arriving, "but is this Colonel Martin's
house?"

Mrs. Martin made no effort to reply and Mary reassured him.

"It's like this," he continued frankly. "I'm representing _The Daily
Rebel_, and I'm awfully anxious to get certain information for my paper. I
was speaking to Admiral Rogers just now and he told me I should probably
get it here if I tried. He said he could only give me a guess himself and I
had better come to headquarters. Madam," he bowed towards Mrs. Martin,
"will you kindly tell me if you are the famous ..."

Here Mary interposed. "My mother," she said serenely, "is not the Mudford
Blight. Nor is my father."

The young man wheeled on her.

"Then you ...?" he queried.

Mary hesitated, questioning her mother with a glance.

"My daughter," replied Mrs. Martin in a strangled voice, "cannot possibly
be the person you seek since she is not a Mudford resident. She lives in
London and is only staying here till to-morrow--at the latest."

Mary smiled radiantly and sent a wire later in the afternoon.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Young Miner's Mother_. "I CAN'T DO NOTHINK WIV OUR 'ERBERT
SINCE 'E VOTED FOR THE STRIKE. WEN I ASK 'IM TO RUN A ERRAND 'E SAYS IT
ISN'T A MAN'S JOB."]

* * * * *

THE GYNECOPHOBE.

"While crossing a field near Berwick a gamekeeper noticed a dear coming
in his direction and he took cover in a hayrick."--_Scotch Paper_.

* * * * *

"PARLOURMAID Wanted, afternoons, 2-6.30, galvanised iron, 50 ft. to 140
ft. long x 21 ft."--_Local Paper_.

It needs a girl with an iron constitution to support such a frame.

* * * * *

"For Sale, Clergyman's Grey Costume, latest style; also Jumper, never
worn."--_Irish Paper_.

The reverend gentleman appears to have jibbed at the jumper.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Village Umpire (advancing down pitch, after resisting two
appeals for l.b.w.)_. "YOU BETTER TAKE A FRESH MIDDLE, JARGE, 'COS IF 'E
'ITS 'EE AGAIN IN THE ZAME PLACE I SHALL 'AVE TO GIVE 'EE OUT."]

* * * * *

MOVEMENT IN THE MONEY MARKET.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,--I have been spending my holiday at a watering place, a
place that fully deserves its epithet. My London daily has been my only
entertainment, and towards the evening hours I have found myself wandering
about the less f