T
THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1955.
DEATH IN THE
HEY take at Mar- seilles two sleeping cars off the Blue Train and couple
on a dining car.
The train
was already on its way to the Riviers when I went into the dining car. I sat down at the first table to the right. A man with a large flat face sat opposite.
At a first glance he could have been taken for Scandinavian; but he spoke to the waiter with a slight Marseillais accent. He ob- viously wanted to chat, and because I didn't like his fage I didn't want to give him the opportunity. The February sun
was mildly warming the window.
"Where are you going?"
"he asked.
"To Nice." I said, without looking at him.
"I'm going to Saint Rafael," he said. "Now this is quite
a coincidencz, I
was travelling on this train a few months ago, sitting at.. 'this same table, and facing me was another passenger, buttering his croissant like you."
"How
I
interesting." very said, hoping that would put an end to our conversation.
"It isn't interesting yet, he said, "but soon it will be very interesting. That other traveller looked very pleased with him- self, Hepped his coffee as If there was nothing wrong in the world." He laughed and his teeth were broad and fal Their number was legion.
The smugglers.
"So I decided
to
de
MENTON
"I caught you." he said, slapping me hard on the shoulder. What fun it was."
name
sce
He paused. My
is dining-car facing a
stranger. on ordinary The stranger Bist tells you he Marchant, quite
2
smuggler, so you name, easy to remember,"
Before I had time out of you're not dealing with a com- person. sheer politeness,
him pletely respectable to give mine, he laughed. then went After that he lears forward as The car was full and the I am doing now and whispers on.
outside into your ear he had killed a scent of mimosa from succeeded somehow in pene man, a fellow smuggler,
him. double-crossed trating the smell of coffee.
"I like a joke," said Marchant, would you say?"
I said to
him 1 .was
"
The victim
פוואי
house,
watching especially the concierge, studying her habits because I wanted to go into the house and leave it unnoticed. The important thing. I explain- ed to him, was to be unnoticed, "The concierge went out to do her shopping at nine in the morning. At five past nine Tasg the bell of the fat in which the double-crosser lived, At ten past nine he was dead.
"You're not impressing me" I said
"I see I'm not," said Mar- chant, "but I didn't expect to. Valthough I did" impress the other man. He just sat and shuddered
"It would
have served
you jolly well if he had pulled the alarm,"
"People don't do that. Now I'll tell you the end of the story, which is quite extraordinary. I suppose I'm a good storyteller and gut under the influence of the story 1 told, Self-hypnotism or whatever you want to call it, and 86, Rue de Menton refused to leave my mind,
༄།
In a few days' time I went to Nice.
It was irresistible; .... I couldn't stop myself: I went into the Rule Menton found. No. There it was.
de
and B6,
didn't come
I
What
out of my tale:
it existed."
smuggler myself. He impressed and said in that case simugglers looked more respect. able than he had expected them
"I don't really know. Besides, That rather annoyed it's unlikely o look.
that I'd
believe decided to pull I me and
his leg in a big way. told him,
That
•
it".
naturally dropping my voice, "I sec." he said, "you think that I was a murderer.
He believed impressed him.”
it's unlikely.
pull his leg. His satisfied face simply
"It wouldn't impress me," ! you know
and said, disliking him more more,
from
"Now wouldn't it?" he said. "If I gave you all the grue- some details that 1 gave him? I Wonder
asked for it. As there was a lot of talk in those days of cigarette smugglers, and first I asked him what he thought of those who smuggled American
cigarettes Tangiers.
He said he despised people t have end of though grue who didn't earri their living some details in books and news- with hard, honest work. It was. papers to last me for a lifetime
I expected
the sort of answer from him,"
"You are evading the issue,"
It
and I let him have the details, I told him the man, that is, the vietim, had lived in Nice be cause like you, that traveller was going to Nice.
other
"I told him he lived at 86, Rue de Menton, because those were the first number and street name that came to me.
"I told him how for days I he said, you're sitting in a had watched unobserved the
Would your watch have kept
time on the sea-bed?
WEARING & Rolex Oyster Perpetual, a professor of Milan University went for a swim of 'Capri. But the strap-buckle was loose, and his watch broke from his wrist, and sank to the bottom. Without much hope, the professor asked some divers, working nearby, to keep an eye open for his watch. Surprisingly, seven days later, they actually found it, and it was still keeping perfect time.
It is not really so incredible. For this superb watch, completely protected from water and sand by the famous Oyster waterproof case, is automatically wound by the Perpetual "rotor" mechanism another Rolex invention..
It is in their ability to stay accurate under such incredible tests of endurance that Rolex watches prove their immunity from the mere normal ills that beset an ordinary watch.
This Rolex Oyster Perpetual is similar is the one in the Hary. Permanently waterproof in in Ogster Caut, it is giora perfect accuracy by the Perpetual ulfwinding"" The Rolex Red Seal identifies every Rilex chronometer.
After seven days beneath the ced, “a Relix Oyster Perpetual, brought up by divert, mas found to be still showing the right time! "(The original letter of Profister Catale can be inspected at the Rolex offices, 18 ruz de Marcht, Geneva.)
ROLEX
A landmark in the history of Time measKTERIN!
ROLEX Chronometer
Oficial Timepiece of Panagia Airliner,
RX-19
"Yes," I said because I was becoming terested.
in-
"I went in.
saw
the con- derge and ask- ed her point
RUE Did
.
happen?
A strange story" .'.. but could it be true? That is
for YOU to decida, For the" stories in this FACT or
FICTION series pose this problem... Bid it really happen ?
Tomorrow the answer will be published.
NATHANIEL GUBBINS
you don't know That's what they to to candidates at election
on television," said
SEE that a Mr F. tions because Lockwood, of the the answers, National Employers' meetings." Association of Vehicle Builders is just another Don't Know, citizen complaining that the Floating Vote boys of today have no manners and do not give up their seats to women crowded buses.
in
Who said they did?" asked "Did what?
can't
"Ask questions on television." "What about panel pames?” "I mean the audience. ask questions of candidates they
on a screen.
Who said they could?** "You did."
"No, I didn't. Have another
1
When I was a boy I was taught to stand when where to look for the murderer, lopsided cock-and-bull story; women entered a room, open drink" although they knew that the none the less I couldn't chase it doors for them, give up my
"With pleasure," said Float- quiet little man had been, from away. the police's point of view, And remained with me in seat to them in crowded ing Vote. "Cheers"
"Cheers," said Don't Know, good for nothing, though never Nice too. In the evening I had vehicles, and to raise my
to meet a friend in Cimiez. On cap in the street to any said Floating Vote. "I ask her
"Tell convicted..
you what ül ask her," woman I knew, particularly if she's in favour I stopped my way to him
of reducing in the street and asked charwomen.
the period of the call-up in where the Rue de Menton was.
view of the international stum- He said it was quite near, and The Last injunction was showed me the way. I would, evidently intended to stile any that ought to sink her” sold. 1 told myself, get the nonsense class consciousness that might Don't Know,
"Whatever out of my brain which was still have been lurking in the breast
the answers," thinking it, toying with It. of the Little Gubbia
said Floating Vote. "I shall say` "What do you know about it?*** Burs when I was a boy the "That's the stuf," said Don't
"Still under the influence of my story I said he must lately have been mixed up
smuggling and the police should look for the murderer among of whom the smugglers, most police know but can't always catch.
ZUZAN
The Rue de Mentor was long street with many, blocks of a "Within fortnight
the fats He was 1 days had been villas or hotels. more
"I shall say, “Only the Chief murderer was found,
I walked slowly, dogs trotted women looked and behaved like of the General Staff could smuggler and the murder was
women, and not like men. They answer that question. Are you committed exactly as I had beside women, nursery
were modest and quiet. They Invented It
the Chief of the General Staff, The guillotine put pushed perambulators with did not smoke or wear trousers madam? the Anal and to the story. What trotting behind the perambula Although I was not aware of it "Maybe she is," said Don't do you think of that?"
tors, and dogs trotted in front at the time only unspeakable
Know. mon, on their way to the
women entered public-houses. bistro. Came number 84, then 86.
ats which in more spacious ritual of woman worship seemed Kntre.
understandable because
by Peter de Polnay
blank whether any crime had been recintly committed in the house. I said I was a journalist and held out a good tip. She said no, and I felt a fool, Now you are no longer sneering?"
"I'm not sneering," I said, "What happened?”
WHEN The Han army entered Paris, Patat de Polnay WALL At once he thing to Alostmorte joined the French Resistance, was Imprisoned by the Yichy régime, bot escaped to England, whare be mined the Planee! Carpa and after- words described his adventures in Death and Tampere.
De Polnay is a cosmopolitan, Hungarian by birth, he want to school in England and Switzerland, and tormed in Kinya. Now in kli Fiftieth year, he has been fakt morried, collects French furnitura in his spin Uma
of
A little man
"You needn't be ridiculous,"
'They did not bring contempt sald Floating Vote,
exposing upon themselves
by
bodies on beaches.
their
they played games croquet Although
of
"She looks ferocious It to be a female general,"
it was only Don't Know
enough said
bat-bali tconds. "Insulting the ladies again?"
they may have been said
sald" Don't Know, "Sorry, Vote. as tough as they are now they were clever enough to appear "Let's have another drink to helpless so
them The Ladies.”
Floating
year-old men like myself would
"Thank you" mid "The Ladies." "And don't forget to ask her
P
a lot of hard questions," said Don't Know
"I'm not frightened of her.""" said Florting Vote.
"Nor am
I stopped and examined the house carefully. It looked lice most of the other blocks of flats in the street. I called myself a fool but went in. It had a large rush to their assistance if they Vote.
danger. Nicely hall and on the right was the appeared in concierge's glass door. I knocked brought up boys were all Uttle on the door.
St Georges ready and anxious A short
grey to rescue damsels in distress, woman with "I don't know what to say hair appeared, asking me what
How do the damsels of today
I said I wanted.
St. George Know. "O her dog. I said,
"I came to ask you
about appear to the little
of 1955?
drink to
her doggie," "You look quite white," he somewing," I said "which will
"Good old doggie," If he looks at the newspapers very much sumprise you."
Vote. Florting ave-hundred- he can see damsels in the Army The baying of a hound said with satisfaction.
I held out a He glanced out through the frame note; she took it, and I blowing our fat cheeks over
could see that the five-hundred-trumpets or whacking drums heard down the street. window and I sat staring at him, We didn't speak, and the train frane note braced her against with their powerful arms. rocked among pines and
he can see sergeant-major Floating Vote dropping his "I'm not from the police," I damsels,
lovely jaws glass "Run, rum
"Hide, hide said Don't said.
wide open, yelling Know as they boked out of the "I'm making inquiries cracked purely out of curiosity. You see, orders on parade. I write books.”
4.
"She said I must have come mimosa, After a while Marchant any posible surprise. to the wrong address, but we chatted on As you know I like jumped up. in the course of talking, and conversation she was speaking of the people who lived in the house she
that one said Monsieur Tellier hadn't been" seen for days. She wondered whether he was ill. He lived alone and hadn't even a char- which woman,
"We'll soon be in Saint Rafael," he mid, "and so I leave you with your thoughts."
"There will be plenty," I said. He began to laugh. The
his volume
boisterous of laughter filled the dining car, was already half empty. Some people looked up and stared at him,
"I shouted to her to telephone for the police at once, I shouted
"I caught you," he said, slap. suspected crime, Frightened, ping me hard or the shoulder, she went to the telephone, rang What fun it was. You didn't the police. Came the police they want to believe the first story, broke into the flat
far too and found pretended you were him murdered. Now what do clever to believe in a little you think of that? Your coffee murder, so. I invented the swallowed is growing cold"
second which you He was waiting for my completely. You sneered at a answer as though that were the straight murder, but telepathy sign for him to pounce on me,
and all kind of metaphysical "Extraordinary." I said,
nonsense you fall for at coce."
He slapped my shoulder again "Goodbye," he laughed.
did enjoy our chat."
It must have been,!! went on Marchant, a sort of telepathy Letween the murdered man and me. As I began the story in the train it must have been he who spoke through my words. I can find no other explanation,"
"Nor can 1, 1 said.
"But that isn't the end," said Marchant, pouring himself out glass of Vichy water. "The police hadn't the faintest Idea
#
He turned back from the door as the traic slowed down. "Don't forget the address," he called. "It's 86 Bue de Menton,"
I was glad t see him go During the rest of the journey als story refused to leave my mint It was. I admitted,
"I understand, monsieur." "The tell me, has there been ever murder committed this house?"
"Yics, of cheerfully. The
their
Ür
She's after us again,”
Don's Lega
said
sad.
back door.
-Paws Across The Sea
from Man- American
He can see damsels with
faces distorted
leaping ·OVEI...m
H hurdles, putting weights,
của see hurling javelins. He them whirling bats at cricket.
while ago
Mouser,
he might
heart
Lottie
Hiya, Sugar Puss,
she said courst,"
or playing rough-house Soccer BEING a letter
hattan Two years ago. A short newspapers interviewed have seen muscle boux dam tough cat, to his English sweet- me, too. He was a Dice little sels engaged in all-in wrestling. man, though the police said he
Therefore, why expect mixed up with had been
moderne little St. George to give smuggling."
"I see I said "And
the up his seat to women in a bus? murderer?""
He might as well given up to Rocky Marciano.
"They never found him.” WORLD COPYRIGHT RESERVED
DID IT REALLY HAPPEN?
YES
NO
Pat poor tick in the syncs above and
keep this pani by you uniif tauwerow ... view the answer will be gives-with another story in this mclas by ...
JOHN DRUMMOND
@Did yesterday's story—The Man ir the Trench Coat, by Femala Framkau --study happen 7. The answer : MQ.
PARACHUTE PAT
has
only one fear
· I'm scared of spiders
SOME people go to extra-
a bit of peace. Here is Miss she says, "If I can't feel any- Patricia Bergin, a decorative thing. It's no fun for me," blonde of 21, who sometimes
pre-parachute
at
ק,
NEW NAME FOR MAYHEM. "If you don't stop crying for another lolly I' marchro you" mother to her child opposite the Sea Nest.
Tally Ho
by
SOE by the noosapapers that the English are genting dad because our heavyweight champ. Rocky Marciano, won his fight with Dom Cockell by dirty tricks, such as hitting below the belt, after the bell, butting, and socking him with everything but a baseball bat.
say
Wel, Honey Puss, I can only that they know nothing about America they get steamed up about little things like that because, Øver .here. goes so long As per anything and Floating win and get the
dough. DON'T Know
Vote, hunted
Miss In my boxing days when I Gallup Poll and her enormous was known as the Broadway" dog Prince, had been in the Butcher I
dirtiest saloon bar of The Purple Bison fighter ever seen in any alley. for some time.
anywhere. My manager, Joe, Prince, in pursuit of a cat. wouldn't stop at moider to get had dragged
Miss Galup Poll his rake-off, even if it was only his chain part the door of a coupla cods heads. It was Joe the tavern and down the street. why coined the phrase "molder "Have we time for another da bum,” which is the only rule before
she comes back?" they worry about in America asked Floating Vote
today, about"
Don't sall
fog
Know. “Make it snappy?"
"I wish the wouldn't keep
ree
to
on asking me questions" said Floating Vote. "She wants know now if I believe in dom spend my own money under Conservative Covert ment or restrictions and higher
to
الله.
The night I fought the Eng- lish champ, Battling Tiba; we felt sorry for the guy, ex- cept Joe who was on 40 per- cent because we all kniew the fight
was framed. The Battler stood up straight with his left paw out like them fashioned pictures
of Je
Mace He thought it was going to be
old
income tax under the Social ists. Who would believe 越 a fight between gentlemen higher income tax except people
ple which gave my manager the for without incomes?"
because horse laff
to Joe money saved For Miss Bergin has a strange, with the
"No idea, said Don't Know. "gentleman" Canada, and settled down
a ritzy amusement. "I for
was only ordmary lengths to find criterion
"She asked me if I thought the name for a sucker. don't like to be comfortable," the edge of the airfeld
price of tea and bacon and When the Battler started by Now Miss Bergin is a sort of butter had risen since 1951. De
the nose this was the signal for at
"Not clue." said Floating" the boys, to give him the likes to be alone. She has sport washing days, her up the Denham Flying you know mything about the giving me a lady-like tap on Jumping for the television Vote. The prices have either wolks. I ducked in under his in the found her brand of solitude barrels on ice-skates:)
cameras in a flying programme. risen or they haven't. So what's guard and by jumping out of airplanes Miss Bergin comes from Sur- And If she keeps it up at the the use of asking ne? I'm not a bit his tall and even the
atomach. Joe got behind and with a parachute
rey, the daughter of a Mitcham present rate, instructor Major a grocer. builder. After leaving convent W. "Dumbo" Willans wants "Perhaps she hasn't a che rel, joined in to finish him off. school in Weles she worked for to enter her in the European "It la
wonderful the Admiralty as a telephonist, championships to be held feeling," she says, "You're for a shipping agent as a recep Moscow next year.
("but it was too near all alone in the sky, and you tionist have no sensation of falling Billingsgate in summer and I until the earth rushes up to meet you."
Miss Birgin, who works tow a
film laboratory, started para-
by MARY HEWAT
ber
unless
bit: hiri
him
# was for the
said Batter?
funeral
Anyway I see we have.
one.
Don't Know. As Joe said we didn't need no another drink?* "That's a good idea,"
in United States Says pliot Jock Millett: Floating Vote,
boring circles, and of all people reckon she has more courage was a good idea," gentleman
Don't Know than most of the men around
didn't mean tim," said it is Rocky Marciano. One ut Hoe Vale. here. She has never shown
Floating
"I meant why your ports writers says "ou trace of nerves, even on the not asir her a few quesions for side the ring he is gentlemanly, full of natural good, manners, first Jump":
a change?"
kindness to children, the aged, and the ailing
The nervous one that day was Mr Millet himself
"I wouldn't dare," sid Don't Know
"Why not?"
chate jumping a month ago at Denham "ASTRAI "It after I had been up to a Tiger couldn't stand the smell of never dropped anyone from an Moth, Aying above the clouds, fish"), for a laboratory equip. Auser beforeand I didn't vote. "She's only human." and). I wanted to be alone up ment manufacturer as a typist, want a girl parachutist to prove there. I thought of gliding and then became an apprentice it couldn't be done. It's tricky. Then I thought of parachute aircraft engineer at Denhum, jumping, and tried it.”
If you are flying too fast,
bo
Well, Honey Cat, that is more asked, Floating
han you could say of Joe "She don't look human to would sock his old mother
he thought he could get the tail ne," said Don't Know
mustn't incult the of a sardine out of it. said Floating
Vote. "I
As usual I shall be in London for the season when I hope to "I intended to get my if she pushes herself off instead
won't have it!
meet a lot of swell, dames in "All right" said Don't Know the alleys of Plocadilly, I shall So far she has made five engineer's licence, then go to of falling, she might hit the jumps from - 1,500 feet; once Canada," she said, "But I taliplane
“Let's have a drinks to them inn visit you in your home I was ready to creep away in stead. The ladies landed on a fence at the only wanted to fly, and on appren
town, but get a load of this. If
For
Ladles
place where the wire wasn't tice- pay of under 24 a week, shaine from this girl who The ladies) stat Floating any English cat has been mak
knows no fear when I dis Vote. What questions shall we covered her weakness
ask her?"!"
a passat you then he will the full Marciano treatment
barbed so I only cracked my I couldn't afford it lying at head and the last time, on a Denham works out at about £2 windly day, cars in swinging 10 hour and a parachute Sald Parachute Pat: "I'm Search me said Dent and no foolin les a pindahm and bruised drop costs a minimum of 30 scared of spiders. If I see Know. "If I never know any keep those hips wigin, her foot. The only thing she. So she got a job as a view spider in the caravan, I just answers how can i me uny Sugar Puranam on my way
MANHATTAN MOUSER. minded about that was the e in Denham Film Labura have to get out and wait for questions a doctor's onder: No more jump-turies checking him for flaws, someone to come and kill it for Don't talk rubbish" said
[World Copyright]: Floating Vote, "You ask ques- ing for a work
bought caravan to live in