Rhyl Journal

^OXJJUlSiliSD BY BfBVJLflJU AJtitAJNUJijMJSWT.] THE KING'S DIAMOND. BY FLORENCE STACPOOLE. (COPYRIGHT.) CHAPTER XXII. "How on earth do you know this Jadd?" The words "He travels without a suite; he hasn't a valet, nor yet a secretary," almost took Straight's breath away. The detective had turned and was directing his steps out of the cul df) sac at a smart pace. By making inquiries," he answered briefly. Then—then—do you suspect-" began the ba Irister. It's little use talking about suspicions, Mr. Straight. I told you, I believe we'll clear up this business before nightfall, but let us get one job done at a time. You want to know who wrote that letter even more than you want to know who stole the diamond?" I do, not a doubt of it, but this news about Prince Akbar-" We've quite enough to do for the next hour, Mr. Straight," interrupted Jadd, "without bothering about Prince Akbar. This Koura- patkin is a slippery eel, and as deep a devil as her coadjutor, Mr. Greenhough. Let's do one thing at a time; she'll give us enough work to twist the truth out of her." Straight had had a considerable experience of Jadd's moods, and knew that irritability was a symptom of anxiety. Prince Akbar and the dia- mond were suddenly driven out of his mind by thn thought that after all, though they had caught Sonia, even Jadd might fail to make her confess. In spite of his astut&ness, it was still possible she might be guiltless in the matter of the letter. Dejection seized him again, and he followed Jadd silently to the house. The detective probably perceived the effect of his discouraging words, and, as on a previous occasion, sepented him of his grumpiness, for as ho knocked at the door he said with another chuckle, "Well, there's one comfort. Mr. Straight, if I had known all this about the letter, and been going for it and nothing else I couldn't have hit on a better tack than I did when I told her Mr. Greenhough was going to marry Miss Chesney!" Any-reply which Mr. Straight may have felt inclined to make to this communication was prevented by the door being opened by Morgan, the policeman. He had been on the alert for the double knock which Jadd had told him was to announce his return, and opened the door a few seconds after it sounded. "Quiet—eh?" said the detective, quickly. "Yes, sir, much peaceabler; has fallen into a fulk, but looks uncommon wicked, Mr. Jadd," replied the man. "?lIow, Johnson, you and Morgan may go and smoke your pipes outside," remarked Jadd, as he and John Straight entered the room with Morgan behind them. Keep close by, and come the instant you hear the whistle." "Yes, sir," replied the men, simultaneously, as they withdrew with alacrity to the more con- genial employment suggested to them by their superior. Now, Mademoiselle, are you goin to he reasonable and let me take those bracelets off P" Sonia Kourapatkin was sunk in the big chair in which she had been seated by the Irish police- man. Her head was lowered so that her chin rested on her chest, but her black eyes flashed; fear had not abated the fury of her glance, nor capture quelled her spirit. Clawing at me doesn't do a scrap of good, you know. If it was Mr. Robert Greenhough now, there would be some reason for it, he has played you a scurvy trick, and if you could take it out on his hair or moustache, why there wouldn't be much blame to you." Jadd spoke with the remonstrant accent that a father might use when expostulating with a wilful daughter. The only effect it evoked was a vindictive hiss. Why should you be angry with me, my dear he continued in the same tone. "I have never made love to you—walked about in the woods in the evening with my arm round your waist, and then got yon to help in a. robbery, so that I could get money to marry a pretty young lady It was as well th", young woman's hands were secured from the ability to "claw" for at these words she sprang from her chair, and stamping violently, first one foot and then the other, she cried furiously. "You lie! You lie!" I indeed," returned the detective mildly but with conviction. "You know he did make love to you- when you were Mademoiselle de Jude, you know," he added parenthetically. when you were staying down at Riverdale Court as French governess. Why, my dear Made- mo i oile, you've no notion what gossips the Eng- lish country folk ate. There was not a n evening yon walked ubout the roads with Mr. Greenhough's arm round your waist but a dozen people saw you—or half a dozen, any way—and came and talked about it in the beer-house—the Cabaret, you know, that' what you call the ale-house in France, isn't it?" lie glanced at Straight, and then at the woman in the armchair. His words had told home. She had sunk back into it again, her face perceptibly paler than before. It was playing it very low down on you, Mademoiselle," he went on, treating you very badly, I mean," he supplemented as he remem- bered that she might not be quite familiar with English colloquialisms, "to make love to you while he was going to marry his cousin all the time." ft's a lie, I say!" she hissed furiously. Me does not want, to marry her. He laughs at her—• he calls her 'baby;' he does not care for that doli infant—no. not two pins!" lie pretended to you he didn't, of course." said .ladd drily. It wasn't likely he would tell you while he was kissing you under the tmes that he was madly in love with his beautiful cousin, and was only waiting to find some way of getting hold of a good lot of money so that he could marry her!" Although Sonia's lips had become so dry that it was hard for her to articulate, she still muttered. "It's a lie!" Yon know as well as I do that it isn't a lie," answered Jadd, laughing. Why, you foolish creature, every one of the country people round Pembridge were talking of you and Greenhough. I've just come back from staying there, you know. I heard them myself. In those little country places they know everybody as well as they know their own mothers. They've known him since he was in petticoats; and you're not so small you can be easily hidden. They saw your love-making right enough. You should have made him marry you, Miss Sonia, before you betrayed Leopold Vergenstram's secret to him. Then he couldn't have betrayed you in your turn!" This venture evidently hit the bull's eye. She struggled to her feet, her chest heaving, her face livid. He has not betrayed me she cried, hoarsely. I don't know what you call it then," said Jadd, folding his arms and looking at her calmly. "He got out of you that Leopold Vergenstram had sent you down to Piverdale Court to steal the diamond. You told him the trick that opened the case—a very simple one. He sug- gested that he could get hold of it easier than you could, and you nevei guessed that he wanted to lay hands on the diamond first, for his own benefit!" The woman's great black eyes were fixed on Jadd. She was breathing hard. She had ceased to make even a gesture cf dissent to the story he was unrolling. You would have done better, Madam Sonia, to have taken Mr. Straight's offer, instead of locking him in and running away. You played just the game Mr. Robert Greenhough wanted you to play—women always do when they think too much of any of us men," added Mr. Jadd, in a philosophical aside. Sonia's teeth were set—her crippled hands were working convulsively. Straight had seated himself astride a chair, and was watching Jadd with fervent admiration. Slowly but surely the Russian woman seemed to be falling under the spell the detective was weaving out of his sus- picions of imagination, and the farts he had gathered during his stay in Pembridge. "If that isn't betraying will you tell me what is mademoiselle?" lie continued, speaking slowly and clearly so that there could be no risk that ehe should misunderstand him. "He wanted to marry !.k pret ty cousin,Miss Dora, Sit* Richard's daughter, and he had no money. His uncle, of course, wouldn't hear of his daughter making such a match. Then you came along, mademoi- selle. I believe Mr. Greenhough knew well enough from the first that you weren't a real governess. Anyway he got round you, found out your little game, saw his chance of getting hold of a diamond worth close on a hundred thousand pounds—and—got it, sate enough, while you my dear Miss, ran away. making it clear you were the criminal and he quite innocent. By now I expect he has sold the diamond. lie doesn't care whether he ruins his uncle or nor, so long as he gets what he wants himself. He told Sir Richard that some shares he had in an African mine—shares that he bought for twenty pounds long ago have gone up a thousand per- cent., and being now worth all this pot of money his uncle consents to the match, and ho is to marry Miss Dora directly. Can you guess, mam- relle, where that money is to come from, eh ?" The manner of Mr. Jadd's recital was so realistic and convincing that even Straight for a moment thought there must be some element of truth in the story. A sidelong glance from the detective's left e, kovever, showed hat his mistake. The next instant the barrier that bad been holding Sonia dumb burst, as a dam will sud- denly give way under the pressure of an intoler- able weight of waters. Every imprecation in every language of which she had command rushed from her lips. They had become moist and mobile in a moment. She raved wildly, madly, as she heaped a polyglot assortment of invectives upon Greenhough, Jadd and Straight impartially. Jadd sat down, as one waits if caught in a storm antil it blows over, and John Straight simply put his hands over his ears to shut cut as much as he could of the din. It ceased as suddenly as it began, and Sonia, still panting, turned to Jadd. You can put him in prison—if you know all this so well, vou can put him there. He cannot marry her if 1" is in prison, can he?" Her fury had quiekly given place to a vicious eagerness. "No. certainly not; but he must be found guilty by a jury first. He will deny the story, of course, just as you did, and while I am search- ing for evidence to get him into pi i-onhe will hOlVCl got a special licence and married Miss Chesney. It doesn't take so long in England, Mam'zelle, to get married as it sometimes does to prove to a jury that a, man is a thief and a blackguard. He is madly in love with Miss Dora, and wants to marry her as quick as he can He has paved the way cleverly by first getting rid of you, so that you can't come back." "Rut I can come back," she cried vehemently. I can do as much as if I came back twenty thousand times, five hundred thousand times. I can show you he is guilty." She turned to Straight, reiterating again and again, "I can— I can." "Well. do so, Mademoiselle," he replied, politely. "Take these off—let me free," she cried. "I will show he is a thief. I can prove all—every- thing you want to know." She held out her manacled wrists to the detective. "They must come off first—your eyes are safe, I shall not touch them; but make me free, or I cannot find what I must show you." She was holding her hands towards Jadd, her eyes fixed upon the handcuffs. He glanced quickly at Straight, his eyes gleaming. Then he dexterously loosened the handcuffs and freed her hands. Ach .That is well," she said, with a murmnr of relief, wringing her hands for a moment as if in protest at the indignity to which they had been subjected, then she pushed aside the big chair from which she had risen, and pulled from its place of concealment behind it a black lsather bag. Straight held his breath as he watched her. His bright grey eyes were more luminous than they had ever been in his life, as Sonia, diving her hand into the breast of the bodice she wore under her Newmarket coat. drew out a small key threaded on a piece of elastic she wore round her neck. opened the bag, and began to search through a big packet of papers. Jadd had been keeping close to her, his vigilant watch on her every movement never relaxing, but he stepped for an instant to Straight's side and whispered into his ear hurriedly, "Don't be too eager; she'll smell a rat—she's a deep devil. Leave it to me, and you sit still After fumbling through the papers for a few seconds, Mademoiselle selected two letters, or rather a note, and a large sheet of letter paper. She looked from one to the other, then she tossed them over to Jadd. "You know so much of him, perhaps you also know his handwriting," she said. Straight with considerable difficulty retained his nonchalant attitude astride of the chair while Jadd took the papers that were thrown to him, and ran his eyes over them. The glance of quick significance he then darted at Straight together with the sparkle in his eyes said plainly to the other that he had got the document they wanted. Yps, I know Mr. Greenhough's handwriting. It is not an ordinary one; it's what they call individual, characteristic, not easily mistaken for anyone else's. This is his, sure enough, and he ought to be proud of it." Then Jadd read aloud gravely the note. It ran:— Thursday. My darling,—We must get that confounded lawyer out of the way, and there is only one thing that will do it. He won't go unless Baby gives him the sack. You know what I mean— tells him to go. She'll do it if she gets the enclosed—copied out and posted in London. Let it, ma chere, be in a hand that a not too well educated female would write. You have fingers so skilful I am sure you can do it exactly as it should be done, and let it be done directly—without a moment's loss of time. That will shake him loose quicker than any- thing I can think of. I want to follow you, ma belle, but I cannot stir from here till this cursed lawyer is gone and his meddling stopped. I have it safe in the little leather bag you made; it is round my neck on a string, but that is no use to us; we want what will help us to cross the water. Be quick, then. Till we get rid of Straight my hands are tied—you understand. How I wish I could give you a kiss, my beauty.—Your ever loving B." Long before Jadd had finished reading Straight had sprung up and was looking over his shoulder. "Is it true that you know his handwriting? Is this it really—can you swear to it?" he whis- pered breathlessly. That they had actually got hold of the original copy of the diabolical letter, and evidence in his own writing that it was sent at Greenhough's bidding, seomed altogether too good to be true. To be sure I can!" answered Jadd aloud, as he finished the note. I have a letter from Mr. Gieenhough in my pocket. I wrote to him on purpose to have a specimen of his writing by no —not in my own name, you know. I got a friend t) write, to ask about a horse. If he had know II it was for me it might have set his wits work- ing. I always have their handwriting by me, if I have 'em shadowed. Comes in useful in un- expected ways, as in this case. Yes, it's genuine light enough, better luck!" Jadd was jubilant. Success is always stimulating. There is nothing more delicious to a detective than finding himself a true prophet. Straight was even more jubilant. "Good old .Jadd!" he said, patting the detec- tive on the back with a boyish delight that would have astonished people who had only seen him in his sober wig and gown. "Good old Jadd," then beneath his breath he added, Thus shall be the best job, Jadd, you have ever done in your life." A variety cf mixed emotions made his voice unsteady. "Thank you, Mr. Straight. I'm pleased to see I was right. If it hadn't been for that look on his face, sir, when I came from behind the curtains I shouldn't have been led up to this"— he was glancing over the larger paper as he spoke. H'm, yes—what I read just now- outside—' yours faithfully, Gertrude Straight h'm! like his impudence! I needn't read it again. The handwriting s all right. Any ex- pert will swear to that. Pon my word he was pulling your leg, Mademoiselle, when he got you to do this—that is to say, in plain English-1:-I was making a fool of you. He was mortally jealous of Mr. Straight, and he was tired of you; so to get a rival out of his way and to get rid of you for ever, and to grab the diamond safely, he thought of this clever dodge. He made a fool and a tool of you, my poor lady, both at the same time!" Sonia's fury had expended itself. She uttered no word, nor replied—even by so much as a hiss to the detective's observations; but her hands were again convulsively working as she locked them together and resumed her seat in the arm- chair, and her face was deadly white. Straight, surprised that her vituperations were notaagain started by Jadd's words, turned to look at her, and, although she was undoubtedly a criminal and had done him a great deal of mis- chief, he could not help pitying her. He had considerably changed since the day when he sat under the apple trees in the orchard at Nares- brook Farm and sneered at the ill-fated hero of "Hearts Win." He could sympathise now with heartache, which then he had known nothing about; and as he looked at the drawn white face of the once handsome and defiant Mademoiselle de .Tude, his instinct told him that she was suffer- ing from something more than the terrible posi- tion in which she found herself as a prisoner on a criminal charge. Heartbreak was written on every line of her wretched face, not terror or fear. "Don't pile it on he said in an undertone; "she knows it well enough, poor creature." Jadd glanced at her, and nodded acquiescence. Then he drew the barrister into the window. H Yes, she's been badly tricked, poor wretch Women like this generally are, you know—made tools of for all their cleverness, and cut at last by someone sharper than themselves. She's gone on that scoundrel still, for all she's given him away. Look here, Mr. Straight, I want now to get down to the Golden Cross. I shan't be long. T think I shall have some news that will surprise you when I come back. Where shall I see you, sir ? I had better call Johnson or Morgan to fetch a cab and take her to Bow Street her rest for awhile first: she has been having a very bad quarter of an hour and must need a little quiet to get over the shock," said Straight, compassionately. "I'll stay myself and keep watch, and if you would come back heie, Jadd, and tell me what your surprise is, it would save time. I want to hear as soon as I can what you have to tell me. Then we can see her off to Bow Street, or perhaps you would go with her yourself, Jadd, and give her into the charge of the police matron; if you would do that I thaald be very much obliged to you indeed." The recollection of Dora's words, my poor, Mademoiselle, I am so fond of her; I can't bear to think she has done anything wrong," had recurred to his mind. The idea that any one of whom Dora had ever been fond should be hustled into a police station was hideous. He was eager—now that she had been brought to confess—to treat the tmJaeky fetgqra— m tesiently as possiSto. "All right, Mr. Straight, I'll see to her mysw. I I'll take Johnson on with me in a hansom so as not to lose time." "You are going to arrest Vergenstram?" Straight exclaimed in an eager whisper. Have you a warrant, or will you do it on your own responsibility ?" Jadd was opening the door. He tapped his breast pocket as he stepped on to the landing. The warrant is here. It's been out two years— false declaration, you know—when he went bail for her-" nodding towards the room they had left. I've carried it about with me lately." Tell me before you go what the mystery isi -about Akbar?" Straight tried to catch the detective's arm to detain him, but Jadd was too quick—already he was running down the stairs. "I'll tell you with greater certainty when I come back, sir he called. And Straight knowing the nature of the woman he had under- taken to watch returned hastily to the room he had left for a moment. She had changed her position even in that moment. She had risen from the chair, and was standing at the fireplace, her back to the door. Her right hand fell from her face as Straight entered, and he saw the leather bag open beside her chair. He locked the door, and putting the key in his pocket, moved to the window. Mademoiselle, if you would wish for some refreshment I can send for it," he said gently. I wish for silence—for sleep for half-an-hour. Can you give me that?" she asked. Her voice was toneless. ) Certainly—I shall not disturb you. There was an old horsehair cushioned couch at the further end of the room. She stretched herself on it and covered her face. Straight, who felt strangely sorry for the unhappy woman, sat down near the window and looked out at the dreary vision of house backs, smoke-grimed and dingy, which was all the view that was to be had. Its dinginess, however, did not depress him. The sudden relief from his late despon- dency was so great that it made him buoyant. He could have whistled with pleasure but for the woman on the sofa who had asked for tilence. •:(•*»*»* The half-hour for which Sonia asked had long passed without bringing Jadd's return. The silence and tedium of the gloomy room were becoming unbearably irksome, and Straight, who had made up his mind to return to the Nares- brook Farm that very evening was beginning to get apprehensive that he might miss the last train to Pembridge and be obliged to defer his departure till the morning. Thoughts were flit- ting through his mind hb to whether he should summon Morgan and leave him on guard in the landing when he heard the hall door open and feet rapidly ascending the stairs. He rose in haste, directly he turned the key in the lock Jadd hurried in excitedly. By George, sir, it's just as I thought This is a bag of tricks—neat as a nut by the Lord It's wonderful, Mr. Straight—wonderful, sir, how I've spotted this case. I don't think, sir, there's a single point I've been wrong in—in it !-not one single point, though I've no business to be blowing my own horn in this fashion; but it really is enough to make one congratulate one- self—it really is But you have not told me what it is yet, man!" ejaculated the bewildered barrister. What have you done ? Have you arrested Leopold Vergenstram ?" "Arrested! Yes, half an hour ago. Fished him out of cne of the linen closets, where he had hidden hirrslf. A rare hunt we had through the hotel to find him. He had dis- guised himself as a chambermaid; kept the cap and apron by him no doubt for the purpose, and slipped past the men I had sent to the corridor. But I fwigged it wasn't a woman and hauled him from among the pillow-cases. Ha! ha!" Good heavens!" was all Straight could say. So His Highness will sleep to-night at Bow Street, as well as Madam Sonia!" continued Jadd, laughing. "His Highness! What the dickens do you mean? What has His Highness to do with Vergenstram ? I hope success hasn't turned your head, Jadd?" "No, Mr. Straight; my head is right enough. I've arrested by warrant, sir, and sent on to Bow Street, Leopold Vergenstram, staying at the Golden Cross Hotel, South Kensington, and going under the name of Prince Akbar." "Good Lord!" ejaculated Straight, starting. What in the name of Heaven does this mean, Jadd? Has he been personating the Prince?" "No, he hasn't; he's the Prince in person." "The Prince in person!" echoed Straight, dumbfounded. "Ilow-liow on earth!" He stared at Jadd. thinking the detective must have gone clean off his head. "How, for heaven's sake, can he be the Prince, and yet be the man who sent Sonia Kourapatkin down to steal the King's dia- tnond p" "God bless my soul, what's up?" cried Jadd. The exclamation seemed irrelevant, but his voice was altered and awestruck. The excite- ment in his face had given place to consterna- tion. Straight, following the direction of his eyes, saw they were fixed on the other side of the room, on the sofa where Sonia was lying. In a moment both men were beside her, and had turned her face to the light. It was white as death. Jadd caught her hands. They were cold and clammy. In one a little bottle was grasped: it was labelled in small print, "Opium tabloids—5 grains." It was empty. Jadd struck a match and lifted her eyelids. The iris made no response to the light flashed before it. The pupil was little bigger than a pin-hole. He dropped the match. "I believe she's all but gone," he said, "but we must fetch a doctor. I don't believe he'll rouse her though. She's drifted too far. Poor soul!" Straight rubbed her hands. Jadd opened the window and fanned her, Morgan, the policeman, fetched the doctor and brought brandy, but Sonia Kourapatkin was never taken in the cab to Bow Street nor stood in the dock ef the police station there again. (To be concluded.)

The Most Nutritious. EPPS'S Grateful—Comforting. COCOA Breakfast-Supper.

;-LonD DERBY ON BETTING. Members of the York Race Committee and the "Brethren of the Ancients Fraternity of York Ginicracks" assembled at the Stati,)Il Tlo"l on Friday to celebrate the 136th annual dinner of their organisation. Lord Wen lock proposed the toast of the evening, The Winner of the Gim- crack Stakes, Lord Derby." Lord Derby, in rising to respond to the toast, remarked that, in view of the spirit of criticism that was abroad those who were connected with the turf should take particular care that any reasonable ground for critioism should, if possible, be avoided. The one text upon which lie would like to speak was the hope that the Jcckey Club and such bodies as their own ancient fraternity would exercise their influence to cultivate a love of clean rac- ing—racing for racing's sake—for no ulterior object beyond the love of the sport and for the benefit of the turf. (Applause.) It was no small satisfaction to him to know that the honour of winning the event which accounted for his posi- tion on that occasion was achieved by an animal not bought from any one else, but one brought up by himself. (Applause.) It was in that way j that the love of racing was greatly stimulated. (Applause.) By some people ail the evils of life were attributed to betting, and in a certain sense no doubt a great deal of this was more or less associated with the turf, but ho thought a great deal of it arose from to A Love of Gambling, and was no more really connectcd with the turf than if people gambled with stocks or anything else. As he was told of fto be a member of the Commission which inquired into this matter, he would like to say a word or two on the subject. There was no doubt that betting had increased of late years beyond all proportion to the increase of sport, the increase being not amongst; those immediately connected with racing, but those outside; and stimulated by circulars and docu- ments professing to give information which, if it was correct, itust have been obtained by means, and, if it was not correct, was at once most misleading and fallacious. Tipsters' ad- vertisements and circulars such as he had described were- the evils which tended to give a bad name to racing, and these were the evils and abuses which lie hoped there might in the not distant future be found some means of checking or even destroying. (Applause.) Proceeding, his Lordship warned those responsible for race mee t- ings to be exceedingly circumspect in rcga rd to admitting freely and oil common term, these per- sons whose past in sporting matters wauld not bear investigation. Allii(Iiii, ,to the (iii,l t; i-, ,f the starting-gate, his Lordship said th roc- withstanding some experiences, he hoped 01 t it woulu not in the end be said that in England there were any considerations which would tend to make this system any less successful thap. it had proved abroad. --1\29 'l.l: "r;¡'!1'

THOMAS WELSBY'S HIGH-CLASS PROVISIONS Are the SAME Quality as those he had the honour of supplying the following members of the Royal Family with :— Her (late) Majesty the Queen. The Princess of Wales. The Duchess of Argyle. NOTE.—THEY CAN ONLY BE HAD IN RHYL At the County Provision Stores, Tudor Buildings, 16 Wellington Road (OPPOSITE WATER STREET).

HOCKEY. GRANGE HOCKEY CLUB v. PEN RHOS LADIES' COLLEGE. Played at Colwyn Bay on Saturday bullierl off at 2.45 p.m. The home team steadily forced their way ahead by some fine passing all along the line, the Grange backs having all their work cut out to keep them at bay. After about ten minutes' hard pressing the home team broke through the defence and scored. After this the game was very equal till about five minutes before half time, when the home team scored again. Half-time s core-Pen- rhos 2 goals, Grange 0. The second half began in favour of the Grange, and after a splendid run down the field, when some pretty passing was put in by the forwards, Miss Gelderd from the left wing succeeded in putting the ball between the posts for the Rhyl team. This gave the Grange hope, and they played vigorously for a few minutes, when Miss Gelderd broke away again with the aid of Mrs Bromley and once more managed to scorflBor the Grange, thus equalising. Now began some dashing play. The home team, buckling to, succeeded, after very hard play, in shooting their third goal. The bully-off began with great energy, for it only wanted ten minutes to time. At last, with some rattling play, Miss Barrett passed to Miss Williamson, right inside, who with a splendid shot brought off the third goal for the Grange. There W9re still four minutes left to play, and the Grange pressed the home team hard, but could not manage to break through the stubborn defence again. Result—Penrhos Ladies' College 3 goals, Grange Hockey Club 3 goals. It was a splendid game on both sides, and after a good tea kindly provided by the homo team:the visitors departed on mutual good terms. The following ladies represented the Grange Club :— Goal, Miss V Davies backs, Miss E Rawlins (capt) and Miss G Vaughan half-backs, Miss Barrett, Miss Rowland-Thomas, Miss D Tatham forwards, Mrs Bromley, Miss Gelderd, Miss Q Tatham, Miss Peterson, Miss Williamson.

Welsh Dialects and Races. A "Nant Conway Antiquarian Society" has just been established at a meeting held in Llanrwst at which Professor Kuno Meyer, Liverpool, was one of the speakers:—His own interests lay rather in a different direction—language, literature, aud folk-lore. He rejoiced to see that those were not excluded from the society's programme. It was high time —nay, it was almost the last chance there was of rescuing from oblivion what there was still left of the Welsh dialects. Welsh oral traditions generally were now so rapidly dis- appearing before English civilisation that they could almost fix a time when they would have disappeared altogether. If the association could do something to prevent that, to preserve for all time the accents of the different dialects spoken within that and other districts before they died away, or of song as far as it had not already died out, it would do a work for which future genera- tions would be grateful. There was one other branch of important and most fascinating work which an association like that was peculiarly fitted to do. One of the most important and diffi- cult problems in the early history of this island was the question of the different races which had inherited it. It turned, as they knew, to » large extent on craniology. If a society like that could leisurely accumulate statistics as to the state and measurement of skulls, the different types existing among the various groups of inhabitants, and with the aid of photography illustrate these types, new light would almost certainly be thrown upon various aspects of those problems. That sort of work could only be done by the most careful and painstaking and repeated investigation, which re- quired above everything time and leisure, so as to exclude as far as possible hasty generalisation. Superficial observations were worse than useless. Their work, then, was mapped out; it only remained that it should be properly organised.

COST OF AN EXECUTION IN FLINT- SHIRE LAST CENTURY. The "West Briton," a Cornish newspaper, con- tains the following account of a petition in regard to the costs a former High Sheriff for the county of Flint incurred in the execution of a convict, and which was presented in the month of June, 1762 :—"To the Right Hon. the Lords Commis- sioners of his Majesty's Treasury. The humble petition of Ralph Griffith, deputy to Thomae Griffith, Esq., High Sheriff for the county of Flint for the present year, 1769, concerning the execution of Edward Edwards, fo* burglary, sheweth that your petitioner was at great difficulty and ex- pense, by himself, clerks, and other messengers and agents he employed in journeys to Liverpool and Shrewsbury to hire an executioner. The convict being a native of Wales, it was almost impossible to procure any of that country to undertake the execution :—Travelling and other expenses on that day, £ 15 10s. A man at Salop to do this business; gave him in part of the agreement, f5 5s. two men for conducting him, and for their search of him on deserting from them on the road, and charges in enquiring for another executioner, E4 15s. After much trouble and expense, John Beb- bington,a convict in the same prison with Edwards, was, by means of his wife, prevailed on to execute his fellow prisoner. Gave to the wife f6 6s., and to Bebbington £ 6 6s., total fl2 123. Paid for erecting a gallows, material, and labour, a business very difficult to be done in that county, 94 12s. for the hire of a cart to convey the body, a coffin, and for the burial, f2 10s, and for other assistance trouble, and petty expenses on the occasion, at least £5, total, 912 2. Which I humbly hope your lordships will please to allow your petitioner who, etc." It is not known whether the petitioner who made this extraordinary appeal got anything for his trouble but it is certain that the High Sheriffs of the present day do not have so much difficulty in getting criminals executed.

I -ALSAMic-ELIXI I For CONSUMPTION. | « P.. Koch, in 1882, made the discovery that Tobsr- I Kg culosis is caused mainly by infection from minuto H H organisms, called "tubercle bacilli.' B 01 But no new and widely-successful methods of treat- fc M merit of Consumption have yet resulted from this flf M discovery. The open-air method was advocated long S Rj before Koch's invertiRations were made. It has doubtless Rj H proved beneficial in many cases. But It is too rigorous n 0 for many invalids, and is at present too costly for tho poor, y Medicines ara required to hasten and complete the our*. Coogreve's Balsamic Elixir has been abundantly proved to produce this m result when regularfy and perseveringly taken. A | WILL NOT CURE EVERY DISEASE. I | But Tor | § ASTHMA in several varieties. H j| BRQMCHITISespeciallyinthechronicform, Kj | COUGHS, common COLDS, and B 1 RESULTS Of INFLUENZA, 1 | USB § 1 CONCREVE'S ELIXIR. I Sold by all Chemists & Patent Medicine Vendors Jj

RHUDDLAN NOTES. It is a matter for surprise to many that nothing has yet been done by the Parish Council in con- nection with the dangerous pond close to the railway, where the sad accident occurred last winter Attention has been called several times to the fact that no warning is given to strangers, which would prevent them venturing on the pond during the skating season, owing to its great depth. We had a taste of winter last week, and although severe, it was happily of short duration. But the ice on some shallow pools was not strong enough to allow of some skating. Several strangers who happened to be in the neighbourhood were on the point of trying the ice on this noted pond, and no doubt would have done so with fatal results had not an inhabitant been passing at the time and warned them of the great danger. If the Parish Council insist on their recommendation being carried out, strangers will approach the spot at their risk, and the trouble and expense of placing a notice board on the spot is such as the Railway Company can easily bear. If the County Council will be influenced to legislate, on the recommendation of different bodies in this district, by next year, it is obvious that motorists will need to exercise a great deal of care, and not, without cause. But the last place to complain of the presence of these travellers, we should think, would be Cwm. Not that there is plenty to be seen there, especially now that they have had the new waterworks,and the grand view to he obtained from various spots there, but there seems to be no very inviting thoroughfares to tra- verse. Mention of the water scheme calls to mind the strenuous efforts made by the inhabitants to obtain a good supply ot pure water. They are not more partial to water than inhabitants of other districts, but are convinced that without a good supply the neighbourhood would endanger its repu- tation for healthfulness. With regard to the suggested restrictions on motorists, some are of opinion that one way to prevent excessive speed would be to induce all motorists to visit Cwm and to go up and down Allt y Bwlch at full speed, the quicker the better. If their traveller did that there would be no need to make any new byelaws as to speed, because then there would not be many motorists left to boast of the grand sight to be seen in coming down that famous and steep hill. Rhuddlan is pretty well provided at present with street lamps, thanks to the persistency of some members of the Lighting Committee. It is a great advantage in some respects to be a member of that Committee. But excellent as is the pro- vision made, many people are wondering why Coetia Postol Road should be so much neglected in regard to lighting. If it is the rule to ignore the condition of the road and to leave it in almost an untraversible state for those who use it by day, it is no reason why it should be neglected in the matter of light on dark nights. That is the time when assistance to pick one's way is desirable. The residents of that district are expected to con- tribute towards the lighting of the town, and if only one lamp were placed there, it would be some inducement to the householders to subscribe.

COLWYN BAY. Remarkable Suicide. An inquest was held last Friday at Penmaen, near Colwyn Bay, relative to the death of Mary Grace Jones, single woman, 21 years of age, whose body was found in the sea near Colwyn Bay on the previous day.—Catherine Jones, the widowed mother of the deceased, said that her daughter had been ill for the last two months, suffering from nervous debility and despondency. She was of a very religious turn of mind, and very fond of reading the Bible. A doctor advised her to go for a change of air. She went to her uncle's home at Llangollen, and on the advice of her uncle gave up reading. After her return she was better in health and spirits.—From the evidence of other witnesses it appeared that a man working at a quarry about half a mile from Penmaen Head saw the woman walking backwards and forwards on the edge of the precipice. A moment later, looking up from his work, he saw her in the act of falling from the pinnacle of the rock into the sea. The alarm was given, and two or three workmen ran to the spot. The body was floating on the water, and as tho tide was in it appeared impossible to reach her. Two of the men, after clambering along the edge of the rock, a most dan- gerous undertaking, plunged into the ice-cold sea and brought the body to land.—The jury returned a verdict of Suicide while of unsound mind."

SYMINGTON'S COFFEE ESSENCE O's f 1, Pure CofTee. Oandtiion Coffoe. PofToo & Chicory A STIMULANT! A RESTORATIVE I A CORRECTIVEl or REFUSE ALL OTHERS, -1.1

Pleasant Saturday Evenings. The chairman at last Saturday eyening's concert in the Boys' Brigade Hall, Vale Road, was Mr P Mostyn Williams, and a capital programme, arranged by Messrs A Lewis Jones and Caradoc Williams, was gone through. The opening piece was a pianoforte solo by Miss Etty Black, followed by a song by Miss Gertrude M Jones, and an exercise with Indian slubs by Master Francis D Roberts. Mr Ned Williams as a vocalist was in great demand, his items being well appreciated. Mr H J Williams gave a reading, and little Miss Hilda Samuels was encored for singing I'm a Naughty Girl." Halfway through the programme competitive recitations by children under 10 years of age were heard, the Chairman acting as adjudicator. Very close was the com- petition between Eddie Samuels (10) and Thomas H Jones (8), and as there was a division of opinion between the adjudicator and the audience as to which was entitled to first place it was decided to award both a prize of the value of 4s each. Thomas 1 L Jones (8), who recited "Wreck of the Hesperus," • gained the second prize valued at Is. The other competitors were Louie Kirk (9), who recited "The Two Crossing Sweepers Daisy Allison (8), who recited" Miss Dolly"; and Alice Maud Lunt (9), whose piece was "Fidelity Other items included s a pianoforte solo by Miss E Furber, a reading by Madame Samuels (encored), and a song by Miss Bella McEwen. The accompaniments were shared between Miss Mudd and Miss L Evans. On the motion of Mr Jolly the Chairman, performers and others were warmly thanked for their services.

OOpONG-A judicious blenu ot the Choicest Teasls6d ] per lb. Ceylon Tea Pure, Fragrant, and Delicious atls i per lb. 61b carriage paid to any address in the United < Kingdom.—Barber & Co (Established over a century), -j Lord St., Liverpool, and 103 Market St. Mancheste I

GENERAL' NEWS/' Tivnvton's oldest inhabitant has died in the, person of Ellen Bakerleat, aged 96 years. Her six sisiers all lived beyond 80 years. No fewer than 4,404 poisons have received assistance from the Manchester war iund. Of the £ 84,201, received. E77,493 has been spent. At Liverpool Assizes the jury stopped the cas.0 in which two members of the city police force appeared on a. charge of perjury. The judge re- ferred to the unfounded nature of the charge. A Bill ha-s been introduced into tL, Virginia Legislature providing for a fine and imprison- ment being imposed on all persons caught kissing. This measure is taken on health considerations. The Kev. Moffat Logan, who has accepted the Baptist pastorate of Accrington, when he went to Bristol found his chapel empty. Not only did he fill tbuilding, but listeners obtained ladders to heir him from the windows. An old horse owned by Captain Sidney Smith has committed suicide at Inverhead, Long Island, U.S.A. The animal went to a dock at the back of the barn, and with a disconsolate expres- sion peered into the water for five minutes. Then it d liberately jumped in, striking the bottom and breaking its neck. A meeting is about to be held in Manchester of leading business men of the city and district with the object of securing the establishment of a f leuIb- cf commerce in the University of Man- chester The conveners are representatives of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and the principal and other officials of the Owens College. Speaking at th » rent, audit at Normanhurst, Mr. Brassey alluded to his defeat at Devonport, and said he had had hard luck in his political carcer. Ho had foright four elections, and in the last three the total majority against him aggregated only 115. He would undertake to say that no other candidate had had that ex- p?i i^nce. Miss Ellen Terry opened a bazaar on Tuesday in aid of St. Luke's Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, where she and Sir Henry Irving are playing this week. Two small children presented her with a. large cake in a basket decorated with roses. Miss Terry, in reply, quoted, Silence is the 1wrfedest herald {Jof joy: Ibut little happy if I could say how much." At an inquest at Gravrsend on the body of the child of a corporal in the Yorkshire Regiment, it was stated that the barrack accommodation was so bad that the corporal, his wife, a girl of six, a boy of ten, and the baby had had to live aivd sleep in one room, and all fiy", had to sleep in one bed. The jury expressed the opinion that the state of affairs was disgraceful. Mr. Christopher S. Weatherill, a deceased Leeds tradesman, has bequeathed to the Leeds General Infirmary, upon the termination of a, certain life-interest, the income derivable from the sum of £ 150.000. The fortune was left pri- marily to the testator's sister, with the proviso that on her death it shall pass to the Infirmary; th" principal must not be touched. The death is reported from Jackson, Mississippi. ct the Right Kev. Hugh Miller Thompson, Bishop of that diocese in the American Episcopal Church He was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1830, a: d went with his parents to America when still a child, lie was one of the best known of the American Episcopate as an orator, and was also a voluminous writer upon religious questions. At Cheiryvale, Missouri, the Hoev. M. D. Atkin- son, who was delivering an illustrated lecture, a,,1.;y:] the ladies to remove their hats, so that all nii'jht -ce the pictures. Several did so, but most did no!- All ladies," said the preacher, after an awkward pause, "who do not crimp their haii- and those with false bangs (curls) may keep their hats on." Every hat came off with a jerk. A band and torch-light procession escorted Messrs. Gordon and Saxby home from prison in pouring rain at Tunbridge Wells on Monday night. They had been in prison for refusing to have their children vaccinated. One cf the sp akers at the demonstration said lie would supply bread free to the families of anyone who suffered a similar fate for following the example of these gentlemen. Mr. J. C. Rickett, M.P., in opening a two days* sale of work in connection with St. James's Church, SearlMtrough, said that when half the population of the country never entered a place of worship Christian workers ought to ask them- selves whether they could not conduct their inevitable controversies with a tone and temper that would not lead the world to regard them a:i sworn enemies of each other. The Rev. D. Hees, a missionary from Mysore now in this country, has received a letter from a brother missionary stating that plague is as bad as ever at Mysore, and the city is swarming with rats. The writer adds: "It is a. wonder to me, after so many have died and so many have left the city, that 70 died here yesterday. Nearly 3.000 houses are vacant, and 20,000 people have fled from the city panic-stricken." On Sunday last a census, organised by a Dis- cussion Society, was taken of all who worshipped in the churches and other religious buildings at Croydon. Out of a total population of about 130,000, only 14,079 attended the morning ser- vices; but these figures were slightly augmented in the evening, when the enumerators counted 15,770. Of these about 40 per cent. were males. This works out at an attendance of only between 9 and 10 per cent. Colonel Hichard Pilkington, M.P. for the New- ton division of Lancashire, who has been a mem- ber of the St. Helens Town Council for over a quarter of a century, was on Monday presented with his portrait in oils, subscribed for by the townspeople, and Mrs. Pilkington was presented with a second portrait. Col. Pilkington after- wards handed the first portrait to the Mayor to be hung in the Council Chamber. Both portraits have been painted by Mr. A. S. Cope, A.R.A. The blast furnaces and iron works at West- bury, Wilts, are to be restarted immediately, a. company having acquired the works as a going concern. The furnaces were shut down about two years ago, owing to depression in the iron trade. Several hundred hands were discharged. Nearly £ 10,000 has been subscribed locally for the new company. The output is principally pig iron, and the trade was chiefly with Stafford- shire. The ore. is obtained close to the works. A woman who applied to Mr. lluggett at Tot- tenham said she wanted a summons against H Mrs. Strong, what lives next door." Applicant: I was going along with my little hay and she turned the hoseon him, and drowned my little boy. Mr. Huggett: When's the funeral P Appli- cant,: Eli, sir? Funeral? Mr. Hug-gett: Yon said she drowned him. Applicant: Oh, well Mr. Huggett: That was a little exaggeration, then? You mean she wetted him? Applicant: That's it, sir. At the age of twelve, Tom Turner, living with his aunt at Richmond-st., Lawrence Hill, Bristol, has attained notoriety as a lover. He mysteri- ously disappeared a week ago. To his girl sweet- heart he wrote:—"Dear Bessie,—I am very glad you want me for a sweetheart, as I am not engaged. I can't see you on Monday night, as I have a lot of work, but will meet you Tuesday night at 6-30." But for a week nothing has boon heard of Master Tom Turner, who was, when last seen, dressed in a navy suit and black cap. The new officcs of the Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Children are to be opened by Lord Alverstone on February 4th. Coming upon the attacks which have been mada upon the Society in the columns of the Times" by anonymous Privy Coun- cillors and others, and the remarks of Mr. Justice Higham in three recent cases it is grati- fying to know that the Society has a firm sup- porter in the Lord Chief Justice of England. As Attorney-General Lord Alverstone did a great rleal for the passing of the Children's Charter'' through the House of C-ommons. •