Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1906-07-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

JEFIX T. 15(36.   : ~.. '( " I '''  6rilfbat6A  V  JoIA 14 5144 vt .  " Well, it's no business of mine,' I replied; at the dame time, I'd like him to keep better company.  " None of your cheek,' said one of the men; just you get off home to your mammy, and let this chap enjoy himself with us.' "'Aye,' replied Joyce, 'let me enjoy myself. Come here,' he shouted, as I stood away. 'Come With a violent effort, he shook himself. Come here,' he shouted as I strode away, 'come here.' With a violent effort he shook himself free from the two men, and whispered in my ear, 'Yes, I'm going to enjoy myself, and now's your ehanco to see the fun.' Then, almost instantly, I rocognisad he T.. as as sober as I was, and was up to so.ne game, but I did not know what it could be.  "As h 3 lurched back to his chums, my mind was quicsly made up—l would see the thing through. " ` Look here,' he said, suddenly, 'I ain't going a step further without my chum goes.' " Oh, that's all right; your psi can go,' answered one of the men. 'Come on,' he added, turning to me, 'We are going to a place whore you'll be out of harm's way.' "I shall never forget our journey through the street=. Down alleys, through the worst slums in Cardiff, we hurried quickly along. Men of the bully type shouted and laughed at us as we passed by. Groups of coarse-looking, bloated, evil-faced women, surrounded by ragged children, shouted remarks as Joyce seemed to be led like a lamb to the slaughter. "Opposite to one of the dirty houses we came to a halt; this was the place they had brought us  to. "I gave a hurried glance round the dismal mom as we entered, and I knew we were in the bands of those who would not stop at murder to get hold of our cash. I cursed myself for being led into such a mess, and if anyone had asked me why I had taken such a foolish step. I couldn't for the life of me have told them. "Joyce fell to the floor, as if the journey had made him more drunk than ever. "I was aroused from my reverie by one of the men shouting, Here, Nell, bring us a can of beer; ' (Tie of these chaps will pay,' he added with a "At the sound of the woman's name I fancied I saw the face of Joyce undergo a change, and a r eculiar, sharp flash leap from his half-closed eyes "The two men chatted together until the return of the woman, and as I slipped a coin into her hand, Joyce half-raised himself up and gave a quick glance at the woman, then fell back into his former position. "Time slipped away, and I began to feel sick at the whole job, and wished I had minded my own business and gone home. "The two men drank-can after can of beer, and as I had to pay the piper, in order to steer clear of a row, I began to think seriously of trying to clear out. "At length the Men began to get a bit spliced and inclined for a row, glaring at Joyce and my. self as though bent on mischief. "I can tell you, chaps, although I did not know it, this was just what Joyce had so paticntly waited for; and it was as much a surprise to the two men as it was to myself when Joyce suddenly leapt to his feet, and planted himself in the door way. "The woman, who was about to fetch same more beer, let the ean fall, and gave a yell, as though she had gone mad; her eyes glared as she stood transfixed with borzoi.  stled'Ardroiroar oirollicrodrifilarowilir Ir iditi ,'0?"1 • 1-.0. , • 4 • 4,, ill ik Ilk ~4We4 a. 4. A'l,%, ASif.r4° t 1441. 0 . e" -tirr::, ,0 0 11l s'l '. '-. 1,. • 4rils• i el' A r...... • .... • \ ..ca. 0g- T tit E ... .. .., . %bet AO. ..... 16 lb. ..... ki. ... 66.... ---.: ~ • I. .----------==. ; , .1/4 -1/4 • ------ ----_---,----- -------1,--- A Aral. 16 . • BY ..• • I' -.....-•-"'".. \ I. I