Near the thriving new suburb just opposite on the south bank of the Yangtze, a woman on her way to take the ferry to cross to the city to make some purchases, was accosted by two friendly-looking young dames, who inquired casually where she was bound for. On being informed-of the purpose of her visit and of the fact that she carried a certain sum of money for her shopping the two strangers made as to pass on. But. suddenly, one seized her by the throat while the other stuffed her mouth with raw cotton, and dragged her into the ditch beside the road out of sight. Not being satisfied with rob ing the poor woman of her money, but to ensure that she would not pursue them. they removed all her clothes, and rolling them into a neat bundle went on their way.
An old fisherman passing that way shortly afterwards discovered the unfortunate creature crouching in the ditch, vainly trying to cover her nakedness with stray stalks of dry grass. The old man, thinking her demented, reproached her for her unseemly appearance; but she at once informed him of her misfortune. On hearing this tale he hurried on in the direction the miscreants had taken. He soon overtook them and berated them for such treatment of one of their own sex, and threatened to _dr: them off to the yamen if they di not return immediately and, restore the poor woman's clothing. Their answer was to draw a.long knife and stab the old man to death.
There followed a little later two younger men with carrying poles who came upon the unfortunate woman by the roadside. She repeated her story to them and urged that they hurry after the old fish-' erman. Jncredulously they went forward, but when they stumbled upon the bloody form of the old man they lost no time in taking up the pursuit of the thieves. After a hard chase they came up with them and immediately fell upon them with their heavy pien tan, one blow of which broke a leg of one of of the women. They bound them and delivered them up to the river police who brought them to Anking.
THe announcement is made of the engagement of Miss Alice Gregory and Mr. Hubert Langley, both of Kobe. It is understood that the marriage will take place in March. Miss Gregory, whose home is im Toronto,. Canada, is teacher of French in the Canadian Academy, having been in, Japan about nine months. Mr. Langley is on, the staff of the Mutual Traders, having resided in Japan for the last 12 years with the exception of a period spent at Oxford and on service in France during the War.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.