean being his heir.' "And you thiiik Lady Violet would marry him if he asked her?" "Like a bird!" replied Ida, who had adopted some of her Wilmot's phrases, and prided herself upon them, as she prided herself upon writing like him, though his penmanship was execrable. Lady Violet accompanied Ida. in one of their picture mornings, and Arnold, who had tie honour of escorting her through the gal- leries. found it very easy to lead her to talk of Oliver Greswold. From her he heard how hard the young man's lot had been, and how the fire of unsatisfied ambitions was consuming his youth. "He ought to be in tfhe House," she said. "He could help every good cause if he were there-for he is a bom leader of men. William Pitt was a power at his age. He would be in the House if my father were rich enough to help him. It is hard to see men who are so inferior to him making great names while he is known only to a few. You heard him speak; you know what kind of speaker he is." "I thought him a very fine speaker; but eloquence is not everything in the House of Commons, and some distinguished orators have failed there. Mr. Greswold may not have the genius of debate." "You do not know how clever he is r.r you would not say that. My father and I have known him for a good many years, and we lmow what there is in him, and that he only, requires a proper platform. It is so hard that want of money should stop the wa.y, buV- 'Every door is barred with gold, and opens but to golden keys,' concluded Lady Violet, with a sigh. Her face. which revealed every feeling, glowed with enthusiasm as she talked of the man she loved. She told Arnold how nobly he had assisted every scheme of her father's; how'indefati- gable, how clever, and far-seeing he had been. Looking at pictures was a. secondary pleasure compared with talking of Oliver Greswold to a sympathetic listener; and to Violet's "nuid Mr. Wentworth's eager interest coulet spring only from genuine admiration fcr the iuan sho loved. He asked her if Greswold always lived at Clapham, in the dreary house with the miserly grandfather. "Always—at least, I only remember one occasion when he lived anywhere else, and that was last winter, when he had lodgings in some street near the British Museum. He is writing a bok upon trades unionism, and workmen's societies of all kinds, and he wanted to be near the Museum Library. He had to work there every day." She knew all about it. then! He had made no secret of his residence in Bloomsbury. This shook Arnold's conviction, and damped his ardour. His spirits sank at the idea that he had lighted on a mare's nest. Yet, if there were no evil intent, why did Greswol 1 dis- figure himself with spectacles and assume an alias? "Do you remember tlhe name of the street where he lodged"" he asked; and then, as if in answer to her surprised look: "I—I—am thinking of reading up a little mineralogy- in case I ever go back to the goldfields-and I should like to know of decent lodgings near the Museum." "r don't remember the addrese-I doubt if I ever heard it. He was with my father every- day, and we had no occasion to write to him. But I'll ask him, if you like." "Please don't; he would think me a trouble- some fool. Here comes Miss Borrodaile. She will say I am hindering you from looking at the pictures." "I am always glad to talk to anyone who is interested in my father's work," she said. Arnold called at Mr. Faunce's suburban villa that evening, and related his conversation with Lady Violet, but Faunce received the communication quite coolly. "The man would have to account for his absence from Clapham." he said, "and if he is the criminal we want he would be wise enough to know that the nearer he kept to the actual truth the less risk he would run of detection. There was nothing extraordinary in his wanting to live close to his work. but I there's something extraordinary in his hidirut his eyes and changing his name. Lady Violet was told the one fact—which seemed natural enough. Had he pretended to be on the other side of the Channel, or a hundred miles away from London, he would have found it difficult to give a good reason for his absence, and might have been met in the street any hour in the day." "But even as it was-how if be had been met disguised?" "Spectacles don't necessarily mean disguise. He would have accounted for them by affect- ing something amiss with the eyes. No; your Lady Violet has not made any change in my ideas. And now I have something to tell you." Arnold was all eagerness, and, being enjoined to listen quietly and make no comments, this was the story he heard: Remembering the murdered woman's custom of wandering about the lonely squares and the Primrose-hill district after midnight, its described by her landlady and her fellow- lodger, it occurred to Mr. Faunce that she could hardly have escaped the observation of, the constables on duty in those districts, if they were worth sixpence a night as observers of human nature. Alone, op in company, she must have been a noticeable figure in the small hours. Proceeding upon this hypothesis Mr. Faunce had interrogated the men in the locality, and had finally met with an intelligent Irish ser- geant whose beat lay between Primrose-hill and the Gloucester-ioad, and who had fre- quently remarked the lonely woman walking towards the hill after midnight, when the streets and roads we re, aim oat empty of human life, or walking towards London at a still kater hour. He had seen her in the middle of summer walking eastward with the light of dawn upon her poor pinched face. She always looked pretty much the same, the sergeant said; pale and melancholy, decently clad, quiet, and respectable. He had never spoken to her, for he was sure that she had seen better days, and that it would vex her to know that she was noticed or watched. He had never seen her walking with any- body. She was always alone, and her eyes had a far-away look, as if she were always thinking the same kind of thoughts. I One night in the previous November he had observed to his surprise that she was being followed—stealthily, and at a distance—and he kept his eye upon the follower as long as he could do so without leaving his section. TUe person following was a youngish man, slim, a little over the middle height; looking like a Xtoiidoaoffj. wearing a loose brown overcoat, and a brown felt hat. He was puzzled by this [ fact, as there was nothing attractive about the young woman's appearance or manner; and, while the man was obviously watching her, he made no attempt to stop her or to enter into conversation with her. He followed her for the most part on the opposite side of the road, and far enough in her rear to prevent his footsteps being heard by her. The sergeant saw the man shadowing this woman three or four times in the course of as many weeks-in dull, foggy weather, and on fine, bright nights; but, though it was obvious to him that the man's purpose was to watch and to follow this one lonely figure, the thing was so done that he felt shy of questioning the man. There was nothing that indicated any sinister purpose up to the night of December 20th, when something serious happened. The night was dry, but rough. v""here was a waning moon, which showed occasionally in a sky full of black storm-clouds. There was a south-west wind, and the night was particularly mild for the season. There had been showers earlier in the evening, and the earth and the trees about Gloucester-gate and Gloucester-road had a cool freshness which the sergeant enjoyed. He was hardly surprised to meet the lonely woman walking across the open ground at -the top of Park-street, just as the York and Albany were clcsing. She walked at her us-ual brisk pace, and she went the way he was going to the hill. The moon was hidden now. and had been hidden for the last half-hour. He could not see her, though he believed Ehe was in front of him. Presently, nearer to him than he thought, he heard her light, quick footsteps, still in front, and at the same minute became aware of other footsteps, almost as light as hers, a little way behind him. He stopped, and stood aside, hidden by a group of trees. The following footsteps passed him and went on. He waited, and by and bye the woman passed, retracing her steps, the man to" owing. always at about the same distance. HaJheard his breathing as he passed, hurried, harder, and more agitated than it need have been, the ser- geant thought, considering the easy pace at which he was walking. The woman crossed the road at the foot of the hill and entered a long suburban street, one of those eminently respectable streets from which every token of human life vanishes soon after eleven -o'clock. The man crossed the road as the woman had crossed, about three minutes after her. H3 was keeping closer to her than usual to-night. The man entered the street she had entered; but kept on the oppo- site side of the way, as usual, and the sergeant) followed at just such a distance as might pre- vent the tramp of his regulation boots being heard by the people he was following, silent boots having not yet been adopted by the ser- vice. The sky was clearing, and the moon had looked out from among the clouds several times within the last hour. She leaped suddenly from behind a cloud-bank as the sergeant en- tered the empty, s.lent street, and he saw that the position of the people he was following had changed. They were still upon opposite side of the way, but the man was now considerably ahead of the woman. He drew aside as she approached, and stood In the shadow of a stuccoed porch. The street was a monotonous avenue of bay windows and pillared porches, the latter raised from the pavement only by a sing.e shallow step. The man came out of the porch ^jje woman appeared exactly opposite, and the ser- geant saw him take deliberate aim at her with a pistol. He was just near enough to see th9 flash of steel in the moonlight. "Hullo a!" shouted the sergeant, and ran as fast as his boots would let him. That shout may have saved a life, or only postponed murder. There was a cross street a few doors from ths spot where the man had stood to take aim, and he was away round the corner before the sergeant came up with the woman, who had stopped at his shout, and had seen the man running away, but may have been unaware of the danger she had escaped. "Do you know that man?" gasped the ser- geant without stopping. "No." The sergeant, still without stopping, called to her to wait for him. He would be back in a few minutes The side street wag as long as the main avenue, and there were numerous turnings in it; some leading to Camden Town, others to- wards Regent's Park. He was in an endless labyrinth of middle-class gentility; stuccoed porches, bay windows, larger or smaller, more or less ornate. He gave up the chase after about twenty minutes, during which he had met and enlisted the services of a constable on his beat. Then he went back to the street where he had left the woman, fully expecting to' find her waiting for him. Surely a woman's curiosity, even had she no stronger motive, would induce her to wait and hear the end of so strange an adventure. She was gone. The sergeant paraded the neighbouring streets for the rest of his t'me, but could not meet with her; and he never saw her aeain. Her c-iiaturual mrr4Lbrlations in that particular district were never repeated, or the sergeant must have met her. Whether he reported the occurrence on his sheet or not Was a question which Faunce had not cared to push too closely. "Poor soul! She had not long to wander alone under the stars after the 20th of Decem- ber," said Arnold, with that dull aching pain which he felt whenever his thoughts reverted to the woman who had loved him. to the woman who had loved him. "You take it for granted, then, that this wanderer was Lisa Rayner." "Have you any doubt of it?" "Not much. If the lodger in Dynevor-street was there for the purpose of murder, it is highly improbable that his audacious entrance at Number 13 on Christmas Eve was a first attempt., He would have tried a less hazar- dous method first; and to shoot his victim in a deserted street was certainly a, much safer plan. I have no doubt he had made other attempts before the one the Sergeant saw, and that it was after several failures—for you see, a London street is seldom as deserted as it looks—that he grew desperate, and watched for the first opportunity of getting into the house. He was watching you and Mrs. Rayner from the other side of the street, most likely, while you were walking up and down; and he may have crossed the street and slipped in at the half-open door while you and she were ab- sorbed in that last farewell." "Yes-that might have been. She was crying, and I took a handkerchief from my breast pocket and lifted her veil, while I dried her tears. My back was toward the doorstep. Anyone might have gone in at that moment. I watched her as she went in two minutes afterwards, and heard the door shut firmly behind her. The n urderer must have been hiding in the dark passage. I noticed that there was no gas, and wondered whether there were candle and matches ready for her in the hall, or whether she would have to grope her way upstairs in the dark. I was so sorry for her that it. was only natural I should think of these details. Her hard life seemed ever so much more pitiable now I was prosperous; and I feared she was not going to let me help her to an easier life. Well, your sergeant's story is conclusive, a grand piece of circumstantial evi- dence.' "Not worth twopence at the Old Bailey. Con- vincing for you and me, perhaps; but useless for a jury." "Useless? Such evidence as that!" "An indication only-not evidence as against Mi\ Greswold. You may prove him to be the man who lodged with the Durfins, and called himself Longman: a su-picous circumstance, no more, You to find whether ho I Greswold, had any motive for getting rid of Lisa Rayner. Prove that much-prove a reason for his wanting her dead and out of the way —prove, even, by the evidence of the gunsmith, that Greswold bought the pistol-you have still only a weak case against him-a few odds links in a chain-but not an unbroken chain such as a judge and jury would require before they would believe that a man of Oliver Greswold's eminent virtues—leading a clean life—of good means—popular and respected—could be a cold- blooded murderer." "What more is there to be done?" "Much, if you want to succeed. But I tell you again that, if this man is the murderer, I don't believe you will ever see justice done, oven. though you and I may know that he deserves hanging. A moral certainty is one thing. a case for a jury is another. However, my business now, if I am to go on working for you, is to find out Lisa Rayner's early history, and to do this I must go to Vienna, and try back from the point where her life began when she was tempted away by her seducer; not a very easy task, when you consider that she came to England nearly ten years ago, and that you can give me positively no clue to her name or whereabouts in Vienna. The only scrap of knowledge I have to be.-in upon is the name in the little Lutheran Testament." "Lottchen Noack." "Lisa von A. Lottchen Noack." "My first step will be to advertise for Lottchen Noack in the Viennese papers. I don't know much of the German language, but I know that an educated German always writes their ridiculous characters with a delicate regularity which makes penmanship a fine art. Now, Lottchen's autograph is an abominable scrawl, so I take it she belongs to the lower classes. "The more likely to be easily four "No. Mr. Wildover; in cities the lower classes are the nomadic classes." (To be continued.)

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TONNA SCHOOL BOARD: NEW DEVELOPMENT. TWO HEADMASTERS FOB ONE SMALIi SCHOOL. The new headmaster for the Tonna Schools (Mr. T. Williams) was to have commenced his duties on Monday, but Mr. Brown declined to give up the keys, and continues to hold the fort. Mr. Brown argues that his notice has not yet transpired, and Mr. Williams, anxious to avoid friction, decided to take no steps until after Thursday's meeting of the Llantwit Lower School Board. At that meeting Mr. W. H. David, one of the new members, will move the reinstatement of Mr. Brown and the dis- missal of Mr. Williams. It will be interesting to know what steps Mr. Williams will take in the event of the motion being carried. Clearly, Mr. Williams is entitled to three months' notice, and then, again. there is the question of compensation, for Mr. Williams hah given up a good appointment at Two Mile Hill School, Bristol, one of the best board schools in the country.

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