Abergavenny Chronicle

PENSION PROBLEMS: HOW TO SOLVE THEM. I By AN EXPERT. Special Care Scheme for Children of Ser- vice Men boarding out With Private Families-Training in iYIarket Gardening A New Regulation Regarding the Training Scheme for Apprentices. I FREE ADVICE TO OUR READERS. Special provisions have recently come intc force with respect, to the care 01 sailors' and s:)I.diers' childrei. who, because their mother. are dead, or for any other reason, are suffer- ing from neglect or want of proper care. The new regulations make special provision for the children's health, education, and training. Each Local Ccmmittee will aef through a special sub-committee, half oi whose members are to be women, some of whom must possess knowledge of the care :)f children. Suitable homes will be selected: Lhe children will be placed in families belonging to their own religious denomina- tion, and as far as possible brothers and sisters will be kept together. A weekly allowance of 12s. will be paid for a single child's maintenance, and where there is more than one child in the home lis. for each of the others. In the cases of delicate children who have to be placed in special institutions, power is given tc supplement this allowance. In addition tc the weekly allowance, grants for outfit, boots and clothing, travelling expenses, medical and dental treatment, surgical appliances, higher education and training, will be made by the Special Grants Com- mittee through Local War Pensions Com- mittees. These regulations are framed with the intention of seeing to it that every child who, as a. result of its father's sacrifice, is left without its natural home and guardians, shall be brought up in surroundings which are as like as possible to a real home, and shall be entitled to the full opportunities that care, education, and training can give. Any families who feel able to undertake this responsibility for the class of children it is designed to help should communicate with the Local War Pensions Committee, whose address can be obtained from the Post Office. Ex-Service men should note that the Board of Agriculture has decided to discon- tinue the scheme for giving short training at centres to able-bodied ex-Service men whc wish to become farm labourers. This scheme. I understand, was mainly undertaken in the beginning to meet the shortage of agricul- tural labour during the earlier periods of demobilisation. Increased facilities are. however, being given by the Board for the preparation of disabled men who desire training in suitable agricultural pursuits, such as market gardening, etc., on account of their being prevented, through their dis- abilities, from returning to their pre-wai occupations. Whilst in training a disabled man receives a training allowance equiva- lent to his maximum disablement pension, together with certain other special allow- ances. Disabled men who wish to take ad- vantage of these arrangements must in the first instance apply to their Local War Pen- sions Committee. The Training Department of the Ministry of Labour announces a new regulation in connection with the scheme under which, by agreement with various industries, State assistance is given to apprentices who have served in the war on returning to complete their apprenticeships. In the case of schemer a pproved on or before September I it i- now provided that where an apprentice has resumed his training on or before Septembci 1, an application to come under the scheme must be made before November 1, otherwise retrospective payment of the amount c1 State assistance cannot be claimed for s longer period than two months. Where ar apprentice has resumed his training aftei September 1, an application to come undei the scheme must be made within twe months of his resuming his training, other wise retrospective payment of the amount 0; State assistance cannot be claimed for £ lono-er period than two months. In the case of training schemes approved after September 1, where an apprentice hai resumed his training on or before the date of issue of the scheme, an application tc come under the scheme must be made withir two months of such date of issue, otherwise retrospective payment of the amount o: State assistance cannot be claimed for E longer period than two months. Where ar apprentice has re-sumed his training aftei the date of issue of the scheme, an applica- tion to come under the scheme must be made within two months of his resuming training, otherwise retrospective payment o! the amount of State assistance cannot b( claimed for a longer pericd than twe months. Training scheme- have now beer issued in 33 trades, and particulars can be obtained at any Employment Exchange. With regard to the war gratuities of the fallen, it should be noted that, until furthei notice, no application should be made in re sped of officers and men who died aftei December 31, 191G. a Our Pensions Expert is anxious to assist sailors and soldiers and their wives and de- pendents in dealing with intricacies of the War Pensions System. Address your queries to "Pensions Ex- pert," c/o Editor of this paper. All essen- tial facts should be stated as briefly as pos- sible, such as name, number, rank regi- ment of soldier, name and rating of sailor, particulars of families and separation al- lowance and (in inquiries concerning civil liabilities) pre-war or pre-enlistment in- come, present or war income, ard full lia- bilities. Do not send any documents, birth certificates, or discharge papers, etc. Will correspondents please make a point of sending their regimental number, rank name, and regiment?

THE SEX OF AN EGG. I Safe it is to say that the egg has caused more controversy than almost anything else in the world. Now some individuals want to know should it be called "Mr. or Mrs. Egg? Some peoDle contend that one can tell an egg's sex, and a favourite method of eletermining this is the following: Hold the egg with three fingers of the Jeft hand to- wards the sun or gas light. Shade the point of the egg with the right hand and look for the air space or "setting," a dark spot about the size of a threepenny bit. If this is found at the top of the egg, it is a male, but if found lower down on the side, it is a female. An Australian poultry-farmer employed an ingenious, though rather elaborate method.. He placed a two-shilling piece 0:1 a table, threaded a fine sewing needle with a piece of cotton, and held the cotton in one hand so that the point of the needle hung just over the centre of the florin. In his other hand lie took the egg and held this immediately above the cotton. If the chicken inside was a cockerel the point of the needle swung from side to side above the coin. like a pendulum. If the ch:l'ke!1 I was a puHet the needle swung in a circular motion.

Egham Urban Council is trying to acquire the huts at Princess Christian's Hospital Englefield Green, for use as houses, as the hospital is closing soon. Farnborough Town Council unanimoush decided to decline the offer by the Wai Office Trophies Committee of two derma r machine-guns, Mr. Collins, the chairman, re marking that they had no use for sue! articles of doubtful capture and origin. Twenty-seven French naval units, includ- ing the battleships Danton, Gaulois and Suii'ren ancl the cruiser Chateau Renault, are mentioned in Orders by the French Ministry cf Marine.

-:> :> THIS. WEEK IN THE GARDEN. wlill ■ I THIS. WEEK IN THE GARDEN. ?W W The ripest peach is highest on the tree."—Anon. lifting Gladioli.—About now lift gladioli bulbs. Before this, the llower spikes will all have been removed. Carefully raise the en- tire plant, with the bulb attached, by means of a fork. Lay out on a bench or floor tc dry. Some weeks later the bulbs will readilJ part from the stems. Star of Bethlehem.—For pot culture ir the cool and cold greenhouse ornithogaluni arabicum is the best Star of Bethlehem foi pot culture. Pot the bulbs singly in olil wide pots, or three bulbs in Gin. pots. Treatment of Cannas.—These must no^ receive attention before destroyed by frosts Do not cut them down, but lift them whole laying them out singlv on a dry door, under a shelter, to dry. When the foliage hat dried off, cut the stems back to within 6in of the roots, clean off the dry soil about the roots, and store on the lioor of the ehed in sand or fibre. If there ie any fear of severe frost reaching the roots through insufficient eand or fibre, put some protective materia over them, until the severity of the weathei is past. It is better to plant the roots ir the material used, leaving the stalks show, ing above the top, that to treat them in rh< same way as root crops of vegetables. # # Tuberous Begonias.—Our thoughts- tnrr to storing these for the winter. The posi tions they occupy in the beds and borders are also required to plant bulbs and spring- flowering plants. Lift the plants carefulh -with some soil attached round the tubers and stand close together in shallow boxe- in an open shed. where they will go to resi gradually. ° The Rock Garden.—Thb should be a busi time among the rock plants. From time t( time many plants benefit by replanting; thE centres of the clumps become worn out anc stunted. In most cases the outside portion., consist of vigorous tufts suitable for re planting. From the reserve garden oi border, plants new to the rock garden car be traneplanted during the next few weeks The Cold Greenhouse.—Numerous spring flowers grown in pots, and usually grov.i outside n the borders, are valuable for th< unheakd house. A few of the most impor taut plmts, which may be potted up now are: double and single wallrlowers, stocks Canterbury* bells, the peach-leaved campa nula, phlox canadensis, evergreen candytuft and the hardy primulas. 1he flowers opel a few weeks earlier than they would outeide Pruning Black Currants.—Do not delay ii going over these and removing MIre -fluoUl growths. It is much easier to decide tbl amount of space available when the foliage is on the bushes. It is possible to see at glance where the young growths are over crowded and which of the old to remove fa their benefit. I Planting Bushes.—Lifting and planting gooselwrries and currants mav be proceede< with at any time from now onwards. lvher( the bushes are home-grown there need be n< delay, and when purchased the work ma3 proceed as the bushes csme to hand. Some growers find great economy of space ir growing all their bush fruit on wires: win netting in some cases has been found quite satisfactory. Secured to this, the bushes take up little room and give ample crops 0: fruit. This is a plan highly mmendabl, for small gardens. Strawberries.—Where these are grown ii pots it will be necessary, if much rain falls to ensure that they do not receive too mucl moisture. We have, on more than one occa- sion, during a very wet autumn been com pelled to lay the pots on their sides. Cole frames will not be at liberty for them for week or two, but they should go under covei and the pots be plunged in ashes as soon a; possible. It is a good plan to have a emal plot of plants which can be covered with frame or two, as the plants in these wil ripen their berries a fortnight before thos< grown outside. ,The plants, whether grow, ing in pots or in the ground, must have ample ventilation at all times except during spells of severe frost. Pillars for Rcses.- Those contemplating the erection of pillars on which to gTow roses would be well advised to use postt which have branches or arms 12in. or man in length. In this wav there is not so mucl possibility of overcrowding. It is necessarj to erect sufficiently strong eupporta accord ing to the weight they will have to bear. and to guard against early collapse. Toe frequently pillars are erected that are use less for the purpose, and entail renewal in three or four years, whereas if they are sufficiently strong, and well erected, none should require renewal for almost ten years Se-,i Ic -.i le. -Before the leaves die down place a stout stick to mark the whereabouts oi the best and strongest crowns. It will act as a guide when selecting the roots nexl month for winter forcing. P..adishes.-Keep a little light protecting material always on hand for coveriii- led, of these whenever the temperature drop, verv low. Mats supported on best sticks art better than the ueual str3 w or hay. # Hanging- Campanulas.—Young growths suitable for cuttings are pushing up freely on the old plants of Campanula isophylla, and the varieties alba, Mayi, and superba. Five or six cuttings may be inserted in 3in. wide pots, placing them in a handlight 01 under a bellglaws until rooted. Bepot the old plants now or in early spring. # Violets.—Continue to remove the runners: al.so dead and decaying leaves. Occasional watering will be necessary, particular atten- tion in this respect belliz given to the newly-planted roots. All movable irames should now be in position over the plants, lights being placed on at night but pulled off on bright and warm days. # Ordering Tree., and Bushes.—Make plan as early as possible for planting in the near future. Make note of requirements with regard to both trees and bushes, if not already done, and place orders without delay. When orders are unduly deferred there is always a risk of varieties needed being out of stock, and this may mean a delay of a year, or the planting of sorts not speciallv desired. At times, too, it may mean the receipt of. poorer samples of trees. < Ridge Cucumoers.-These will do little good from now onwards. Cut all fruits be- fore frosts spoil them. The largest will re main fresh for several day.. if placed in eKX); ejuarters. Those which are fery small art useful in mixed pickles. Carrots in Frames.—Keep the soil uni- formly moist, and the tops free from green- fly. Continue to give plenty of air on ali favourable occasions. Where the roots are swelling fast a few applications of weak soot water will be of great benefit, always msing this early in the day. Outdoor Tomatoes.—It ie unwise to leav< partially-ripened fruits on the plants aftei this date. A continuance of rain will cauise many of these to split badly, after which a few days' exposure to a very low tempera- ture will induce decay, making them unfit for any culinary purpose.

I TO CURE INSOMNIA. Those suffering from insomnia are recom- mended to have a pair l of blinders made from a double thickness of black silk. TheH should just cover the eyes, with a cut for the nose, being held in place by a broad elastic band. Hang these on the bed-post, and if the morning light comes in too early put them on. Another suggestion is: "Tie two paper- clips to eith-er end of a cord 7ft. or 8ft. long. Clip the top of the counterpane with one and a soft weight with the other. If not sleeping after 15 minutes, pull the counter- pane over your head. This induces that long, even breathing, natural to the ap. proach of sleep, as may be noticed in pigs As one dozes off, the hand holding the counterpane relaxes, and the weight pulls it down, so that one is again breathing fresh air. I have -found this unfailing," says one who has tried this novel experiment. People suffering from insomnia should, when travelling-, insist upon a double bed ir a quiet room. and make sure that it is not over the kitchen, or near a motor-garage. 01 facing a clock that sounds the quarter-houril

Whatever increase there is at present in juvenile crime is caused by the shortage of sugar."—Judge Henry Neil, of Chicago. Four degrees of frost have been regis- tered in North Yorkshire, and snow fell in the Cleveland district of Yorkshire. A British aeroplane flying from London to Cairo landed at the Centocelle Aerodrome, near Rome, owing to engine trouble. James Ball, of Walton, Norfolk, who has worked on one farm for more than 70 years, has received a prize from the Wayland Agricultural Society.

MAKING VOLCANOES WORK. I According to Sir Charles Parsons, Presi- dent of the British Association, we are rapidly approaching the day when we shall derive our power from the volcanic forces of the earth. Sir Charles says that there is heat in the earth sufficient to give us all the power we want. Some years ago Sir Charles suggested that we should dig a shaft twelve miles deep. which is about ten times the depth of any shaft in existence. To sink such a shaft would cost about t5,000,000, and would take S5 years. The expense, however, would be trivial compared with the knowledge and advantages which would be gained. Since making that suggestion, however, experiments have been made showing that in time-stone a shaft sunk 15 miles is probably practicable, and in granite a depth of 30 miles might be reached. At Lordarello, in Italy, bore-holeci have been sunk which dis- charged large volumes of high-pressure iteam, which is now ued to generate about 10,000 horse-power by turbines. From time immemorial clouds of steam have smoked up from the fissures of the rocks, grim warning [)f the volcanic forces beneath. It remained for Prince Ginori-Conti, however, to realise the value of the hidden forces, and by tap- ping them to utilise the forces and save oil and fuel. If the earth can be tapped for energy 'in the Lordarello district, the same process, of course, can be followed wherever there are volcanoes. At Solfatara, near Naples, a ?imilar project is on foot to supply power to the great works in the district, and it seems, indeed, probable, says Sir Charles Parsons, that in volcanic regions a very large amount :)f power may be, in the future, obtained directly or indirectly by boring into the earth.

I SECRET CHARITY. I Reading the announcement that the "Save the Children" Fund has received anony- mously the sum of £8,000 reminds one that this is by no means the first time charity has benefited in this manner. On one occasion the secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was in- formed that an old and shabbily-dressetl man desired to see him. The secretary was busy, .;0 instructed a subordinate to inter- view the caller. His surprise was great when the clerk returned with a £ 1,000 note. The donor refused to give his name, and said merely that he noticed the Society's brass plate in passing, and he thought he would drop in with the trifling sum At the offices of the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals persons have often called with anonymous gifts. One of them was a man who had just before wit- nessed the savage beating of a horse by a carman. The cruel act had so impressed him that he immediately went to the society's office and handed over £800, refus- ing at the same time to give his name. On another occasion £ 13,000 was received in a similar way. A hundred farthings can hardly be said to constitute a windfall, yet this sum was saved over a period of many years by a crippled East-End seamstress, and sent in an old stocking to a local charity.

Colour riots in Newport (Mon.) cost the ratepayers JE450 in payment for damage to property. Claims were sent in for over £ 1,000. Dir3satisfied with their pre-war pensions, ex-constables in the Metropolitan and City Police, as well as retired members of the provincial police force, are forming them- selves into a national organisation. They are claipiing the same pensions as men re- ceiving the new rates. John Thomas White, Albert and Ernest Nouch were buried by a mine roof fall near Sheffield: only Ernest, critically ill, was rescued alive. According to the "Soir," the employees of the Liege tramways have decided to call a strike. £ 1,000,000 a day from the Treasury to provide work for disabled ex-service men was a suggestion at Hyde Park meeting of discharged sailors and soldiers.

THE POULTRY YARD (lj) Helpful Hints for "Backyarders." By "COCKCROW." (jjj Many of my readers will have found that birds not infrequently come to early death by bowel troubles. Constipation is some- times caused by giving the chickens too much hard-boiled egg and insufficient green stuff. Occasionally they get clogged at the vent, which causes great pain and death This should be treated by bathing away all substance and rubbing vaseline on the place. Diarrhoea is equally dangerous. It is brought on by overcrowding, chills, too much meat. sour food, over-soft or sloppy diet, too much water, and so on. It is ex- ceedingly weakening, and must be tended at once. Slight attacks may be cured by feeding with rice, boiled soft, and sprinkled I with powdered chalk, and on no account must green food be given. Camphor in a few feeds is advisable when the illness is caused by chill or wet. Chlorodyne may be given in bad cases. Insect pests are a fruit- ful cause of illness. Indeed, in cases where birds flag in growth, thev are usually re- sponsible. Before a hen is put out with her brood, both should be dusted with pyre- thrum powder, and each yjiick should have its head rubbed with vaseline into which a few drops of paraffin oil have been put in order to keep lice away. The coops should be frequently limewashed and paraffined. Ticks require special treatment. They are not found all over the boely but at the head, throat, and neck. VALUE OF HYDRO-CAKBOXS. I It is to be noted that hsns two years old 3r over, and cocks can be fed on a larger proportion of the hydro-carbon elements with less charcoal and greenstuff, than boilers or roasters. The sinews and muscles cf old birds are at their highest stage of development, and attention has to be given to the fat, which should lie put on quickly. This is best done with mashes containing a three-quarters proportion of maize-meal, and mixed with scalding water. The younger the fowl the less is needed of the hydro-earbou element and the more of the nitrogenous. When too much of the hydro- carbon or fat-forming foods is given, the fowl grows fat and gross, with a badly. developed carcase and poor plumage. Excess of fat spoils the bird's appearance, while its muscular development, as well as its bone- tissue and plumage, suffer on account of the lack of nitrogen and phosphates. No rule of diet can be laid down which would not require modification to mcjft various local conditions. For any diet. however, to pro- duce its best results, it is essential for the fowls to be supplied with plenty of grit, shells, and charcoal, and for pure sanitary conditions to be preserved. GAPE TROUBLES. I Because a chicken occasionally opens its beak wide, it does not necessarily follow the bird is afflicted by gapes." Healthy chickens often gape a great deal. When, however, a bird frequently gapes and sneezes, with water at the nostrils, and shows a roughness of the feathers, it should be quickly isolated. If a small feather be dipped in oil of cloves or in turpentine and carefully put down the windpipe and twisted, it will show whether there are worino in the ripe, as, if so, they will adhere to it. The bodies of birds which die of gapes should be burned, and gTound on which infected birds have run should have a dressing of weak sulphuric acid solution applied, and afterwards be treated with quicklime and allowed to lie fallow. Gape* is guarded against by avoiding all over- crowding. The drinking vessels should be frequently scalded, and only the cleanest water supplied. The dietary should be re- plenished by garlic and chopped onions, and the birds should not be allowed to run over the same place two years, nor over iana which has been used by adult birds. PALE-YOLXED EGGS. A little iron in the drinking water is useful for improving pale-yolked eggs which are a source of worrv to some keepers of poultry. It is chiefk the backyard poultry- keeper who is troubled in this way, for ovary troubles are constantly occurring where hens are crowded in small runs -and houses which are not as clean as they might be. Where fowls are well cared for, judiciously fed, and given plenty of room, the complaint 4s to the paleness of the yolks is not often heard. If the hens are fortu- nate enough to have a free range of grass land, they can get plenty of insects, vegeta- tion, and natural toods. When they are penned up the caee is different, and the poultry-keeper must- do the best he can. Bits of pluck or liver, boiled lightly and chopped, will improve the yolk both in. colour and quality, and this and the tonic above referred to ought to do the business. It should be remembered that diet is all- important in the matter of egg-production, and that the main thing is not quantity, but quality. NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION. I In 1916, as a war measure, with a view to increasing food production by a rapid im- provement of our poultry stock, the Board of Agriculture made arrangements for the distribution of sittings of eggs, day-old chicks, and adult stock birds to smallholders and cottagers. The scheme has been worked through Egg Stations, which sent out sit- tings from January to May: Day-old Chick Stations distributing chicks between February and June: and Incubating Stations, from which eggs, chickens, and stock birds could be obtained. The egg and chick stations are selected annually for seasonal work: the incubating stations are more permanently established for work throughout the year. The scheme has done very valuable work (says "Farm and Home"), and it is now proposed that local authorities should take it over as a part of their activities in agricultural education, two-thirds of the cost being borne by the Board of Agriculture. There arc 16 egg stations. 3 chick stations, and 4 incubating stations-thee last are in Anglesey, Corn- wall. Cheshire and Denbigh. Approximately 53.000 egg,, and 3.000 chicks have been dis- tributed at reduced rates, the premium to station holders being Is. 8d. per dozen for eggs and 3s. 4d. per dozen for chicks. POCLTRT CONGRESSES. It is announced that in the early part ot September, 1921. there will assemble at The Hague, Holland, the first World's Poultry Congress, on the invitation of the Nether- lands Government. During the period of the Congress a non-coni]>ctitive display of breeds of poultry from as many countries as possible will be held, so as to bring together a complete collection for the first time, and of appliances. In October. 1920, there will commence at The Hague a great inter- national laying trial, extending to Septem- ber. 1921. at which it is hoped that repre- sentative pens 0° Vr>w].; from all the leading countries IV-Il I)c

Shah of Persia will be entertained at luncheon by the City Corporation at the Guildhall on November 1. Cardiff boys are to be taught boxing out tf school hours. Parcels can be sent to Alsace and Lorraine under the conditions that apply to other parts of France.

't .ç ] 11 THE MAN-HUNT ? ](n) By TOM GALLON, 101 M Author of "Tatterley," "The Great Gay Road," &c. A\ CHAPTER XIII (Continued). 1 ADAM LOSES HIS MASTER. I So he put that plan into execution. Then and there he went back to his rooms and packed a bag and prepared to depart. At the last moment he sat down at his writing- table and scrawled a note for Adams and left it. It was very late, and he knew that the man was in bed; he did not want a scone, and therefore would not disturb him at that hour. He chuckled to himself at the thought of the surprise it would be when the man found the note in the morning. "Enclosed you will find cheque for your wages. together with a month's in lieu of any formal notice. I am going away and shall not require your services after to- night. You shall have the best of char- acters, if you apply to me at any future time. "MURDOCH SLADE." He went out with his bag and closed the door silently; found a cab, and was driven to a large hotel, where lie knew that, for a little time at least, he could be more safely lost than in a smaller one. And so for a little space we take leave of him. During the next day or two Mr. Boyd Litchfield hovered between Wedgwotxl Square and his club and Murdoch Slade's rooms-always at the latter place receiving the one answer from the porter: that Mr. Murdoch Slade was still away and the porter had not even received an address to which to forward his letters. And always Boyd Litchueld. with a troubled face, walked back across the park and buried himself in his own private room in the house in Wedgwood Square and strove to forget all that was looming over him and to fight down his growing fears. To tell the bare truth, the man's family did not help him. Mrs. Litchfield began to make demands upon his patience by want- ing to know what was being done about the i-oiiritrv house and what he was going to do in the future; and above all, how it was that they had had no word from Murdoch Slade. To all of which, of course, Boyd Litchfield returned vague replies and implored Mrs. Litchfield not to worry him. Grace, too, had her share in the business, end was not to be so easily set aside. She roundly accused her father of having alien- ated Slade altogether and of having spoilt his daughter's life; she, too, wanted to know why the place in the country had been so suddenly given up. It was perhaps to escape this double persecution that, some days later, Boyd Litchfield slipped out of the house, without saying a word to anyone, drove to a railway station, and from there went down to the house that held its hidden tragedy. He reached the place in the evrly after- Loon, and, avoiding the public reads, where he might meet someone he knew, skirted the fields and woods and came into his own grounds by a back way. In the distance, as he went towards the house, he could see the roof of that old workshop; a violenb fit of shuddering shook him, so that he could ,carcely control his limbs. Averting his gaze fojii it, he went on to the house, entered it by a side door, and went into the dreary, echoing place alone. All was just a, he had left it, save for a ittle added dus, that would have disturbed Mrs. Litchfield had she seen it. He wan- dered in a purposeless way about the rooms, <nowing well enough in his own weak mind why he had come there, and yet putting off ;ill the last moment the doing of what he nad intended. At last, when every excuse ?ie could invent for remaining in the house iiad been exhausted, he came away, locking -lie door after him, and set off across the grounds. There waq no purpose in his mind; only a ..ague and horrible curiosity. He must know ivhnt had hap' pened, if indeed anything had nappened: he must look down into the place, if his courage should take him so far .-i; that, and must know if the rian he had left there was alive or dead. So, with his limbs shaking under him, he came at last to the ioor and pushed it open; and, after a noinent, with a dry throat and his tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth, stepped in- side. And then uttered a great cry and ran forward to look at a miracle. For the heavy old carpenter's bench had oeen moved and the trap-door thrown back; .t gaped wide open. After standing there or a moment or two, gazing down into the uollow beneath, he found courage to go on tiis hands and knees and to peer in and to -all: "Is—is anyone there? You can speak to me-I am a friend." Receiving, of course, no reply, he crept Sown into the cellar step by step and ner- vously striick a li-lit and explored it, only to find it empty. lie came running back up '■ the steps, with, to do him justice, a light of ceal gladness in his eyes. HOh-thank God !-thank God!" he cried as he went running out of the place with the vague feeling that lie must find someone to whom to tell this strange news. And then he stopped suddenly, with a new and paralysing thought coming into his mind. Rodney Manners was gone—had, in fact, been spirited away; and he could not have got out of that place without some assistance. Who was there that had known 3f his plight and had come there to move the heavy bench and to take away the. .wounded man? And that being so, what was going to happen to those who had been instrumental in endeavouring to compass his death? He went back to London with that second thought overtopping the othet. Rodney Manners free to move about the world again avxi to take vengeance on those who had wronged him was something to be feared; al! Litchfield's old terrors returned. He crept into his house late at night and went off to his room and sat down to think about it. But the mere ringing of time bell by some chance visitor who knew nothing of the tilings which troubled him, set the man's nerves on edge; he fled out of the house again, to escape from it and from his own thoughts. And once again his reluctant, lagging feet took him across the Park, by a path that had been worn many times by his fe-et. It might possibly happen that Slade had returned. He should be the first to know of the mar- vel that had occurred. Yes, he must find Slade. Slade would know what to do fa such & crisis as this. The porter at the great house, at the top .of which Slade had his rooms, had a habit, as has been before noted, of leaving his post. In truth, the post was an easy one, entailing but little trouble save the answer- ing of questions and the forwarding of letters; and there was a handy little bar just round t'he corner, into which the porter, on various excuses and invitations, fre- quently slipped. -And on this occasion, fortunately for Boyd Litchfield, as after- wards appeared, the porter was absent from his lodge, and Litchfield walked up the etairs unchallenged He came to the outer door erf the flat, and set his thumb against the white bell-push, and kept it there a moment or two a little hopelessly. Then, something to his surprise as well as his consternation, the door was opened abruptly by Slade himself, and that worthy looked out at him. "Hullo!" 6aid Litchfield, with a feeble igmile. "I'm lucky to have caught YQlJ." "Very lucky. I was going away in fiva minutes—for good. You can come in." Litchfield went inside, and looked about him. Everywhere were signs of packing and upheaval; save for the actual furniture of the flat, everything portable had been packed into boxes and bags and packing- cases ready for removal. Slade. had been working alone, for he wtts in his shirt- •slf<eves, and looked heated and tired. He Hat down on a packing-case, and lsoked at Litchfield with an amiable grin. "You're—going away?" questioned LiLh- ileld faintly. "As you see, my friend," retorted t'e -other. "I've mRde up my mind to cut the whole thing and to get out, for a time at 1east. I shall let this place if I get the chance. It's a good situation, and it's already in the hands of an agent. I've nearly finished packing. The men are to call for the heavier things in the morning. Let's be hospitable for the last time, old friend. I can offer you a drink, at least." He was boisterously moving across to the sideboard, when Litchfield recalled him. "Wait a bit," said the cider man hoarsely. "I've something to tell you that may change all your plans. Manners has got away." Murdoch Slade turned slowly and came back to the other man. There was a puzzled frown on his heavy face. "Got away?" he said at last incredulously. "It's inconceivable, I know," faltereo Litchfield. with an uneasy movement of his hands; "but I swear to you it's true. I've been down to the place myself, and tha heavy carpenter's bench has been pushed out of the way, and the c-L-Ilar is -)I)eii-an(f empty. I saw it myself. I came to you at once. Heaven knows how long ago it hap- pened, or how long the man has be-sn at large, or who helped him to escape." Murdoch Slade sat down on the packing- case again, rested his hand OIl his knees and stared at the carpet; for a moment or two he was lost in thought. Then he got up quickly and laughed, and went on ramming things t-o that last, bag he packing. "What are you going to do?" asked Litchfield tremulously. "What am I geiivg to do?" echoed the other. "I'm going to clear out, and leave someone else to face the music. The pace has got a bit too hot for me. I'll leave it to someone else. Heaven knows what may ha prion at a. moment's notice now, or what frcfih trouble we may be plunged into. I'll leave it for someone else to tackle." "You can't go like that—you shan't." feebly protested Litchfield. "What of all you were going to do for me—of the money that I was to have to get me out of my diffi- culties? What of the hopes you held out to me? I tell you, you shan't go!" Do you think you're the man to stop me?" said Slade, towering above him as he rose to his feet. "I tell you that, as in all things, the strong man wins, and the weak one goes to the wall. Fight your own battles, Boyd Litchfield. For the future I fight for myself onlv." He had turned away and was moving across the room, when Litchfield suddenly snapped his fingers and called to him in a whisper :• "Slade, Slade, do you hear that?" "What?" Slade had turned on the in- etnnt, startled. "Someone is coming in. I lieaid a key in the outer door." "It's impossible!" exclaimed Slade in a whimper, and strode across the room, pulled open the door, and stepped out into the hall. There, in some amazement, he faced Adams, his ex-servant. "I should like a word with you," said Adams, with his back against the hall door. "I don't think it's at all necessary," answered Slade. "What do you mean bv com ing in here in this fashion? Give mo those keys." "In my own good time," answered the man, slipping them into his pocket. "I said that I wanted a word with you, and I mean to have it." Slade looked at the man for a. moment or two in silence, then shrugged his shoulders j and walked into the room. It was empty. He rightly judged that Boyd Litchfield, not knowing who this visitor might be, had dis- J appeared into the adjoining room. Adams turned his duli eyes all round the room, taking careful note of the fact that everything had been packed that could be taken away. "It seems that I came in time," he said. "What do you mean by that? demanded Slade. "You have a short memory," said the man (insolently, as he seated himself on one of the packing cases, and tilted his hat on the back of his head. "A certain bargain was struck between us, Mr. Slade, a few days back, and I've come to see that bargain carried out. I've soiled my hands, in a manner of speaking, on your account, and I want something su bstan- tial that was promised to buy the best sort of soap with. Five thousand was the word— and as I've had to wait for it, we'll call it seven. Seven thousand pounds, Mr. Murdoch Slade. before you clear out, as you seem to intend to do." "You won't get a penny," answered Slade, with a snap of his lingers. "I've iiid 1 v plans too well to be blackmailed by anvrne tike yourself. The bird we clapped together into a prison has got away—and the other story I can afford to laugh at. You can run Wi?(y, my good Adams-and good luck go with ,ou." He turned away, and moved across to the sideboard, and began to pour out some spirits. Adams got up very quietly, and moved across the room to where a little trophy of. arms hung on the wall-some Indian knives and daggers, and a coufde of old-fashioned pistols. He stood there, with his hands clasped behind him, looking at those things he spoke very quietly to Slade, whose back was turned towards him. "Is that your last word?" he asked. "Absolutely the last word you'll ever hear rrom me," answered Slade imperturbably. as he raised the glass to his lips. I "You've spoken the truth for once in your | life," said the man, grimly; and in an instant he had swung round, with one of those glittering knives in his hard, and had hju-ung like a tiger straight at the man who held the glass to hIS lips. Adams struck better than might have been expected from a man of his physique; but hate and disap- pointment and rage were all behind the blow. He drove his knife unerringly between the man's shoulder-blades, and only when the great, heavy body slipped away from the knife that Adams still held in his hand, did lie realise how well he had struck. The man-servant stood looking in a dared way at the man lying on the floor, and at the knife he held in his hand; then he dropped the knife, with a little shiver, and got as far away from it and from the dying man as he could. Slade seemed striving to say some- thing and once raised a hand a little way, and let it fall then he lay very still. Adams got to the door, and waited there a moment, looking back then, on an instinct of self-preservation, looked at himself quickly I to be sure that all was right with his appear- ance set his hat straight on his head, and went out. He walked down the stairs, with scarcely a tremor; noticed with satisfaction that the porter was still absent from his lodge and went out into the street. Mr. Boyd Litchfield, in that inner room, knew nothing of what had happened. He had recognised the voice of Adams at first. but could not overhear the conversation, with the closed door between himself and the dispu- tants. Once he thought he heard a fall; but after that there was silence; he began to wonder when the interview would end. It was only some half hour afterwards, when the silence had grown oppressive, that he opened the door of the inner room, and came out—and made the inevitable discovery. He waited trembling for quite a long time, not knowing, in his. usual fashion, what to do. His first thought was to summon assist- ance but he realised the position in which he stood, and that he might have to confess that he had had a grievance against the dead man-or someone might confess it for him. He realised, too, that Adams had pro- bably not even known that there was a third person in the na,?; Boyd Litchfield felt that if he could only slip away now, all would be well with him. He put out the light-doing- it reluctantly, because that horrible dead thing stared with a sttange grin at the ceiling above, and seemed awfully alive. But at last the outer door was closed, and he faced the necessity for getting out of the place upseen. But even here Fate was with him he walked out of the door into the street, glancing furtively as he did so at the empty porter's lodge. As 'I a matter of fact that delinquent returned to his post about a minute and a half after Boyd Litchfield had gained the corner of the street. And Boyd Litchfield went back to that house in Wedgwood Square and it has to be recorded of him that never, during the re- mainder of a somewhat haphazard, strug- gling existence, did he tell wh 11 he knew con- cerning the murder of Murdoch Slade. And while London was ringing with the new-, of the mysterious killing of one of its I citizens in his own flat, and while the porter (who should have been in his place at a critical time) was rapidly gaining in import- ance in the eyes of his neighbours and cronies by reason of knowing nothing whatever about it, Rodney Manners was coming back slowly into the world of men and things, under the Watchful care of Erasmus Jarman. It had not been a long business, after all. Money will do much, and Jarman had prac- tically bought up the best rooms at a decent little inn, and had installed a nurse, and had had the best medical attendance that could be obtained. Fever was the only difficulty at first, and even that in time was a thing of the past; and Rodney Manners was almost himself again. In due course he was brought up to London, and to his own rooms; Jarman had not yet made up his mind what was best to be done for the future. The big man acted as watch dog, and had determined that nothing else should happen to "his boy," as he fondly called him. Only one thing troubled him, and that was that Manners through all his fever, and since that in restless nights, had cried out for someone he was never likely to see again, and had cried out unceasingly "Hetty!" Always that name, over and over again. The big man remembered, with contrition. the little sweet-faced woman with the wistful eyes whom lie had turned from the door, and who had been the innocent cause of the disaster that had afterwards fallen upon Manners; and he acquired a habit when walking about the streets of peering into fp-ces," in the vain hope that he might one day look into that face he remembered. And then one day he saw her. He had made arrangements that in a short time Manners should go with him on a long sea voyage; London was to be left behind for an indefinite period. Manners was too weak i still to gainsay anything Jarman might suggest; he had acquiesced gratefully. And Jarman, coming late one evening back from a stroll, before the outer door of the build- ing was closed, walked listlessly up the stai rs, glad to be home again. Suddenly he saw, going up the stairs before him, a little figure in black. At the mere sight of her he started forward in a great hurrv, meaning to overtake her, then suddenly changed his mind, and went on at a more decorous pace, so that he came to the door to find the girl standing there, hesita- ing whether to ring or whether to go away again. "You've been a long time coming, miss," said Jarman, looking at her steadily. "I know," she answered in a whisper. "I only came now because I thought you might know something about-about him. He was my friend, and although I shall never see him again and never speak to him, I should like to know that he is well." "Come in and talk to me," said Jarraam; and in the most friendly and natural fashion, as it seemed, put his arm about her waist as he unlocked the door and drew her into the little hall. Having closed the door he set his back to it, and, taking off his hat, smoothed his bald head with one hand and beamed upon her. "Only a word I've got to say, miss, and it won't take a minute. I was never in love myself -didn't seem to have the time for it, somehow or other; but I can feel for them that are in love. And that boy of mine—I call him mine because, don't you see, he's all I've got in the world, and all I ever shall have—that boy of mine has been fretting himself to death almost all through a long fe (,r-- He's been ill?" she broke- in quickly. Pretty near to death at the beginning, answered Jarman. "And he'd have got better if he hadn't fretted about someone that he called Hetty.' I never met anyone of that name myself; I was wondering if you, that knew him and liked him. could help me?" "1 don't think I can," she said, and her eyes were full of tears. He ha, every reason to hate anyone that bears that name; she.- did him a I-reat wrong." "Perhaps she didn't mean to," suggested Jarman with a sudden inspiration. "Heaven knows she never meant to," answered Hetty earnestly. "Do you thintk- is it possible that he will understand?" The big man did not answer; he put his arm about her again and drew her to the door of the sitting-door. There, as she hesi- tated, lie threw open the door and walked in with her, holding her steadily before the man in the armchair. "Boy." he said in his great voice, "here's someone that's come trembling to the door to know if an old friend would like to see her, and to thank the good Lord that thai, old friend is well again. Have you never a word for her? Manners had started up; he stood there, looking the ghost of himself, staring with hungry eyes at the girl. "Oh, if I could understand he cried. She stood there, drawn a little away from the big man, and said what she had to say in a voice but little raised" above a whisner: "When first L found myself in that' man's power I did not know you at all, and did not understand anything about you. He had got a jabid on Arthur and was terrorising him, and making him do just what he liked. It was to save Arthur from him that I ever con- sented to mix myself up in the matter at all." "What was Arthur Bradshaw to you?*' asked Manners stern! y. "He was my brother—my only brother. It was at Slade's request he took another name," she said; and burst suddenly into bitter weeping. Manners took a step across the room, and with a. "cry caught the girl in his arms, and held her close. The big man, with a smile upon his broad face, turned and tip-toed out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. In a new land, and under the new name that he has chosen," whispered the big man to himself, dabbing at his eyes suspiciously, "they'll learn to forget, and they'll learn to be happy." [TITE END.]

i DOCK THIEVES. I At all periods of the year a considerable amount of pilfering goes on round about our docks, and the way in which the petty thieves, who may be termed "dock-rats," set to work is rather interesting. When ships come from abroad, these "dock-rats" know by experience what kind of cargo is worth engagiug their attention. They generally prise open part of the cover to the case from which they intend to steal, taking care not to break the wooden boards, and after extracting a portion of the con- tents, fill up the empty space left with waste paper. This done and the theft discovered, any claims for shortage put to the steamer or the dock company will probably be re- fused, especially if the cargo be' valuable, and the loss will have to be borne by the owners of the goods. To protect goods from pilfering, some people have their cases wired and sealed, or nailed with special patent fasteners, so that the cases cannot be broken into.

Relatives of a 16-year-old boy—whom an Abertillery jury found committed suicide while of unsound mind—stated that he was fond of reading Buffalo Bill stories and visiting cinemas. According to French official statistics, about 170 square miles of forest land were destroyed by the fires which recently raged in the Var Department.