Cheshire Observer

^Published BY SPECIAL Arrangement.] I THE ROGUES' SYNDICATE, I By TOM GALLON, Author of "The Dead Ingleby, "Dicky Monteith." "Tatterley," "The Lady of the Cameo," &c., &c. [COPYRIGHT.] I CHAPTER IX. I SAM OFFLEY READS THE PAPER. It has generally been acknowledged that there is something soothing about tobacco; even its bitterest opponents have never been able qu.te to get over that fact. Tobacco enables a man to look upon life, with the edges of it blunted a ¡{)OK upon,. h ,n 1 little, M it were, and some ot t-.c s h arpness worn off; more than that, it teaches L.m au easy sort of phik?ophy. It may be said of cour.?. that it causes him to take things a little too eas ly at times, and to let the more strenuous businesses oi life go past him but that is by the way. If the fragrant weed Wit, h;¡ye cms effect upon a mere layman-m outsider, m it were, who smokes his occasional pipe, a.nd thinks no more about it—let it be imagne.d what the effect woul d be upon one to whom tobacoo meant the read and serious business of existence; a man who bought an d sold it, Lved amongst it 0110 whose happy privilege it was to upp'y grateful customers with prln ege 1 was ov" ff .t- it, from morn ng t-ili night. Increase its effects (the beneficial effects, ot course) a hundredfold, and you might come something near to the bliss- ful state of that man. Sam Offloy was such a man. Let it not be imagined that he had been in the business all his life; he had not enjoyed such luck as that. But, before he entered into this earthly parad se of his, it had boen his dream. He iiad saved for it, thought about it, looked forward to the day when it would be an accomplished fact; that wonderful time when he should sit behind the oounter in his own shop, survey.ng the best brands, and purveying those, and others of a more ordinary quality, to his customers. Briefly let it be stated that Sam Offley had been a very ordinary member of the London police; had worked up, by sheer dogged good behaviour, to the position of sergeant; ar.d had, in due course, retired on a pens on. Being independent, in a sense, of the actual earnings of the little shop, he may be sa-,ci almost to havo played at the gamo of being a tcbaooolllst50methlllg like a big child keeping a shop; and perhaps for that reason, doing rather well at the jame, take it for all in all. It waa a cosy little shop-a place to linger in after you had bought your oigar or whatever else tempted you, and have a word or two with the proprietor. You had to be cautious in entering it, because you dropped down a step from the street and oame up rather suddenly, if you were not aareful, against the barrel with the lid on it which formed a seat against the counter. It was precisely at that point that Sam OfHey usually told you, in his deep ruminating voice, that he 'ad thought of 'aving it m-ide a bit more gradual ever since 'e took the place. There is always a fly in the ointment; and, even in, so blissful a life as that led by Sam Offley, there was something to be set against the bliss. That something was Mrs. Offieya. little bright, fiery woman, who had an energetic fashion of stirring Sam up pretty frequently— probably from fear that he might, one of those days, sit down in a fit of philosophic dreaming and never get up any more. If the truth be told, it must be said that she had a heart of gold, and that Sam would never have boon anything very muoh, especially in the tobacco line, without her. Sam Offley was bi o ornamental part of the busi- ness, so to speak, and the licence was in his name; but it was Mrs. 3am who worked the busi- ness—cut down prices, demanded discounts, and generally made it pay. At the moment we find ourselves blundering i. nto the little shop and ooming- up unexpectedly aga nst the barrel, Margaret Florris was in the room which was always kept for her above the snop. For Mrs. Offloy was the old nurse of whom mention has been made—the woman with Whom Margaret stopped on the night Luke Dan bury d ed at the Hotel Harcourt; and to whom she had fled on the present occasion. Mrs, Offley was devotedly attached to her, a.nd that little room was always kept as a sacred place into whioh no one but Margaret was allowed to go; en. Sam passed the door cf it on tip-toe whether girl happned to be in it or not. On this particular morning Mr. Offley, to do him-Justice, was :n a very extraordinary mood. In the nr.?t plac-o.he was hungry: in the second  ho wa.:¡  ?? ? hungry because ? ?r3. a?aam m?UNmey. being oocupied in talking to MM-garet upst&irs and in soothing and comfort- r, er her long and sleepless night, had utterly de-cline d even to consider the question of breakfast until she chose. Sam did not mind that much, altlioug-h he glanced wistfully onoe or twice at the door leidmg into tho little room behind the shop. The ruffling was another fashtn been breught about in a curious lash.,on. When Sam Offiey unfastened the shop that morning and went out in his shirt sleeves to r-   ?tter. he found a man leamng aga,J'nst teem. NothI'n, "ry remarkable in that, -?ex? cept tha-t the? man P had & skuohing- hang-dog 'exPr?:c?n lot at ? pleasing, and sufficient to  ?? ? ?pec? M ex.-po!.ceman, to be su^T ku M mvw' ? ??' after ? '^d look at. Mr. Offioy, went away, and S?n practically ?ot ? about him. H?f-an-hourlat? how-  happenIng to ??ce up at rhe?hop window ?om he paper he was rc?adiii? he saw the ?me ing\ flatrung ^1S n? ag.ins? the gla.ss ?h? ing he might be a P9- b?o mg  lll;ght  ???' customer even .so early ?M ttha.tt. bSa?rn (MH&y went on with his paper keeo- 411 eye meanwhile upon the man at the Kin- dow. The man did not cojn? in. Once or twice cer *? 00 on the point of do?g?o. a?.d d got as far as the doorway; but he alay went away agrain and placed his nose to the win- dOw a-3 rh--u.11 unable to make up his mind what to buy. T.?e c'e:,mn' of t!? winder won't pay fer wot 3.V' ? ever -??? S ?t sa id ,Sm to himself; "to say not,h'n, of your Ico^pin ,oher f-clks SIWJLV \Vell, take ^er own time; don't Wry yer^Tf Sam went on with the ead'g of his naner He had a peculiar method In this. UsuaUi^spleSlc,  glanced ———? ?  in"9, he gi-O-?d c-&3ual at t,?o adver sem  'manned himself in a va ,Zuo sort of A,ny' to be se?t?n(r out upon var'ous voyag to U' knVWn Parts! after that, X turned wwiTth h?pnrJof? essional interest to the polioerer^rL nodd?n? C>'li to an old '.<-Porc< vhen ? .? p.c.?d? ?  b i m.,?el f in injr direction. wSLshhfs way thus t rouoh the paper, with a loyal look at +^K V;OV0m°ilts of the King and Queen, he got t, t.1, V"rY bO-t oolumn of all, in his estimation. That column was to 1>0 found at the. end of the "r. It WM head.d. in cold print, Per?;onf,?l, tst and' Found but was known to the vulgar M the- "A,,?,-ny Column." Having reached that, Sam Offie'y invariably heaved a s?"h of reLef, and sa't'ed to" to enjoy him.%elf. ? n M- The advertl,eiiientii oorce-rni n,- variotii 6r? ind fference ■ ho °lffcy pas^ sed over with ind'1ference; he had no --eat faith  them. Tha unknown people under initials or floral    other: & %Ei i ho sighed Ov{\r syrr.pathcticalJy; baving a g'OO.d1 ll\emory, he r3m,?mbered how this one hd ad ,,?er- ti.zed 7at), ou t a we,(- k be f ore tiM about a. weoe.k before, and wa a.dn>rt.¡.i.g a.gain; or ??'?  w" bitter and  but !zt:ll ?sctonat? bec..? somMn?e!?  failwi to r' an app??ararce under the clock ch?riB Las'lv. he eamo to th-ooe adv,,rti.;?emonts,nany t!oe.m d.estined never to be <e? by the ml f wh:oh they WNe in ton d ed-on(?crnlng- p,,oplo w+o wre to hear "somehing' to their advan- ta?e," if they would SSy at 1 > Vague visions of the enormous sum^ wait^T" fey fortunaro one fWed the ^nd of °S^ Oilley, and be, had a oeri:ain thdory re.-arding th? p.rt?.1? adve?i?? '? ??'? OM of tI (>ose dayi, be hii? reminded h,' 'n-g?lf more ?'?ed h?If as I can lay 'old on. I nÜgl:t not light on me- ,wlf; :t rui_ht be a fr; .4,. d biit Offley a i n't oommon. an one 0' the3e days I gball see ;t me in I shall gc-e the na alk' of a friend, an' ?;hall take from that friend sum. JnÎ11k for me  Thug it happened that on thiq particul.? 'I A'WSttsj wg' an ^ortiseiMnt-very tenderly worded ^fd~frn ai"1n". an appcintmen-t outsde South StiCt?on, a.t thrBe-thirty th at day, ho s:?ehed r think of what mizht have hap- ^TvttStT^i dayhho: pened had the little shop not. held him j an aee 'em meet, an' h?n? %7muX' th ^d be to him- sel,f,  tink I'd "pot 'em."  nc.xt advertiment arr",teQ his artenhon- one of his Ta^oun^H^T^ fo^oOtten —— ahout b relkfast by that t,Vn an^ was qu:w obt v;ous conc;-rnincr the ?."?? "? ?"? o?t?do the window Ho settlp,d him3e.Jf more oomfort- ably in h? ooooL.?ner r ?beh. m? d the cou?nte? r, and r?ad it:  faS???????d Ken?ay..h.,? ji^jAi tho undenlgDed, he 'll hear of something to hi" &<h-an rage. An '? per'on in poss.es"ion of   Arnold Ken- way w:n be :ru:hbly rewarded. -Apply to  Fields, LDndon. No-, 'dthSIr;S lt° P,?er withhil hSdon o?»aidJ11'" dc??erviri' man. The man who ooulc" lay 'old ? *T -);noid Fenway might oome in fer a tidv rtU™ to say r?k .f tho romance  ?j It wat at that very mcrnent that Mrs Offley i ?p.n.d the door i?din? into the shop and a?- Douno?d that b'-Mkf?t was ready. a? w ? the paper clutched between a !ar? finger and: th?b. to mark that inr<.rc.tin? p)? ?..oMy. a.nd went into the inner rJom. From that inn,-r ro?m it was p<.ssiM? to Se trrouK? h I te gl^ed upper half of the door into the shop 1 wish I had time to read tho paper. and sit M. my c.? and do nothing a?d Mrs Om? briskly, a« sh-e ?t!ed alyott? with th??Sai? th?a Irmt a man to take the easy side and do nothing that can be avoided; trust a man to "it down when he can, and k-ava everything tw o a weak woman." Y°U a:-n't i?°kin' ?cak. Jemima," said ?r Offiey, eh<?iy. Nev?. seen voa ooi?'' nJ6ier me lif. 'Ow's the young !adv?" ??i.? a11 the r?t of us poor wom?—not what tf s"ould he  retorted Mrs. Ofney..ha3?y  -Jl night, ? crying all day; ?t do you  "Anythmk on er m'nd?' ?skpd ?, b?gi??" r h.3 br?Jtfa? with ?ucb beartines,  "Everything. I O:lll't find out what the poor dear wants or what she means. I only know that she's fretting1 about something, and is afraid of something. If I was a man. said Mrs Offley, vioiousiy, "I'd soon put things straight for her, I know. "It may not be so easy as you think, Jemima" said S.tm, soothingly. "Of course, if anybody 'as n doin 'er any 'arm, that's another matter. Wots sho afraid of?" "I've been trying to find out-and I can't," said Mis. Ofiloy, with a shake of the head. "Sh"s ixskeu m_J. hundred times over— if I ddn't think I heard someone coming; she's oried out. a hundred times over, that she can never look upon his face again, and that she never moant to do it. I don't know what she means." "She's in love. said! Sam, with a w Iso, noct. "Love exclaimed Mrs. Offley, contemptu- ously. "That's all you men think about; my precious one upstairs has got too much sense ever to throw hers-elf away on anybody." "Your precious one upstairs ain't the sort to throw 'erself away at all, said Sam. "At the same time as a man of the world, an' knowin' the symptoms rnrself at the time you first ketched my eye I should say, Jemima, she's in love." "B.;h she's got too much sense." retorted Mrs. Offley again. "Theres someona in the shop," she addsxl. Sam rose with a sigh and went out into the shop Lounging across the oounter was the man who had roused Sam's wrath a little eariier-thc man who had flattened his nose so persistently I against the window of the shop. "Well," said Sam, a little sharply, "wot d'you want? r"Tll trouble yer," said tho man slowly, "fer 'alf a ounce of shag." "It s took yer a pritty long time to make up yer m:nd said Sam. looking at the man across the top of the scales, as he weighed out the tobacco. "If everybody laid out their money like you we should be able to retire earlier than wot we do "If everybody laid out their money like wot I do," retorted th? man, "it'd be a better woild. I'm a honest man-I am; I'm a toiler. I'm one o' them wot 'olds the world up." "I've always found that them wot talks the most about honesty are those that know least about it." said Sam, quietly. "You seem a busy man," he added, with a glance towards where his breakfast was cooling. "I am—an* I ain t replied the other mysteri- ously. Ow's the young lady?" was his next sur- prising remark. Sam stared at him. "Wot young lady?" he asked. "The young lady." replied the man. "Wy. I see 'er pritty face up at the winder on'y this morn in' j "Then don't look up at the winder," said Sam, savagely. "Wot do'you want with 'er?'' "No offence, guv'nor," said the j1 man hacking away a. little. "On'y I 'appen to be from 'er pait of the country-that's all. Stavin' long, is she?" "You want to know a lot fer 'alf a ounce o* shag!" replied Sam cautiously. "Good mornin' "Oh good morning to you said the man and lurched out of the shop. Sam went b_ck to his j breakfast in no very peaceful frame of mind. As 1 he entered the room Mrs. Offley eamo in also, having befn upstairs to fie-e her guest. "Sh wants you to post a letter for her, Sam," said Mrs. Offley, holding that letter up between her finger and thumb. "Seems very anxious about it, poor dear; so. as soon as you've done gorging. perhaps you wouldn't mind stepping down to the pillar box she added, sarcastically. j "All my gorgin', as you call it. is done in snatches," said Sam. patiently. "Wot with yer alf-ounces an' wot not, you can't quite call yer ] meais a tarble-dote can yer? Put the letter down; I'll be off with it in 'alf a jiffy." I Sam went on eating li-s breakfast for a minute or two; and then, with his coffee cup to his lips looked over the edge of it at Mrs. Offley. "Jprnim wot was it you were sayin' about the young lady bein' afra'd. an' askin' if anyone bin 'ere ch?" he asked, lowering his voice a little. "S11("" afraid of something I don't understand.' said Mrs. Offley. "If I didn't know her so well I should say she'd almost eomr- here to hidc-to be out of the way. God forgive me for thinking I such a. thing Sam; but it almost looks like it, j 9ee'ng the tre-,nb,c, she' in An I beheve yer right. Jenrma. said Sum, slowly. "She is afraid of somethink, an' she is 'iding. More than that there's someone lookin' for 'er." Mrs Offley put down her cup and stared at Sam. Sam, leaning across the table gave a full and minute account, of his interview with the lurching- stranger in the shop. "My opinion. she's pot mixed up in something not quite straight." said Sam. "Yes, yes, I know but it ain't no good flying out at me, Jemima, we've got to face wot we find in this world. Wot's the letter; did she say any think about it?" "Of course not," said Jemima, indignantly, "Why should she; I suppose she can write to anyone she likes, can't she? The only thing you've got to think about is. how long you re goincr to be before you post it." "All right all right," said Sam. with a sigh. as he rose from the table. "You won't never under- stand that a man o' my figure wajits a deal of sustainin'—especially w'en 'e's got a business on 'is mind." "On his what?" asked Mrs. OfHey. contemptu- ously. "Hero. take the letter, for goodness' sake! jI Sam took the letter, and casually glanced at it; drew it a little ncarer to his eyes, and looked at it. w;th a puzzled expression; held it at arm's lenzth. arid shook his head over it. "Funny thing!" he ejaculated, softly. "Weil* what's the matter with you now?" asked Mrs Offley, sharpiy. "Would you like to open it, and look inside-?" I "Arnold Kenway." said Sam, softly to himself, i "Now, where 'ave I seen that name? It seems that familiar, it might be my own brother." He held the letter before his eyes again and read the address 'Arnold Kenway, Esq., c/o Owen: Matherwick. Esq., The Retreat. Oyton, Hamp- shire,' he whispered to himself. "Kenway— Kc,iiw.,iy, -by George, its in the paper!" "Whit on earth are you raving about?" asked Mrs. Offley, staring at him. "What's in the pap2r?" For answer. Sam Offley carefully spread out the newspaper, with that particular co-turnm whl,, h had so deepiy interested him. uppermost; and laid the letter beside it; triumphantly he pointed to it with a large forefinger. "Read that, Jemima," he said; "and then tell me wot it means." "It's certainly the same r?am??," said Mrs- Offley. in 'a ? puzzled voioe. "And it ain't a clommot? name, e'ther-Is It i ..Nvoll; n t it be well to run up. an' ask the young M Fs about it?" asked Sam tentatively. "And let her see that we've been frying into her letter, to find out who she's writing to?" I ex- claimed Jemima, scornfully. "A nioe thing that'd | be, I'm sure-with the poor dear as worried as she is just now. Better say nothing about it." Sam was thinking deeply. He rubbed one large hand up and down one cheek for a moment or two, while he thoughtfully regarded the. letter and the newspaper. At last he spoke, and his words were weisrhty. "There's somethink in this we don't under- stand." sa'd Sam. "Wen I was in the Force one o the things we 'ad first to learn was to put two an' two together an' make wot we could of 'em. In this case, look-n' at it as I might 'ave done a few years ago—there's somethink more than two an' two to L" put together. As I will now en- deavour." continued Sam. prosily, "to explain." "Well-be as quick as you can," said Mrs Offley. impatiently. "In the first place, the young Miss is writin' to a gent in the same neighbourhood as she comes fiom—Oyton. in 'Ampshire. She is in trouble thinks someone is oomin' after 'er. As a matter of fact, someone 'as bin comin' after 'er, this very mornin'. A party, as I would 'ave took up vie,r-v L-n o r .n,n on suspicion in the old days 'as bin 'anging about 'er? all the moinin' an'—coverin' 'isself with 'a!f a ounce, so to speak—comes in to ask about 'er. That's point, number two. Point number three is that, aocordin* to the paper, someone is very anxious to get 'od of a certain Mr. Arnold Ken- way—the very gent as it seems that she's been writin' to." "Sam," said Mrs Offley, with much decision. "I take back that scornful remark I made, a few minutes ago. about your mind It never ought to have been said and if it hadn't been for that pension coming along, you'd havo been an Inspec- tor by this time—mark my words. I give in, SJ,m; what are you going to do?" "I'm a; goin' to foller this up. said Sam Omey, greatly elated. "I've always said that the time would come w'en this bit o' the newspaper would point the way,, so to speak, and show me a new line. I'm goin' down to find Mr. Arnold Ken- way, at Oyton 'Ampshire; and, in order to be sure that the post-oflioe won't make no mistakes. I'm a goin' to take the letter with mo. More than that." continued Sam, squaring his_shotilders, "I'm a go'n' this houq. Sam, you re right., said Mrs. Offley, and be it noted that that was probably the first time she had ever made use of the expression in her life aa regarded her husband. "I shall say nothing about this upstars"-5h jerked her head towards the ceiling—"until you come back. It's my belief that there's good in it and that it may help the dear girl; at any rate. I know she wouldn't be writing to anybody she oughtn t to write tG. Now, don't let yourself down, Sam, after what you've done this morning, she added, impatiently. "On w:th your awt, and off with you!" So the little .shop was left in charge of Mrs. Offley, and Sam, lighting a largo but cheap cigar of a mottled colour, in honour of the occasion, started off. He went, in the first place to Lincoln's Inn FideL, and, after various enquiries, and much climbing of dark staircases, and reading of names upon doors, carne at last to the office of Messrs. Stock and Cross. Assuming his best professional manner, he handed the cuttiug from the newspaper to a clerk, and asked to see someone in authority. He was shewn in with very little delay. Well, my man," said a little bright, qniDk gentleman, behind a desk many sizes too large for him, "so you know something about this matter, do you?" I 'appcn to know the address of a Mr. Arnold i Kenway." said Sam slowly, looking in a non-com- mittai sort of fashion at the ceiling Very good. Will you let me have it?" asked the little man. • (To be continued.)

TO MOTHERS, rrs. Winslow's Soothing! Syrup has been used over fifty years by millions of mothers f.,r their children while teething, with perfect success. It will relieve the poor sufferer 1 immediately. It is pleasant to taste; it produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub wakes up "as bright as a button." Of all chemists. Is, lid. per bottle.

A HOLT HUMAN CE. A DODGER EPISODE. [By Annette.) The dodgers were hard ai work in the Holt Suawbeiry-Ueidi—that is to say. they wete word- ing as hard as the muu ^ppoinuea to oveilook Mem could liWie LheHL As I.t.(;H" popular and witieiy- reeogii.scd niine imp.ies, they loved not haul labour, it W:1..> one ot the many tliiu; tilCY lived to dodgo. They zp-UL. even iuoie p4ilb in aociging Adam's legacy to his sons anti clauguteis than ui aougmg ti.e copper." liuiy they were a. strange, s.¡,d study for anyone who had the inclination to study suou specimens or the great human i&miiy. it seemed as if the little Ueisu DOi.der v ¡1.age hä.tl gaiiiOiC-d within its folds a llock ent.reiy oompooed oi biack snec-p, and. saddest pan. of ail, manj of tlio iambs ap- peared to havo nud an "extia exefciieu tneir eideis m bia,kiiess. Some one was siuuy.ng the piciure Lilt jay ex- tended to her viuw lot indes aiuuiiil; some ouc wilo cycled aiong cue uust) road, and then turneu her wiioei through tne gaievvay into a heid. Sik- stopped to ask a pickei,, wlio waz. buzy at work, tor perin.Ssioa to stay and waton tne pickers for a little wi111e. It was given somewhat suddy; standing under a iiot sua tor houxs ai, a streten does not tend to ko-p Lie temper cooi. Tho cyclist, however, 4iiiy smiled her thanks and pusntd um wÍleel turtiier along uie lieUoO aide, until sne callW unoer the sh..dc of a damson tree. 'bwn she looked around her, and drew a long breath oi satisfaction, 1t was woun oOUluIg tOL Sureij copy wouid be lound liere li anywhere. jbir»t, sue noted the sunoullong country, it. was a lair enough landscape for London eyes to ivst upon The cyclist vahed it glor.ouo. and soon had poncii and sketch-book out, wmle she Grew a bird s-eye view of tho most prominent features ot interest. She had to shut ner position a mile, so as to get the outline of iiarnston s monument m her little picture, as Well as tIe church tower over tho water in England. She iaugned soitiy to nerselt as she finished her crude sketcn. "I siiail have to make haif-a-dozeii p.,tares out of it, some day I vc an awful longing to put. tuat dear, sleepy old river in, although 1 a-Lii t get a. gho3t ot a. giunpse of it l'rom here. Youii n,.vi_r iliake an aiirst ot me, Net! She smiled, as these thoughts tiitted througn her mind, and it was p.easant to see what a change that siiine wrou^nt up^ii what would otherwise have been calied a cold, almost seveie- looking face. it lighted up a pair oi wonderful grey eyes, ejes tuat were keen and mere Jess at times, but sweet, and winning Wheu the mouth sni Iied, and the lips parted to shew even, well- cared-for teeth, it was not a faoe of remarkable beauty, rather the index to a deep, sound, true nature. Her sketch finished, she made her way back to the cycle and the shade of the fr.eruliy damson tree. Then she set herself to study tile fruit- pickcrs and their moue o: work. There were 'i h erb WOE(3 about 50 men, women and children, all busy pick- ing the giorious berries. They were d,vided into two eonipaii.es. each having a master-man ta; "drive" and keep order. Big, muscular men these overseers were in this particular field, and it was easy to understand tuat muscle and sinew might often be called into use, considering the material they had to control. What a contrast between the beautiful berries their touch seemed to desecrate, and these foul. diseased, sin-distorted creatures The cyclist set to work to sketch the head of a [ little "gamin" who was evidently a new "hand," for he had not yet tired of the dehcious fiuit. When he p.ck"d a particularly tempting-looking berry ins wicked little biack eyes turned upon tne i "ganger," as lie was called, and it he thought him- seif unperoeived, into his mouth that Dig, red berry went. She was just "finishing off the little AraD when she heard her name pronounced by a voice on the otner side of tue liedge. Before sue had time to stand up and look loi the owner of j the voice, a man climbed up Loin the road over the fence, and stood bes,do her. I "Reggie Arnold!' sne exclaimed. "You here, and 50:' with a shaip up-and-aowii glance that took in everything, from the ragged cap to the soleless boots. "Ye", lwggie Arnold, and so!' he replied, mocking her shocked tone ..ad laughing disagree- ably. A casual observer wouid have sa.d of h.m "a dodger," and he or she would nave been quite right, but a. closer scrutiny wouid havo revealed the fact that this was no ordinary dodger. He could not have been more than twenty-eight, and should have been a handsome man, indeed lie had stiil good features, but they were marred by the sign of the beast. The eyes were bluriy and shot with red, the mouth, where lay the who.e ex- planation of the expressive "So," was pitiably weak, and these added to the dare-devil expression of the whole face and figure w.iat could they but sp,L' ii ii 's case, dodgerhood "You seem pleased to see me, Hester," he said. "There was a. time whin you offered me your hand when we met, as we d:d prelty frequently," he added, with a worid of insolence in his voice. He did not wait for her to speak, but went on. "Have you come heie seeking copy? How would I do for an object lesson for a lady's journal? You could, at any rate, give them tne wnoie his- tory from cause to effect." "What do you mean.* She had stood up, and wa.s strappmg her sketch-book to her bicycle. As he finished speaking, she turned and fiied the question at him with indignant, wide-opened eyes. "Of course, you don't know," he said, "how should you? Who would blame you for drawing a poor devil on until he cared for nothing in the world beside yourself? He might have known you Lould never care for him in that way-I think that was what you s-,Id--or he might at least- have guessed that he .ha.d not enough swag to purchase so much lovehness as is summed up in your dainty pe-,son. His blood-shot eyes seemed to burn her cheeks with the baltful light that shone in them. She might have felt afraid, but her blood was up, and she forgot all else as she drew herself further away from him and flung him back her answer. "I would rather not hit a man when he's down, but since you compel mo to speak let me teil you that if you had possessed the wealth of all the Indies I could never have married jou. You, with not a will of your own with not enough grit to take your degree, with not even enough back- bone to your character to keep you upright among your fellow-men you were always the same, 'un- stable as water,' and ever seeking to lay the bur- den of your sins and shortcomings on some other back than your own. Reggie Arnold. I loathe and despise you A dangerous light shone in the man's eyes as he said: .T_ 1_ .I. _L -t- ¿. I. OU stin Keep to your sweet, wouiojujr i-eiu- per? You little fiend, what do I care for your loathing? It was not always so." He stood and looked at her a minute, while a sinister, devilish smile spread over his face, then he looked round the field the pickers had worked their way along the rows to the extreme end of the field. "I've a good mind to kiss you he said, "for the sake of old times" He moved towards her until she could smell the fiery spirit he had been drinking. She felt sick at the nearness of his bloated, evil- looking fa e, but she never flinched. The atti- tude evidently surprised him; he put out a shapely but uncared for hand, meaning to take her right hand but she eluded him. "Mr Arnold," she said, with a stress on the "Mr. "you havo a mother who may be looking down upon you at this moment." I "D- you and her," he said; "do you think j that will stop my kiss'ng you?" and ho tried again to snatch at her hand, but she was too quick for him, and managed somehow to place her bicycle between herself and him. She was scarcely j afraid the only feelings she was conscious of were j unspeakable disgust and-st, angc combination!— deep, unfathomable pity. Both sentiments couid be traced in her shining, grey eyes, although it was only the disgust that shewed itself in her speech as she said: I "Reginald Arnold, do you know whit I would do if I were you?" and as he raised his brows in- terrogatively, "I would walk down to the river Dee and drown myself before I added more sins to my account." She moved quickly away as she finished speak- ing. and she wondered whv he did not follow her or attempt to stop her. Had she only known it. her honest, grey eyes were bright with unshed tears, and they had done what her ricrhteous in- dignation had not been able to accomplish—cowed the beast in Reginald Arnold. After all he had sunk into dodgerhocd lie was not to tho manner born. It was Ion,, since he had seen tears liko those; maudlin grief was common enough among those whom he had made his associates: but those glistening-drops in spite of the wo,ds that accompanied them. told of reproach, sorrow, and, | strangest of all. compassion. He sat down when she had passed along the road and was lost to sight, and many pictures passed before him that 1 he was surprised to find his memory had kept stored away so long. He was lost in thought for about half-an-hour, then he got up and stretched himself and walked back to the village with his shoulders thrown back and his head held more | erect than he had held it for many days. lie turned into an inn on the Cross and called for brandy, then he begged a sheet of paper, and asked the barmaid if she would lend him a Ppncll. She was about to refuse but he assured her with such evident sin-eritv that he would return it in an hour's time, that in spite of her knowledge of "dodger" ways she went to a drawer close at hand, and taking out a small piece of pencil handed it to him. "You o?n k?ep it." she sa d. probably thinking to save herself the humilation of being "done" "Thank you." he said. "I will certainly return I it to you, as I promised, in an hour's t'm". I shall have no further use for it" he ndded with a smile, and he raised his old cap "like a lord," as she said afterwards. He walked slowly across the square known as "Howt Cross," carrying the paper and pencil in his h-tnd This square was tho place where within the memory of some of the oldest, villagers a pitched battle used at one time to be fought every Mon- day morning to determine who was to bn the champion pugilist of the village. This "Senior Wrangler" reigned for a week. The next Monday he must again fight for or resign his office. The "Howt Lions" hid changed since those days. They now settled their differences in modem ways. "Every man his own lawyer" was no longer their good old rule. They had found better work for their hands than destroying their neighbours' fea- tures. Nowhere were Hotter formers more enter- prising agriculturists to be found than in "the ancient boroutrh," as they delighted to ca.11 their old village. The kincr of berries had made Helt a familiar name in places far removed from the Welsh border, and deservedly so Who would withhold Gratitude from the men who had studied and woi ked b grow thi" fru;t to "lIch perfection? Doctor Botele (who must have been a wise man indeed if Izaak Walton quotas him aright in his "Compleat Angler") says of the strawberry: "Doubtless God could have mad e a better berry, but doubtless God never did," and surety there are few who would not endorse his sage doctrine. But Reginald Arnold was not thinking about trawbenies or their growers as he mad a his way past Kenyon Hall, and on as far as the schools. Then he turned and went down an old, narrow ,ane, that presently led him to a field through which the river run. In the same field stood ail that remained of "Holt Castla." Towards the pile of grassy ruins he directed his steps. He limbed up to the top of the pile and stood looking )VCT the country that lay abound him with eyes that saw nothing of the r.ver Dee, Holt meadows, o-r anything else that lay so temptingly spicad to view Wliat he did see was not so fair & picture; .t was a review of his own life. He saw himself fnst a petted, spoued child, the idol of an adoring mother, then a med.col student "going the pice next he saw himself an idler, tired of the study of medicine, wholly devoted to the study of self. From that stage the road to his present state lay smooth and unintcn upted as the downward course ever has been. H9 roused himself at last and put his hand to his pocket as if to tako out a watih them he laughed harshly as his hand came back cmpty-trange how present old associations had been with him since he saw those tears in Hester Pryor's eyes and had walked with his head erect "I must get my wrl ting done and return this poncii," he said to himseif. Then he sat down on the grass grown ruin and wrote steadily for some time. He laughed once or twice as he wrote, and onoe he swore under his breath. Then he folded the paper, put it in his pocket, and wended his way back to the Inn on the Cross. The next day Hester Pryor, journalist, was sit- ting writing in a pleasant room in Queen's Park, Chester. She was staying with an artist friend, Nell Gwynno. Holt had furnished her with un. limited copy, and Nell had left her to herself, for as she laughingly told Hester, she "could see she was going to have an idea.' She had "had many ideas since sho returned from Holt, not all of them pleasant ones. She was sitting moodily nibbling a pencil, when Nell put her head in at the door. ".Here's a letter for you," she said. "Sorry to bother you. Au revoir!" Hester took the letter, and then started to see that the postmark was Holt. Her lip curled, and a look of extreme annoyance crossed her face. She looked towards the fire-grate, and then remem- bered that fires are not needed in July. The ab- sence of a fire, and perhaps a faint curiosity to know why he should spend a penny on a letter to her something made her decide to read it It w is written in pencil, and perhaps that "was why it needed such close attention. WEen she had finished it her face was very white, and she sat perfectly still, the letter grasped tightly in her cl. nched hand. Then with a sound that was half sigh, half sob, sho sank upon h2r knees, and her head fed forward on her arms stretched out on tb chair. This was Hester's letter:—"Dear Miss Pryor,— You have given me lots of good advioa in days gone by; if you had reason to complain then that I never followed it you shall not have cause to complain on that score this time. I have been thinking over your most kind farewell speech (plain Saxon was ever a strong point with you), and I have iome to the conclusion that the advice contained therein was really the best possible under the circumstances. By the time you re- ceive this I shall either be reposing at the bottom of tho 'charming river Dee' or waiting in some public house for twelve honest men to s't upon me. It will hardly be a novel experience for me; as you may guess I have long ago grown ac- customed to the sensation of being sat upon. I am conscious of a general feeling of curiosity as to the kind of verdict they will arrive at-I have heard that Welsh juries are peculiarly, startlingly unconventional. I devoutly hope it will not be ■ 'suicido while temporalily insane.' I believe mv- solf to have been insane for years; I honestly think I am enjoying a 'lucid interval' at present. That must be why I see things in the same light as you at last after all these years; you were ever tremendously sane and sensible. Should you feel inclined to enlighten the twelve honest men toil them I went to look for Styx and tumbled in -thJ DeB. That. will amply satisfy a jury sit- ting on a 'dodger. I shall send this to your friend Miss Wynne's, for I suppose you are st ty- ing with her at Chester. Perhaps you wonder why I have written at all? Maybe I had a fan, y to let you know that I had followed the advice of the 'unco guid' just for once., instead of my own inclination. Perhaps I wanted to pay you back for some of your Christian remarks. I may be a miserable sinner, maybe there will be a iii;sera.blo saint in Chester when you read this. if ever you should get to the place where my mother is—I don't think you will pass to her all at once, you may be a good woman, I believe you aèO a good woman, Hester Pryor. but you are not fit for my mother's society yet—but if you over should retch her tell her from me that if wretches like, me are given another chance in another world, I'll work my way to her yet. After all you need not worry too much about your share in this drama—or comedy, which is it?-for it was your honest grey eyes made me determine that.—R. A." Tho following Friday evening Hester read in the paper "Inquest on a Strawberry Picker at ) Holt The body of a man. name unknown, was found in the river Dee near Deeside, Holt, on Tuesday evening. He was a 'dodger," known among his associates as The Doctor. It is thought he must have been tempted by the heat to bathe in the river, when he had probably been taken with cramp and succumbed immediately. The last person to see him alive was another picker named Ryan, who saw deceased by the post-office about three hours before his body was found. Ryan said deceased put a letter in the post and thsn started away down the lane leading to Doesidc,. Ryan called and asked him where he was going, and he made answer 'to look for sticks.' It is supposed that while seeking the sticks tho unfor- tunate man had felt tempted to bathe, for his clothes were found on the bank. and, as stated before, he had probably had an attack of cramp, and expired for want of assistance. The jury re- turned a verdict of "Accidental death." Hester Piyor sat a long time with the paper lying across her knees. She did not cry, but after a while her whole body was shaken with one long, shivering sigh. Then she walked to the window, opened it, and leaned out She looked up at the cloudless July sky and (laspod her hands upon the window-sill, resting her firm, rounded chin on her clasped hands. Then she whispered, as if to the sunny, summer sky—"Forgive mo. if it was I who made your boy do it. How could I know? I will pray God to iet me alono suffer for it, and to lot him find his way to vou at last." [The End.]

EVERYONE'S BUSINESS. ESPECIALLY YOURS. A Seacombe resident makes tho following state- ment for the benefit of others. We look upon Scacombo people as our neighbours, and this testimony from a residont there will be of interest to us: Mr. William Madren, of 84, Bell road, Brighton- street, Sea.combe, Liverpool, says:- "I have followed the sea all my life, but t cannot say that I have always enjoyed the best of health—far from it. "For a number of years I was a victim to kidney j complaint. I used to have dreadful pains across the small of my back. especially when I stooped or straightened myself. They seemed to cut me a knife, taking away all my strength, and making me light-headed and giddy. I was obhged to take hold of something to save myself from fall ing. "Sometimes when out walking my legs would, give way under me; my hips were very painful; all the energy seemed gone from me-from morn- ing till night I was exhausted. "Although I tr.ed plasters and different medi- c nes. I never got any better until I began t:sin Ðoan's Backache Kidney Pi)h. I obtained some of these because so many p20plo around hero ?h ?(' been cured by them. They cur?d me, too—after I had been using them a comparatively short time my strength returned, I felt ever so much stronger and brighter, aad I never got any more of the backaches. This was right back in the early part of 1900—two years ago-yet to-day I am still in the best of health. My cure by Doan's Pills was most thorough and complete. I have never heard of such a medicine before, and I shall always be pleased to speak a good word for it. I am in my 74th year. When a man passes the three-score- and-ten mark he scarcely expects to make any im- provement in his health, but Doan's Pills seem tq have given me a new lease of life. I shall aiways take a delight in speaking well of the medicine which has done so much for me." If you are ill. write and tell us your symptoms. We shall be pleased to give you the best advice in our power, free of charge. Your latter will be treated in strictest confidence. Doan's Backache Kidnoy Pills are two shillings and ninepence a box (six boxes for thirteen shillings and ninepence). Of all chemists and drug stores, or post free on receipt of price by the proprietors, Foster- McClellan Co., 8, Wells-street, Oxford-street, London, W.

"OLD MOORE"—"Old Moore." of almanac am e, is in real life Mr. T. Roberts, a genial gentle- man, who went through many adventures before settling down as a prophet The early part of Mr. Roberts s life was spent in North America, and he alleges that it was while tending sheep in thesolitary passes of the Rocky Mountains that he first felt the prophetic instinct. Subsequently "Old Moore" spent some time in Southern Mexico, and learnt much of his art from the medicine men of the Indians and half-breeds. LORD PENRHYN AND HIS EMPLOYES.- Lord and Lady Penrhyn last week entertained the workmen on the estate and those connected with the household to an entertainment, which was held in the spacious hall at Penrhvu Castle, which was richly decorated for the ex.-ca*uon. The entertain- ment, which consisted of glees and part-songs rendered by the Bangor Cathedral Quartet a,Hi a conjuring and ventriloquial performance by Pro- fessor Garland, of Wrexham, was attended by Lord and Lady Penrhyn, who presented the younger members of the audience with seasonable gifts.

E PPS'S COCOA. The Original Cocoa, and a Speciality, being distinguished EPPS'S COCOA. frem all others by its invigorating nutritious Qualities and EPPS'S COCUA. its delicious lfavour. This Cocoa. containing as it does EPPS'S COCOA. all the subgtance. -Ej Vy of the Cocoa Nib, roam- tains its EPPS'S COCOA. leading position after Vy three-quarters of 11 Century as the best EPPS'S COCOA. form of Cocoa for every-dvY'U-C- )

I FOOTBALL NOTES. I The holiday matches of the Chester club will stand out as one of their best performances during the present season. To meet two clubs of the strength of Wrexham and Broughton United, and beat both decisively is an achievement on which they deserve hearty congratulations. About 1,000 enthusiastic supporters of the club accom- panied the team to Wrexham on Christmas morn- ing. Pountney appeared vice Bell, and Breen vice Hall. Chester at once attacked and forced an abor- tive corner on the left. After Bather had stopped a rush, neat play on the left culminated in Delaney opening the scoring. Wrexham aroused themselves, and Lloyd relieved the pressure at a critical moment. The horne team maintained a severe onslaught, and added to their failures to score the opportunity afforded by a penalty-kick, which Coventry saved grandly. After seme time J. Lipsham got away, and centred accurately, Matthews missing narrowly. Wrexham returned to the City end, only to be repulsed again. The visitors made a good attempt from a free-kick close in, and Wrexham gave trouble. Two corners in rapid succession developed into a hard struggle. A third corner was conceded and hap- pily proved fruitless. Chester broke away and Matthews missed the goal. Coventry saved a good shot, and immediately afterwards waa be-aten at short range. Two corner kicks were awarded to the Cestrians, and from the last one T. Lp- sha.m put the ball into the not. The score at half-time was Chester two goals, Wrexham one. For the first haif^hcur of the seoond portion of the game, Wrexham had matters entirely their own way. They hemmed in their opponents, and frequently had hard lines, their want' of success being mainiy due to Coventry's fine work. The visitors made three or four breakaways without result. A fine effort by J. Lipsham met a better fate. He drove the ball across toward the centre, and a. final touch by T. Lipsham completed the downfall of the Welshmen's citadel. The final result was Chester three goals, Wrexham one. The fact that Wrexham gave Birkenhead a sound beating only the previous Saturday n!ake' Chester's victory the more creditable. They did not, however, with the exception of J. Lip;am and Coventry, come up to their best form. The Wrexham forwards undoubtedly gave a magnifi- cent exhibition, and d d all that skill could do to deserve success. Coventry's powers were taxed to the utmost, but he was equal to the ocoasion, and one's sympathies are with Wrexham in having one solitary goal. On Bank-holiday the accommodation at Whip- cord-lane was severely taxed by i.,L onornioui crowd, who assembled to witness the struggle be- tween Broughton Un ted and Chester. A keen game was anticipated, and the hopes of the spectators were not disappointed in this respect. Broughton commenced hostilities, and pressed vigorously. Lloyd failed to stop their centre for- ward, but, fortunately, Coventry came out of gial and cleared. The ball travelled to tho opposite end, but the vis tors' right wing soon returned, and after some oiever work the ball was sent over. The Welshmen pressed skilfully for some tin e. until J. Lipsham broke away, and the United's custodian saved from him, and Delaney and Breen. The visitors suddenly dashed back again, and the bail landed in the net, but the whistle. had gone for off-side. The Cestrians resumed the offensive, without result, Matthews sending the ball wide of the goil. After s opping another dangerous attempt, the home side niade an organised effort. Re- ceiving from Bell, Matthews shot in strongly. The ball rose unexpectedly and crossed the line ooween the posts. A short time afterwards, Broughton overcame their opponents' defence, and equalised. The, score at the interval ivai one goal each. The pace grew fastier in the second half, and the energy of the home s:de frightened the visitors into the trick of wasting time by kicking the ball into th" surrounding fields. For the first half- hour, Chester were absolutely .masters of the situation, and rained in innumerable shots, the I stubborn deferminaton of the Broughton cus- todian and backs alone preventing them from scoring. Several corners were gained without definite result, but at last, after a prolonged scrim- mage in the goal mouth, the ball was sent into the net. Afterwards Broughton crossed the line about t^ eree times, and Coventry had SDme difficult shots to dispose of. The Cestr.ans, however, again asserted themselves, and after severe pres- sure they were awarded the penalty kick for a foul against J. Lipsham. Matthews tock the ball, and shot aga nst the goalkeeper, and after- wards against the post. The visitors made a plucky endeavour to save their goal, but after a long scrimmage they were beaten. The game thus ended by Chester winning by three goals to one. The draw of one goal each at Broughton a few weeks ago gave a promise of what the Welsh team would do at Whipcord-lane. This is their first season in the Combination, and their success has been phenomenal. Though beaten, they played I on Saturday with admirable pluck and spirit, and gave Chester a lively time. During the first half the istsue was entirely uncertain, and the supre- macy of the eld city was not assured until the seOünd half was in progress. j d half wa.7, in progre-zs. The Chester team played a splendid game, and were quite at their best. Little fault could be found with the forwards, who worked bard from beginning to end, and with good combination. The half-bpeks did splendidly, and Delanoy, who was the middle man of the three, taught his op- ponents to entertain respect for him. Lloyd, Bather and Coventry were in capital form, and j wera a i ways reliable- On Christmas afternoon an exciting game was j j witnessed between All Saints' and Nowtown Rangers. In the first ten minutes the Rangers 1 j pressed hard, but could not score. Then Harris broke away and notched the first goal for tho Saints. Ton minutes later the same player scored again. The Rangers did some more pressing, but could not pass the defence. Play then changed, and just before half-time Stitz scored from a scrimmage. The second half was all end-to-end play, and neither side scoring, the game ended in a win for All Saints' by three goals to nil. Chester Seedsmen met the Y.M.CA. on the Roodeje on Boxing Day morning. The play in the first half was of a rather even nature, half- time arriving without any goals having been scored. On changing ends, however, the Y.M.C.A. pressed very hard. their forwards play- ing well together, and time arrived with three goals to their credit. This is not a discouraging result for the Seedsmen, as their team was only a scratch eleven, who had never practised or played together before. The tCÆtmS were: — Seedsmen: Gamer (goal), W. Wahnsley. Williams. H. Wallace. Haydon, Tick ner, R. W. Armstrong, Sprang, Leach Hawkins and Dutton. Y.M.C A. Coventry (goal). Davies. Jones. Dodd. R Wahns- ley. Morris, Thomas, Xewall, Griffiths, Cameron and Livesey. Under the auspices of the Cuadington and Dis- trict League, W'oaverham entertained the Gym- nasium at home. A well-contested game, in which the home team had most of the play with very littb luck, ended in a draw of one coal each. Weaverham failed to turn to advantage two pcnalbs given in their favour. Cudd.n?toM journeyed to Kmgsley to play their return match with the vilhin-ers and returned with a valuable two points. The game, after standing no goals at the interval assumed a different aspect, tho visit- ing forwa:ds waltzing round the hop;) defence, who seemed poweriess to hold them, and piled on tho agony to the tune of six goals to nil. The Helsby seniors journeyed to Winsford on Boxing Day, when they met the United in a friendly game before a fair crowd of spectators. A well-contested game, in which Helsby showed to rather better advantage than their opponents resulted in a win for the visitors by three goals to one. Flint Town and Flint U.A.C. met on Boxing Day in the third round of the Welsh Amateur Cup on the Holyweli-roael ground, and a pleasant game was witnessed by a large crowd. From the com- mencement the Town Club held the upper hand, and forced matters considerably. The U A.C., playing ten men were at a disadvantage. Shortly before half-time the Town Club scored, J. Hayes being responsible for a magnificent, got!. On re- suming play, the U.A.C. failed to make much headway, and the Town Club quickly registered number two. Fiom this point play was of a more even description and Jackson, by a superb indi vidual effort was within an ace of scoring for the U.A.C. Commins was badly fouled by Jones when a goal was imminent, the free kick proving abortive. Tho Town Club registered three more goals before the call of time, and retired winners by fivo gotls to ml—a well-deserved victory. It by nvo ?o? s to n' — a- we.U de'-erved victory. It. is only fair to state that four of the re?u?ar players of the U.A.C. were unable to take part in the match, and naturally this considerably weakened their ranks. The local "Derby in Mold football was played at the New-street recreation ground oil the morn- ing of Satin day. when the Mc!d Amateurs and the Alold Aiyn Wanderers played their customaiy Yuletide fixture. The degree of interest <entrcd ill the meeting between these prominent local teams could be gauged from the dimensions of the gate. The attendance wM a, record one. both the rival teams having an immense following. The contest opened uneventfully, and it was quite ■twenty minutes before the Waneierers opened their account, a second goal being added in an incredibly short space of t'me. These reverses J evoked a. speedy response from the Amateurs, | Eaton and Lloyd enabling their side to cry "quits." Immediately on the restart the WTanderers com- menced to assert themselves, and. admirably fed by their halves, the forwards pressed, but shot widely. The Amateurs retaliated, but for some time their efforts were unavailing. About twenty minutes from the restart a concerted movement on the part of the Amateurs resulted in a decided change of venue, and amid wild excitement Parry I' "av(? the invaders the lead. The remainder of <n<? game was evenly contested, but the score re- m-iin- d unaltered, the Amateurs winning a highly- interesting encounter by three goals to two.

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COMBINATION. I Rksults UP TO DATE. I rgoals I P W. L. D. ForAprst. Pts. Chester. 14.10. 3.. 1.43. 18.. 21 Oswestry .11 9 2. 0.27 16.18 Broughton 12 .7 3. 2.28.15.10 Wrexham .14. 7. 6.. 1..&26.15 BirkenheM. 11. 7 3. 1 26.16 .15 Bangor .I. 12. 6 5. 1 36.32 13 Nantwich 8. 5. 2. 1 2,3 11.11 Tranmere Rovers .10 4. 5 1 20 27.. 9 Witton Albion 13. 2. 6. 5 22. 30. St Chirk 12. 2 6.. 4 24.40. 8 Middlewich 13. 2 8 3.14.. 29 7 Rhyl 10 3 7 0 16.29. 6 Winsford United ,14 2 10. 2 16.34. 6 ———————————

BILLIARDS. I HELSBY v. OVERTON. I The return match between teams representing Overton Memorial Hall and the Helsby Reading Room was played at the latter room on Tuesday evening, and after a series of interesting Kame" resulted in a win on the aggregate for the former team by 3fj points. Scoies:-Het.,iby W. Stanway !)3, F. R. Griffiths (;4, E. Griffiths 100, T. Lloyd 64, W. Jones 100. G. Fowles 100, total 521; Overton Cragg 100, Rigby 100, Chestera 73, Dutton 100, Forster U2, Illdige 92, total 557 points.

HOCKEY. I LANCASHIRE v. CHESHIRE. I lrus annual Boxing-day match was played on tho Bowdon crioket ground on Saturday before one of the best attendances which have over assem- bled to see a hookey match in this district. Cheshire finally won by four goals to one-a. vio- tory in every way deserved, for it is many years sinoe Lancashire offered su-oh a feeble resistance to the attack brought to bear against them. Once only during the first half did Lancashire manage to reach their opponents' striking circle, and it was not until ten minutes from time, when Barolay scored their only point, that Lancashire were ever serioudy to be reckoned with. The performance of the Cestr.ans stamps it as the finest in the history of county hockey, for apart from the margin which gained them the V1ctory from the iiiar?, 'ii in every point of the game was t h eir stiporlorit most pronounced from the start. Led by a ster- ling trio of halves, in wh:ch Biatherwick continu- ally attracted the applause of the spectators, the attacking line gave one of the best exhibitions ever seen in the North, and with the exception of one movement early in the game, when Peel made rather a risky m.stake in midfield, the defence was always safe. Fifteen minutes after the start G. F. Tetlow opened the scoring for Cheshire, and after a hot attack, in which cross passing close to goal completely baffled the defence, a second goal was recorded, from the sante wing. Again before the int-erval Tetlow and his partner wore respon- s.ble for a third point, and although the second half was well adva.noel before the Cootrians were again successful, it was not the fault of the attack, but rather the stubborn opposition offered by Low, Busch, and Wiijiams. An appeal for a fourth goal, after a consultation by the umpires. wa., disallowed, but within a minute Scott again neicea ine Dau, ana tnere tne scoring tor the LJes- trians finished. The only point for Lanejashire was well earned by Barclay from an opposite wing pass by Heyworth, and although from this point to the fin.sh Lancashire made their most promis- ing efforts of the game. they were unable again to get in, the game ending as stated. Appended are the teams:—Lanoashire: W. J. Low (Huy- ton), goal; H. F. Busch (captain. West Derby) t?ori) R. M. Williams (Northern), b.Mks; R. E. Knowles (Alderley Edge), W. J. S. Bythell (Ker I sal), and S. B. Heyes (West Derby), half-backs; G. Heyworth (Cambridge University) and G. Trant'im (Bebing;on), 0. Tay'or (Xorthern), J. W. Barclay (Kersal), and F. Will ams (Northern), forwards. Cheshire L. Parker (Timperlev), goal; F. Terras (Bowdcn) and L. B. Peel (Bebinoton) backs; P. Robson (Sale), F. Blatherw ick (Chester) and; L. Robson (Sale), half-backs; W. H. Milne and G. F. Tetlow (Alderley Edge), D. Scott (Ox- ton), G. F. L. Toml:ii--on (New Brighton Wan- derers), and F. B. Peel (Bebington), forwards. Umpires Lancashire*. Mr. M. E. Ashcroft (West Derby); Cheshire, Mr. G. H. Morton (Brook- lands).

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I AGRICULTURE. j A "GREEN CHRISTMAS." The old saying respecting a green Christmas is familiar to everyone, but its assertion as to its accompanying circumstance, fortunately, has been exploded long since. A green Christmas betokens a mild atmosphere, a state of things necessarily favouring freer respiratory aotion for old people, and therefore oondueing to extension of health. If the converse were the case, as asserted by the old saw, the mortality at the present season would run the risk of being high enough in all conscience; but the returns of officers of health in the various districts do not tw-ar out such a state of things, but on the contrary shew smaller per oentagos of mor- tality. With the exception of a slight degree of frost on Christmas Eve, the weather has been accompanietl oy no suvcrtty, such as is supposed to give zest to tho season. The atmosphere has been fairly cool, with prevalent north and cast winds out as a rule the weather has remained dry, enab- ling town and country visitort3 to move about freely and with enjoyment, iioowithstanding the absence of frost a.nd snow. The intervention of the holidays has almost tis a matter of course put an end to all but absolutely necessary fai-ni work, except in a few instances where the zealous anel conscientious fanner tempted by the comparative dryness has turned tt furrow or two just tur luck." The first real snowfall of the season took place throughout luv emtjss-shire on the night of December J7th, the ground next morning bemg covered down to sea level, a depth of several inches. There was over two feet ot snow at the Ben Nevis Observatory, and at that station on the night referred to 16 degrees of frost were recorded. Flockmastersof the ) elistriot are much concerned, as the phenomina.lly wet weather has causeei grejat ruity of fodeler. A Reuter s telegram from Melbourne sttite4 that the Auatralian harvest this year is generally excel- lent, exceeding1 the prev ious forecasts. It is estimated that the total yield of the six Australian States amounts to 76,000,000 bushels the highest previous yield being 'l,uOU,OOO bushels. Through the act of an incendiary, Mr. Hum- phreys, of Gunrog Hall Farm, Welshpool, recently lost about £ 500, his farm buildings and thirteen, head of cattle being completely elestroyod. His neighbours shewed their practical sympathy by subscribing £ 143 to help him to make a fresh start. In consequence of the very trying time through which farmers have been passing, Mr. R. U. Graham, of Bcaulanda Park, near Carlisle, has j allowed his tenants a remission of tire per cent. in their year's rent. On a County Leitrim estate which has been in the land courts for 25 years tho tenants have paid no rent for over 10 years, and refuse to puronase their holdings. During the week ten steamers arrived in the port of Liverpool, bringing 3,573 cattle, 6,342 ti heep, and 17,780 quarters of beef from van OILS North and South American and Canadian ports, s hewing an. inarou-r. of 199 cattle, 1,097 she-ep, and a decrease of 2,217 quarters of beef on the pre- ceding week. So bad has boen the weather during the autumn that, harvesting- operations in both ¡!I(, Eugbtl and Scotch Border elisir.cus have only jus-t iJ.v' been brought to a close. The elùost. farmer m tho distriot cannot- remember such a late harvest. I "TH. DAY." •rroiessor triiciinst, who has been recently en- gaged in carrying out some milking- experiments for the Durham College of Science on live herds or portions of herds of dairy cows, re[K); i ed re- cenily, in an address to the Northumberland and Durham Dairy Farmers' Association, some facts which may be already known to most Cheshire dairymen, but winch may be worth repeating as confirmatory evidence. Thus, it is well known that the morning's milk is poorer in quuiicy than that taken during the latter part of the day, ami the Professor found that it was often under the standard of 3 per cent, of fat when the milking. were unequal. As a remedy, it is suggested that milking should take place three time's a day. Such an idea, however, if not entirely impracticable, would be found to be almost impossible <>f attain- ment, as well as adding to expense, to "ay nothing I of the elifficuity of inducing milkers to undertake the third operation. It was found in the course of the experiments that no variation in the feed- ing materially affected the proportion of butter fat, but it was found that at one of the locations, where the cows were on pasture, it requireel eleven quarts of milk to produce a pound of butter, whereas only nine quarts were requisite when they were housed during the winter. In another case it was found that when from 51b. to 81b. of concentrateel food per head pen- day was fed to animals on pasture the milk was a, rich in summer as in winter. j AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN LANCA- [ SHIRE. 11 he report of tile Agricultural Committee ot the Lancashire County Council states that there are more students in the agricultural classes this year than in any previous year. The number which eutered was 62. and tho average attendance had been 56. compared with 51 last year. The number of students who received instruction in the dairy and poultry schools at Hutton during the past year wa,-ln dairying, 84; in poultry keeping, 44; also at the migratory dairy classes, 120; and at. the migratory poultry classes, 75. During tho same year, 1.157 persons attended lectures in agricultural subjects; 2,674 attended lectures in poultry keeping: about 5,380 attended lectures on horticulture, beekeeping, and veter- inary science the total number of lectures given in this country on these subjects being no fewer than 270. Tho migratory dairy instructresses visited over 2CO farms, the migratory cheese in- structor 570 farms, and respectively gave instruc- tion and aelvice in the manufacture of butter and cheese. It will thus be seen that while 51 students attended the full course at tho Harris Insti- tute, the total number who attended definite courses of instruction under the Agricultural Department amounted to 375 students, and that under the same department the number of farmers, dairymen, and others who benefited by public lectures in the county amounted to 9,20Q. No fewer than 101 of the pupils who have at- tended the classes at the instituto since the system of agricultural education was inaugurated have obtained situations, some of an important and lucrative character. THE WHEAT CROP IN RUSSIA. The winter wneat crop ot Russia is officially estimated at 24,970.C00qr3.. as compared with aoll estimate of 27,445,000qrs. for 1902, believed in the trMk- to havo been greatly overset. The estimate of the spring wheat crop is not yet out. It is always much bigger than the winter crop. Ap- parently this year has not been a great one for wheat., a.s it, rule, in either of the two greatest producing countries—the United States and Russia. CATTLE RAISING IN AMERICA. A New York correspondent oa.Ils attention to the fact that this year, and particularly this fall, have marked the passing almost everywhere in the Middie-We^t and North-West of the big cat- tle ranches. The cattle-growing industry, he 93V3, has reaohed the stage of development where the va"t area -of plains that used to be utilised as ranges for tho herds are no longer profitable. After mentoILng several very prominent instances of this tho writer remarks that enclosures of the big ranges have been demolished, the Govern- ment land abandoned where leases could not be secured, and pastures fenced whe-re they could be leased. Several explanations are giveTh for the abandoning of the ranges. Ono is that they have become depleted, so that where two acres used to be- enough for the support of a single animal ten are now required. When the cattle first followed the buffalo on the range land gra-ss was thick. Continued grazing by the herds and a series of dry seasvns from 1893 till two years ago made the plains almost sterile. Of course, the range land can be replenished by the re- moval of herds for a few seasons, if there should be plenty of rain, but the cattlemen have di&- covered that another class of land pays better than the ranges. The great trouble cattlemen. use d to have was to cbtain water for their herds on tho range. The introduction of the windmdl brought relief where the cattle en- closures were permanent and confined to the uso of herds owned by a single man or company. No one wanted to erect mills for the use of another's herds, so the water problem was one of the first causes of the decline of the ranges where cattle cwned by dczens of growers fed indiscriminately. The growers soon made. anot her discovery-that, feed of higher quality and grejat quant ty could be raised on the mall, well-watered enclo ures, and that cattle fed here were heavier and tho beef of better quality than the rango-fod animals. Fencing the pastures is an expensive underiaking, and a slow one, but is bound to corne, because all the big catle- opera- tors are- reaching the conclusion that fat bec-f can- not be made on the open range at the same profit the pastures make possible.

A JJKUXKEN M.0TIIER.—At the City Police Court, on Tuesday, before Dr. Roberts and Mr. F. Skipwith, Mary Roberts, a woman from Liverpool, was charged with being drunk in charge of a child. P.S. Woods stated that at 8 o'clock on Monday evening prisoner was drunk in charge of a little child in Pepper-street. She had fallen down, and he had to get a handcart to eonvey her to the police station. Prisoner, who said she was very sorry, was dismissed with a caution on promising to leave the town.

<=tBSSN=B=R:!MSMsm*Taa=!F -).. t.i! m a Soups are made richer and more nourishing by the I addition of EOVRIL auôl J.on 0 ¡ Tell the Cook."