I
A SERIAL STORY.
MY LADY:
A TALE OF
MYSTERY.
By EDGAR WALLACE.
Author of "The Four Just Men," "The Secret Houao" &e, &c.
"JOHN MORLAY, head of a firm of commercial inquiry agents is asked by
JULIAN LESTER, a young man | about Town, bo ascertain the amount of wealth possessed by the
COUNTESS MARIE FIOLI, a beautiful girl, whom he desires to marry for her fortune.
MRS. CARAWOOD 1s the Countess's nurse and the owner of several shops in London. Marle lives with her when she is not at school. John Morlay declines to undertake the investigations for Julian, but goes to Cheltenham in order to see the young Countess.
The accident" was of my
devising." -
THE HONGKONG. TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1927.
Own
"Did you see Maris?" asked the ther eagerly.
"Yes," John nodded. Marie"
"I saw
"What do you think of her?". "I think she's--he hesitated "very very sweet. Moreover, I think she's much too good for you, Tulian."
Julian was not by any means disconcerted.
"Very likely," he said with a laugh. "Everybody's too good for everybody, if it comes to that, my dear man. And after all, John, 1 did not employ you to discover her superior spiritual qualities."
"To be exact," John interrupted him again, "you did not employ John Morlay strolled down into me at all. A whim took me to the broad parade with its avenue Cheltenham-I tell you I am not of clms and its pleasant shops, ani taking up the case:" passed the morning looking into Julian sighed.
CHAPTER III.
- windows at 'objects he did not see, "Then I must get somebody his mind completely occupied by nelse," he said, in aggrieved tones, vision of beauty which had swept really think you've treated me him of his feet. He had rentem-rather badly, John. People say bered in a dim way that the girl you are so terribly elever in worm was pretty, but she was now at aning out other people's secrets that age when the changing lights and thought you'd jump at this job. colours of youth are focussed to if it is a question of fees." perfection. Women meant very "It isn't a question of fees at little to him: if he was not wholly all said John: "it is a question absorbed with his work and his of principle. I do not take that sport, little had come into his life kind of case, in the first place
to divert him to the pleasanter secondly, I do not spy upon young paths.
girls and their guardians. Why don't you see Mrs. Carawood and ask her point blank where the girl's money is invested?"
"I was a fool to come here, and a fool to see her," he said, and the faded old lady to whom he found himself addressing - bis
"Because she'd tell me a lie remarks edged away' in alarm. and her suspicions would be John discovered that he had roused. What an absurd ques- been sharing with her a view of ation to ask me!" shop window entirely devoted to
"I suppose it is." John pulled the more intimate garments of at his long upper lip thoughtfully. femininity.
"If you were a lady's man I should think you were in love with Marie," he said banteringly.
"You won't touch the case?" "Not with a twenty-foot pole," All the way back to town he was turning over the problem which said the other emphatically, and Julian Lester had. unconsciously Julian sighed again. set him. He was a shrewd judge of human nature, and if there was one thing more certain than another in his mind, it was that Mrs. Carawood was an honest John shortly, and opened the door
There was no reason in for his visitor.
Jalian had an apartment in the world why the girl should have been left with any money at all. Bedford-square. He called it "an If a search had been made for the apartment" in
woman.
"I'm not a lady's man," said
FLOATING HOSPITALS..
BRITISH LAUNCHES FOR MALAYAN GOVERNMENTS.
Some months ago, the Perak Government instructed Messrs. J. 1. Thornyareft to build a combined ambulance and dispensary launch, in collaboration with the principal medical officer of the F, M. S. Government, the boat being called upon to comply with the conditions peculiar to the up-country rivers in the Perak State.
One of the principal considera- tions is shallow draught—an' essential feature if certain of the minor steams axe to be suc- cessfully navigated. In this con- nexion the maximum that could be allowed is only 15 Ins. The builders have had considerable experience with the design of shallow-draught boats, particular- ly in regard to tunnel-stern construction, a system which is embodied in the craft in question and in which the tonnel is ar- ranged to house twin propellers.
A Singapore Production. The actual work of construction was carried out by Thornycrofts (Singapore). The work of the boat will be to visit up-country villages, which would be virtually isolated were
it not for water transport, and it is anticipated that the craft will be a consider- able asset to the administration of local medical service.
The interior accommodation provides not only for the comfort quarters for the medical officers of patients, but, in addition, living and staff who are appointed to the launch. The sick-bay is provided table and cabinet, sink, poison with an operating table, dispensing
cupboard, shelves and other more minor items of equipment.
L
Unusual Arrangements, Portable lifting gangways, áre fitted adjacent to the sick-bay, and these can be lowered at villages en route and so enable the patients to enter the sick-bay from the river bank or stand on the gangways' and receive inoculation, as may be desired. To ensure the utmost cleanliness, all tables, cupboards old certain other furniture are "faced with plate-glass whilst mosquito-proof screens are fitted to all windows and doors.
The boat will be based at Teluk Anson and operate from this point Perak River. Two along the medical officers will be carried permanently, together with dis- penaers and dressers, whilst full facilities are provided for opera- tions to be carried out aboard the boat if necessary. The furnishing and equipment generally are of such a naturo as to ensure both comfort for all efficiency and
the American concerned,
A roomy upper deck will of her late mother, it was fashion, though it was little more with permanent sun awnings equally certain that Julian would than a self-contained flat. There occupies practically the whole have made deeper investigations was a modest luxury in its appoint-length of the boat. to discover the properties whichments; that parent of his to whom had fallen into the hands of Mrs. he invariably referred Carawood."
"
Dimensions.
J
19 his The dimensions of the boat are 52ft. overall, with a beam of 12ft. The power plant consists of a pair of four-cylinder 36 h.p. Thornycroft motors, each fitted with reducing and reversing gears. With this power the boat is able to attain a speed of 10% m.p.h. Upon completion the craft recently proceeded to Teluk Anson from Singapore under her own power, the distance being 320 miles, and this was covered in just under 36 hours, no stops being made, for the cruising radius is considerable, On arrival at her destination trials were carried out, at, which. the Sultan of Perak, together with Government officials, were present. That the boat proved completely satisfactory may be judged from the fact that a repeat order was immediately placed by the Pahang Government for an exactly similar boat. This has been completed and the craft delivered to Pekan.
"lamented father" had been a It was late when he got back traveller and had nequired, in the to town. He had dined on the course of his wanderings, much train, otherwise he would have that was treasurable. There were dressed and gone out. Instead, rich cabinets from the Orient, put on an old smoking jacket, and silken carpets from Ispahar, rare a pair of slippers and settled down embroideries from China, and, with a book to pass the hours that more to the point, many precious mineral specimens which Julian separated him from bedtime.
But no book, however exciting, kent in a glass-sided case and could have held his attention that which had been. on many ecca- night. Presently he put it downsions, an' excuse for the invitation and began to get in order the of people who were likely to be of possibilities of Mrs. Carawood's service to him.
One o'clock was striking when conduct. So doing, there was a ring at the outer door, and his one he let himself into the building were situate. manservant entered to announce where his rooms the last person in the world Jack Mounting the dimly lighted stair way, he paused on the second land- Morlay wished to see.
"Sorry to interrupt you, dear old ing, took out a key and opened the All his mavements were man," said Julian, as he came in ddor. with his mechanical smile, and he naturally noiseless and, save, for evidently felt an apology was the soft crack of the door, as it necessary for his resplendent parted from the lintel, be made evening dress. "I've been dining no sound.
That crack, however, had warn- with the Weirs," he said. ". "called you up to ask you, but you od somebody. As he pushed open
the portal he saw for the fraction don't want to send an old lag back 'were 'out."
He laid his coat carefully on of a second, the gleam of a light to that place, do you mister?"
His voice was a whine of sup- the end of the settec, and sat down through the half-opened door of as carefully in the most comfor-his bedroom, facing him as he plication, and Julian looked at Ein entered. Only for an infinitesimal in disgust. His clothes were old table chair the room held.
"You went to Cheltenham, they space of time did the light show and grimy; he wore odd boots- tell me? Good egg! I thought and then there was darkness.
there was something about hini Julian Lester had many faults, that nomentarily revolted the from your deucedly unpleasant manner you weren't going to take but lack of courage was not one young man.
of them. He closed the door and up this case."
"My deucedly unpleasant softly shot the bolt, then, turning manner betrayed the truth," said to the left, went into his study and The open bedroom window made John with a half smile, "because switched on the light. From the the question unnecessary. The drawer of his desk he took man gabbled a glib explanation, I'm not!"
automatic pistol and, going back and fulian listened coldly.) He Mr. Lester's eyebrows rose, "You aren't helping me?" be the tiny hall, it its one lamp. made the burglar march before The bedroom door was closed, bt him to his little drawingroom, but asked in dismay.
"I will help you to this extent," he knew it could not be locked and, nothing had been touched, and the said John slowly. "Mrs. Cara- turning the handle, flung it open probability, was that the two had wood is, I am convinced, a per-us his fingers groped for the light arrived almost simultaneously, the
If Marie switch. fectly honest woman.
Fioli has any property, it is as safe in her hands as if it were! in the Bank of England."
Julian smiled.
,
"How did you get here?" he
asked.
burglar through the window and
I sup-
"What is your name? pose it's a ridiculous question, to ask"
Julian through the door. "Put up your hands, my friend." The white-faced man' whe "I'm starving" begun the crouched back against the wall burglar. before the menace of the levelled algun blinked at the light as it came on, but made no attempt either to mave or to raise his hands.
"Can't put up my. hands, he sald huskily governor," "Gotta bad heart...
"Really, my dear fellow, for man with your vast experience of human nature he began.
"My vast experience of human nature," interrupted Jack quietly, "has so far enabled me to detect a crook, male or female, whenever I have met them. If this woman isn't all theat things, then Im greatly at fault."
"Salter," said the other.
Julian smiled crookedly. " His first impulse was to send for the police. But the novelty of the He looked old, terribly old, wita situation tickled him. It was his his lined and furrowed face, his first experience with a burglar, deep-set eyes and their shaggy, and Julian had something of the overhanging, grey brows. His cat in his nature.
He sent the man before him int "Did you question her?" asked face twitched spasmodically as he
stared incuriously into the muzzle the little kitchenette.. Hla daily Julian.
help had left a Hight supper for Jack Morlay filled his pipe with of the weaponi
"It's a cop I'm not making any her master; but Julian had sunned a little grimace,
"Oh, surely I put her to the trouble," he said. "You couldn't well and cheaply with a chance- torture and she admitted she was give me a chance, could you met friend."... honest! Of course I didn't ques-mister? I've only just come out tion her. I met her by accident. of Dartmoor from a lifor... you
.
1
7
"Sit down and eat," he said... (To be Continued).
HONG KONG WOMEN'S GUILD
AND
MINISTERING CHILDREN'S LEAGUE.
on
Fun of the Fair.
TO BE HELD AT
LEE GARDENS
OCTOBER
1st, 1927
from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
A magnificent array of attractions including
THREE REGIMENTAL BANDS,
Dancing to H. K. & S. Hotels Super-Orchestra,
GRAND FIREWORK DISPLAY,
CABARET SHOWS, CHINESE CONJURING,
DRAGON PROCESSION,
DONKEY RIDES
Teas and all the usual Candy Stalls, etc.
Come, Lasses and Lads!
Charity Begins at the Fair!