Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10

and I was sorry that 1 had put Frank
there; but 1t was too late to make any
change. for the train was just starting
The porter closed the door, and walked
along by the side of the compartment as
far as could, throwing kisses to my boy.
which he smilingly returned; and that is
the last I have seen or heard Of him. !
should have said that as lifted Frank in
to the compartment asked one of the wo-
men to see that he got out at the next
stopping station. and she promised to do so.
AFTER the train had gone I went home
and waited for the telegram which I had
asked Mrs. Edwards to send me, announc-
Ing Franks safe arrival; and soon after
o'clock telegram was brought to me, but
on! cannot tell you what my feelings were
when l read 1t; for, as you will see. 1t
stated that Frank had not arrived, and 1
felt sure at once that some misfortune had
happened to him.
AS Mrs. Fairholme spoke, she handed me
the telegram. which read follows:
MRS. FAIRHOLME.
'2. Colwyn Villas
"Rhyl
MET train. but Frank not arrived by it;
will meet next.
MARY EDWARDS"
II don't remember anything very clearly
for some time after reading the telegram
Mrs. Fairholme continued my sister tells
me that I tainted and remained unCon-
scious for a while. and when came to my
self the last train for Connah's Quay had
|. gone. I could not rest, however without
making personal inquiries about my boy,
and therefore arranged with my sister
that she should nurse my little girl: and /
came to Chester by the 10 o'clock mail,
and took conveyance back from Chester
to Connah's Quay, arriving at Mrs. Ed
wards house about midnight, and finding
| our old nurse almost as much distressed as
1 was myself.
Before leaving Rhyl had communicated
| with the local police, and did the same at
Connah's Quay in the early hours of this
| morning, and no doubt they are doing all
but thpt
| as my boy disappeared while travelling by
| II ain. I had better come to Chester and
| see Mr.. Waters as soon as his office opened
| this morning, and ask his assistance in the
| matter. and that is what have just done"
| 1t was necessary for me to ask Mrs.
| Fairholme several questions before I could
| feel was in possession of all the necessary
| particulars. From her replies to my que
| RES I CLEANED the following further iafor-
| nation:
| Mrs. Edwards had seen the boy once or
twice before. and would have no difficulty
in recognizing him, although the boy might
not so readily know her. The station mas
ter at Connah's Quay had confirmed Mrs
| Edwards statement that the boy did not
minute or so to look for the boy in some OF
the compartments, but could not say
| whether inquiry had been made in the par
ticular compartment in which the boy had
been placed. The carriage in which the boy
| travelled was in the front part of the train
about the second or third from the engine
She was sure she could identify the man
| who was at the farther end Of the COM
partment. His face bore a coarse. brutal
look, and was disfigured by an ugly seal
which extended right across his left cheek
| He was very dark. and had bushy beard
| but no mustache. One of the women in the
| compartment was stout, and had rnddy
face and red hands. and the other was
| quite young, and wore shade over one
eye. Frank was considered pretty cnild
He had golden hair, and was dressed in a
| Little Lord Fauntleroy suit covered by an
| overcoat of rough black cloth with brass
| buttons. and he wore sailor cap. She had
| sent his luggage by the previous train, and
| it had been received by Mrs. Edwards in
| due course. She had given him shilling
| to spend and he also carried a small eoio
| watch and silver chain. which had beer
| given to him short time previously. Ihe
| watch was old and not of great value, but
| Frank liked to wear it whenever ne could
and she had. perhaps rather foolishly, con-
scented to his taking 1t to Connahs quay
| Frank was rather proud of the watch, ano
| might, in his childish way. have taken II
| out of his pocket to look at while in the
| train 1t was the elder woman whom sne
| spoke to about seeing that the boy got gu,
| Of the next stopping station. She did no,
| think she gave the name of the station
She had told the boy that he was TO gel
| out at the first station at which the traif
| stopped and look out for Mrs. EDWARDS
| ybn he was to call nurse" She could moi
| say whether the man ana the woman were
friends travelling together, or strangers te
| one another.
the train had stopped out of course al
some station between Rhyl ana Cohn 1ial.,s
Quay, and that the boy had alighted there
ine the belief that he hau arilFeu d. his
destination.
l got time book and made notes Of the
timing of the train by which the boy nae
travelled. The train started from Bangor al
$40 p.m.. called at nearly all stations te
Rhyl and was timed from Rhyl to Chester
| as under.