Rhyl Journal

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.) COLONEL THORNDYKE'S SECRET BY G. A. HENTY, Author of The Queen's Cup," In the Days of the Mutiny," A Woman of the Commune," A Hidden Foe," By Sheer Pluck," With Clive in India," 0 P Y R I G H T. CHAPTER XVIU. ^1iuking over the best way in which to set about the work of carrying the diamonds to Amster- am, Mark decided upon asking the advice of liis late u,< • e tatter aaid, as Mark entered his room, Thornd k eX^)90t' 800 you ^OTe ^r- Well, sir, I have come to ftfik your advice about another matter altogether." WhlLt is it now?,, I have to convey a diamond bracelet of very great value aoroea to Amsterdam- I have reason to believe tnat there is a plot to seize it on the way, and that the men engaged will hesitate at nothing to achieve their object. Under these oiroumstanoea I should be "Very muoh obliged if you will tell me what would be the best course to pursue. I must say that the bracelet M. with many other jewels, in a strong teak box of about a foot square, at present in the possession of our bankers; they were brought from India by my uncle. I imagine that the rest of the jewels are of comparatively little importance in the eyes of these though doubtless they would take them also if they lay their hands on them. The bracelets, how- ever, is of special interest to them, not so much for its intrinsic value, but because it was stolen from one of. their sacred idols. Ihia was about twenty years ago; but £ have reason to believe that the search 'for it on the part of some Hindoos conneoted with the temple has never ceased: the soldier who took them was murdered, his comrade 'PU5 w*l°8e hands they nexi passed was also murdered. -I hoy next came to my unole, who forwarded it at once to England. His bungalows were searched ^jpwn and again, until probably the fellows came to the conclusion that ha must have either buried i4 or sent it away. Nevertheless, to the day of his death ne was firmly convinced that ha was ciosely followed, and every movement watched. He warned my father solemnly, that he too would be watched, but as far as We know it was not me; at any rata we had no reason to suppose that the house WM ever entered. On the other hand, I am convinced I have been watched more or leas closely ever since I oome up to town, and as I came out from the bank yesterday I saw a. man, a Coloured fellow, I belietg, on the watch. My unole said that my life would not be worth an "our s purchase so long as I had the braoelet in my possession, and advised that it should be taken straight over to Amsterdam, broken up, and the diamonds sold singly to the merchants there." n It is a curious story, Mr. Thoradyke. I own to ignorance of these Indian thieves and their ways, but it certainly seems extraordinary that eo hopeless a Quest mould be kept up foe eo long a time. You are eure that it is not fancy on your part tha £ you have been watched? I know you are not the sort of m-an to take fancies in your head. but as you have bad the matter so strongly imprmsed upon you, you might naturally have. been inclined to think this would be the case when it was not so." No, I don'* think therb any dience my being mistaken. It » oniT ot late that I have thought abowt it, but when I did so and thought over what had passed since I came to London, I recalled the fact that I had very often oome across foreign seamen; some- times they were Lascars, at others they might have been Italian or Spanish seamen; and you 0 see, air, it was, ea I told you at the time, some foreign sailor who came and informed Gibbons that I had fallen into the hands of a gang of criminals and that I should certainly be killed if I was not rescued im- mediately; Gibbons at once got together half-a- dozen fighting men, and as you know rescued me just in time. It was extraordinary that the man never came forward to obtain any reward." That was a friendly act, Mr. Thorndyke." M Yes, I have no reason to suppose that these men would be hostile to me personally; I was not few thief. I was simply the person who happened to be in possession or lather might come into possession of the bracelet. From the close watch they had kept, they were I imagine well aware that I had not got it, but may have thought, and doubtless did think, that I had some clue to its hiding place, and should sooner or later get it. With my death the clue might be finally lost, and my life was consequently of extreme importance to them, and therefore they took steps to have me rescued, and the fact that they learned this and knew how friendly I was with Gibbons shows how close was the watch kept over me. No doubt had Gibbons refused to help them, they would have come here at once." Certainly after what you say ft would seem thai your conjecture is right, and in that case if I were you I should take the bracelet out of the case and ccnceal it about me. I would not fetch it myself from the Bank." I don't think I should be much eafer so," Mark said, thoughtfully. In the first place I must go to the Bank to get them, and I might be murdered merely on the supposition that I had brought the bracelet away. In the next place, even if I got to Amsterdam safely and got nd of the bracelet anti returned unnotioed by them, a fresh danger would arise when I got the other gems into my possession, for they could not be certain whether th# diamonds were still among them or not." I should hardly think that would be the case if they watch you as strictly as you believe. Even if none of them accompanied you they would soon find out what diamond merchants you went to. and the leader might call upon these men, stating that he was commissioned to purchase some diamonds of exceptional value for an Eastern Prince, in which case he would be sure to obtain sight of them, "If I bad your business to perform I would not go near the Bank again, but would send some friend I could trust to go and open the box and take out the bracelet and make it into a small parcel. He should hand it to you privately as you are on your way to embark for Amsterdam. Then I would take with me one or two of my men, and say a couple of your prize-fighters, and with euoh & guard you ought to be fairly safe." fl I t>hink that is a capital plan, Mark «aid, and if I don't go to the bank there will be nothing to lead them to suppose that I have taken them out or that I am just going across to Holland. Mark then wema at-might to Dick Chetwynda's lodgings. I want you to be of servica to me, Dick," be said. With pleasure, Mark. What 8OT* of service is it? If it is anything in my power, yoo know that you can absolutely rely upon me, You art not Soing to fight a duel, are you, and want a sooantfr?"* u No; quite another sort of business I will tell you shortly what it is. I have to cbovey an ex- tremely valuable diamond bracelet to Amsterdam. and I have reason to believe that there will be an at)- tempt to murder me and to carry off the jewels be- fore I can dispose of them. It happened in this wayy* and he then related the history of the diamonds,, the reason he waa followed, and the suggestion* that the Chief of the Bow Street detectives bed giTen him. Of That ia aH right," Dick said, when he coii- dcluded. It is a rum business, but certainly I will do what you ask me; and what ia more, I will go over with you to Amsterdam and see the thing through. It ia an interesting business if it is, a queer one." oj You know Philip Cotter T" Of course, Mark; why I have met him with you several times." I will give you at note to aek him to allow you to open the case and to take from it the bracelet; I don't know whether it is a regular gold-motOted bracelet orsimply some diamonds that have been fastened together as a necklace; however) I suppose you are sure to recognise them; they are altogether exceptional stones-, and are cure to be done up in a packet by themselves, whatever the others may ba Say that you will call in and take them away some other time of which I will give him notice by letter. I will write the note now, and if you can spare tune to go all the better, for I shall be glad to get the bu»m<*» over; than 1 wll J!??-? morning and wa will arrange, the detauta of the plajv j look in the shipping list and see what are sailing for Amsterdam. W en we have fixed on one it will be best for you to take our pass* under any aames you like *> that they uxe vot our own; the detectives will take their parages separately, »o will Gibbons, amd whoever elae goee with w" *'Don't gc, straight there I)iok if these TOlrOWB are doggjL? fS? everywhere and saw me oom- inTlbS, they might take it into xheir fa *d. to ha doing all that Wit of Oh, they can rww M. t*"ng, that's too much to believe; hour, you I will go into my club for a c!ua^,a ~vfininz or Shall I oome round to your rooms BV will you oome here?" I think I will put off our meeting altogetW ontil to-morrow morning. I have an engag this evening that I cannot very well get out °f» "All right, Mark, just as you please What you ooroe round in the morning?** "About the time you have finihed breakfast*^ VrM go now and have a look at the shipping list. They parted at the door and Mark went to the Coffee bouse where shipping matters were specially attended to, and where master mariners might often be met, conversing together or with ship owners or jnerchants. On going through the list he found that the fast sailing brig, "Essex," of 204 tons, and *nounting eight guns, would Bail for Amsterdam in three days' time, and would take in good's for that place, and should sufficient freight be obtained, for *ay other Dutdh port. It was also announced that had good accommodation for passengers. Infor- r"ti,Ou as to cargo oould be obtained from her owners W H3B or frwr th? cr be' M-c-a tte i-nw-rx cf ten +.«i Then in a «*uj iffe 4 li?sert v + at pr&teub lying in H7'R -V C0T5MC, WHAXT. Mark & Tufa* ot all tiwrt parr.ioMla.if "u fiis m&t to iiublic- Morning, Mr. Thorndyke," the man said, "haven't seen yer for the last month or so." "No; I have been out of town. Do you expect Gibbons in here this morning?" It is about his time, sir, when he has nothing in particular to eee about. Like a turn with the mawlers this m0rning?" Not this morning, Ingleston. I have got somt engagements for the next da,y or two where I could not very well show myself with a black eye or swelled nose; you have given me a good many of both." Well, Mr. Thorndyke, when one stands up againsi a man who is as strong as oneself, rnti a mighty quick and hard hitter, you have got to hit Sharp and quick, too. You know my opinion, that there ain't more than half a dozen men in the country could lick you if you had a proper training." I suppose you couldn't get away for a week, or may be two," he said. "Lor'. bless you, no, sir; who would there be to keep order here at night. When I first. came here I had not given up the ring, and I fought once or twice afterwards. But Lor' bless you, I soon found that I had got either to give up the pub or the ring, and as I was doing a tidy business here I thought it best to retire; since then business has grown. You see boxing is more fashion- able than it used to be and there art very few nights when one don't have a dozen Corinthians in here—sometimes there are twice as many- either to see some of the new hands put on the inawleys, and judge for themselves how they are ,e going to turn out, or maybe to arrange for a oout between some novice they fancy and one of the west countrymen. No, sir, I could not do it; anyhow, I should not like to be away even for one night, though I know Gibbons would look after things for ine; as for being away for a week I couldI not^do it for any money. No, sir, my figiht with Jackson, this spring, was the last time I shall ever go^into the ring. I was a fool to go in for that, but I got taunted into it. I never thought lick him, though, as you know, sir, I have licked a eood many good men m my time, but Jaokson is an out and out man, and h<- has got a lot ™ than I ever had; my only chance wa* that1 could knock him out of time or wear him down, but he w^too ouick on his pins for me to do the former. Ah Gibbons, here is Mr. Thorndyke. He wants to see'you; you had best go into my room behind the bar. Want to get hold of a fresh hand, Mr. Thorn- dyke?" Gibbons asked when they had sat down by No," Gibbons, it » another business altogether. Have you got anything particular to keep you in K He next fortnight? m not be over a week, but it may be over a fortnight. "No, sir," the man said, after taking tJiree or four draws at his long pipe. No, they ^on t want rope and stakes for another Jeo «eks so I am your man, if you want me. What « it tor, 8"" Well, it is raiher a curious affair, Gibbons. I havo to take a very valuable bracelet over to Amsterdam, to sell there, and I have wry ^oi^ reasons for believing that if some feJowfl ge» an inkling of it they will try to put me out of the way. and get hdkl of the diamonds. I want a couple of good men to go with me." Well, sir, I should say you and me oould licK a dozen ordinary chaps, without thinking anything °*"I daresay we oowld, GiJbbons, in a stand-up fig*ht without weapons, but I fancy -these fellows mil not try that. They are foreigners, and the first thing they would try would be to put a dagger between my shoulders a8 I walked up and down on deck at night, or more likely still, creep into my cabin and stab me while I was asleep. If the voyage were onfy to last one night I might sit up, pistol in hand, but if the wind is foul we might be a week. Wa are a pretty strong party. Mr. Ohetwynd—you know him-is going with me; there will also be two runners from Bow Street, and I want you to take another good man with you. Of course, on board we shall separate. The Bow Street men will watch the passengers, and you and your mate will smoke your pipes and keep yourselves ready to join in if you see there is going to be a row. But I rather thmk that the passage will be a quiet one. At Amsterdam, until I have got rid of the diamonds I certainly should not care about going out into the street after nightfall without having you close behind me." All right. I should say Tom Tring would be as good a man as one could get at the job. What is the money to be Mr. Thorndyke?" Well, what do you think yourself, Gibbona 1" I take it you pay all the expenses, sir." Y, cs, everything. Would five-and-twenty guineas a head be too much?" No. I will do better than that. I will give you five and twenty guineas each when we get to Amsterdam and I will give you another twenty-five each if I come back here safe and sound." Well, I call that handsome. One could not want more, and you can rely on it that Tring will jump at the offer. He has not been able to get a fight on lately, and he is rather in low water." "Well, you will both get up as quiet traders. I don't know what other passengers there may be, but I don't want them to know that you belong to the fancy." I twigg, sir. We will get up quiet like." Then I want you to-morrow morning, Gibbons, to go down to Holmes and Moore, No. 67, Tower Street, and take two first-class tickets to Amsterdam on board the Essex, which sails on Saturday. I don't know what the passage money will be, but this is sure to be enough; and we can settle accounts afterwards. You will find out what time of day she will start." All right, governor. I suppose you will be he-ze again before that?" No, I don't suppose I shall, uifiese there is some change in the arrangements. If for any reasons Tring cannot go with you, you will get somebody else instead. You are sure that you quite under- stand your instructions? Here is the name and address of the people in Tower Street." "All right, eir. You may make sure that when you sro down to the ship you will see the two of u. on board." It needed but a few minutes aib Bow Street to inform the chdef of the arrangements that had been made. "I have told off Chester and Malcolm; one of them shall go down and take their tiokets. Of oourse they will take their passages in the fore cabin, as the danger, if there is danger, may come from there, and you will have your other two men with you aft: I fancy xuyaelf that there is hardly any chanoo of your being in any way troubled while on board. It will be 0001- sidered that I will be a vastly greater chance of carrying out any plan they may have formed at Amsterdam than there would be on board a ship; you see if there were any struggle whatever on board there would bo no escape for them. For myself, of course I cannot give any opinion worth having ia a matter so different from anything we have to do with here, end I should have un- heftitaifongly scoffed at the idea of anyone watching the movements of people for a long number of years in order to obtain tha on of jewels, how- ever valuable^ However, your uncle was weii ac- quainted with the habits of Hindoo*, and was not a man to be lightly alarmed; you yourse«, a your year with m, should nog be deceived in such » matter as being yourself followed, under these ciroumetanoes you are quite right to take every Pre" caution, ax>d aa you pay wail for the services of our two men, even tt I hod no belief whatever in the; existence of danger to you, I rfieuld not feel justified in refusing to let you have them." Having arranged these matten). Mark opent thtf Wet of hie time that day and the nmi at Islington. "I am going across to Amsterdam on Saturday with a diamond bracelet to sell there." Millicent looked at him in reproachful surprise. Why, eurelv, Mark, there can be no hurry about that. I think you might have stayed a little longer before running avwy.' "I should do so, you may be quito sure, Miin- oent. if I consulted my own inclinations, but I am bearing out your father's wishes. This bracelet is the most valuable of all the things he had, and I believe that it has some sort of history attached to it; he told my father that he had sent all the gems home principally to get these diamonds out of his ,,possession-, ho said that as eoon as my father got hold of the things, he was to take the diamonds straight over to Amsterdam and sell them there, for he considered that they were much too valuable to be kept in the house? and that it was possible that some of the Hmdooll might endeavour to get possepiop of them. A^ho time he spoke he believed that my father would, death, go to th« bank and get the jewels, as of course h« would have done if he had known where to find them; my father promised him that thev sho la be taken to Amsterdam at onoe, and although many years have passed since his death I wunit am bound to carry out that promise." I (have never been able to understand, Mark, how it was that my father, when he gave all these instructions about me and these jewels and so^ o did not at the same time tell uncle where to hna them." It was a fancy of his; he waa in very bad health, and he thought so much over these dia- that it had beoome almost a sort of mania hin» that not only was there danger in their £ &8ioQ>. but that he was watched night and day he went. He thought even if he whis- the hiding-place was to be discovered it maght be haard; therefore he deferred telling it oourse all this was but a fancy on nis ^though, it is probable enough that the possession of the diamonds YT&j)$soiiroe of danger IP had have been a source of danger any thieves known that such valuable gems WetQ keot in a private house or earned about At any rate I shall be glad to bo free of the responSlbiiity. and although, natur- a\ly, I dpi*' you at the pre8eRt time, I thinJf £ ^7them offUr Other's instructions ftt ooce, and to f^ettm off my mind altogether, pick Chetvvynd is going Vith ine, BO it will be 7 nleasant little trip "Well, I am }f 8<»ng withyou, Mark; for although I know well enough that they oould gb. to W „p «U theepe jeans, Iee^ eure fidget and worry if y°u were .a|°ne" ,„^ou are not going thi others with your iS'n, i.rJy tiiy; cthei's -.ure 't, n At JO'V *■ yjiif oil* it;/ f|>eciaj.j >>.i -.jv tfeem" y- lava tui doubt ihat tlu-no «rc some refcViy valiiaWe" vanQt, tlJ<WlJ for my unrie prilk-a hilD ;?' a h, (Jl r.'ù;¡,.$ C;), ;J. m 1-0 irN%-w4 m <a I)f vi 1: they are no doubt valunbV. Still I dont suppose there will be any difficulty in selling them here, and at any rate I don't want to be delayed at Amsterdam by' having to sell perhaps fifty or a hundred pieces of jewellery; any time will do for that. I fancy ilhat I ought to be able to dispose of the bracelet in three or four days at the outside. I have got from Bow Street a list of all the principal diamond merchants in Amsterdam. That is a matter of great interest to the force, as almost all precious stones stolen in this country are sent across there, and if there is any special jewel robbery we send over a list of all the articles stolen to the merchants there. As a rule that would not prevent their dealing in them, but there are somo who will not touch things that have been dishonestly come by, and we occasionally get hints that enable us to lay hands "upon thieves over thcra" I hate to h(-ar you say the fores, Mark.' just as if you were still a detective; it is bad enough that you should have bekmged to it, even for the pur- pose you did; but you have done with it now." Yes; btis yon aee it is rather difficult to get out of tho habit when one has been for over a year constantly at work at a thing. This will be my last absence on business, MiJlieent; henceforward I shall be able to be always with you." Well, now that I know what you havo been doing all this time, Mark, I must admit that you have been very good to have been with us as much as you have. I often used to wonder how you passed your time. Of course, I knew tha.t you were trying to find that man out, but it did "not seem to me that you oould bo always at that, and I cever dreamt that you had become a regular detective. 1 am very glad I did not know it. In the first place I should have been horrified, and in the second place I should have been constantly uneasy about you. However, as this is to be the last titao, 1 will let you go without grumbling." By the way, Millicent. wltat do you wish me to say about our engagnnpnl? I don't see that tliei-e I-s the slightest occasion for us to keep up ¡,to farce of your being Miss Oonyers any longer. You can- not be married under a faloe name, you know, and now that you have escaptxl what your faUier was so afraid of, and are gning to be ma<rried for lovo and not for money, I don't see why there should be any more mystery about it." But how would you account for my having been called Conycrs all this 'time?" I should simniv tell the triith that vifir fti I having a great fear that you might be 'married for money, left the estate to my father, to be hold by him until you came of age, and that it was at his particular request that you were brought up simply as his ward and dropped the family natna and passed by your two Christian names. I should say that we have nil been aware for a long time of the facts of the caee, and I should algo ay that your father had left a very large fortune in addition to the estate between us, and had expressed a hope that we should, when the time canio, marry each other." Then periple will think that wo have only married to keep the fortune together, Mark." Well, my dear, I don't suppose there rc great many people who will be interested in th.e raattrr and those who get to know you will sec at once that as far as I am concerned, there was no great difficulty in falling in with your father's ideas, while on the other hand they may consider that you made a noble sacrifice of yourself in agree- ing to the plan." Nonsense, r: I am not going to flatter you. as no doubt you expect, but at any rate I am perfectly content with my share of the bargain." Well, there JS one thing, Millicent; aH thru knew us down at Reigate will Ray that it ii a very sensible arrangement, and will bo glad to know that I shall retain the estate they have hitherto considered to be mine. Well then, you agree to my mentioning to my intimato friends that you are my cousin and that we are engaged?" Yes. I suppose it is the best thing, Mark, and as you say, I must marry under my proper name, and rt is just as well to get the talk over down at Keigata now, as for it all to come as a wonder when we are married." _1. „ vvhen is that going to be, Millicent?" Oh, I don't know; of course, it will be a long time before we even think of that." 1 beg your pardon, I am thinking of it now, and I cau see. no reason whatever why it .should be We know each other well enough, 1 should think, and there is no probability of our changing our minds on discovering all sorts of faults that we never dreamt of each other having. I may be away for a fortnight, and I would suggest that you had better make your preparations at once, so that we can be married a fortnight after I come back." You say that there is no fear of our discovering faults in each other. I can assure you that I have just discovered a very serious fault, namely, that you are altogether too masterful, too bent upon having your own way. I know you always were vr'nen you were a boy, but I had hoped that you had grown out of it. Now I see that I was altogether mistaken. (Seriously, 'Mark, your proposal is aosurd." Whera does the absurdity coma m, Ilillicent.71, Well, everywhere," she said, gravely. "Which in tho present case means nowhere," ho said. Do you mea.n to toll me. Millicent, that in thi" town there are not a hundred dressmakers each of whom oould turn you out a uoddfing dress and as m:] other garments as you can possibly require in tho cotirse of a month, or even if that effort, were too stupendous that you could not divid& the work among a dozen of them 1" Well, I don't say ihat that could not be done," Miliicent said, reluctantly. Weil, what other objection is there?" "Well, you see one does not like to be hurried about suoh a matter a3 this, Mark. One likes to think it all over and to realise it to oneself." "'Well, dear, you will have a fortnight whiie I am away to think and to reaJise as swuch as you like. I can see no advantage myjoif in waiting a single day longer than there is a necessity for; I have been for the last year coming liero merely M a visitor and I want to take possession of you and have you all to myself. I suppose Mrs. Cunning- ham will be oonnng m presently, ana J. wm put tne matter to her. If she gays you cannot be ready in a monjh I must give you another week, but I don't th;/Jk that she wi.l say so. By the way, how about her?" I was thinking of that last night, Mark. It "ou'l! be very lonely for her to live by herself now, and you set SilC has always been as a mother to ano." •• Quite so, dear, and I am sure (that I should have no objection to her coming back to Crowswood, and living there as a friend and helping you in the house- keeping." Thank you very much, Mark. I should like r that in every way. You see I know nothing what- ever about housekeeping, and besides, when you are out, it would be a great thing to have her with mo, for it would be very lonely by myseif in that big house." Well, we will have her them by all means, <kar, if she likeg to come. You had better talk it over with here. Ah! here she is. We were just talk- ing over the time it will take Millicent to get ready," he said, and I sh&li be gi.d of your opinion. I have been teiWng her that I am going away for a fortnight, and have proposed that the marriage should come off a fortnight later. I cannot see any use in delay, and she does not either; a.t I I suppose not, for the only objection she hax advanced is that there will be but a short time in which to get her things ready. That strikes me as all nonsenBe. I could get things ready for ten weddings in that time. What do you think f' n 9Gu no ^oa'son for delay, certainty," Mrs. Cunnmgham aaid, and assurealy a month ought to everything made." i.iianfc you, Mrs. Cunningham; then we can cemfflder that settled. Millicent 1" I call this tyranny, Mrs. Cunningham," Millicent protested. 11 He says lie proposes that we slinil be married in a month; it is not a. proposal at all; it is an order; if he had wanted me in such a hurry he might have said ec a year ago, and now that he has made up his mind at last he wants everything done in a hurry." It » the nature of men, my dear, they are all alike in that rospect. I think you ;had bettter make up Your mind to it, epcciallly as I have no duuht in„ y case the order is not a very unpkwani one." •a 1 are too bad, Mrs. Cunningham," Millicent paid. l made sure that I should find vou an ally, enemy >?eems you have S°no over altogether to the Wlh-e &rf) ,oil going tc)" asked Mre- Cun- nmghanl of MÚk t „ a(m S°jng across to Amsterdam to sell that e My uncle expressed a particular thpv- r. my ^.a^'ier he should do so immediately mt<> hie possession. Dick Chet-wrnd is «.;n K» w:th me' lMld if the weather is fair it <. Tvi a pIeasarrt trip." • aro you thinking of going after tho mar- << w ia 4ha.t talked it ovør yet. My own idea wpII tnli-D.eiM -er 1,8 *10? been abroad wo might £ fn„4• 8 opportunity for seeing something aTa Of course we cannot go to .France, things disturbed a state there, but we j orhniJ^a?rus3els and then into Germs ny, and perhapsae far a„ V10mia, and then down into Italy; but, of oourso, if Millicent prefers it wQ wiU simply take a tour through England and ScoMin-i. "Oh, ^,that I am to havo gome vole* fn the matter, -viuhoemt said, however, I slumM like the tour^you propo^ veTy mUch, Mark. T have often thought that l should like to see Italy above all places." Well, then, we will consider that settled. And now, what are you going to do for to-day?" CHAPTER XIX. The "Essex" was to Gail at 11 o'clock. Half an hour before that time Mark's hackney coach drow up for a moment at the foot of Liitloato Hill. Dick Chetwynd at once Up to tho door, spoke a few words With inm, and quietly passed a email parcel into his Y_a s< then Mark drovo on to the wharf. Pick walked back up Fleet Street as far aa Temple Bar, and there hired another hackney pofich and followed him tp thp Lssex." Ho found Mark waiting for him &t the wharf, and hailing a boat they went on board together. Both had sent their luggage down the ntght befcra. On gettinv on board Mark saw the ^wo prize fighters walking up and down the deck lorwa-rd. They were quietly dressed, arid save for thair siso would have attracted J: -a. V rlean being that oi t»-'> ;(;:I:'t mercial tra"«ilers or small irad(,r,. Tha two ii.! ■ .j:! f.K "iU bel'.iw ar;d savv ti-o u&btn v. 11 to abar*. Xfe«a taey wcrs ou u«ck. Fvur or to w* OUV IJ .V'AA.4.1.¿.¡.ö W11 WU«UU« XUV tdUQ WOO JUDb VJ11 tUQ turn, and a quarter of an hour later the warps were thrown off, and some of the sail hoisted, iipd tha Essex began to move through the water. "Look there, Dick," Mark exclaimed. Do you see that boat lying on its oars in the middle of the stream? That man sitting in the stern is a foreigner, either from Southern Europe or from India." Ho is certainly a dark man, Mark. Still, that may be only a coincidence." It is rather a curious one," Mark said. We aro too far off to see his features, but he is apparently watching us off. There, the oars are dipping into the water. He sees that we are fa/irly under way." t" Well, Mark, I shall begin to think that you are right. I am bound to say that hitherto I thought that it was ridiculous to suppose that you could have been watched as you thought, that you had got these diamonds on your brain till you had really become fanciful. However, it certainly looks as if you were right; but even if you were, how on earth could they have found out that we were going by this ship 7" That is more than I can tell; if they have been watching me they must have known that I wae inti- mato with voo; they have seen me come out of Cotter's Bank, and afterwards enter youi lodgings; they would feel sure that I had heard that there would be danger connected with the dia- tnonds and might suppose that 1 should get some friend to take them from the bank, and may have followed your movements as well as mine. In that case they would have found out that you also went to Cotter's Bank; may have followed you to Towor Street, and found out that you had taken a. passage for two to Amsterdam. Tliby may again have seen you go to the bank this morning and have guessed that you !had the diamonds about you, and then seeing us together on the wharf, would feel pretty certain that it was so. One of them may have hired that boat and watched the "Essex" to see that neither of us went on shore again." Now they see that we are off they will be sure that their game is up," Chetwynd said. "I am not so sure of that, Dick; there are craft going every day to Antwerp and Flushing, and for anything we know some of them may be on board a craft already dropping down like ourselves by this tide. But even if we had twelve hours start, by land- ing say at Flushing, they would have time to cross by land to Amsterdam and get there before us. Yes, I suppose they would well, it is pretty certain that we shall not be troubled on the voyage. Yes, I never thought that there was much danger of that because even if they woro on board they would see that you and I, being always together, could not be got rid of without an alarm being 'Not until they were passing Greenwich did eithsr of the detectives come nQa-r Mark; then as he and Dick were standing by the bulwarks, looking at the hospital, Chester strolled across the deck and pointing to the building as if asking him some ques- tion about it, said: j j. There is a coloured man forward, dressed as a sailor." T „ Is that so?" Mark said. I eee no one aft here who looks suspicious, but I don t think that they will try anything until we get to Amsterdam. There was a coloured man in a boat watching us as we set sail." I saw him, air; oan he get to Amsterdam before us?" h. Yes, I have no doubt ™ oan; ir he lands at Flushing or Antwerp, and takes a post-chaise or a diligence, I should say he could get there twenty- four hours before us. Certainly he could do so if he landed at the Hague, ae we have to go a long way round to get into the Zuyder Zee. That is where the real danger will be; still you had better keep a sharp look-out on the man forward." No more was said; Mark was not long in getting into conversation with the other passengers aft, and later on strolled forward with Diok, asking the sailors eoma questions as to what sort of passage they were likely to have and how the wind suited: the mon agreed that unless the wind shifted they would not be likely to make a quick passage. Tho wind is north-easterly, one of them said we can only just lay our course now, and it will be dead against us in some of the reaches. Well, I think we shall manage to make down to sea with only a tack or two. but when we are once fairly out of the river it will be a long leg and a short one, and going up round the Texel it will be dead against us except that it would be worse if we had more east in it. It is about as foul a wind aa we could have, and I don't see any sign of a change, worse Presently, moving about among them he got next to Gibbons.. "I don't think we shall have any trouble on board," he said; if there ia any it will be after we have landed. But you can keep an eye on that foreign sailor standing alone there up m the bows." "All right sir; if you like I can manage to get into a quarrel with him, and can warrant that he won't get out of his berth before it is time to go ashore.. No, I would leave him alone, Gibbons; as long as he is forward fie mn do no harm, but if you eee him working his way aft, after it gets dark, it will do him no harm if you manage to stumble against him and give him a clout on the head." All right, sir, if I hit him once he won't want another. The fellow seems quiet enough, and as far as strength goes he don't look stronger than a girl." After chatting for some time longer, Mark and Dick Chetwynd went aft again. The Essex did not put into any intermediate port, and it was only on the sixth day after sailing that she approached Amsterdam. The voyage had passed off without any incident except that at nine o'clock one evening there had been a slight noise on deck and the sound of a. fall. The friends went up at once. Several of the sailors had run aft, and Gibbons was explaining matters to them. 441 was walking up and down the deck," he said, when I saw this chap staring down through the skylight, and I said to him, 'I don't call it good manners to be prying down into your better's cabin." He did not answer or move, eo I gave him a push, when he turned upon me like a wild cat, and drew his knife from his girdle. There it is," he said, glancing to the other side of the deck. "As I did not want daylight put into me I just knocked him down." Served him right," one of the sailors said. "He had no right to have come aft at all, and if he drew his knife on yon you were auite right in laying him out. But you must have hit him mighty hard for you have knocked the life pretty near out of him Well, we may »f well carry him forward and throw a buckeb of water over him. That is the worst of these foreign chaps; they are always so ready with their knives. However, I don't think *Le Jfril be hkely to try his hand again with an Englishman* fu ■ Ml

BACK-ACHE A VERY SIGNIFICANT INDICATION OF ORGANIO DERANGEMENT. The baok, the main* spring of woman's organisa- tion," quickly calls atten- tion to troublp by aching. It tells, with other symp- toms, such as nevousness, headache, oonstipation, dys- pepsia, pains in the loins, weight in the lower part of the body, ringing noises in the head, dryness of the skin, sleeplessness, melan- cholia, and that all-gone tired feeling, that Nature requires assistance at onoe. Vogeler's Curative Com- Pound. matia frnm nnrA I TegeUble in^redients, from th'0 iyate formufa of one of the most eminent of living London physi- cians, is the one and only effective remedy in such cases. I speedily removes the cause and effectually restores the organs to a healthy and normal condi- fil undreda of cases similar to the following on tile at our office •— I have taken four bottles of Vogeler's Curative Compound and it as made me a new women. I can- not describe the terrible agony I endured for years prior to g ogieler'g Curative Compound— pains in ny back (Oh, they are dreadful) and that all-gone tired down feeling that never left me, I frequent l headaches and always distressed after meals, could not sleep or hardly walk, was extre- mely nervous, irritable), and low spirited. I had grown very thin, a mere shadow of my formed self. At present, as a result of taking Vogeler's Com- pound I am a well woman I never have backache or headache any more; I am not nervous, I eat and sleep well my food does not distress me, and I have gained nearly two stone in weight. I am at present enjoying a holiday with my husband—Mrs E.J.D., the Parade, Brighton. For all diseases due to impure blood, badly fed nerves, dyspepsia, and constipation,Vogeler's Cura- tive Compound is the latest and by far the most important result of modern medical research. 'b Many physicians of high standing prescribe Vogeler's Compound for their patients, for it cures many times after their beat skill has failed, because it is made by a reliable firm from the formula of a brother physician, who has for years, and is to-day practisinf in the most select part of West End of London. It i>c*n obtained in Is and 2a 6d sizes from all reliable medicine dealers- All sufferers should give it a trjai> aSi to use the pet phrase of the proprietors, «< It makes people well." taking Vogeler's Compound one is practically under medical treatment.

At the Denbighshire Quarter Sessions, Thomas Willia-ms> aged o7, was sentenced to eleven days, for cutting his own throat. Drunkenness general- ly and Sunday drinking were shown to be on the increase. Perhaps that was to be attributed to the East Denbighshire election, when so many Liberals lost their balance. A man named Pearsall, 16 Willow Road, Ham- stead, described as a civil engineer," was fined at Carnarvon for interfering with the comfort of railway passengers. He refused to allow a window to be closed on a cold morning, and on another pas- senger going to do so, the accused forcibly pre- i r t'" 1 I lulat-d juu-j t ut I i L/Oinp'Uiy j W roistered with a nomiu&f capital (,f, l bhares. Mi FIV-rUey, C^CB JH O-I wrietot, in ibe feat subscriber.

BODRHYDDAN RENT AUDIT. THE CONDITION OF AGRICULTURE LOCALLY. The rent audit dinner of the Bodrhyddan and Cwm Estates was held on Friday at the new dining hall, Bodrhyddan, which had been prettily decorated for the occaaion. Since the last rent audit dinner Mr W Conwy Bell has had the prize cards of the Bodrhyddan stock taken since 1892 collected together and placed around the walls of the building. The success of Capt Conwy at exhibitions can be judged by the fact that in the fire of 1892 upwards of 500 prize cards were destroyed, and since that time he has received upwards: of 300, all of which were arranged in order for Friday last, several of the "rpecials" being suitably framed and fixed at the further end of the room. The Chair was taken by Capt Row- ley Conwy, who was supported right and left by the Rev T W Vaughan and Mr Wrank Bibby. Mr Jeffrey Rowley Conwy and Mr W Conwy Bell, also occupied seats at the same table. The Vice- Chair was taken by Mr Councillor R C Enyon. The loyal toasts were given from the chair, after which Mr Jos Thompson proposed The Bishops, Clergy, and Ministers of all denominations." In submitting the toast the speaker said he felt sure that if there was one section of the community more than another that was doing its duty it was that composed of the ministers of religion. The Rev T W Vaughan responded to the toast, and said it was always a pleasure for him to be present at that annual gathering to partake of Gipt Conwy's hospitality, and to meet a large number of his parishioners. He felt that they would agree with him that the Church was as alive to day to its duties as at any time in its history. It was interested in reforming itself on points with respect to which reform was needed. The present was in his mind a favourable oppor- tunity for the Church to set to work. He hoped that before long they would have a large number of reforms, not only in connection with the clergy but. also with the laity (applause). There was one point on which there should be sympathy between the clergy and the farmers at the present time. It was that of income (applause). He knew that many people looked upon the clergy as living in luxury, having everything they wanted. Butthat was because they did not know the true state of things. Owing to the decrease in the value of tithe and the continued increase in local rates to meet the fresh demands of new Acts of Parliament, the means of the clergy was reduced to nearly one-halt. It was like reducing the labourers' wages from 3s to Is 8d per day. He wondered what any labourer or mechanic would say if his wages were reduced in that fashion (hear, hear). They could see by that that there was a bond cf sympathy between the farmers and the clergy, only that the former had had the benefit of it after the passing of the Agricultural Rating Bill (ap- plause). In his opinion the clergy should be rated like any other class of people. No other section of the community was rated on its professional income except the clergy. No other class of Her Majesty's subjects would stand it for a single year. What would they say were they called upon to pay, in addition to their income tax of 8d in the £ a rate of 3a or 5s, and sometimes more than that, on the whole of their earnings as well as on their houses. Yet that was the burden which a number of clergy had to bear in a time of exceptional poverty, lie did not know whether it would be wise or not to refer to the clerical storm which had been passing through the diocese. It was a storm of some severity, and it had not yet quite abated. But storms were good in their way, and if they did blow down the dry branches and uproot rotten trees the results were often very beneficial (applause). They all knew that the grand old oak in the forest sent its roots deeper and firmer into the ground after every storm, and so became stronger aud stronger. It was the same with the grand old Church (applause). He believed that the clerical storm now passing through the dioceso would have beneficial results (applause). After Mr Bradley had sung 11 The King's Own," The Rev T W Vaughan gave the toast of the Army, Navy and Auxiliary Forces," in which he referred to the noble deeds and the display of courage recorded of our troops on the North- Western frontier of India. He also remarked that Capt Conwy's son was now a lieutenant in the Navy, and had reached Malta on what they hoped to be areturn voyage to Rhuddlan (applause) The President in acknowledging the toast said he was bound to admit that his heart was still with the army, and he hoped that during the year they would hear that the Government had carried out reforms which were long needed. He was pleased to say that the Navy had been put on a satisfactory footing, while the Volunteer Forces were a credit to the country (applause). Mr A Davies, Corpl Davies (Pontfaen), and Mr Jno Williams (Pydew) responded, the latter urging the young farmers to join the Yeomanry Cavalry. The Vice-President in proposing the toast of Capt Rowley Conwy said they would all agree with him in saying that it was a blessing to any estate to have a resident landlord, and especially one who like Capt Conwy took a personal interest in the welfare of his tenants (applause). It was well-known throughout North Wales that the landlord of the Bodrhyddan Estate was an ideal one. With regard to the capabilities of Capt Rowley Conwy as a farmer they had only to look around the room at the show of prize cards to learn that he was an exhibitor at all the impor- tant agricultural centres (cheers). The toast was received with musical honours, and the President in responding, said he was glad to notice that there were fewer gaps around the table that evening than ever before (applause). The agricultural prospects, he was pleased to say, were good, and prices were better than they had been for two or three years. He had pleasure in proposing health of the Bodrhyddan and Cwm tenants, and had only to say that he did not think that any landlord in North Wales had a better class of farmers than he had on his estate (applause). MrJLlew Lloyd in responding, said he had re- sided on the estate but a very short time, and could say that he had received every encourage- ment from Capt Conwy, who was no doubt one of the leading landlords in North Wales. There were few home farms which contained such stock as they had seen at Bodrhyddan that day, and he hoped that they would benefit by the example set them by Capt Conwy. He had heard that the tenants would have the use of one of the finest young horses in the kingdom next season (applause). Mr Thos Parry agreed with Mr Lloyd, and said the stock they had seen that day was a credit to the breeder. MrBibby remarked that during the short time he had been on the Bodrhyddan Estate he had found that Oapt Conwy was one of the best landlords in Europe (applause). It was a preat thing for the tenants to see the landlord at their farms, and to be able to talk with him. He knew of farms in Cheshire, where it was necessary to go through the bailiff and agent before the landlord was reached- (laughter)—and by the time a request reached the fountain head it could scarcely De recognised (applause and laughter). Lords and Dukes as a rule did not take that interest in their tenants as did Capt Conwy. With regard to what Mr Enyon had said as to the prize-taking capabilities of the Bodrhyddan stock, he (Mr Bibby) quite agreed that they should hold their own, and he thought that it would be a source of great en- couragement to the tenant farmers on the es- tate if Captain Conwy abstained from prize- taking at St Asaph Smithfield for 12 months. The stock could be exhibited just the same, and the farmers would have an opportunity of comparing their own with it. He believed that there were as good farmers in Wales as in any part of England, and the only fault with them was that when they took a farm they had seldom enough capital to work it properly. In conclusion he wished Capt and Mrs Conwy, together with the members of their family, a bright and prosperous new year (applause). f r Mr Jones (Pentre Cwm), also responded. In giving the toast of Mr W Conwy Bell, Mr iii y said he considered that that gentleman was tne right sort of an agent, and like the landlord he was a practical farmer. Not only did Mr Conwy 1 el usually carry off the first prize cards with his backs, but he was as much at home in the chair at a ploughing society meeting as he was in the saddle (applause). The farmers should be thankful to the agent to the Bodrhyddan Estate for the interest he took in the Flint and Denbigh Hunt, as he always looked over the farmers' interests when crossing fields. Mr Conwy Bell, in replying, said he was pleased to say that Capt Conwy could always be ap- proached by the tenants, a fact which relieved the agent of a considerable amount of responsibility. Their landlord was always ready to do what he could for the tenants. With regard to what Mr Bibby had said as to Capt Conwy ceasing to exhibit at St Asaph, he had to say that both the farmers and Capt Conwy would have to watch that young man closely as he (Mr Bibby) had al- ready taken a champion prize at St Asaph for the best animal ted on somebody's cake. Capt Conwy was pleased that a tenant farmer had beaten him on the champion prize, and it clearly showed what farmers could do if they would try. Capt Conwy had provided a shire horse for the use of the farmers, and he did not intend to keep it simply for show purposes (applause). The bull would also be changed, and they had just secured at a heavy expense for Bodrhyddan tenants a boar i wl, bl% of St Lvhb, Ht;1 (appkuse). He wtio j to thal, -,)ri. going up. in conclusion he was design to s&y» that Capt Conwy intended to do all he could to I improve the homesteads on the farms as soon as he 1 could (applause). < The toast of the visitors was then given, "'and responded to by Mr Pugh (Rhyl), Mr Hughes (Penyffordd), and Mr J D Jones (Bodoryn). The following also responded to the toast of the ladies: responded to by Mr Pugh (Rhyl), Mr Hughes (Penyffordd), and Mr J D Jones (Bodoryn). The following also responded to the toast of the ladies: I -Messrs F Bibby, Jeffrey Rowley Conwy, Jones, (Tyddyn-y-Cyll), and A Davies (Morfa;Cwybr). An excellent musical programme was provided by the following gentlemen, who kindly gave their services Messrs E L Pugh, J 0 Hughes,Bradley, J Pieice, and H Sandoe.