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THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1954..
DEADLY WEDLOCK : Fourth day
MENACE
THE DOOR BELL` RANG
Then I knew this was it
T
NICKIE, a famous model, discovers that her husband Dr. BRISTOL ROBERTS has murdered LYDIA CLIFFORD, As she cannot give evidents against him while still his wife she decides to divorce him--and send him to the gallows. She knows that if he guesses her plan be will kill her too. And then, in court, the **** JEFFREY BARING, a man she once loved, inspector RAYNER, of Scotland Yard, questions her about Lydia Clifford's death, Now NICKIE has returned to her flat to find someone waiting there in the darkness.
By
LEONARD MOSLEY
Wednesday. that this was it. I went
HE trouble with across and opened it, and being a woman is outside was the little spy-
you never and Bristol. really get over Į man you have once loved.
that
In those first few seconds
in the darkness of my flat,
Jeffrey wanted to make a row, but there was no use doing that The little man took down and finally
ΠΟΥ,
all the particulars,
I pushed them all out, then
as the arms came around flung myself on the divan and
my
waist, I
wanted to bagun to cry.
I scream in panic because thought that it was Bristol, and was terrified of what he had come to do.
The ball rang again, and when I opened the door Bristol was there, but alone this time. He looked
pale and grim. "Let me come in he said.
"No. for help."
Get out or I'll scream
He pushed his way past mc. "Don't be
be a fool. You'r quite safe here. I want to talk to you." He swung know why you're trying to
me. "Nicola, divbre:
round on
But then I recognised the feel of those arms, the smell of the face lotion, and I just could not help relaxing for a second or so in relief that it was not Bristol but Jeffrey Baring; lay there in his arms, remembering a covered you can testifying against time (it seemed so long ago me about Lydia Clifford-once You want to see now) when an embrace you are free. from this man had been the me hang for murder," delirious height of bliss.
Abruptly I jerked myself free and rushed over to the light. Jeffrey still stood by the door, smiling at me; the same handsome, happy- go-lucky, superficial, and unreliable Jeffrey.
"How could you do this I said. to me, Jeffrey ?" "Get out quickly, before I call someone to throw you out!"
me. You've
60W
dis-
"Yes," I sold.
*You
a Scotland Yard detective this morning. did you tell him?"
What
lustration by ROBB
HE MOVED ACROSS
-I
BACKED AWAY
long as Bristol Iloberts was alive and free 1 would never be safe. But how could 1 prove him guilly-and prove my own innocence as well?
murderer, and the Director of Prosecutions would call a special court at the bedside of Edmund Clifford to get his statement on record before he dies, And then we should prepare for the trial."
When I went into the court this morning I saw Inspector Rayner waiting for me. He' I looked him straight in the "Nothing-yel," I said. "But looked at me reproachtully. "I eyes. "Inspector, believe me. I he knows about Lydia. Edmund tried to Clifford has called in the poilce Inspector," I said.
And you yesterday, will do my best to help. But n "But I missed lot depends on what happens in
I and talked."
you and well, I was distraught this court-and on other things. and-"
Give me until tomoITOW."
THE THREAT
50
pRISTOL made
derisive D
gesture. "That little jipsqueak. He's a dying man. anyway.
"That's all right," he said. smiling. "Perhaps we could have our little talk today?"
DETERMINED
He hesitated and then: "All right. 1 think I know now why you so desperately want this
divorce."
to
DON IDDON'S DIARY
GOODBYE TO
1
THE BOOM
W
Philadelphia, Tuesday. player."
"Nineteen
ASHINGTON makes fifty-three cars, brand-new, the laws, New York never used, guaranteed, at makes the money, almost cost. We must get bit Philadelphia makes the rid of these cars to make goods — at least, many of room for the 1954 models.” them. I have heard this
claim many times when I I wanib surprised to hear the ears. Ever sinco have been in Philadelphia, about but on this particular visit last June I have been watching the claim has been qualified, the price of core drop and drop.
Entering Philadelphia I easy
with
Philadelphin, which, ke The used car lots and garages Birmingham, is a city of a cluttered and Jammed thousand and one trades, cara--most of them only a year hopes to go on making the co cild and all going for a goods. At the moment the fow huched pounds each.
city, perhaps more worried than New York about a re- cesalon, is a vast bargain basement.
The first man I met--a
When jobs end
one
Nellor
local newspaperman-said: Journal)
(certainly not tha
of the Wall Street is deluding himself
"You'd think we were get- about the motor car slump. ting ready to abandon the place."
One of Philadelphia's biggest used car dealers told me: "This we've had in 20
All over town there are is the worst sales. The windows of the years." stores are plastered with posters: "Giant clearance.. Prices Slashed.
Must Get Rid of Stock.
Selling at Coal,"
I dropped Into John
rooins
Stocks of cars in the sales and garages still in business are high and mount- ing,
I don't want to give the im-
presalon that Philadelphia la on
Wanamakers, one of the the verge of a depression, but
world's great stores, 1
Was
a
it is obvious that the boom is
huge, elegant shop which over. sells quality goods. AI- Ifere in Philadelphia you can though it
crisp, see what happens when Jobs bright day, Ideal for shop- run out. Goods bought on the ping, there were not many hire-purchase system and so people at the counters.
many are are reclaimed by the finance companies, houseTM A clerk told me: "Every- wives cut their budgets, people one's complaining. Business reduce their purchase of luxur is way off. Of course, this ies, young men.
and womeETA
is a slack period just after leave town looking for work. the holidays, but I haven't known it as alack as this This is happening on a small for years. Quite a few scale in this city of 3,000,000 people have been laid off in people, a stable, sober, well-
city, British this area there are 200,- balanced 000 unemployed in
Peri- character and manner, and not nsylvania alone--and it's given lo EXCOSSOS Like Los worrying."
Angeles or the boom-and-bust "get rich quick" and "go broke quicker" towns.
Drastic cuts
dispatch
A
in
staunch Republican business man said to me: "There were too many generalisations and platitudes in the speech- nothing specific."
Worry about unemployment and a possible slump perhaps SAW fine watches cut a explains the lack of enthusiasın third in price, beautiful among Philadelphiang I have tweeds, some of them Bri- met over the President's State tish, reduced by 25 percent, of the Union message, He left me and I went into Sheffield plate, soft leather court to listen
luggage, Bristol shoes, He looked at me in
"Before anything he says can
answering questions in TOOK a deep breath, "Inspec-
the cases-all drastically down whiness box, giving his polished in price. amazement. "But you sent do them any good, they'll have
tor, what would you do if
performance of a charming, for me, Nicola. That to have some corroborated evi-
someone came forward
and understanding, and all-forgiving evidence, Nicola. husband's dence-your
not only that
Lydia husband. proved
was murdered but nurse-Nurse Vaneshetween the two of you, you can Clifford
hong me. I'm not the type to pointed out the murderer too?" told me you wanted to see hang, Nicola. You're going to
kikent until Edmund He raised his bushy eyebrows. me badly, so I came up here keep
Clifford is dead."
"Is this and-waited for you."
a hypothetical ques- tion?" "Until I get my divorce," I "How could you be such said. "Then I'll talk my head a fool? It was a trick to get off. You
Bristol. you here. The whole thing's
woman your
And
deserve You're
"I mean every word I say."
"In that case," he said, "I the arrest of the
to hang. not only a a trick. Why did you let murdere, you're orucl and evil' would order
of Lydia for the murder them involve you in my cufferd, you'll hang." case at all? They're putting
At that ho come you in the witness-box. gripped my
over and ariti, until his aren't they? What are you nails went into my floh. "If I going to tell them?" hang, Nicola, you'll hang too, I swear it. If you win this divorce and talk to the police, I'll make statement that will involve
THE CALLERS
Д
you.
"You were there
when' It
HR moved across to me
and I backed away. happened. I'll tell them that: "Nickie, dear, do you think you helped me, that you are s murderer too. I'll involve you
I'd do you any 'harm?" ao closely a jury will bellove
that you put me up to it. I'm very good with juries, Nicola."
"Oh, Jeffrey, don't you see this is part of a plot against me? Didn't you see He was still gripping my arm, the little man on the door, but he was smiling again and condent. "I'm esking you spying on me? Tomorrow once more. Call of this divorce they'll put you in the box or else I'll blacken your name and ask you
all about us, in court and then, if I lose, I'll and then they'll ask you it off, you fool."
Involve you in the murder. Call where you were in the early hours of this morning At which he bent over me, and you'll have to tell them, kissed me full on the lips, and, before I could kick him, had And they'll make it sound as if we are still lovers."
"Nonsense! I'll explain that it was an Innocent visit. They can't prove otherwise."
They don't have to prove anything, you fool," I said, "All they have to do
moved to the door, and was
gone....
NEVER SAFE
SAT in the diet until: first light came and it was day again. I was frightened and bewildered. Bristol was not a man to make empty threats.
And what could
may to
is suggest things-make prove my Innocence? For It out that I am a loose was true that I had been there, woman. Anything to ruin with Eristol. Who would bellevo I had soon her body, I had loft my case."
that I had stumbled on to the scene by accident, that I had "Darling Nickle," he said, let mywelf be deceived Into “If I had known, I wouldn't; thinking it war suicide? havo hurt you "for... the
I got up and 'paced the fiol, world. But that's mo all wondering once more whether to over, I'm always hurting call the whole thing off." Then people and not meaning to." all this sickening worry and fear
: would be over.
i
There was a ring at the Or would it? No, I knew that front door bell, and I knew it would not, I knew that, so
But
I went into the radio and television department and
and over
No
1
Proud citizens
I was more than ever deter- heard "commercials" I had mined now to see him hang. listened to over And I knew what to do. would I have time? And would again on my car's radio. NO American' can forgot that "Get your TV set for 1929 began under a republican the great depression of two-thirds the price of last Administration year and with it, absolutely put
the court set me free?
NEXT: House of a murderer
and helped to the Democrais in power
and
free, a brand-new record for 20 years, Another "Re-
publican depression"
the Grand Old Party might be in the wilderness for 30 years.
EARLS
COURT
SMITHFIELD
SHOW
D'you know what Old do to solve Lunnson'à traffle probler
young
ploughs the damn los up- hat's what Old 'do♫
ΟΙ
Not all my time in Phila- delphia has been spent listening to talk of slump, although rate this the major topic .conversation here. This 18 # city which is the birthplace of the the American Repubile, home of the Liberty Bell, In- dependence Square, the Citadel of Freedom.
Philadelphians are fiercely Independent, proud, and m- sistent on their rights. The clownish antics of Senator Me- Carthy don't go down at ati well in this "City of Brotherly Love," and I have heard many people deplore Government en- croachment upon the individual.
While I have been here three schoolteachers have been sack-
and
ed by the Board of Educatlon for refusing to answer questions concerning their loyalty their alleged affiliation with subversive groups.
I haven't studied the cased. The teachers may be ́as gality : as the resident of the Kremilh, but it's interesting that Walter Biddle Baul, President of the Board of Education and a prominent. Philadelphia lawyer, cast a dissenting vote in each of the three cases and said that the testimony sit the closely guarded worst “hewings didn' sustain the charges.
Do they wonder?
PHILADELPHIANS don't like the odoúr, qurrounding the 'cases; "they" | don't secret, hearings or Star Chame bers
like
Hundreds of thousands.... pass Independence : Square on their way to and from work en day// Maybe they: kre: wònde 'ing what's}{-Happening to; frees