The Cotton Factory Times. — 1911-12-29 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

FRANK MAYNARD.  SYNOPSIS OF OPINING CHAPTERS.  Jake Dagton, a notorious crizninal and exconvict, is dying in a Liverpool lodging-house During his illnese—which he knows will be fatal— he has written a confeseion of murder committed in the West. Riding of Yorkshire eighteen years before, and placed it, along with some documents stolen from the body of his victim, under his pillow. Several men had been arrested on suspMion of having committed the murder, but all had been diechargel. Dagton, desirous, the confession shall reach the hands of the police after his death, entrusts it to a new arrival at the lodging-house, a young fellow whose eyes remind him of eorneone—that someone being a wonian whom he had deceived and disgraced yea. before. The young fellow gives his name an Bill lic.rsley. In reality his name is Ilemden, and he is the illegitimate son of the exconvict and the woman whom the latter deceived. His has traced Dagion to the lodging-house intent on avenging his dead mother'e wrongs. An he secures the papers he bends over the bed and discloses his identity to his callous father, who, a little later, dies hit Haggles, the lodging-house keeper, who has been listening at the door, goes for a doctor, and in her absence the young fellow departs, taking with him the papers. J4.sie Ainsworth, a handsome girl of twenty, employed in the cardroom of a 'Bolton mill, is protected from the ineults of Dan Gaskell, a "carder" at the same mill. by a young fellow named Leonard Armitage, who has lately been appointed manager at Calton Pit. Jossie's stepfather, James Hadley, a miner at the pit, publicly chastises Gaskell for his conduct. Armitage falls in love with Jeesie, but the name of Ainsworth recalls with vivid foroe an unpleasant memotry. Eighteen year before a man of that name had been murdered and robbed, and his (Armitage's) father had been suspected of committing the crime. The young fellow ascribes the similarity of name to mere coincidence. Florence Armitage, a girl about Jectsie's age, come; from Yorkshire to keep house for her brother, and during a walk with him she recognises in a young miner named Hendon, recently taken on at the pit, a man she loss seen in Ilalifax obtaining information about the murder of which her father was suspected. She tells her brother, who, a der or two later, asks Hernden if he has been in Halifax recently. Ile says "No," ancl turning away draws from his pocket a small wallet containing the papers entrusted to him by Jake Dagton. muttering as he flees so--" Yee, they're here safe enough—to put the 'screw ' on hini when I want." _  Arinitage, after telling the remit of Ito conversation with Hemden, takes a. stroll and Fees Jessie Ainsworth in amiable conversation with a young man. Battling with love and jealousy he miubles on over the moors, and arrives home late. Jessie. the 1.1110 night, learns from her mother that her father—partner in a Yorkshire worsted fire—haul met his death by murder on the high road near Ilalifax. Previous to his death he had withdrawn from the bank one thousand pounds, of which no trace could be found. Ile had lent the money, it was understood, but there was no documentary evidence forthcoming to show who had borrowed It. The murderer had never been discovered. .  -Lian-iiLkell, the villainous foreman at the mill where Jessie is employed, receives his dismissal, and vows to burn do;vn the building. Florence Armitage, standing at the door of her home, 13006 Bill kleuiden deal one of his workmates a cowardly blow. She calls him a brute, whereupon he retorts that he may be a brute, but he never killed another man to rob him. A few minutes later a great change takes place in him; he is abashed, penitent. On leaving he picks upit knot of ribbon that had fallen from Florrie's droes and places it carefully in his pocket. Morrie sees the action. She and Jessie become friends. They ar:ange a walk to Barrowbridge, the "deserted" village. Lc(utard Armitage follows them, and se, Jessie in conversation with the same young fe;low who had aroused his jealousy. His name is Holding. The four walk over the moors and Jcssie suffers a slight injury to her foot. Armitage ell pp orts her, and asks if he shall call Holdil,g• --Why should you?" ghe asks. •