Barry Herald

[ALL 1UGUTS RESERVED,] THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, OR LOST IN THE DARK. BY RICHARD DOWLING. Author of "Under St. Paul's" etc., etc. CHAPTER XXI THE RESCUE. THAT memorable Christmas morning when the low weak light began to steal over the downs between Greenlee and Barnacle Bay, no object broke the green monotony of the downs a hundred yards from the edge of the cliffs. About half-a- mile from Lookout Head, on the way to Barnacle Bay and about fifty yards from the brow of the cliff, the downs decended a little towards the sea, lost their flat regularity, and became broken up into a number of small mounds and hollows. The mounds in no instance reached higher than a man s knee. The thin skin of turf was here no- where broken. Owing to the depression towards the sea, a man standing upon the brink of the cliff, would be invisible to anyone crossing the downs a hundred yards inland. As the light grew less feeble it revealed, lying among these mounds, the form of a man. Later, it showed that he lay with his face to the ground facing Barnacle Bay that he lay partly in the hollow between two of the mounds, and that his head rested on his left arm, which was supported in turn by the top of one of the hillocks. Was the man asleep ? Something in his atti- tude gave the idea that he was not asleep, or that if he were asleep the sleep was of a peculiarly sound character. Closer examination revealed facts which almost conclusively proved he could not be asleep. Although his pilot cloth overcoat was strong looking and seemed to have been but little worn, the right, sleeve hung in ribbons around the right arm, the right side of the coat was torn off, he had no hat, and his right arm was 10 shockingly mutilated that even a surgeon of long experience and much practice could not look at it without a shudder. Was the man dead ? That was hard to answer for although no breeze blew, one could not be sure at a little distance whether the air or the muscles moved the torn ends of the coat at the right side. There was no other motion for hours. When the sergeant in command of the coast- guards who set out that morning from Roekfall by the edge of the cliffs saw this figure lying in front, he halted his men, formed them into line. and gave the command Present!" in the belief that the prostrate man was about to fire. The injured man was several hundred yards off at the time the sergeant made him out. The carbines carried by his men would not be much use at such a distance, whereas a musket might be em- ployed with advantage, and this man might have a musket. Caution was necessary. There might be other men behind the one crouching in front; in fact, a numerous band. After awhile, observing the man 'in front did I not stir, he grounded arms and (despatched two men on the left flank. These [could see if there were any others behind, and they would divert the attention. When this disposition was made, all advanced towards the prostrate form. In time they came up to the hurt man, found he was not dead, but insensible; and the sergeant, having left two men in charge of him, went on with what remained of his force to Greenlee, where he arrived about an hour after the mounted men had ridden in. From the sergeant in command of the mounted men. the sergeant of coastguards learned the con- dition of the village when the former arrived, and what had occurred since Half-an-hour after the news got to Rockfall we were in the saddle, and in little more than half an hour more we galloped most of the way) we were' in sight of Lookout Head. There was not a moment to be lost; we were nor, a minute too soon. Just as we could see the Head a crowd of men were coming; up from the village. They had a prisoner, and we knew what to expect and who he was. We galloped right to the Head, and drew up in front of the crowd. When they saw us they halted and held a consultation so, leaving my men on the Head, I rode up to the crowd. I saw at once that the spirit of the crowd was not all the one way. Having get hold of their man, and finding him weak and wounded, some of them began to grow faint-hearted about the lynch- ing. it appears that after more than an hour's attack on his house, they had broken in, found his wife, a little girl, a half-witted man. and young Spalding. Bad as young Spalding was from a cut. he had spoken to them from the window before they sot in and although none of them would take his word for his innocence, some of them were not so very sure about lynching the man. Old Tineworth, who is greatly looked up to in the village, was daad against it, although he had been in favour of it at one time. Anyway, they locked young Spalding's wife and the little girl into a room, and were carrying him on a plank; he was hardly able to walk when we rode up. I told them that if the man had had any hand in the murder, he would be sure to suffer for it by law, and that if they took the law into their own hands, whether the man was innocent or guilty, they would be sure to suffer, and that would make matters no better for them. Well, to make the story short, they agreed to leave him on the plank where he was, and go back to the village. As they were going back to the village I saw them open to let someone through them. and then I saw that this was young Spalding's wife, the poor captain's pretty daughter. She had escaped from the room; and was as pale as death and nearly as calm. I was in the saddle a few paces from the plank. She walked on straight up to the plank without saying a word, and stood over him, look ing down at him. I know my duty, and I've done my duty always, and often queer duty it was; but this knocked me over, looking at her looking down at him. She wasn't crying, and she never said a word. If she had thrown herself down beside him 1 could have stood it: as it was, I could not call the men to take him up. I could not speak to her, and she did nothing but stand and look at him. All at once she came up to me and looked into my face, and said You know my father and the men were killed last night, and they said my husbnnd killed them, and that s my husband there. They were going to throw him over the cliff, over the place near where my father and the men were killed last night. Do you understand ?" I said I knew about it. I And,' said she. you are a policeman—what are you going to do with him now ?' Somehow her words and her ways put me out more than anything I ever met before. But 1 said: 'We will take him to Rockfall. There he will be safe.' «' Oh, I knew all about it,' said she. My father and the men were killed last night, and this morn- ing the village wanted to kill my husband, and you came to stop them, and say "No. he must be taken back to the town, and be killed there. '• I told her that I was quite sure he'd be safe in the town, and that as he had nothing to do with the thing, nothing would be done to him. She did not seem even to hear what I said. She was lookingjup in my face the whole time nnd I hadn't the heart to move. She spoke more like thinking to herself than speaking to me. No. he can't escape three times. Someone wasnear kill- ing him last night, and they wanted to kill 'him this morning, and now the police come to kill him. He can't escape the third time. There's one good thing about the police, if they are to kill him they 11 do it outright, and at once. They won't hurt him first, and then try to throw him over a cliff when he's too weak to raise his arm. The police will make it sure this third time. Then there will be no one alive in the world but me. That would make the world lonesome and cold. I should always be going to the door at night and opening it and saying "Come in," and only the deadly wind would come in. Do you under- stand all this ?" 14 And I said I did. «' Very well. now I want to tell you something you know nothing about. Stop firat-you will use only one pair of handcuffs for this I told her I should need none. "'Oh. but I know better than that,' she said. 4 Now what I want to tell you is this: I was with him when he did it. I helped him to do it. It was I who told him to do it, because ^because — because -I had a good reason but I forger, it. Did you notice how dark it was last night ? Well, you won't be surprised when you recollect how dark it was that I lost the reason in the dark. Now put the handcuffs on me- And she held out her hands, her little white wrists to me Damme, but I could see the btue veins in the child's wrist and no tears in her eyes. I Duty is often queer." Bv the time the coastguards had arrived a cart and horse had been procured from the village and Markham Spalding, with his young wife sitting beside him, was in it: and the horsemen were ready to set out escorting it to Roekfall- They were to call on their way for the man who had been found on the downs; The coastguard | servant and his men were to remain at Roekfall j in the place or those who had been lost the tious night. <1: J.. ¡! The excitement in the village had somewhat abated and as the little cavalcade set out for Rock- fall. many of the most prudent of the fishermen than ked heaven that the responsibility of young Spalding's death had been taken off their hands. tiring the whole of the way from Greenlee to Kockfall the woman never spoke. She sat in a dull lethargy. She sat close to her husband, but took i i ti le notice of him. The darkness of that night had entered her soul, and all her mind was as blank as the unfiozen Polar Sea, as dark as the core of adamant. Nothing went on in her mind her thought was fixed on no image. There was no substantive thought in her mind, but a formula for her numbed condition possessed her mind fia air possesses a valley. The formula was As 1 sat up last night waiting for Mnrk and my father, I fell asleep, and I am dreaming now. and when I awake 1 shall be with Mark and my father in Heaven." As soon as the sad procession reached Roekfall, the wounded men were taken to the police-station, and surgeons summoned. After a long examina- tion the surgeons declared the unknown man's case to be hopeless, but with youth and a good constitution at his back, they had every confidence on the recovery of the young boat builder. 1 owards evening young Spalding was much better. At nuht the unknown man became conscious, and was informed that he lay in the police station in danger of speedy death, and that he was suspected of having had something to do with the crime of the night before. He asked were they sure he was dying. Yes. the docters, said he would not last twentv- i f otir licurs, and. might die that night. If he had any statement to make he had better do so at once. A magistrate would be summoned to take his deposition. His reply was Ilis name was Tom Reynolds. He had been connected with the explosion, and was prepared to tell all. Thereupon a magistrate was sent for. CHAPTER XXII. HINGING THE GREAT BLACK BELL. WHEX William Spalding threw himself down in the boat with the one desperate hope in his mind of plugging the hole with his thumb, the boat was more than half full of water, and, to make matters worse, she plunged forward with his fall and took in water over the bows. His feet were towards the bow, his face was to- wards the stern. The stern sheet floating about aft delayed him a second or two, and he knew he had only a few seconds to spare. The great danger now was of her heeling over. Any list would j bring her gunwale under water, and then nothing could prevent her capsizing While with his right hand he wildly felt about for the current from the hole, with the left hand he carefully balanced the movements of his right. At last the column of in rushing water struck his curved palm. Then darting his hand down- ward he thrust his thumb into the hole. He crushed his thumb into the hole with as little attention to the agony it caused him as though it had been a piece of wood. Now the leak was stopped As long as he kept still there was no immediate chance of the boat going down, except that she was making water above her usual load-line, where the seams are often not staunch. However, as the boat was in- tended for use at sea, the chances were she was staunch up to the gunwale. staunch up to the gunwale. He had no superstitious fear of the dead now. or of the ghostly whisperings in the cave. A more direct dread was upon him, and he quailed before the presence of death. Death yesterday would have had little terror for him. But to day, after the awful crime of the night before, a crime of his own devising and invention, the thought was intoleable. No, no. he must not die. He must live on somehow until the awful newness had passed away from the deed. In ten years he might be able to face the Hereafter. If he had only one year, much of the'dread he now felt might be gone. Even a week would be something. But to die here, and to-day! No no That would never do. Anything at all was better than to follow his bleeding victims into the appalling regions of the Unknown. If he might only be ill awhile and lose his reason before he died that would be better. He should not come upon the eternal consequences of his crime in such a sharp and affrighting manner. What was the value of that cargo now above his head to him ? He'd give every bale and barrel for one inch of ledge to hold that grappling-iron and let him ascend into that cave once more, and take his chance there, no matter what fate that chance might bring. To die fighting, to be up there in that secure cave, hurling death upon those below, and to be struck in ihe head or the heart during a struggle would be a joyous way out of life. But to drown here in this gloomy cave. a cave almost as dark as the places where the murdeied men lay. out there by Greenlee, was not to be endured. To .feel himself sink down into these iree^ing waters, to hear their murmur in his ears. and to know that in a few moments he should pass from full vigour of sound health into the realms of ven- geance and ghosts! t gh! I'e raised his head and looked towards the mouth of the cave. The fatal rope still hung between the Black Bell and the water. Ho groitned and dropped his head again. Already his right arm was becoming numbed with cold. I'll try what I can do with my hat," he said, and taking off his hat, he began cautiously to bale out the water. But he could create little offect on the mass of water in the boat. In the first place, for fear of causing her to roll he was obliged to take no more than half-a-pint of water up in his hat at a time. and then in moving his hand over the side to throw the water out, he had to keep the boat on an even keel by moving his 4-ight leg out, so as to act as a counterpoise to his left arm and the water in the hat. Still he kept on baling, and after half-an-hour's incessant work, to his great joy, he found he had got the better of the water; it had fallen half-an- ineh And now his right arm has lost all sensitive- ness. From the shoulder down he was completely tnv onscious of its existence. It felt as though a sli lit wrench would tear it from the socket. The water had run up his left sleeve and found its way iiii'U'r his clothes. His knees were in the water,, and he felt his strength failing. ould it be possible to reduce the water by an inch more ? If that were done he might manage with his left hand to drag the boat out of the qive and back to her old hiding place. Once there he could sink her and wait until he regained strength to make the ascent from the water's edge Ip the downs. Thisjtliought filled him with new energy, and the boat being now lighter than an hour ago he was able to bale more quickly. But, his strength was failing, and he might with perfect safety have got out double the quantity if he had only re- gained the strength he possessed at starting. It would have been easy for a moderately good swimmer, even in his clothes. to cover the distance between the Black Bell and the foot of that pre- cipitous path; but like most sailors William Spalding was unable to swim. At length the heavy task was accomplished, and Spalding clutched the Bell wih his left hand and "loved the boat slowly towards the left side of the pave. He had reduced the water altogether by an inch and a halt. All this time he had been lying down on the thwarts. It was perfectly impossible for him to get into even a kneeling posture, that would have given him great relief. i-hitting his body slightly to the tight he got his left hand and arm over the si.te of the boat and was able to use his hat as a paddle. In order that he might see where he was going it was necessary he should propel the boat stern foremost. At moments he was on the point of giving up in despair. This paddling, although only a dis- tance of twenty yards had to be accomplished, was terribly laborious and terribly slow, for the eRed of paddling thus clumsily at one side was to mtike the boat go round in a circle, and this ten- dency had to be counteracted by. after each stroke ¡. of' hi-w left hand, holding the hat in the water. thus almost stopping the little way the stroke had im- parted to the boat. He gained the will of the cave after a long struggle Ir. was easier to get on now. It was only tiftv yards to the mouth of the cave, and by laying hold of the seaweed he wag enabled to pull the boat along without driving bef away from the wall. The man's determination to live, his fierce do- termination not to die, lent him st. ength and gave hi in po er to resist cold and fatigue that would baye killed him long ago under ordinary ciienrti- stanees The deadness of the arm had now ex- tended to the shoulder and right breast, and the muscles at the back and front on the left side were beginning to creep,and tingle in an alarming manner But his will was still inflexible He would live, though the hand of every man was against him though the elements and fate had sworn enmity against him, he would not die. He was now within a few yards of the cave a mouth within a few yards of the gateway to de- liverance, to escape, to life. He had wrestled with death in that odious loathsome cave, and he had thrown death and was now about to escape He paused awhile to ga-her breath. <]ovild it be after all that he was really to get away ? It seemed to him that he had been a century in that water vault. Perhaps all had gone "It 1 for him on the cliffs and they had lynched his ;i < 1- y. -V.. ¡ fi son, and Retcard was on his way out of the country, and Reynolds was dead. He pushed the boat with extreme caution into the low mouth of the cavern, and advanced slowly out- wards, until it was possible for him to see the cliffs on the opposite side of the little bay. Here he lay awhile without motion, scarcely breathing. He saw something that sealed his fate. At the opposite side of the bay, with his carbine on his shoulder, a soastguardsman was walking quietly up and down! Now and then the man paused and scanned the bay closely, and looked at the path then he resumed his walk. Owing to the gloom of the entrance, and the height of the coastguardsman, the latter could not see tho smuggler. For awhile Spalding lay fascinated by horror All was now lost! He watched that man in » dreamy half-conscious way. The cold was beginning to tell on his mind, and his senses were growing dull. All at once he jerked his head up and dropped his eyes. What was dihclosed to the etcsno Ion er interested him. The ears-the ears were now the thing! for in the silent intervals between the on- slaught and the outdraught of the waves he heard the sound of Oars !-Oars !-Oars! She'll swim a minute without the plug! One minute! It would be enough! One minute!" With a sudden dash he drew himself upright and stepping with feet that seemed to find the centre of gravity on the boat's gunwale as though by instinct. Then seizing the rocks at the side of the entrance with his left hand (the right hand and arm were dead) he drew the boat swiftly along the side of the cave until once more he was oppo- site the great Black Bell. Then with one push. risking all on that push, he shot the sinking boat to the base of the Bell, and with a groan seized the rope once more, and steadied himself on the gunwale. They're after me, but I'll never give in! Never! I'll drair the grappling home first." He leant on the rope. "It holds! It holds! My grappling holds! he shouts as the perspiration pours down his face. One second more he stands on the gunwale with the taut line straight as an iron rod in his grasp, bearing half the weight of his body cow without giving an inch. Then with a low growl of triumph he spurns the boat, hears her go down with a sough, looks back to be sure that she has sunk, and then twisting the line round one of his legs, begins to haul him- self up the slippery side with his left hand, secur- ing himself before taking another hold by hitching up on his leg the slack of the line. At last, after prodigious exertions, he gains the top of the Bell, and has, only to ascend the shaft. He knows there is a smile of triumph on his face. An hour ago, after the grappling dragged the first time and I caught it the second time, I thought it was like ringing my death bell. Now I'm safe, or next thing to it. Let me shake this coil off my leg, and I'll be up before they can pull two strokes more. I'll be- Ah God There was a sharp, shrill, metallic rattle over- head, and something heavy fell with a loud jingle down the side of the Bell, followed by a sickening, soft, sliding noise, succeeded by a heavy splash after which all was still in the cave of the Black Bell. The grappling had parted from its hold; the passing knell of William Spalding had been rung by himse, f on the great Black Bell. (To be Continued).

LAST OF AUSTIN BIDWELL. PAMOUS SERIES OF BANK FORGERIES RECALLED. The news from America that Austin Bidwell, the forger, has died at Butte City, Montana, will recall to the minds of many people who are not very old one of the most famous forgery cases in the annals of English crime. In the spring of 1873 it was discovered (a writer in the Daily Mail reminds us) that the Bank of Eng- land had been defrauded of a large sum of money by means of forged bills, which were sent into the Western Branch for discount. The principal actors in the business were three Americans, and one Edward Noyes. In 1872 the Americans—George Bidwell, Austin Biron Bidwell {just deceased), and George Macdonell —arrived in London with their plans well matured, and with a capital to work with of some E6000 or ,F £ 8000. In the month of April Austin Bidwell, Mac- donell, and a cotnpanion-named Siebert went to the shop of Mr. Green, a tailor in Savile-row, ordered some c. jthes, and said they would call to try them on later. They returned on May 4, when Bidwell, who had given the name of F. A. Warren, said they wanted to catch the Irish express, and requested Mr. Green to take care of J:2000, which he did not like to leave at his lodgings. Mr. Green, instead of accepting the responsibility of the money, took Mr. Warren, as he was called, to the Western Branch of the Bank of England, in Burlington-gardens, where he kept his account, and gave his new customer an introduction to the authorities there. An important step in carrying out the conspiracy was now established. Bidwell was a customer at the bank, and he soon took care to improve his position and to introduce his confederates. Noyes, who gave as his address a hotel near Manchester-square, after- wards took many of the forged documents to the bank. The" deposit" account was converted into a drawing and discount" one, and as an explana- tion why large sums would be placed to their credit, the conspirators informed Colonel Francis, the agent, that they were bringing out an improved railway brake, and were about to establish a sleeping-car manufactory in Birmingham. The next step was to obtain first-class bills which were to be counterfeited. One of the Bidwells went to Amsterdam and bought bills on Montagu and Co. and Blydenstein and Co. He then went to Paris and obtained bills on Rothschilds, and on Barings, of London. He returned to London, and on January 17 he took the Rothschild bill to the Western Branch for discount, saying, is he handed it in, There, I sup- pose that is good enough for you." He afterwards offered for discount altered and foiged bills, the whole amounting to more than £ 100,000. As soon as the proceeds were placed to account they were drawn off, and so invested as to be easily available to soon as the forgers were ready to make off with their booty. I That time had nearly come, but the frauds were I discovered by means of the very list parcel of bills that were handed in to the bank on February 27. Most of the bills discounted were entire forgeries^ but one good bill for £ 25 had been altered to £ 2500. The first of the forged acceptances would not come due till March 31, which allowed the conspirators plenty of time to escape from the country, but their plans were upset by a trifling omission. Two bills, among those last handed to the bank, for EIOOO each on Blydenstein and Co., and payable three months after sight," did not bear the date which is essential. The clerks who had the bills to examine thought that w-.s merely a clerical error, and sent the two bills to Messrs. Blydenstein to have it rectified it was then discovered that the hills were forgeries. When the thieves found that their game was up they bolted. The police followed them half over the globe, and at last they were brought to justice. In April it was announced that all the perpetrators of the late forgeries had been arrested. In August they'were tried, convicted, and sentenced to penal servitude for life. Austin Bidwell was released some years ago, when he returned to America, and attained a position of affluence in the city where he has now died. His fellow-citizens were wont to describe him as "that eminent Bank of England financit-r."

THE BAYREUTH FESTIVAL. The official particulars of the Bayreuth Festival are now issued. The season will consist of seven performances of Parsifal," two complete cycles of "Der Ring der Niebelungen, and five performances of Die Meistersinger." The tickets for the Niebe- lungen Ring will be issued for the complete cycle only at the price of E4 for the four days. The price of the tickets for Parsifal" and Die Meistersinger is 20s. for each performance, The performances will begin with "Der Ring der Niebelungen" on Saturday, July 22nd, and will Conclude with" Parsi- fal on Sunday, August 20th.

mlilz Strike of studenta in St. Petersburg as a protest against the arbitrary ill-treatment of the police, and as a means of showing dissatisfaction with the new Minister of Public Instruction, M. Bogolepoff, still continues. All the high schools have joined the movement. The report that General Gallieni has been recalled from the command in Madagascar is semi-pfticially denied in Paris. General Gallieni is simply return- ing to France for a few months'" rest. Afterwards he will go back to his post. AN ANONYMOUS donor in the Riviera has just sent to the Hon. Chief Secretary of the Church Army (Rev. W. Carlile) E500 for the endowment of a Margaret" Mission nurse, to work amongst the very poorest in the slums. RBCENT excavations in Tunis have brought to light a collossal head of Marcus Aurelius and several large mosaics. In addition 40 tombs of the Punic Epoch, containing Carthaginian vases, ostrich cggsi fad collars of pr&ifiu* stw* wore found. l i

DR. HARGRAVE'S STORY. There is something about this case I do not at all like. I have seen the patient only once; he is dead, and I am asked to certify the cause of death to be failure of the heart's action but in this case of young Craymore I am noc prepared for,death. Besides, why, five minutes ago, when I called at Parkhurst House, did his father oppose my seeing the body ? I certainly shall give no certificate until I am perfectly satisfied as to how the young man comes to be dead when I examined him. I did not take him for a dying man. He might have died of a great shock; but his father said nothing just now of a shock, great or rattle. He merely told me his son was found dead in bed this morning, and that the end must have come hours before, as the body was then cold. Indeed Why, how do I know that the young fellow is really dead ? I have nothing but old Mr. Crayniore's wórd for' it. Wtll, there will be no certificate until I have the evidence of my own senses. I said I'd call again in an hour. I may as well wander about the wood. 'Tisn't often I get a stroll through a wood in winter." Such were the unspoken words into which my reflections ran that memorable February morning, after leaving Parkhurst House, the residence of Mr. Thomas Craymore. The house stood a mile from the village of Longfield, where I was then taking tha practice of old Dr. Robinson, during his absence as an invalid in the south of France. I was fully qualified, had some experience and money in my pocket, to buy a practice when I could discover a suitable one for sale. It was not by accident I found myself at Longfield. 1 he Reverend Henry Drayton, rector of the village, was my friend and his daughter Helen was the dearest friend I had intheworld. So sure did Heel that I never had or could have a dearer friend than Helen Drayton. that I had asked her to live all her life with me, and she and I were to be married as Boon as a practice could be secured. When Dr. Drayton heard Dr. Robinson had been ordered abroad, he suggested me as a sub- stitute. SolûJre had I been for a month, with the prospect of remaining until May. I was a stranger to Longfield until I came there to take up the work. Helen and her mother had been on a visit to town for a couple of months towards the end of the year before, and in those months I lost my heart to the best and loveliest girl. J. week before this morning walk in the winter wood I had been called in to see this young Cray- more. My patient proved to be a small, thin, wretched-looking young man of six-and-lwenty, the very opposite of his big, burly, overbearing father. I found nothing serious the matter beyond weakness and depression. I prescribed air and exercise, stimulating diet, and cheerful occupation. Having assured him there was no cause for uneasiness and saying I would send a tonic, I took 'my leave, pro- mising to call again in a week. It struck me after leaving the house that my patient was singularly apathetic about himself, while his father exhibited what, for want of a better word, I must call a brutal anxiety for the recovery of his son. That evening I told Helen of my visit to Parkhurst House. "Oh," said she with a smile, "have you been there ? Father and son are the queerest pair in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Craymore has been dead years, and George is the only child." Do you know them ?" said I. By appearance, yes but we are not acquainted with them. They don't know many people here- abouts, and I think each of them is a little cracked." Cracked 1" Well, they are very odd, anyway. The father is absurdly proud of his blood. He is very poor, but claims to be entitled to the barony of Ashwood, now in abeyance. People call him derisively Lord Ash- wood. He is so inflated with his claim "that he will not associate with untitled people, and the few titled people within his reach are shy of him—he is such a bore about his wrongs and his pretensions. His notion for years has been that his son George should marry a rich wife and that the title should be Ie- covered by the help of her money. I heard last month the rich wife has been found and that George Craymore is engaged to the daughter of a man who has made money in trade and is prepared to give a fortune of a hundred thousand pounds. I pity the poor girl, whoever she may be." And the son?" said I; "what is the son's fad? Is he mad after the title too ?" No. Father and :son are wide as the poles asunder. The father bullies the son and makes him do just as he likes. But they say if the young man had his will h would never mention the peerage, that he would live in a cottage, marry some simple village maiden, and [devote his time to his books and to growing roses. They say it waa, when his father found out he was writing poetry to some girl of the village that the old man insisted on the engagement with the rich man's daughter." "And who is the yillage damsel of George's I asked. Oh, I don't know," said Helen with a laugh. Nobody knows, but it is supposed to be the miller's pretty daughter, Susie Barnes. At all events, she is the prettiest girl in the village." "Except one other," said I, kissing my darling. That February morning it did not rain, but the air was heavy with moisture. The memory of tbat Eleasant gossip with my sweetheart ran through my ead as I sauntered under the dripping trees. And here," thought I, is this poor young fellow done with love and verses for ever now, and his old bear of a father standing between me and sight of what remains of his son. Why am I not to see the body ? Why should the old man try to bounce me out of a certificate ? As I asked myself these questions I drew up and loeked around. I was standing under a large, low* spreading oak, away from any path and about tialf-a- mile from Parkhurst House. Not a soul was in view, nothing but trees, trees, trees and-I glanced up over my bead and stepped aside with a start. From one of the main branches of the tree above me hung a rope. By Jove!" cried I aloud, I had any wish to follow young Craymore out of the world there's the means ready to my hand When the hour, was ur, I presented myself again at Parkhurst House. I was shown into the dining- room where I found the owner standing with his back to the fire. He may have had the blood of a hundred barons in his veins, but he had the appear- ance of a navvy and the manners of a turnkey. I have considered your application to see my son's body," said he pompously, and I have decided not to grant it." I bowed, saying "If that is so, sir, I shall not be able to give a certificate. I have taken a walk since 1: saw you, and I have come to that conclusion." His coarse faceflushe, and J thought I heaj-d him mutter Impudent puppy I" under his breath. If your master was at home he would make no difficulty, sir," said he furiously. ( n If the case were Dr. Robinson a. said I with de- liberation, "it would be for him to exercise hin dis- cretion. The case is mine, and I mean to exercise my discretion." He growled and shot at me a glance of rage in which I thought I detected a trace of fear. "You are exceeding your duty, sir, and the law does not oblige or empower you to see the dead. Permit me to be a judge of my duty, sir," said I severely, and to know enough of the law for my purposes. Since I was here thll morning I took a I" I wish you had taken the plague. he interposed savagely. «. in the oak wood," I went ftl1 significantly, keeping my eyes fixed on him. He started, and his face twitched. Then you have been trespassing* sir I" he snapped out with an ugly drop of his heavy mouth. I saw my trial shot had gone bome. My suspicion was converted into certainty. I now proceeded with confidence. In the oak-wood, about half a mile from this, I found a tree "bich excited my in- terest." 'He glanced hastily at my clothe* and hands, whkb were green from mow and brown from hark. Why, you've been breaking down trees! Nice occupation for a person calling h"11 a Professional man!" he shouted. But there wft9 quaver at the end of the shout, and the bricked-red face was turn- ing yellow. "I broke down none of y s, air, but I climbed one, from which I found suspended a rope, quite recently cut, at a height of seven or eight feet from the ground. That is the rope. I drew it from under my coat, and dropped It on the floor at his feet. .Groaning, he staggered from his place on tha hearth-rug, and falling into an easy-chair covered his face with his hands. The fools he muttered. "The fools forgot to take away the rope when they cut down the body." Then moving his hands he looked up at me and said, in broken voice: Dr. Hargrave, I ask your pardon for my shame- ful rudeness just now, and earlier to-day. My un- fortunate boy hanged himself some time yesterday afterisoon, and the body was found in the wood and brought home this morning. When I realised the- awful fact that he was dead, I became possessed by a mad desire. to hide the shame of the way-he died. Now, I suppose, all must come out; ^°p the satisfac- tion of a.gaping, vulgar public." I fear there is no escaping ah inquest, !• said soffcly. The spectacle of the old man's agony, into which I felt sure remorse entered largely, struck me like a blow. ,i I' in.' I He was shaken to his centre. and in the first, few minutes he spoke freely, and perhaps half-uncon- sciously what was in his mind. He was the last of our race, a ad not like any 0: us. Until he came, all the Craynmres were Cray. mores in body and mind. He took after his mother, who was a Tollington. With him goes my race and all hope of the barony of Ashwood with him the Craymores die. He was on the point of marrying wealth with which we could have established our claim to a seat in the Peers. Now all is over with us for ever." There was a rumour," said I, clearing my throat and steadying my voice, that he had a great admira- tion for a girl in the district. Do you know who she was ?" He was infatuated," said the old man huskily, about some girl of the village, but I never could find out her name. He spoke of her, and wrote poetry to her &s Phyllis. I never could learn more about her. But what is the good of talking of such things now. He is dead, all is over with him and with my race." An inquest was held, and, of course. I gave such medical evidence as went some way in helping the jury to bring in a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind. I also swore to the finding of the rope in the wood. But I had found another thing in the wood about which I was asked no question about which I have said no word to man or woman from the moment I found it to this hour. The tragic occurrence kept the village in talk for many a long day, and one of the greatest subjects of wonder was that the name of the village girl whose beauty had captivated the young man did not come out at the inquest or at any other time. Helen, with half the villagers, was sure Susie Barnes was Phyllis, and after a while the miller's pretty dauglsler took no trouble to combat this belief. In time the talk about the affair grew fainter and died out, and people had to put up with more com- monplace subjects of gossip. Before May. old Dr. Robinson had resolved to retire, and I bought the practice. In June Helen and I were married, and next month I had settled down to my work. In our married life no serious cloud has come between us. We are, I think as near to being one as man and wife can hope to be. She tells me I have her whole love and confidence. I know she has the whole of my heart and confidence—all my confidence save one fact, which I keep to myself for the sake of my dear, one's peace of mind. That dread morning when I climbed the tree to loose the rope I found on the branch to which the rope was fast a space bigger than my hand, from, which the rough bark had been freshly cut, exposing the inner bark. On the inner bark I found incised, Helen Drayton was the Phyllis of G. C." I tore that terrible inscription from its place, rent it into a thousand fragments, and scattered the frag- ments to the Tour winds.

ILLITERACY IN RUSSIA. The only obtainable statistics of the number of pe/sons in the Russian Empire who can neither read nor write are to be found in the reports of the army and navy recruiting departments. A recruit is always asked if he can read and write, and his answer is registered. The latest reports shows that 40 per cent. of the youths who are raised by the con- scription are totally illiterate. As a vast number more males than females are able to read in Russia, and as it is rare to find an aged peasant who can read and write, it may bp ncepted as a fact (says the Leisure Hour) that, proUibh not 20 per cent. of the entire population of the Empire has obtained the first rudiments of this knowledge.

AGUINALDO AS MEDICAL STUDENT. It appears that medicine may have the perhaps doubtful honour (says the British Medical Journal) of at least partly claiming Aguinaldo, the Filipino patriot. His face and features, and the conforma- tion of his skull, are of European type, and he is believed to be the son of a Spaniard, though there is ..1 a conflict of testimony as to whether the honour of his paternity belongs to a General or a Jesuit. He was born at Cavite, and was in boyhood in the ser- vice of a priest, who gave him some education. At the age ot'15 he entered the medical department of, the Pontifical University of Manila, where he worked under Professors Nalda and Bu'itrago. He afterwards studied at the Victoria College, Hong Kong. He was remarked for his ability when a student, but nothing else is known of his college career.

REFORM IN SANTIAGO. In the Fortnightly Review the admirable work ac- complished by General Wood at Sant iago is ex- plained by Mr. H. H. Lewis, who says that: Four months had effected—The rescue of the population from starvation to a fair satisfaction of all their daily necessities. The conversion of one of the foulest cities on earth to one of the cleanest. The reduction of an average daily death-rate of 200 down to 10. A considerable progress in a scheme of street and road improvement that will [add immensely to the conversion, and beauty of the city. A radical re- form in the Custom House service, resulting in in- creased revenues. A reduction in municipal ex- penses. The correction of numerous abuses in the management of jails and hospitals and the care of inmates. The liberation of many prisoners held on trivial or no charges. The reformation of the Courts and a strict maintenance of law and order. The freedom of the Press. A restoration of business con- fidence, and a recovery of trade and industry from ntler stagnation to healthy activity."

NEW ROYAL YACHT FITTINGS. It is of interest to state that the woods to be used in the interior fittings of the new Royal yacht are to be obtained, if possible, from the West Indian colonies. Inquiries have been made in Jamaica for samples and quotations. It is desired to confine the selection to woods which are either already or likely to be marketable. Such woods as satiswood, maho- gany, West Indian cedar, juniper, coccus, ebony, and lignum can all be supplied from Jamaica, and samples will, no doubt, soon be at the Admiralty.

ENLARGING THE 'CHURCH HOUSE. The council of the Church House is appealing to all those who feel interest in the Church's work to contribute to the erection of the second section of the building. The great hall is finished and in use. Suitable accommodation has been provided for the meetings of the Houses of Convocation. Larger and better rooms will hereafter be erected, in accordance with the original scheme. There is a fair supply of committee-rooms, but they are in constant use, and more are urgently required. It is now proposed to erect the west side of the permanent build- ing. Here the chief room will be the per- manent meeting-place of the House of Laymen, Which is to be specially associated with the name of Mr. Henry Hoare. When not used by the House of Laymen, many of the smaller meetings for Church purposes will have accommodation there. In addition to this the west side will contain 19 rooms, to be used for letting as offices to Church societies. The cost of the erection of this west side is estimated at £18,000, towards which sum £8300 has already been subscribed, £2500 by the family of the late Mr. Henry Hoare, and £5800 by others.

J CURE FOR PNEUMONIA. Important news comes from the Bacteriological Ipstitute at Berlin. The correspondent of the Daily bews in that city states that Professor Wassermann, one of the most diligent and capable pupils of Pro- fessor Koch, hopes to have found the serum for the cure of pneumonia. One may imagine what such a I discovery would mean, but in view of for- mer disappointments, jubilation would be pre- mature. Pneumonia, as is known, is said to be :caused by the pneumo-coccus bacillus. Dr. Wassermann inoculated rabbita with this, and with the serum thus gained he inoculated mice in- fected by pneumonia. After prolonged experiments he discovered that it was the red marrow of the bones in which the production of the anti-toxin took place, and the most promising discovery is that of the red marrow taken from a human subject dead from pneumonia, and used as serum, will cure mice infected with that disease. Professor Wassermann thinks that he has reason to hope that the serum discovered by him .will also prove effective with human beings.

Thb German Post Office authorities have decided to 'place automatic telephones in all the post offices, railway stations, and other public places. They will be on the penny-in-the-slot" principle. THE ballot on Saturday night among the Lancashire cotton operatives upon the question of the demand for an advance of 7d. in the £ in wages was an aggregate majority of 22 to 1 in favour of giving notice terminating engagements in the event of the advance being refused. ABOUT seven o'clock on Saturday night an accoun- tant named Ricketts, entered the shop of a Plymouth jeweller called Webber, who oarrif on business in a prominent thoroughfare, and fired three revolver shots at the proprieror. None took effect, however, and before the assailant could again fire he was dis- armed. Jealousy ia reported to be the cause of the outrage. 0 If' I

SECONDARY EDUCATION. THE NEW BILL. Whatever may be the general opinion as to tha extent of the Board of Education Bill foreshadowed in the recent speeches of the Duke of Devonshire, the fears have been allayed (the Morning PvM says) of those people who appreciate the delicacy of the task undertaken by the Government, and more parti- cular'y ihe dangers to be avoided in attempting to assigii to Secondary Education its right place in a national system. For though our Secondary Schools may be marked by many shortcomings, none will deny that they have been responsible in a great degree for our unparalleled national success during the last 100 years. To them is due that force of individual character in our officers and leading merchants and manufacturers, which would have been crushed by any organisation such as is to be found in France or Germany, admirably designed as the educational systems of these two countries may be to promote the cultivation of the intelli- gence. Our Empire has been built on character rather than on trained intellect; and while it may be admitted that in this more scientific age greater attention should be paid in our schools to intellec- tual development, we must at all costs preserve those influences which have created the great ethical-stnn- dard attained by the best of our Secondary Education. THE WA5T OF OEGANISATIGN. Want of organisation in our educational system has caused many of our Secondary Schools to fall short of that degree of efficiency which is essential to national progress, and which, it must be con- fessed. they have often nobly struggled to main- tain in face of insurmountable obstacles. Th Parliamentary Return presented last June showed all too plainly that a large number of these Schools were unable to procure a properly-qualified staff of teachers and the Report of the Royal Commission revealed their inability to meet the increased ex- penditure involved in any endeavour to provide a more modern education. And when the amount of public money already devoted to Secondary Educa- tion is considered it is evident that both these defects point to a serious lack of proper economy. The cause is not far to seek; disorganisation in- variably means waste of money and misdirection of energy. One is almost guilty of a platitude in asserting that the need of organisation is therefore urgent. There is every reason to hope that the measure prepared after careful consideration of the criticism bestowed during the Recess on the Bill of 1898, will offer (the Morning Post continues) a resolution of this difficult problem. THREE POINTS Of PRIME IMPOBTAXCE. It will be remembered that the Royal Commission on Secondary Education of 1894-95 made three recommendations, which have been universally recognised as of prime importance. They advised the Registration of Teachers, the Creation of a Central Authority, including an Educational Council, and the establishment of Local Autho- rities. It is certain that the coming bill will not attempt to deal with the last of these recommendations, but will provide fully for the second and indirectly for the first. The Govern- ment, however, has pledged itself to follow up this measure as speedily as possible with one for the con- stitution of Local Authorities, and there is nothing unreasonable in the request that it may be allowed to act on tHe principle of one thing at a time." The creation of a strong Ceritriil Authority is a matter of such moment that it certainly deserved the undivided attention of our legislators, which it would probably not receive- were the more contentious question of Local Authorities to be introduced simultaneously. As in the bill of last August, the new Central Authority will be named the Board of Education. The dutips which it will have to perform may be divided roughly mto two classes those of an ad- m inisi native nature, and those of a ibore purely educational kind. in the strict sense of the term. The Registration of Teachers naturally belongs to the seccmtkcategory, and ;has~"t»(gtn acknowledged for many years to be the first step necessary" in educa- tional reform. TIIE REGISTRATION OF TEACHERS. The work of registration, demanding as it does an accurate knowledge of the qualifications re- quisite for teachers, not merely in very kind of School, but also in every department of every kind of School, and at the same time including proper pro- vision for a system of professional training adapted to our peculiar English requirements, can only be satisfactorily carried out with the assist- ance of teachers of long and varied experience. It should also be remembered that School Masters themselves are alone fully acquainted with all the evils which have been caused by a want of organisa- tion, and could offer invaluable advice as to how far these would be removed by any steps proposed. Such are two of many reasons which will probably induce rhe Government to establish, by an Order in Council, a permanent Consultative Committee, com- posed of representatives appointed by the Crown and the teaching profession, who may advise the new Board on any matters in which it requires their assistance. While the creation of an Educational Council, as recommended by the Royal Commission, is open to seriujs objection, there is no ground for fear that the establishment of this permanent Consultative Committee will form an undesirable precedent which might ultimately affect other Government Departments. It only needs a moment's reflection to perceive that education is intrinsically so abso- lutely different to any of the other forces in national life that professional opinion must neces- sarily play a large part in its control by the State. From an English point of view there may be much that is not sound in the -German organisation of education, but it is admitted by those who have enrefully studied the question that all that is best in the rpsults of German teaching m to be traced directly to the influence of the expert in the framing of the regulations enforced by the Government. FUNCTIONS OF THE NEW BOARD. To dejvl now with the purely administrative func- tions of the new Board. It will be immediately evident that, for their successful performance, they must be vested in a body of experts in educational organisation. As regards the technical and primary branches, the Science and Art Department and the Education Department respectively possess the requisite qualification. But in connection with Secondnrv Education, which is after all the kernel of problem, it is not so easy to discover the ex- perls desired. The Science and Art Department has had experience in dealing with Secondary Schools merely in so far as it has transformed some of them into Technical Schools of a more or less strongly pronounced type. The Charity Commis- sioners. on the other hand, in pursuance of the Endowed Schools Acts, have been actively engaged for many years in reducing English Secondary Education to some degree of order, and have more recently presided over toe very successful organisa- tion of the corresponding branch of education in Wa les. Their experience will therefore be invaluable to the new Board. A slight difficulty has arisen with regard to their incorporation in this Central Authority, owing to the well-known fact that they actually possess non educational functions also. Such difficulties can be easily surmounted where national interests are at stake. Any carefully-con- sidered scheme for so doing which the Government presents in the forthcoming bill will meet with no opposition from those who are sincere in their desire for t he organisation of Secondary Education. TO SAFEGUARD VARIOUS INTERESTS. But though such organisation may be one of the most pressing needs of the moment, it should not. be forgotten that efficient systems of Technical and Primary Education are at least equally essen- tial to the national welfare. It would hardly be to the advantages of Primary Schools if they were placed under the immediate control of a body particularly strong in its "Secondary" develop- ment, or even consisting of three distinct elements of equal strength united in a common object. All educationists will therefore welcome the recent assurances of the Duke of Devonshire that these three branches of education will have sub- uepartments of their own, each with a separate Secretary. The necessary relation between them, however, will be insured by the appointment of a Permanent Secretary, under the Minister, who will thus, if one may use the figure, hold in his hands the reins of these three educational powers. Such, it may be safely conjectured, will be the con- stitution of the new Board of Education. Though it has been long waited for, perhaps it would have been impossible to arrive sooner at so satisfactory aresult. Evervone may not be interested in the dry details of organisation, but it will cause general satisfaction if the representatives of the people who will from time to time preside over this Board rejoice in the new title of Ministers of Education. The dignity bestowed on education by these three words would mark no little progress in the intellectual develop- ment of the nation.

IMPROVEMENTS AT ST. STEPHEN'S. The new works to be undertaken at the Palace of Westminster during the coming year, which will cost will include the construction of a hydraulic lift in the Speaker's residence, the widen- ing and consequent reconstruction of the Members' Staircase to the Terrace, and the fitting-up and fur- nishing as a committee-room for the Commons part of the House vacated by the Librarian of the Lords. It may not be generally known that £ 500 a year has to be paid for external repairs to the stonewprk. and 100 guineas for winding and regu- stonewprk. and 100 guineas for winding and regu- [ lating the great clock;