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I 993?E [?"L BIGHTS BESBRVBDj…
993?E [?"L BIGHTS BESBRVBDj \U) ? XHB MAM HUMXI nil By TOM GALLON, 1(11 M Author of "Tatterley," "The Great Gay Road," &c. A> CHAPTER IV. THE SUBSTITUTE. Heater Wake sat up in bed, listening to the echoes of a sound familiar enough, and yet vaguely disturbing, that had just gone thundering through the house in Wedgwood Square. Even while she listened to the echoes of that postman's knock, she found herself wondering why there should be any- thing specially significant about it. The household always rose late in Wedg- wood Square; Mr. Litchfield was a man of leisure, and had no concern with the catch- ing of {rains to vulgar City haunts; he was seldom seen before mid-day. So that Hester Wake, creeping downstairs in her dressing- gown; was only seen by a maid crossing the hall on some small errand. Hester gained the hall table, and rapidly thrust aside the various letters until she discovered the one of which she was in search. It was from Manners. She knew the writing perfectly well, and she took up the letter and turned it over and over, looking at it on both sides as though she would pene- trate its contents. She noticed that it was the only letter addressed to Miss Grace Litchfield. At last, with a sigh, she dropped it back on the table, and went up to her room. In due course, after she was dressed, it became her duty to go to Grace's room to ascertain if that young lady required any services at her hands. This morning she tapped twice before permission was given somewhat sharply for her to enter. Grace made a beautiful picture, sitting be- fore her dressing-table, with her maid ar- ranging her hair. The dressing-table was in such a position that Grace, looking with in- scrutable eyes into it, was able to see Heeter Wake coming in quickly, with that curiously Btartled look in her eyes which they so often wore. "Good morning, Hetty," said Grace lan- guidly. "Good morning/' breathed Hetty. She was looking about for the letter, which was nowhere to be seen. So eager was that look that the other woman caught it in the glass, and spoke a little querulously. ,Vhat's the matter with you?" asked Grace. "Have ou lost anything? N o—no," stammered the other. And in her anxiety asked the question that had been on her lips all the time. "Did you have your letterr" Grace Litchfield twisted her head away from the touch of the maid's hands, bent forward over the dressing-table, and began moving the dainty silver things about. Her face was hidden. "Letter?" she asked, with forced carelessness. "What letter?" "There was a letter for you this morn- ing." faltered Hester. "Oh, ves, so there was," replied Grace, raisin her head with a little laugh. "Nctg ning of importance—only a wretched bill." Hester drew a quick breath and turned away, for she knew that Grace was lying. For some reason or other she desired to hide the fact that she had had a letter at all from Rodney Manners; and what reason could there be for that? Hester made an excuse, and went out of the room. Half an hour later Mr. Boyd Litchfield, in great excitement and a dressing-gown, thun- dered at his daughter's door, demanding to be admitted. He carried a newspaper in his hand, and be gan at once, after that exciting entrance, to assure her that there was nothing the matter. ""ow. my dear child, I beg that you will, pontile yourself, and that you will remain he said, flourishing the newspaper over l);s head, and walking up and down the rOO'/1 in a sort of jog-trot of excitement. All these things can be easily explained, no doubt; in any case, we've got to make the bes' of them. Ah—here's your mother," he exclaiined, as Deborah Litchfield came hur- riedly into the room, so T suppose that will save a double explanation. In these cases I always believe in coming to the point at once." Grace Litchfield still watched the glass be- fore her, and did not turn her head; Mrs. Litchfield sank down limply into an easy chair and looked with round eyes at her hus- band. Boyd Litchfield .twisted the ends of his moustache, smoothed out his news- paper between his hands, and cleared his throat. "You can both prepare for a very great surprise," ho said importantly. "It concerns you, Grace, intimately; but you are your father's daughter, and will bear yourself accordingly, I am sure. Rodney Manners is a ruined man That sense of the theatrical that was never absent from Grace demanded that at this point she should turn her head sharply and stare in some bewilderment at her father; demanded also that she should give a little gasp, and should exclaim with half a laugh and half a Bob: "Why, father dear, what are you talking ai,- Boyd Litchfield proceeded to details. London had wakened to the fact that that young financier who had astonished it for so long had turned out, to be nothing more nor less than a cheat and a swindler. His lia- bilities were enormous, and it was known that he had nothing wherewith to meet them. The companies he had floated"that were to have made the fortunes of all those con- nected with them, were mere bubbles, pricked by the newspapers this morning. It was already rumoured that Mr. Rodney Manners had fled from his responsibilities, and vas not to be found. A special inter- viewer had been to his house the previous evening, and had been informed by his man- servant that he had gone away, and had left no message. "It's exactly what I expected from the verv first," said Boyd Litchfield, banging the paper with the flat of his hand. "I never trusted the fellow; I never liked him. There -tias something about him that seemed to me to be not altogether trustworthy." "My dear Boyd—you've never said this before about poor Rodney," murmured Mrs. Litchfield. "My love-I am not in the habit of ex- fressing opinions concerning anything until I am asked for those opinions,v said Boyd Litchfield quickly. "I have not expressed an opinion, but I have alwayff felt in my own mind that Manners was not a man to be trusted." "We must not judge him too harshly, father," said Grace calmly. "You know what these newspaper people are, and how much they will make of mere rumour." "I suppose, my dear, you had no inkling c.f this at all?" suggested her father. "H? has not confided in you in any way ?" "I have not heard a word from him con- cerning his business—nor anything else. answered Grace quietly. I thought perhaps he might have written to you, my dear," suggested Mrs. Litchfield. "I have heard nothing from him, said Grace. "And now, if you two dears will just run away, the maid can come back again, and I can finish dressing. Please don't worry about it all," she went on, turning impul- sively to her father, we shall be sure to heurv something from Rodney before long." It was of course perfectlv natural that Murdoch Slade, as a friend of the family, should come that evening to the house in Wedgwood Square, to offer his most sincere condolences and to discuss the very painful matter. By that time the newspapers were alive with the thing, and Rumour, many tongued, was extremely busy. And then towards evening a new sensation had been added to the first one. A boy had been found brutally done to death in a mean street in Lambeth. There was no clue to his murderer; the body of the lad had been accidentally discovered by his landlady when, after repeated knockings, she had innocently decided that he must have overslept himself, and had done what she might have done hours before-opened the door of his room. And then, to crown it all, came the amaz- ing statement in an evening paper—-in the "stop press" column-—-that this supposedly •unknown lad was an office boy, or junior I clerk, in the office of the man with whose name all London was ringing. Mr. Murdoch Slade listened patiently and ceremoniously to Boyd' Litchfield as that gentleman paced up and down the room and twisted his grey moustache; listened pati- ently also to Mrs. Litchfield, droning on about human nature, and how little you could be sure of anyone in this world. But at last they went away, and the man and Grace faced each other. "Well?" asked Slade, jerking his chair towards her quickly, "what do you know?" "What do you want me to know?" she asked, with a little toss of her head, as she looked at him defiantly. He sprang up, and, as she had risen too, they stood for a moment looking at each other; then the man with a fierce gesture caught her in his arms and held her close. "I want to know—everything," he an- swered in a whisper. "I want to know any- thing—anything that shall set you free from that fellow. I shall not have worked in vain then." "What do you mean?" she asked, a little frightened. "Never mind that," he said. "What do you know? "Let me go, and I'll show you," she answered. He drew her closer, and kissed her fiercely on the lips before he let her go. She laughed a little, and drew away from him; searched for a moment with deft fingers in the sleeve of her dress, and drew out a folded letter. It was that mad letter written by Rodney Manners, and posted so unex- pectedly by his man-servant. He took the letter from her, and pulled it out of the envelope and read it. He read it through a second time, before quietly and thoughtfully putting it back into the enve- lope, and holding it out to her. "Well? she asked. "Has anyone seen that? was his counter question. "No one," she answered quickly. "What shall I do?" He laughed, and shrugged his shoulders. "A policy of masterly inactivity is your game, my dear," he said. "Let the fellow rot in the river for a day or two that letter may be delayed in the post, you know." It was at that moment that Hester Wake opened the door, and walked quickly into the room. She stopped in apparent confusion on seeing the two, and drew back with a mur- mured apology; but her bright eyes had glanced from one to the other with a lock that was half searching and half contemp- tous before she went out of the room, closing the door behind her. "I'm afraid of that girl." said Grace, with a little shudder. There's something strange about her I seem to feel her eyes watching me always. "Nothing to be afraid of in a humble de- pendent like that," answered the man, with a little laugh. "By the way," he added, "this seems a terrible business about this boy being killed—doesn't it? I wonder if it has any connection with the disappearance of Manners? "No; merely a coincidence, I should think," answered the girl. She drew closer to him, and looked over her shoulder at the door, and shuddered slightly. "Do you think—do you really think that they will find his body there!" she whispered. J There's not much doubt about it," an- I swered Slade. I'll say this for Rad.j Manners; he wasn't the sort of man to swear} to do a thing and then leave it undone." But the man who had sworn to do this thing lay that night in the half-ruined bun- galow at Charnley Weir. with his purpose still unformed. More than ever now he re- cognised how the thing had been bungled; saw that there was but the barest chance that anyone knowing him would declare that the tramp floating about in the river in Rodney Manners' clothes was Rodney Man- ners himself. There was no real likeness between them each was simply a fairly tall, fair man with a beard; there the resem- blance ended. There being no other course open to him, Manners had dressed himself in the tramp's shabby clothes-shuddering a little at the mere idea of touching them. The fact of putting them on brought to his recollection keenly the fact that everything of value he now possessed in the world lay at the bottom cf the river, in the clothes the tramp had stolen; he plunged his hands into doubtful pockets, and discovered, by great good Itick, a solitary shilling. When darkness had fallen he crept to an outlying public-house, and there bought bread and cheese went back to the bungalow, and made a meal; and after- wards slept. I The following morning saw him on the road to London. A train fare was not to be thought of; he must cover the distance on foot. It was a new experience to Rodney Manners, who had scarcely ever walked five miles at one time in his later life there was about it a new sense of freedom. And while he walked he wondered what was happening or had happened in London, and in what way the man in the river would come to be con- nected with it. He had started so early that he reached London in time to breakfast, for a matter of two or three pence, at a little coffee-house, and there, for the first time, in a stained newspaper of the previous day lie read what had occurred. Of his own disappearance, and the hue and crv after him of the piurder of the boy Arthur Brr.dsliaw, together with much more of fact and fiction touching the whole business. One thing only puzzled him, and he sat for a long time, glad of the rest and poor comfort of the place, ponder- ing over it. What had become of the letter? Here was Tuesday morning, and there was no mention anywhere of the fact that it was known that Rodney Manners contemplated suiide, and that his body would be found at Charnley Weir. The thing he had dreaded had not come to pass, after all; yet for what reason had the information been suppressed? If he knew anything of Grace Litchfield, she would be the first, on receiving that letter, to cry out her news to others; it was cer- tainly out of no consideration for him, or the memory of him, that she held it back. He could not understand it at all. He came out of the coffee-house, and stood in the street-a shabby, forlorn figure, with his cap pulled over his eyes, looking about him. More than ever he felt that he had dropped out from the world of ordinary men and things. A newspaper placard caught his attention, and while for a moment or two he looked at it as though it were something that did not concern himself, he pre.sently found the words dancing before his eyes, and burning themselves into, his brain. "The Lambeth Murder. A Clue." Even halfpence were growing short, but Manners bought a paper. He turned it over eagerly, and came to a paragraph that held his attention at once- "It has been discovered that the mm- dered youth was visited occasionally by a young girl, with whom he appeared to be on very friendly terms. It is declared that this girl was seen in the neighbourhood on the night of the murder. Active search is being made for her, and the police are said to have a clue." Instantly there leapt into his mind the thought of Hester Wake. She had been there on the night of the murder to whom else could the paragraph refer? He won- dered what she would do, and if by any chance she would step forward into the light of day, and make some effort to help to a solution of the mystery. is he stood there, looking at the paper, a man passing him glanced sharply at him, and then glanced again; Rodney Manners, startled, turned away. He wond-crd what would happen if by chance he was dis- covered now in London in an apparent dis- guise ho began to cast about in his mind what he had better do. A little shabby sign in the window of a house, the front room of which had been converted into a tiny barber's shop, seemed to answer the question one of 'he few coins he had left should be spent oci L --have. He was shabby even for that place, and the man who shaved him evidently regarded him with some suspicion that he should be willing to lose his beard and moustache. But in a little time he emerged from the place, feel- ing pretty confident that there was no one now likely to clap a hand upon his shoulder and say, You are Rodney Manners So you have to imagine the man as being for two more days lost in London. As so many others have done, he simply disap- peared among the great army of the sub- merged and was lost. Inl his own mind he knew that he was waiting and watching, until presently a declaration should be made, and that body ;be discovered; that was the one point he did not understand. He learnt one, the first time that public reading-rooms may be of use when one wants to discover news without paying for it; a little con- temptuously he followed bit by bit the meagre information given each day concern- ing himself. He read of the inquest on Arthur Bradshaw, and the verdict returned: "Wilful murder against some person or per- sons unknown." Scarcely knowing how he had got there, and feeling faint and sick and ill, he found himself on that third day on a country road leading to Charnley Weir. The desperate anxiety within him prompted him to go there again, in the frantic hope that some- thing had happened-something which would mean a winding-up of this business with which he was concerned. Setting his face straight towards that destination he went on and on, determined that if the worst came to the worst he would pluck out of the river that which it held. Meanwhile, Hester Wake had been watch- ful. Moving silently about the house, carry- ing her secret with her, she had watched Grace Litchfield and the man Slade at every opportunity. And, above all things, she was searching at every available chance for a letter. She found it at last, thrust away at the bottom of a drawer—a tragic thing among laces and gloves and ribbons. Stealthily she drew it out and pulled it from the envelope, and read what was written there, word by word, seeing in it all the tragedy she had not understood before. She let it fall at last with a little cry, and crouched on her knees and hid her face in her hands. For Rodney Manners was dead. In that place and in that attitude Grace Litchfield came upon her unawares. For a moment or two Grace stood there, taking in the picture; then the sight of the open drawer and of the letter in Hester's hand roused her; she sprang forward and snatched the letter. "What do you mean by this? she de- manded quickly. "Why do you spy upon me 5 Hester Wake had got to her feet; her eyes were blazing even through her tears. Why do you hide away such a letter as this, that tells us all what has become of him?" she de- manded. "Why do you leave idle people to chatter about him; why do you leave even his poor body in the river? Grace was slowly folding and unfolding the letter; she laughed a little at the other's wrath. "Would you like me to tell the world all that is written here? she asked. "Would you like everyone to know that he is dis- graced and has taken his own life? "They will know sooner or later," retorted Hester. You seem to take a great interest in him," sneered Grace. "How does it all concern you?" "In no way whatever," answered Hester in a lower tone. "Only he—he was kind to me; and there are so few people kind to ona in this world." "I suppose you'd suggest that you were in love with him?" "I might even suggest that," answered Hester with a sudden colouring of her face. The letter could, of course, no longer be kept secret; half an hour after that Grace ran, with admirably simulated terror and distress, to her mother and displayed it. In some unaccountable fashion the letter had got mixed up with others, and had lain un- opened until that moment. Did her mother think that poor Rodney could have carried out his threat? Mrs. Litchfield, trembling, was quite cer- tain that he had done so; this accounted for his complete disappearance. It was, how- ever, obviously a matter in which the aid of a man was needed; the good lady sent in a great hurry to fetch Boyd Litchfield from his club. As she gave a hint in her note that there was news concerning Rodney Manners, Mr. Boyd Litchfield, before start- ing, promptly telephoned to Murdoch Slade in the City, begging him to come with all speed to Wedgwood Square. So that quite a little conclave met to discuss that bus i- ness of the missing man. Murdoch Slade played his part admirably. He looked with a troubled face at that letter, the contents of which he already knew; he shook his head over it, and murmured that this was exactly what, he had exnected in the case of a man w ho, like Rodney Manners, had plunged so desperately, and had come such a heavy fall. "Well, what are we to do now? asked Boyd Litchfield nervously, when Grace had retired, weeping, with her mother. "Some- thing has to be done, you know." "We must go down to this place, and must hive the river dragged, and must find our man," replied Murdoch Slade. "It's a strange thing that nothing has been heard of him yet. Four days have gone by-I sup- pose there's no possibility that that letter is a hoax, and that he has got out of the country under the cloak of it?" "I shouldn't think so; Manners was always a fellow to keep his word," replied Mr. Litchfield fingering the end of his mous- tache. This will make a difference to you, Slade," he added, in a lower voice. Slade laughed. It'll make a difference to all of us, I fancy," he retorted, with a sly look at the other man. There are cer- tain things you and I will have to discuss; we can talk about them on our journey. Are you ready to start now?" (To be Continued.)
MISTAKES OF CRIMINALS.
MISTAKES OF CRIMINALS. Some good stories are fold of criminals who have blundered badly. In this con- nection, a Russian woman, calling herself Mrs. Stafford, shot M. Muller, the wealthy Parisian banker, in the Hotel Jungfrau, at Interlaken. She fired at her victim as he was reading a newspaper and killed him on the spot. Confronted with the body, she paid she was sorry. She had made a mis- take. She had taken him for M. Durnovo, a Russian Minister who was not too friendly towards Anarchists. "But," she added, "in such times as the present one life more or less does not matter." A similar case occurred in New York. Mr. J. W. Burke, of the Iron Workers' Union, incurred the enmity of a certain political gang of the baser sort because he had accused them of graft." The gang hired three criminals to murder him. The three went to a saloon, saw there a man whom they evidently thought was Burke, and shot him. Burke was not in New York at all that evening, and the unfortunate victim was Mr. Thomas Conroy, of the Plumbers' Union. Thieves make mistakes more frequently, and sometimes the results are distinctly humorous. A burglar broke into a house at Boston, taking no end of trouble to get in without making a sound. He reached the dining-room without disturbing anyone, col- lected all the silver, packed it carefully in a bag, and carried this out into the hall. A gleam from his electric torch fell sud- denly on a tall figure standing opposite, and the thief, in sudden panic, pulled out his revolver and blazed away. Two athletic sons of the house came racing downstairs, to find that the burglar had emptied his pistol into a life-sized bronze figure which stood in the hall. The blunderer had five years in which to repent of his foolish mistake.
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For stealing letters containing Treasury notes, Daniel Rolls, 51, an Aldershot post- man, was sentenced to niniv months' hard labour. The League of the Empire, 48, Catherine- street, S.W.I, is now amalgamated with the Over-seas Club, General Buildings, Aldwych, W.C.2. Said to have kicked a pit pony so badly that it would not go down a mine again, a young miner was at Dudley, Worcs, lined £ 3. About 1,500 of the present staff of 14,049 at the Ministry of Munitions are em- ployed at salaries of £100 a year or less, states Mr. Kellaway.
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To fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. C. Luxmoore Drew, coroner for the western district of London, the Public Con- I trol Committee recommend Mr. H. R Oswald with a salary of £ 1,500 a year. Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P., at Portsmouth said it was essential that Germany, and ultimately Russia, should have their accredi- ted representatives on the Dengue of Nations if it was to be made a factor for guarantee- iug the peace of the world. The seas between Sweden and FIII!L have now becH swept clear of mines. Antwerp is to be used for the discharge of wheat from South America to Germany.
I-I THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN.…
I I THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN. I "Fruits that blossom first will first be ripe. Othello. 1 i Trimming Hedges.—Privet hedges are CUT several times uuring the i-rason. When holly, yew, and box hedges are cut only once during the year, this is the time tc attend to the work. If cut now the hedges make sufficient new growth to assume an attractive yet trim a ppearance for the winter. # # Sweet Peas.—The sweet pea is beautiful In the garden and for cutting for va.se decora- tion. By close attention to cultivation an abundant supply of bloscoms can be ex- pected to early October. Mulching with de- cayed manure, feeding with fertilisers, watering during dry weather, and picking off all the old lfowers to prevent seeding, are important cultural detai.s. 91 Propagating Pinks.—One of' e:J sees laige clumps of pinks struggling to exist with never a thought on the part of the grower to replace them with better plants. This is surprising when propagation is so simple. Cuttings may be taken immediately after flowering )s over, prepared in the usual method, and inserted somewhat elcsely in lines under a north fence. If dry, water- ing is necessary. Rooting is helped con- siderably by adding plenty cf grit. Young plants not only give a better appearance to the borders, but produce flowers much finer and bigger than from clumps which have become aged. Another way to increase the stock of pinks is to divide the old plants in September and replant the best portions without delay. St. Brigid Anemones.—Some find more pleasure in raising plants from seeds than in purchasing roots. Seeds of the St. Brigid, poppy, and other anemones should be sown within the next month. Prepare a well- drained, deeply-dug bed of rich soil, scatter the seeds thinly and evenly over the sur- face, and cover with about half-an-inch of fine soil. If, owing to their fluffy nature, there is any difficulty in sewing the seeds, mix with sand to assist in scattering them over the surface evenly. Budding Roses.—This is the sea.son to bud rcses. The state of the stocks (briers) must decide the exact date, local and weather conditions obviously having some effect. Watering copiously is recommended to make the wood run readily for inserting the buds. While plump, dormarft buds from any part of the growths may 1>& selected for budding, specialists consider that the best blooms the following season are obtained from the second and third leaf-buds, on shoots which have just borne well. # # Snowdrop.—A few snowdrops in pots and small bowls of fibre are worthy of attention. No heat is necessary; they are invaluable in the cold greenhouse, and should also be grown in light windows. Place five or six bulbs in & 4in. wide pet, and nine or ten bulbs m a pot 5m. wide. OrvTicary sandy soil is suitable. Elwes' Giant (Snowdrop is the best; plicatus and robustus l-aay also be grown; they add variety and interest. Late Runner Beans.—The long- drought did not do these good, except where water was given regularly. It is not too late to make a final sowing, from which beans will be produced in early autumn. As the season is advanced now and time is precious, in- stead of taking out a trench, try dibbling the beans in alongside each line of sticks instead of pulling up the sticks. It is easier to do this on the inside of the sticks. The pea haulm, of course, will be cut off close to the ground, and removed or left as de- sired. Tall sticks should be fixed later, or the beans could be topped as soon as they reach the height of the sticks. # Room Plants.—Ladies who take a keen in terest in their room plants sometimes find it difficult to arrange for their care during the holiday season. Stand palms, ferns, and aspidistras in an inch of water in a bath, though if the keys can be left with a gardening neighbour it is much better. Should the plants be transferred, during the absence of the owner, to a greenhouse, stand them on the shadv side of the greenhouse, remembering that the light is subdued in a room. Cineraria.—A cold frame, sheltered from the midday sun by a wall or hedge, is the best position for the cineraria. Spread coal ashes ever the ground to form a cool moist bottom on which to stand the pots and pre- vent worms entering the hole in the bottom. About this date move into a larger pot. A suitable compost for potting consists of fibrous loam, adding leaf-mould, coarse sand, wood ashes, and decayed manure. When recovered 'from the repotting leave the frame-lights off at night. The Tiger MusHs.—It is best to sow seed s of the large flowered mimulus, or musks, in August, wintering in a cold frame. When sown in spring the season is advanced before the tufts are nicely in flower. Most florists offer a selected strain. Plant in moist oil. Many people imagine that the musks can only be grown by the side of a pond or in some similarly damp place, but they will thrive in a border if kept moist. Silver Leaf in Plum-R.-If there is no time at present for removing trees suffering from silver leaf, those affected should be marked for lifting and burning in the autumn. Branches diseased may be cut out, and for a time the trouble may 5e lessened, but once a tree is affected barn it. # Red Spider on Wall Trees.—Attacks of this pest are usually the result of im poverished soil. iifforts must be made to have the roots in condition by applying water and stinillialit-i to the soil as required. When an attack has taken place, c-learwater J must be used: use an insecticide also. Gathering Fruit.—Early varieties of appJe and pear will b{) ripening, and mu-st. be gathered in time to prevent falling-. Some of the early dessert apples are of no value for storing, and should be used at once. W hen gathering for travelling, fruit should be secured before it is quite ripe. # J Apple Lord Grosvenor.—The fruits of 1 this sort are often so crowded on the trees as to become cf little value. If the crops were ir^ff "gathered and half allowed to mature we should hear less expressed with this variety. The fruits are quite good for use in various ways now, in- cluding the tnalung of jelly. # # • Plums on Walls.—Trees of these on walls may now be summer-pruned. Do not cut the side growths too hard, but leave about five large leaves at the base of eavh. Allow all the extent-ion possible, tilling up all available space with young shoots cf mode- j rate strength. Cut out strong growths, and do not stop l-eading shoots unless the wall space is covered. Tomatoes -,Il -These plants are now yielding plenty of ripe fruits, and should be gathered quite soon, in order to give the other fruits every chance of swelling and maturing. Apply a top-dressing of decayed manure now, and give applications of liquid manure about every ten days. Shorten some of the foliage a little, but do not overdo this, otiuT'.vIse many fruits will split owing to the increase d moisture they receive. # # Rhubarb.—New beds formed by planting single eyes in spring, or from seed sown. later, should be kept free from weeds, and during dry weather be given copious sup- plies of water. Where this is done good crowns will be built up for next year. # Winter Onions.—Get these out of the ground as soon as the tops show signs of drying off. The ground these occupy may he filled with a good variety of broccoli, no digging being necessary, but where weeds exist destroy these with tho hoe previous to planting. 1 # # J Turnips.—During hot weather use the hoe frequently between rows of these. particu- larly where the little plants are only a few inches high. Thin out when rain is ex- j pected. Rows intended for exhibition should be freely watered during dry wc-ather. Exhibition Potatoes.—In exposed districts the most promising plants should have the haulm bupported by stout stakes and strong twine. Then these plants will keep their foliage until the end of the season: a great consideration where the size of the tuber is the object. Peas -The I 1-irove. Peae —The next few weeks usuallv prove to be very trying for rows of peas expected to give pods for an August show. Plenty of moisture at the roots and frequent overhead syringeing will help to ward off mildew, and at the same time ensure the pods beinf filled with peas free from the objectionable maggot so frequently seen just -now.
CHARACTER IN THE FACE.
CHARACTER IN THE FACE. It is generally recognised that the charac- ter of a person is written in the face, and more especially is it shown in the size and shape of the head. Men and women with thick, short heads will cling tenaciously tc life, fight against and resist disease, fight for their rights, and will be bold and cou- rageous. The best g-uide to a person's mental capacity is the forehead. The forehead of the genius should have between the eye- brows fairly short, perpendicular wrinkles, or twin wrinkles. The eyebrows should be clearly defined and regular. The possessor of such a forehead, whether man or woman, will be an exceptional character, endowed with exceptional mental gifts. At the same time, he or she might be an ideal husband er wife; in a financial capacity—as business partner, for instance—he or she might be disastrous; as an underling or servant the owner of this forehead would be a tragic failure. Has your forehead few undulations and indentations: has it a smooth skin and sur- face, no arches or wrinkles? Then it denotes a very mediocre mind, few brains, and of poor quality, a lack of ideas, and a mind unable to plan or evep think for itself. Fairly long foreheads, with wrinkleless, close-drawn skin, which remains passive and unbroken, even in moments of deep emotion, joy or sorrow, belong to a cold, suspicious, often severe, always selfish, and usually a mean and conceited individual.
BEWARE OF THE MORMONS.
BEWARE OF THE MORMONS. A word of warning must be given to the public, especially to young girls, who may be tempted by the specious tales of the Mormon "missionaries" now in this country. In a case reported a day or two ago it was stated that a young girl got in league with these people, and wanted to go to America, but her parents objected, especi- ally opposing her going to Utah, the Mormon State. Her first application for a passport on May 19 wes refused; on the 26th she again applied. In June she applied a third time, and subsequently appeared to have written out a document from her parents' address, and forged their names, stating that they con- sented to her going to the United States to marry. Girls whose heads become filled with the foolish doctrine presented by these emis- saries of the late Brigham Young stop at nothing-not even forgery. It cannot be too emphatically pointed out that if once a girl becomes attached to Mormonism, and should be unfortunate enough to get to Utah, her future is doomed.
TINNED TONGUE.
TINNED TONGUE. The other day a little Battersea girl was taken to the Anti-Vivisection Hospital with her tongue firmly fixed in the neck of a tin metal-polish bottle. First the doctor took off the bottom of the tin, but this was no good. Finally, he gave the child a whiff of chloroform, and deftly snipped the tin bottle from base to neck. The tongue was painful for a little while, but no real harm was done.
AtR POSTMANS ADVENTURE.
AtR POSTMANS ADVENTURE. A flying officer (whose name is given as Murphy) who was carrying the post from England to Cologne, fell into the North Sea, owing to engine trouble. He was picked up by the Dutch steamer Agneta, and taken to Brunsbuettel, near Cuxhaven. Of the nine mail bags seven were saved by the steamer. The aeroplane was lost.
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Most of the ships of the Fleet, which have left Southend, have gone to home ports to give their crews a fortnight's leave. Myriads of locusts appeared in Rio c., e Janeiro, and sections of the city were be- clouded. Traiins are moving with great difficulty.
THE POULTRY YARD tI (uj Helpful…
THE POULTRY YARD tI (uj Helpful Hints for "Backyarders." By "COCKCROW." l(|j I i ii, can well be made addi- Poultry farming can well be made addi- tionally prontabi? if only care and discre- tion are used in the employment of scra? frcm the home table for the feeding of the birds. In many homes the table scraps are consigned to 'the dustbin, but the wise pouiii/y-Keeper, LiAe is ali -,(,L .vi economising, will see to it that his birds have them. When the wife or mother pares the potatoes, shells the peas, or skins the beans, tell her to put the waste aside for your birds. From a dinner-table there is alfiost sure to be a few pieces of fat meat, especially where there are children in the home. All these things should be saved for the birds. It is a good plan to have an old pail purposely for such things. They form valuable additions to the soft food, and considerably reduce the cost of keeping the birds. To every vegetable that is grown almost there is a certain amount of waste, and in nearly every case this waste can be used for the feeding of fowls. Such waste is not only an economy, it provides a valu- able medicine for the bird". There is much nutriment in it. and it therefore assists in I the production of eggs, which is what we all want when we keep only a few birds. I FRESH FOOD. Of course, it goes without saying that all the waste foodstuff used must be absolutely fresh. Some poultry-keepers give their birds the leaves of cabbages that are yellow in oolour. That sort of food does not do them a scrap of good-in fact, the proba- bility is that it does them harm. Of course, whatever food is given to the birds must be fresh, otherwise you are courting dis- aster. Let the greenstuff be fresh, and if you give them bits of fat meat that would otherwise be wasted see that it is not tainted, for stale food will seriously affect the health of the birds, and also cause the eggs to t3.ste nasty. The same applies to the food you have to purchase. Let it be the best procurable, and you will reap the benefit. True, food that is of inferior quality will feed the birds' crops, but the result will be anything but satisfactory. Remember, if your birds lay an average cf two eggs each per week, you are on the profit side. Some poultry-keepers dispute this, but it is a fact which has been proved. I DOT OVERFEED. Whilst on this topic of feeding it is hardly necessary to remind you of the fault so common among amateur poultry- keepers. and that is overfeeding. The birds should be given work, and plenty of it; this is conducive to the health of the birds and producing of a large number of eggs. If you have not a scratching shed, scatter the grain foods and grit over a larsre area of grass, etc., so that birds will be obliged to earn their meal. Never throw more food down than they will clean up at a meal, and never give wet, sloppy mash. With a hot mash (crumbly) of sharps and bran for breakfast, mid-day meal of house scraps and last feed of various grains, hens should do well on an average grass run. I KEEP OFF LONG GRASS. If the poultry have facilities for a grass run, it must be borne in mind that voung broods of chickens should not be "allowed to run out in the long grass, as by so doing they are exposed to the risk of inflammation of the lungs through becoming wet. There is also the danger of their consuming the small insects which are found on the bladM of the grass in the early part of the day, and these, in many cases, have proved to be the forerunners of £ rapes. It has been found that chickens which have been reared on gravel paths or on short rass. which has been regularly gone over with the lawn- mower, have rot suffered from gapes at all, whereas those fed in the same way. but which have been on long grass, have been badly affected and many losses thereby occasioned. Ii ISOLATE THE AJXIXG. Wise poultry-keepers will prevent dis- ease breaking out among the birds. This can only be done by observing scrupulous cleanliness in the runs, and by periodically ex.nining each bird. Directly any biI-d shows signs of ailing it should be isolated. No matter what the complaint, separate it from its companions, for fowls are most susceptible to disease. Birds that ail can be discerned by the drooping habit they adopt. When you notice this, place the sufferer in a coop by itself, and commence treatment at once for whatever disease or complaint it is suffering. It is alwavs as well to have at hand a few of the simple remedies that one sees advertised. To pre- vent illness breaking out among- yonr nock as much as you possibly can. observe the simple rules of hygiene. That is, allow plenty of fresh air to enter the runs, do not stint the birds of sunlight, and let the runs be kept clean and fresh. Remember. cleanli- ness means a fuller egg basket, whilst stuffy surroundings encourage and harbour dis- ease. J KEEPING THE EGGS. When eggs are plentiful they should be laid down for the winter when not more than a week old. Butter them carefully <IiI over; place in a basket—not a box—and leave in a coo] place or cellar. If you wish to render eg-g-s unfertile, place them in cold water for twelve hours. At the same time they will keep clean and bright for an ordinary market. This hint is useful to persons who have a special breed and not sufficient orders for egg", for setting. I SELECTING STors DeCKS. If ducks are to be kept for stock next season, thev should 1" picked through most carefully. In a hrooo one notices that some are right away ahead of the others. These should at once be marked in some way. and kept for breeding from. Many are unable to tell a duck from a drake until the tails appear. An easy method to adopt, how- ever, is to attempt to catch one out of a The birds will all run off, making the most frightful noise. Listen carefully, and you will notice that the ducks quack distinctly, but the drakes only make a com- paratively subdued rather hoarse, and sounding as if their throats were stuffed up with cotton wool. Thus vocally, says a contemporary, will a bird I v -,jig E its Bex.
I DANGERS OF IHQH HEELS.
I DANGERS OF IHQH HEELS. A Paris Health authority points out that narrow .1 and high heels not only prevent the proper balance of the body and free movement of the muscles, but are the cause of hammer-toes, bunions, ccrns, weak musc les, falling arches, many of the back strains from which women suffer, and > much of the eve-strain and nervous rrita- i ?m-? ity. Great members of denths and crip- phiigs still resulting, the Paris Academy of Medicine has a* ppealed for au end of high heels. ¿
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In Italy, Fiance, and Germany the "in- teruatioDaI strike" has proved a failure. Eight hundred interned Germans will be shipped from Canada to Rotterdam. L.C.C. tram fares are to be revised in six months.
IPENSION PROBLEMS:i HOW TO…
I PENSION PROBLEMS: HOW TO SOLVE THEM. I By AN EXPERT. Bewnre of Unfair Imputations, for Oui Country Deserves Its Fair Name—Recent Announcements Affecting Naval Payanc Demobilisation—The New Medals and tht Order of Precedence—Pensions Adminis- tration. FREE ADVICE TO OUR READERS. The other day I saw a discharged soldici soliciting alms, accompanied by a piano organ which displayed a card having on it the word- "The inevitable reward cf the British hero." I have reason to know that this case has been dealt with according to the man's just claims. The incident, how- ever, gives me an opportunity of making plain the situation in general as it appears to me. First of all, we must clearly understand that a pension is not intended be be. and can never be, designed as a reward for patriotism, but only as some compensation for disability brought about by active ser- vice. Patriotic service is something every sitizen owes to the State :n its time of need, and it would be an impossibility to gra-dc such service in terms of cash. To most men who have served such an iittempted valua- tion would be an insult, while those who expected full payment for doing their duty wculd of necessity be disappointed by the assessment. For theoretically all the money that the combined industry of those con- cerned in commerce have ever created, would be inadequate to foot the bill. # Since last I wrote some official announce- ments have been made affecting several im- portant matters. First of all, I am glad to note there will be improvements in the rates of full, half, and retired pay of naval officers, a richly-deserved recogni tion < i what they have done in co-operating with "Jack" of upholding "Britain's sure shield" against our enemies. As t<- the position of demobilisation, certain far-reaching changes will be carried out on the assumption that peace is ratified by August 1 next. The Army of the Rhine will be reduced from ten divisions to two by the late autumn, a re- duction effecting the saving of about 150,000 men. Then all troops in Russia, except those who volunteer to join the Military Missions, will be brought home before the winter. Those who were in North Russia during last winter will, it is anticipated, start for home in September, always except- ing isuch men as volunteer to stay. Further, nearly 2t«,000 men will be released from the Home Establishment as German prisoners return home, the wounded re- cover, and demobilisation proceeds. Thus, by the end of the year, the British Armv, which is now 1,200,000, will be reduced to half that number. There are, however, two parts of the world where we cannot at pre- sent reduce our armies at all, in the Middle East, including Egypt, and in India, where the Afghans and Bolshevik agents arc making trouble. Arrangements are being made, and are in course of execution, to relieve the men who have been on duty there for such a long period. (Next week I shall publish details regarding precedence for re- lease from the Army, the order in which meu will be released.) New medals will be issued as follows: The British War Medal to all men who have left their native shore, in any part of the Biitish Empire, whether they eventually entered the theatre of war or not. The Inter-Allied Victory Medal for all those who entered the theatre of war. The Mercantile Marine War Medal, for those men of the met chant service who have entered certain danger zones. Women on the strength cf an organised force, if thev have entered a theatre of war oa dutv, will be entitled to both the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, but those belonging to any inde- pendent organisation recognised by the authorities in any theatre cf war, will re- ceive the British War Medal only. This will be the first medal to be struck, and not till that is completed w'll the Victory Medal be put in hand. The precedence of the various etars and medals connected with the war is: 1914 star, 1914-15 star, British War Medal, Mer- cantile Marine War Medal, Victory jMedal. cantile '4ariiie 1,N a,r Alcdal, Vic tc, r Iv e  a 1. The Peace celebrations being over—and 1 hope you all had the time of your live,- we have to think stedih. of the task that is before us. The peace will be what we make it. If we break up into groups and sections, and waste time, strength, and money in disputes that ought to be settled by arbitration, it will be a bad dav fcr the boys who are finding their feet agaiu in civil hfe. Union is strength, as the old g'Cs, and it is as necessary to-day that we should be a united nation, as ever it was during the time when the war raged. H,ii- d w-c,-r k is the l'o' Hard work is the road to prosperity, and that should be accompanied bv goodwill to men, especially to all those who have b-en through the fiery trial together. To Lern nothing from experience is the penalty cf fools. Now a word or two about the medical side of the Pensions administrate n. The Minis- try is actuated by the principle of giving preference to medical men who left tneir practices to serve in H.M.'s Forces. As to Medical Boards, instructions were issued some little time ago gradually to replace whenever possible civil practitioners who have not served by demobilised officers. Appointments to the post of Medical Referee will be reviewed and thrown open to the eaddidature of ,all practitioners in every district, when all or the bulk of the doctors who have served have returned to the dis. trict. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. I A. W. S., Sandwich.—You had better re- port this matter to the nearest Local War 1 ensions Committee. Go and see the secre- tary, if the office is not too far away. The post office will give you the address. W A. A. M., West Haugham.—I under- stand that arrangements are now bcing made for you to receive the training you require. It is :alc:o reported to me that in the opinion of the Medical Branch cf the Ministry to whom your case was specially submitted, you are in receipt of the appro- priate amount of pension in accordance with the extent of disablement. Hope things are better with ycu now. 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, and full lia- bilities. Do not send any documents, birth certificates, or discharge papers, etc. Will correspondents please make a point of sending tneir regimental number, rank, name, and regiment?