· Page 1
DID IT HAPPEN?
SAID I had discovered the secret of the universe. It was one of those remarks thrown into a conversation that is getting on very well without you,
It had the required diversionary effect. The philoso- pher, the politician and the playwright stopped talking and gave me the conversational right-of-way.
THE
It was under ether, I explained, the last time I had a tooth out. Someone had handed me the "secret of the universe"-in those very words-and there was no doubt, as I remember it, of its authenticity. Every de- tail of the formula was startlingly vivid, concrete and convincing.
"A common phenomenon." snapped the philosopher, as I vaguely drifted to the end of my anecdote. "But, of course, there is no secret of the universe."
This drew cries of protest from the politicfan and the playwright.
Prove it.
they
11
PHONE
THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, MAY 10,
DATELE UT SEDOLSLAN
RANG TWICE
cald, and he tried and almost you'd mind being disturbed. did. I say "almost" because the We've just left a dull party in talk had somehow been diverted your square and don't want to and the subcon- go home, Would you care for to telepathy ...scicus before he could finish his some company?"
argument.
Was it possible
Was it possible to krew what has been happening to
"Who's we?" I said. I liked
by MILTON SHULMAN
Mark. I wasn't red and I was a hungry impresario, he intro- attracted by the prospect of duced me to his two captivating someone to talk to after a con- companions. selentious evening with a heavy book
"Probably some more guests leaving that dull party," I said, wondering who it could possibly be this time. It was now exacily a quarter past one. I went into my bedroom to answer it,
"Hello," said a volce, which I just vaguely recognised. "Are you all right?".
"All right?" I asked, taken he aback by the question and the Toni....and Jocelyn," said, sweeping his arm casually rete of urgency in which it was "Two beautiful girls and fram
and spoken. "Yes, I'm all right. one to the other
Who's daat? one else far away? Was reality myself," said Mark. "And they dispensing with surnames,
This is Hugh. Are you sure all right? There's only a form of energy capable want to meet you."
of course you're
$CMC-
of being arbitrarily transferred
frem a place to mind? The
Parking
in enthusiastically
An
of
the pel-factor and precognition. when the duties of a host forced me to leave this animated talk and look after something in the kilchen. When I returned they were discussing China.
Two days later I was up late reading a book I was to review. The telephone rang, and as I got up to answer it I noticed minutes the time was seven after one.
"Hello," said a hearty voice
Sleep deferred
In such matters, Mark was a man of considerable discern- meat. It was no effort to de-. çide sleep could wait.
"All right. How long will you
be?"
in a
I
Are you all right:2” · He
· sounded anxious.
"No, no, no. That's the truth, They arrived barely a minute or two before you phoned. They were at some party or other.”
"Do you know them?" asked Hugh.
"I do know the man. girls are friends of his.. never seen them before."
bere
�A story set in the foart
of London invites: the
question: DID IT HAPPEN 7
Every day on this page
a new tsis is told, giving
you the chance to diacuas
and decide: is it FACT or
FICTION?
EDEN MUST FIGHT HARD TO RETAIN PREMIERSHIP
By JAMES WICKENDEN
clues
London. There are the figures being ROM the opening shots studied from every angle by
anxious experts seeking of Britain's élection
to the outcome.. campaign "it is clear Several curious facts have anyone, They may merely have that the two main parties been noted.
The chief one is that in each
gest anyone here
found my body,
had killed
That made matters worse, I deliberately changed the sub- Jeet. But it was obvious tha: conviviality was out of the question, After a desultory con- versation for about a quarter of an hour, the girls began to
have no startlingly new of the postwar elections mote
idea to offer.
people have voted and, out of The Tories stand by their that Increased poll, the Turies... record in foreign and domes. have taken an increasingly big- tic affairs. The Socialists fer slice,
The Socialist share of fa- attack them in their usual creased votes has gone up, too, terms,
but not as fast as the Tories,
talk about work in the motr Experts of both parties and this is the odd point-the Ing. I made some feeble
matches KREISO gestures to have them stay, but discount the importance of slower rate of the Socialist in- them out with the Bevan split in the which the electorate has grown. finally ushered
as I could muster...
the rate
as many light-hearted apologies Socialist party and the Tory SLOW-DOWN
I knew
successes in recent by-elec-
equally strong camps, Left and For the slow-down in the Right, and waging a close fight crease of
at
in-
Alone, the flat was suddenly!tions.
Does this mean, as some charged with eerie expectancy The outlook, therefore, is that Tories say, that Socialism has
happens Dow?
What Britain will once again-co May depended on the once big tami- The What
there 26-be divided into two almest les of the working classes? I've would have happened
tall? no', telephone had beers Did it snap the chain of events? "A horrible crime would be "Now you've given me goose
tonight, Hugh's pimples," said Hugh, "I should, committed I suppose, tell you this, too. This friend had predleted evening we had a chap along to dinner who claims to be able to predict the future. He's done some really extmordinary things. And he said
But not necessarily to m. would be a horrible crime com- Toni-the names,
In London tonight. What about Mark and the girls? are flictitious carried her cool nothing wrong, is there?" Hugh mitted beauty with a studied grace. She was, the playwrigh: who had otherwise I'd probably have Would they got back safe to
at my dinner party two turned over and gone to sleep, night? Or even Hugh 18 was wearing an elegant tweed been
He sounded instead of phoning you. suit that offered a direct chal- nights
Perhaps you ought to get rid of into bed, fitfully went over it all restless again and fell into a lenge to the drab winter night, anxious and slightly sleepy.
there's nothing them." "'01 course
sleep. She gave me a poised ned and a half-smile.
wrong!" I said,
To my surprise, it was 'past somewhat baffled "what's
nine when I woke. I phoned "the
Mark immediately. He was as matter?"
hearty as ever. The girls were convinced I had made it up my- self. Anyway, it certainly put
excitement
Jocelyn was the gamin-type Her dark hair was worn in that jagged style that looks as if it had been cut by a drunken "Oh, we'll be right over," geometrician. She was vivacious he said. "I'm
call box and pretty. round the corner."
By the time the doorbell rang, I had set cut some glasses and a bottle of brandy. I live in one of those large houses.. in
at the other end. "What are Eaton Square recently converted
you doing? This is Mark."
to. Π
Some more?
before.
hope I weken haven't you or anything." said Hugh.
No, Ect at all;
I've been read-
ing." The busi- ness of explain
and my curiosity
"What's it about?"
*
"Well, I've just had such As soon as I opened the front when my telephone rang again, vivid and astonishing dream that it woke me up. And, for door I saw that Mark had lived "Do you always get calls at some strange reason you were strange hours?" asked involved in it. Perhaps it was "Well, we saw the lights still up to his reputation. Wearing a such
that conversation we had the on in your fat and wondered if black homburg and looking like Mark.
other night in your flat about knowing things that are hap pening somewhere else. Any way it was very frightening."
"Perhaps it was something you ate," I said, reassured that it was nothing serious. "Forgive me for barging into your night- mares. What was the dream about anyway?”
WHITHER WHLNG about sims, plays or books, MILTON · SHULMAN provocar controversy. He has that kind of pan Bora Toronto. Conora. 40 years ago, he was a barrister befors arthlog in Britain with the Canadian Army during the war.
His book Defect in the West, a history of the collapse at the Wahrmacht, took him off of law and lats journalism,
.
some evening.
lato
the
03
those
digible to vote Seats held on small majorities is, of course, tied up with the will become the main battle slower rate, at which the popu fields. Marginal factors such as lation has expanded. the weather on polting day, the Have less children in trade- success of each party machine tionaly Socialist families meant in getting pollers to vote, and fewer potential Socialist voters?
·Hair on television "hustings" That is the nutshell question...
II will become vital.
so, it means the Tories are their strength by fight is caused by the British
For the rely on the traditional "11 system of election. number of voters hacking each stand by the party like father" party is an unreliable pointer to mentality.
Another pointer in the figures the number of seats parties will win in Parliament. This explains becoming more determined cach that the British people are chief fallacy in public election to break the deadlock the
between the opinion polls,
almost equally Tories and Socialists, stronz
They want a decisive victory
Another uncertainty in a cloud on, while the Socialista
ANOMALY
is
In the inst election, for for one party to give Britain a Supporting this theory is the example, the Socialists actually strongly based government. polled 778,959 more votes than'
fact that a higher percentage of But the Tories.
the Tories achieved a Parliamentary vote in each of the last three
Thus,
Own
'');
eligible voters have Rone to At about ten, Hugh was majority of '26 seats over the elections. Britain has been like the phone. He apologised for Socialista. disturbing me with such a sily
a country of two clans clashing The anomaly is explained by ing my guests seemed too "Oh, I can't do that," I said, dream. I pressed him for more the British voting system, which at the polls each time with in-
creasing fury. my The chit-chat as we went up complicated and irrelevant. But recovering
composure, details, but he had little more does not recognise political ...into modern fats. The porter
INTENTION aroused. "They've just arrived. And to add. was
parties as part of the Constitu quite early and this to my flat was tentative
anyway they're extremely "Mark? Oh, yes," I answered, retires
About an hour later, driving tion. Each Member of Parlia pretty. Do you think I ought to to the office in a taxi I noticed,ment is elected by a simple But this time there is one recognising the name and voice means that late at night one has aimless. Everyone agreed that
tell them?"" journalist to go down in the lift and let brandies would be "just perfect."
As we stopped for the traffic majority in his as belonging
con- difference-the Liberals, Al- I had but finished pouring them
C# the man. You lights to change, some lettering stituency, theoretically his though friend of mine. "I'm just read- one's guests in oneself.
a small party, without "Perhaps tell ing and about to go to bed.
expectation of winning many know him. I don't know about scrawled in the rough hand of a own merits. Why?"
the girls."
newsvendor an one of those
a Tory may be vic" stats, they can affect the for- evening paper placards, "Well-
Their" intexition to put a majority of one vote; and a. "Well, if I'm not dead in the known playwright dies" it read torious in one constituency with tunes of the other parties.
up morning," I said, putting on my I didn't get out to buy a paper Socialist may win In another about 50 percent more candi- most carefree air. "I'll certainly to see if it was Hugh, For I with a majority of 10,000. In dotes than last time will draw have a jolly good dining-out knew,
Parliament, the two men faca away support that might other- story."
each other as equals, although wise have been given to either the voting showed more actual the Tories or Socialists,
Since,
claim the
Tories, support for the Socialist Party.
All this means that a few Liberals without a candidate votes
either way in marginal usually vote for them, the new seats can seriously affect the Liberal polley may weaken the.. strength of the main parties in Tories. Parliament. These few votes
pundits... can may have almost nothing to do see in the figures of past elec- with the general prestige of any Lions,
other factors at particular party. It is almost a least one man seems confident matter of chance.
that his party has the best Despite the element of luck, chance Sir Anthony Eden. For Britain's opinion of its main it was he who made the final parties has been reflected in the decision for a quick appeal to total votes cast in the last three the country, 18 months before elections.
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"It sounds so silly.. now that I know, you're all right, Hugh said. "You were lying on the floor of your living-room in a pool of blood. Standing over you was a red-headed girl in a white suit. In another room was a.dark girl having hysterics. And there was a third person vaguely don't the background. I know if it was woman."
in
e man от
Terrifying
"Do be careful anyway," said Hugh.
***And you be careful, too," I answered. "You know these dreams don't always get all the facts right. It may be you
who ends up in a pool of blood.
But thanks for warning me,"
Awe-struck
WORLD COPYRIGHT RESERVED
DID IT REALLY HAPPEN?
YES
NO
Put your tick in the space above anti Keep this paget by you until tomorrow
when the oamer will be given. with mother story in this sariat by ...
MAURICE COLLIS
Did yesterday's story--The Lady of Cobweb Castle, by Carola Omen-r
After Hugh had hung up, I sat staring at the telephone trying actually happen? The answer: N6, to re-assess my thoughts. I was less frightened than awed. What could be the possible explana- tion of it all?
Again I thought of a hoax. But Hugh had "sounded, per- fectly sincere. And anyway
I felt myself go tense with there was the time element. call had come 30 sudden interest as I asked: The "Who did you say was standing quickly after my guests arrived that I could not see how over me?"
he could have known they were “A red-headed girl'in a white coming. suit," sald Hugh.
The dream, if I wasn't being My mind made a frantic leap fooled, must have been, extra- to my guests in the other room ordinarily compelling for Hugh It nervously tried to unscramble to make a call so late. my reccllections of what they there, then, something here be looked like. Toni was certainly a
A change
redacad an audacious, well-yond the realms of logic? jgroomed brand of red And what was the colour of that sult she. was wearing? By heaven, it was white! A redhead in a white suit in a London winter? A terrify- ing coincidence.
I. mest
admit that
将
Was
Whatever
Bizne
and
the
ROMANTIC ITALY-BUT NOT
FOR PRIVATE ANGELO
By RONALD BOXALL
Milan, where Pte Angelo comes into these in domestic service. They NONTRARY to what one for goes out of) the picture, are usually from peor peasant This is the stage where the homes in the country and are might expect (judging Italian soldiers in military or used to going for walks instead by the films) from Roman- any other language, may "Fall of going to expensive cinemas. tic Italy and the land Out.".
the
does
But our dates with them are strictly rattened. For they only ret one half-day off a week. Sunday.",
LOVE SIGNALS
A soldato semplice-iterally a of (apparently) love-sick
private soldier- Lollos, I have been doing simple, or some nosey-parkering in receives only is. 5d. a day. This is not enough to buy two glasses when I Italy's parks. Purpose of my of orangeade, and certainly not
for
Added Rosa Calambo, his 23- a twosome at the.. returned to my guests they investigation?. To see for enough And then there was the rest of woked slightly different, Not myself whether the signors pictures, as there are no seats in year-old girl friend: "We like Milan's down-town cinemas at to sit on the park benches. But the dream. The dark girl sister, but somewhat unreal, in uniform attract
than 48. The result is that I worry all-week whether It having hysterics could easily. I did my best to forget the call signorinas in the way the Italian Miss (not wishing to will ruin on Sunday" have been Jocelyn, The third and make light conversation,
She was a mald, with a broad mysterious Agure must be Mark. However, I suon realised I was Roman film-makers would give the impression that she
cannot find, a boy friend with smile matching to her rather As I mentally fitted these cola- doing it badly,...
have us believe. cidences into place. Hugh's
Pie Angelo, or the average anancial possibilities suitable ample physique. She had what
for her chic couturial standards) most
women dream began to assume a I decided it would be much Italian male in horrible inevitablilly..
fairer to them, and might clear all average Italian gives Fte Angelo a wide berth. fara baby on her long was her mistress's baby. And same of my own fore-girl's heart beat taster. Indeed, WALKING OUTS what
with holding the
baby bodings, if I told them about as often as not, Pie Angelo
and bolding Pie Alfonso's Hugh's dream. They listened in makes her run away.
Another reason for Angelo's fingers, she certainly se
seemed to it's a joke asid this unexpected state of affairs, anti-social view on such mat In a less shady part of the "OL COLLIES,
Enished: First, Italy is more class ters. Most Italian girls will park, things were not going so Hugh?" I asked, secretly feel- Mark when ing it couldn't be. Although I "Either your friend is making conscious than love-conscious walk out only with a man in well for two Roman had known Hugh for a number it up or you're making it up? Girl office workers in the big terested in marriage, while in These two khaki Casanova
towns spend much more money many provinces in the South fervent believers in the "do-it-
this we were hardly co, Mark had never met Hugh
walking out" is, permitted yourself movement, were on dress than their only when mamma, papa, aster fisching their messages of love what might be called, practical- la There must have been some counterparts. So do the factory or other is available to act as at arst sight to each Tull- joking" ternis. De
thing in my voice that con-girls, with the result that every or
Lanciulla: figured
who caught vinced him of my own insignorina earning more than £4 third party insurance. All in
all the outlook for a Romeo with their fancy Bus the fanciullas a week believes that nylons, Hugh," I said, lowering my nocence."
silks, alleator bags and shoes love in his heart and
No hoax
༣་
away
Pals isn't a hoax, is of uncomfortable silence, here are several reasons for flop at flirting, is the signorina's have her hands full
of years
"No, of course not"/
I'd
voice, you won't believe this well, it's a long time since are músts. But only three minutes ago a Toni's killed anyone, sald redheaded girt in a white suit,
a dark girl and a man came into Jocelyn, trying to break the ame this fate they are in my living easy atmosphere, room now, having a brandy,
soldiers.
soldier's were not havidy azy,ADELERICK
pittance in his pocket is far Said Pie Costantino Bruciotti, from bright, even on the sun youthful and yearning for a *______ WIDE BERTH ... niest daye, date: "If only Italian girls
A Sald
Pie Alfonso D'Amore would take Gina Lollobrigida's
so smartly that (the name means "of love", a exemple. In Bread, Love and
They dress so I don't like I said Toulis direult to spot who is an in--22-ci national service Dreams and Brend Love and dustrial magnate's daughter and man from Foggia "We get the: Jealousy she is crazy about "I could almost touch the bluntly,
who is a typist And, clothing cold shoulder from all the city men in uniform. She dreams silence af this other end of the - realised that I had themselves in elegant attire as girls, because they know the only of kissing a smart cara- frightened them I made an they do, they prefer to frequent the civvies have ten times as binlere. But films are like that. entertaining Fail of beauties and baloney, kiddingTM"sala "effort to be reassuring Eveninemas and ten-rooms where much cash for He sounded a umenty as if Hugh did have such a dream appearances and prices are the The only girls who will Everything I cory
cut with us in Millen are set." there was nothing in it to mige always kept up. Which is was
you're