Page B
"How Many Roubles 'For That Mink?”
By Bernard
Ronald
The Russians ara displaying
their
wards,
from the Juxurios of High Fashion and the Zim 6-cylinder limousino to the utilitarian tractor and the tipper-truck. But they won't tell The customers might object! you the prices.
Milan. no exhibits
except a pictorial' mado
THE Russians are such by Brit ve progress
British aviation-from the
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1954.
The new exploits of SHERLOCK HOLMES
W
Sherlock
singular
Holmes
hi
on
THE ADVENTURE OF THE WAX GAMBLERS
By ADRIAN CONAN DOYLE and JOHN DICKSON CARR
of
fo
Д
make
the
ono
Mr game
cried her rounds down
of "Forgive me, "Well..
Room
madum. "I'm not simple!". I am no racing man.
"Drat i Nellie, i Yet I recall that Sir Gervaso companion.
Horrors. It's
big room, Baxter, what particular
Ill - disposed THEN my friend Mr on a small tablo at his left won a fortune during last year's aco what I seel 1 should have with dim lights. The reason I of cards are the two wax figurea
persons comio
tall the gentleman don't
more rounds is playing?"
Folks
Used to wonder hand, while on the sofa at his Derby.
you 'cos of my rheumatics.
"Dunno, sir. by yesterday morning, only right lay a perfect drift of dia- whispered that he did so
bribery and secret information. wouldn't hear of 11"
don't know how cruel you can that myself, long ago when I sprained his carded newspaper,
"But, grandfather, that Room suiter from Bo good enough, Watson, to
rheumatics! was new to the old place Nap ankle, irony fol- Despite the weary, heavy-
Horrors remove this microscope."
fearfully Double you up they do." surprising people, some- earliest single-seatens to the jet-
or whist, maybe? But I dunno," frightening place. You imagined
"Dear
mel
murmured times charming. usually engined Coincts. The mysterylowed upon irony. Within dded expression which valled
"You say that the Ogure with keen and eager nature, I
I did so. There remained it, dear."
Holmes sympathetically, pushing Ute al- which surrounds
back turned is holding cause of a matter of hours he was uncommunicative, but
see that the misfortuno upon the little table only the could
"I'm seventy-six years old the tin of shag toward the old his the recent Connel
ho should. Lower problem had not sweetened his temper. sheet of created notepaper which But I've got no more imagina- man.
cards than crashes off presented with a ways enigmatic.
Italy
been Lu being discussed in millions of British homes.
nature since Mrs Hudson's telegram Holmes had flung down there. tion,” said the old man, proud-
many cards have whose
"Anyway, sir! My Nellie there How "than From the pocket of his dressing ly
one of them
wax is a good girl, in spite of her played from bis hand?" is being discussed the seemed to make imperative had mentioned only a fail
by
gown he look out the snuff box figures. Mo imagine it? Mo, eddiention and the Ano work "Sie?" crowds of tailan visitors.
some stairs, I asked for an ex- planation and reorived that with of old
a great that'e gold, with
been night watchman she docs. Whenever
my cheu- "You did not observo? which I have prefaced this amethyst in the centre of the since long before the rasvun matics are bad, and they've that is most unfortunate! chronicle.
lid, which had been a present was took where it is now, and been bad all this week, she I beg of you carefully to con- "I was proud of myself, Wai-
gets up every blessed morning dder a vital question. My friend's accident has
he added bitterly, "and
and comes to fetch me at seven these figures been gambling?" o'clock that's when I go off been an unlucky one. Pure careless of my step. The more
duty so she can help me to a ly for the sport of it, he had fool
"Yot surely Some modest
omnibus. watched. other consented to an impromptu degree of pride was permissible?
Bully Boy is No glove-match with Bully Boy The
well-known opponent." Rusher.
middleweight,
Smiling Vladimir Suscov, boas of the lavish Soviet show in Milan's. 36-nation trade fair, is no exception to the rule.
Bul whether pictures
A visit to that sinister, weil A0 on the underground room emcial stand is a sound invest-known to the public. ment or not, 300 Brkish manu- facturers are looking after the job of boosting their exports on privale stands in other parts of to the fair.
of the representatives Stalin hand, have no aeroplane ex-
producn
have practic-
onuca tibits, but they
101 ally everything else.
the
Ho has the twinkling eyes of a man about to tell the joke of the year, but he never
pus the cause of hin mirth Inlo words. He is the only survivor The Russians, on the went to show Russian
1931 In the and propaganda edition of the fair, the last time the Soviet Union
mon participated.
at the old Cribb Sporting The 1951 propaganda drew more laughs than converta, goods Nown un Ori omelat Club in Panton Street. To For example, cycling is Italy's stared, they also have two ather the amazement of the spec
#matmoth stands with a vastators, Holmes knocked out the of engineering products the Bully Boy before
caterpillar-tracked
der latter could settle down to Mix-cyfinder
national sport,
the
and,
show
Flowers Everywhere professional
in aridition
most muster array Italians
Just There
*T
To the CONSUMET
Zam
are to thes machines, couldn't help mailing when they tracties,
aw Soviet roadsters Sted with limousine, a ghunt 25-ton upper-a long, hard mili, front brakes that clamped down truck powered by # 300 on to the tyre-something that engine, 30 machine tools, furin
Having bruker
IP
Husher's
smacked of the penny-farthing equipment of all kinds, power hanging guard and survived his
trafle system 2 modejs of right hand,
age.
generators,
for
y
BUR,"
•
inean
and bull
"On the contrary, I found him much overrated drunk. But I sec, Watson, that you yourself are troubled about
your health.”
"Good heavens, Holmes! It is true that I suspect the advent of a cold. But, since there is as yet no sign in my appearance or voice, Il is astonishing that friend wus
Malenkov's men have done a
the sparring-saloon you can have known it railways leaving
11- much better job. Not only are said to be an improvement un
when he tripped on those the biggest the the Soviet stands
conventional lever-type lighted, rickety stairs which in the fuir: they are easily the signals, electric enlculating and trust
the Honorary Secretary caused most interesting.
the Club has since indexing machines and textile of
to be mended.
The
д
Wide Variety
wider
variety
'than a dozen big rity stures.
trom They
wilks
Ningo
Tix.
There are flowers everywhere.
uzaleas and
an red
k intelligence
SEUSON
ikis
and
I
The official Russian stand In the huge Palace of Nations has Carnations,
of exhibits ses on squares of carpet-like shap reached me as my wife ne and Anished our midday meal green turf. But there are ne
of rain to of the usual outsize portraits of une cold
winds. Though of streaming Over sausages, metals to mink coats, Soviet showpiteers that
Lovers have not my notebook at hand, perfumes and scented
it was the first week yards there is not believe grand plunes und Milied
even a hint that a man named in March 1890. Ultering an ex- string harps.
clamation us i read the telegraan Matenicov exists. Politics have
from My Hudson, 1 handed the from the fair by ten purgat
message to my wife.
2,500 US
view, guy hats and a medley of the meganisers this year.
soup
to 40-
Smart
with
two-piec Costum Parislan look
fuf
furs, und
shapely, blotiks like Tamora
who give
Vialtors.
feminine
She She
even
דיי פ
There
showed her I had her name in price tagy,
saying
Πο
Individual
my note book, and knew which about hotel she was staying at On Exhibits tiro parried with: eccond thoughts,
ut once and
placards blue-eyed
โปร โปรว
food prices have been Vaselin Soviet
to reduced Pix suntles
times in the last
"You must go 60 fre now Tumora Is VITY
years and
than in 1947, but see to the comfort of Mr Sher- very sensitive, perveni jes
lock Holmes for a day or two," 7 Die Soviet blushi
exhibits curry when
said she. "Anstruther will and any
QUESLODA always do your work for you." prices f
Since at that time my house think Alle: "Burry We cannol tell the was in the Paddington ares, suspectesi 1 was asking her for a general
public vur prices. took me no great time to be in skute, for interviews by sign Merchants interested in buying Baker Street. Holmes was, us i language can scarcely be would object,”
expected, seated upon the sofa apathetic.
with his back to the wall, wearing a purple dressing gown with his bandaged right und unkle upon a heap of cushions, stood A low-power microscope
When I asked a Soviet sales
By contrast, Britain's official girl duzw much a mink coát cost, stand is a tiny and rather the
answer
Through #11 In- colourless spectacles Sponsored terpreter was: "Sorry. I do not by the Board of Trade, It has know."
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"Astonishing? It is element ary. You have been taking your own puise. A minute trace the silver Bitrate upon
your right forcinger has been trans- ferred to a significant spot OIL your left wrist. But what earth are you doing now?"
Heedless of his protests, examined and re-bandaged his unkle.
اژن
you
"And yet, my dear fellow." I went on, endeavouring to raise his spirits as I might cheer uny patient, "in one sense it gives me great pleasure to see thurs incapacitated.”
Holmes looked
at me fixed- ly, but did not speak.
"Yes," and I, continuing
must curt cheer him, "we Impallence while we are
con- fined to our sofa for a fort- night or perhaps more. But do Dot misunderstand me. When
to
Dur
from the King of Bohemia. was still here in Baker Street?"
Is now
The newcomers paused. The ancient visitor, squat and stub- born-looking in his rain-codden brown greatcoat and shepherd's
trousers,
check
was
A
fine
Teha, Then
Have
the table have
die-
"However," he added, "every move made by Sir Gervase carefully Darlington
Should he so much
"Now tonight, being worried "My dear Holmes" I began, as attempt to communicate with
which she oughtn't but my friend's look gavo ma a he will any suspicious person,
about me
turned up pause. be warned off the turf even if
to be well, Nellle
ago, with young "You tell me, Mr Baxter, that hc does not land in guol. I
only an hour cannot recall the name of the
Bob Parsnip. Bob took over my the cards upon
or at least solid duty from me, so I said 'I've read been moved horse on which he wagered "
all about this Mr Holmes, only turbed, Have the gold coins been man of the people, with white hair.
The "Lord Hove's Bengal Lady,"
a step away; let's go and tell moved as well?" girl was him." Graceful and lissom,
why we're cried I. "By Indian Rajah out different. of Countess. She finished three with fair hair and grey ey on
the field. encircled by black of furlungs ahead
lashes, I added, "I Though, of course,"
wore a simple costume of blue know little more of curing with narrow white frills at the matters than yourself." "Indeed. Watson?" "Hoinics, such suspicions us
entertai
aro you appear to base and unworthy! I vin
depletext married man with a bank balance. Besides, what ruce is run in such wild weather as this?"
★
Lord
here."
she
A
de-
And that's
"Come to think of it," replied Mr
Baxter, Samuel
after Holmes inclined bla head.
But you pause, "no, sir, they haven't] "I see, Mr Baxter.
Funny, too." were speaking of last night?"
"Ah!
Well, about the Room
Holmer eyes were glittering, wrists and throat. There Wal
of Horrors. On one side there's and he rubbed his hands to oven prace as well as umidity In the gesture with which she
Which gether. a series of tablogs.
there's
"I fancled as much," said ha. separate comTM lowered the dripping umbrella men
"Well, fortunately partments, each of 'em behind
may from over her black straw hat.
Yet
her
no iron railing so nobody can vote my energies to the problem, hands step 10, delicate
and wax Agures in inco have nothing on hand an trembled. Very
pretuly she each compartment. The tablocs the moment save a future dull identified Holines and myself, tell a story that's called "The matter which seems to concern
for this iste call
Sir Gervaso Darlington and is Eleanor
possibly Lord Hove as well. ter." she added; "and,
Lord Hove-Dear me, Miss Bax- may have gathered, my
ter, is anything wrong?" grandfather is the night "This history of a
Eleanor Baxter, who had risen la crime attendant at Madame Taupin's about
to her feet, now contemplated young gentleman - exhibition of wax Agures in the and a pleasant young gentleman Holmes with startled eyes, Marylebone Road," She broke
you
poor
Hove
History of a Crime."
£9
ឆដ
falls Into bad
"Did you Buy Lord Hove?" He asked she. company,
his money; "Yes, How should the name
he's hanged
Ive
that he is my em-
Grand National "Well, the cannot be log for off,"
"By Jove, yes! has two entries for the Grand off. "Oh! Your poor ankle!" he is, too, only weak - who National. Many fancy Thunder
"My injury is nothing, Missambics and loses Lad, though not much is expect- Baxter,"
said
Holmes, "You then he kills the wicked older be familiar to you, may 1 ask?" But to me," I ed of Sheerness.
are both very welcome. Watson, added, "a scandal attached
our guests' coats, the untadia; man; and at last the Sport of Kings is incredible, so. Now, Lord Hove is
may be seated an honourable here in front of me. Though I have a crutch of sorts here, I Precisely. Being an honour-
am sure you will forgive me if I no friend to able man, he is
remata where I am.
You were Sir Gervase Darlington."
saying?" "But why are you so sure Sir Gervase can bring you nothing
man."
of interest?"
you
fast as Charlie Peace.
meant to be a ɑ"
"A moral lesson, yes, warning,
Watson. Baxter?"
"sald Holmes, rais-
0
little
the
You
are ac-
Take ing his
eyebrows, "Ah, ycs. Well, Mr You do typewriting, I perceive, The double line in the plush Above your costume "Well, sir) It's that wretch-
where wrist,
typewritist There's Miss Baxter, who had been ed gambling tabloo. looking fixedly at the little table only two of 'em in it, the young claims as much.
presses against the table, pro- in evident distress at her grand- gentleman and the wicked
quainted with Lord
Hove, "If you were acquainted with father's words now güve wrong un. They're sitting in a then?" last summer I had the privilegs the gentleman, Watson,
you start and changed colour as she lovely room, at a table with of meeting your brother would acquit him of being con- found Holmes keen eye upon gold coins on it; only not real Mycroft-you stated that
cemed in anything whatever of her. interest, save that he is a really formidable heavyweight boxer
was
he
your superior in observa- tion and deduction."
"I spoke the truth, If the art of detection began and ended in reasoning from an armchair, my brother would be the greatest criminal agent that ever lived."
of the
Holmes whistled, "Come! Sir Gervase was among those who witnessed my own trifling encounter with the Bully Boy this morning."
"Then what can he want of you?"
2
કંબાં,
of course. It's not a- happening today, you see, but in old times when they had stock- Ings and britches."
"Eighteenth century costume, perhaps?"
The young
"No, I have never so much as seen him, though I do much typewriting at his town
Park Lane, So
house humble a
"Sir, are you acquainted will Madame Taupin's waxworks?"
"It is justly famous."
That's it, sir. "Do forgiva
me!" Baxter blushed.
Eleanor gentleman is sitting on the other "My meaning side of the table, so he faces to-
"Tcha, this is even more un- was, have you ever visited wards you straight. But the old fortunatel However, we must
"Now last night. When
his
perzion as I-{"
do what we can. Watson, have
Into
"But what
Mr.
"Even if the question were of
bla is sitting with wrong 'un moment, I have no data. “Hum! I fear I am too much back turned, holding up алу A pinch of snuff, Watson? Well, like our countrymen. Let some cards
as if he was laughing, you any objection to going out such a tempestuous night?" well, i am not enamourod of li place be remote or inaccessible, and you can see the cards in his "Not in the least," and I, "A proposition which I take myself, though it represents an
and the Englishman will lose hand." ས་
much astonished. "But why?" the liberty of doubting.
his life to find it. But he will Now occasional variation from too
This confounded sofa, my behold! Here are you enforced much self-poisoning by nicotine."
not even look at it when it lies to the seated position. It will
say last night, sir, course I mean boy! Since I am confined to it within a few hundred yards of two nights ago, because it's to as to a sickbed, you must be I could not help laughing. delight me to see you demon-
his own front door. Have you
mo to strate your
wards morning now. I walked my eyes. It troubles superiority when "My dear Holmes, your
Madamo caso visited
Taupin's, straight past that blessed tabloo trespass upon your pain, you are presented with some is typical Every medical man Watson?”
without seeing nothing. Then, Baxter, but would it be possible case"
knows that a patient with an
"No, I am afraid not," I re about a hour later, all of a sud for you to escort Dr Watson for "Case? I have no caso?” injury like yours, though the
plied. "Though I have heard den I thinks,
What's Wrong brief visit to the Room of "Be of good cheer.
A case injury is slight and even of a much of the underground Room with that tabloo? There wasn't HOLTOTS? Thank you; will come."
humorous character, becomes of Horrors. It is said that the much wrong, and I'm so used to cellent." as unreasonable as a child."
management offer a large sum it that I'm the only one who'd "The agony column
of money to anyon
who will have notice. What's wrong?" I asked I. Tanes," said he, nodding toward Halmes mopped shut the spend a night
thinks. Bo I goes down and has the drift of newspapers, "is snuff box and put it into his
The stubborn-looking old man, another look. quite featureless, And even the pocket,
who to a medical eye showed Joys of studying now disease "Watson," said he, "grateful symptoms of strong physical pain, nevertheless chuckled hoarsely as he sat down,
counting the "Lord bless you, air, don't you ed older man the one whose each wax figure. Then
"Sir, so help me! The wick- number of cards in the hand of believe a 'word
care- of that non- sense.”
hand you can see - was hold- fully keeping them in their ing less cards than he ought prosent order from left to right, "It is not true, then?" "Not a bit, sir. They wouldn's trick maybe, and
He'd discarded,
# or played place each set in a separate
which they'd been envelope
will you even let you do it 'Cos a messing up the cards on the maric accordingly. Do the sporting gentleman might light table.
same with the cards a cigar or what not, and they're
upon the feured to death of fire.”
table, and bring them back to "I've got no imagination, I
you may me as quickly "Then I take it," said Holmes, tell you. Don't want nane. But of that you
are
not
camo unduly when Nellie here
to accomplish it." of fetch me at seven in the morn-
“Sir—” began the ancient man Ing,
germ are not inexhaustible. As though I am of your presence between you and another corn- I shall be obliged if you do not forter, Watson, I really prefer utter one word more for at Job"
loost the next six hours, lost I The entrance of Mrs Hudson, say something which I may bearing a letter which had been regret," delivered by hand, momentarily
cut him short
Though I had
1
*
am I to do?"
"In the upper drawer of my deak, Wats, you will find some envelopes,"
"Well, Haimes?" "Oblige me by
I felt cruel, what with in excitement. rheumatics and this too. wouldn't tell her what wrong - well, just in case I might 'a' seen things. Today I thought perhaps I dreamed it, But I didn't! It was there again
"Now, sir, I'm not daft. 1
not actually expected my pro- phecy to be fulfilled with such
silent even Thus, remaining promptness, I could not but re- at supper, we sat very late in Holmes moodily mark that the notepaper bare the mug room. a crest and
have
his recorda cost fully
fully cross-indexed and must half a crown a packet. Never-
ever- crime, and I was deep in the troubled by the Room thelces, I was doomed to dis- pages of the British Medical Horrora?” appointment. After tearing Journal, Savo for the tick of open the lette
letter eagerly Holmes the clock and the crackle of the uttered a snort of vexation. fire there was no sound but the
"So much for your soothsay shrieking of the
March gale, |ing!" said
he scr
scribbling a reply which drove the rain oganisat for our landlady to give to A the windows like handfuls of district messenger. “It is merely small shőt, and growled and pn spelt
note from Sir whooped in the chimney.
The oven got old Charlie Peace Gervaso Darlington, asking for
"No
no,"
friend said there. He's with Marwood, too, an appointmeni at eloven to-
hangman what turned see what I seef You might say querulously, at Ton
fast, the morrow morning, and request Optimism is stupidity. Cer- Charlle off not eleven years ago maybe, somebody did that for
fun
'em "But
But 。 remarked Harki Was that not the His voice went higher.
fair's fair, sir; and I don't like nobody couldn't do it in the daytime, or they'd be seen, It "Yes.
granddaughter, 1 heard it clearly in it a bit when then be hand of might be done at night oos veatured spite of the wind. But who can figures begin to play a hand it be?"
DAY
general. tonight. "No, air; never in
"No, no, Me Baxter, I should præter not to speak now; I havo only a working hypothesis, and there soems one almost in superable difficulty to it. Holmes frowned. "But it is of the first importance to discover, in all
poing
at "that" wax played Together with Samuel Baxter
forth izto the
Ing that it be confirmed by hand tainly, no case will come to my but they're friendly, messes changed the cards, and Bensos of the word, what rame
to the Hercules Club.””
"Darlington!" "Surely you have mentioned that name before?"
"It a client,"
+
cardas
A drive of gold Holmes, against the windows. "Yes, so I have.. But upon eraning his long neck for a leaned forward. that occasion I referred to Dar- glimpse of the clock, "16 muat "The wax figúres, you lington the art dealer, whose be a matter of deep seriousness have been playing at carde?" substitution of a false Leonardo to bring someone out at two in
| painting for a real one caused the
scandal at the Grosvenor
uch
sporning and in
Galleries. Bir Gervase is a. After some delay,
such a all the wax figures
up.
ilke
•
exhibition.
· Dt-
we were
there's one side door that won't
rain-whipped blackness. it's not rain rattled lock properly. But
practical soite Miss Baxter's protests, the public's Holmes one of
Jokes, where they stick a false within ten minutes beard
all three landing before the on Queen Anne or maybe gambling table in the Room ambonnet
on Napoleon'
of Horrors *ir. Word of. Sam head. This la so little that
A not ill-looking young man notice it. But if named Robert Farwip, clearly nobody'd somebody's been playing а
much mitten with the charme during engaged in this card games, or hand of cards for thoro two 器 -Elemoor" Baxter, tumped, up different and mora
Sun exalted which it took Mrs Hudson
Blessed dummies, then who did the blue sparks of gur in dust only some of them?"
It and why?". Darlington, though no less saso- interminable time to rise, from "Only two, sir."
globes. But even so the gloomy clated with scandal."
her bad and open the street,
"How do you know this, Mir Who is he?”
door, no less then two clients Baxter Did you see them?" For some moments, Sherlock room remained in a sens
雠 whicks the run Watson, is the bold, bad baronet Both of them had been speaking. But, what am I told from ty, and glanced at hur own ne po Darlington, were ushered into our room. "Lord, sir, I should hope not Holmes remained silent.
"Mr Basted" hetald grave u
enbued with... of fiction, addicted to puellam at once, but their conversation one of om has discarded from | and profligate. Jadier. But he is Becama 'diétinet.isE
by no ineens swaggering figure approeded to mustn't”
unit as they his band, or taken a trick, and bandaged ankle, your patience only plinths wast
the cards, are all mucked up on shames me in my foolish pew.co of the imagination; too
I shall be happy to touchs bán tapetulance dich mats fived in our camasa yo, S
woman's volor coplada, ฟ fathers'
My. Celerdi Tanjoed roer thin, Laut Choe, pleaset :You don- invited Holm look into this matter. thoughtfuldest The moment he don'twant alty Holber
kad best.)
Gerusio
mind
the
mut,Me Holmes, seriad 295237, Haanor) Baxter in, stark |
Lucaction Vair, in the course of wilderment aurule jou, canno "make only, one or two, take the Adaif, melounty