HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEEK-END SECTION
BY WHOSE HAND?
EPISODE FROM INSPECTOR PLAYFAIR'S
SERGEANT DUMBELL, enter
ing his superior's
room, found Joshua Playfair busy with his lens. He was examin- ing photographs of a tumbler, which had been so treated as to display the finger-prints on the glass.
NOTE
BOOK
WHY
By
HUMOUR
WINTER
L. W. LOWER
Cruci, unkind Winter sneaks upon us. Already I have com menced the task of shovelling the moth-balls off my woolites.
My woollen jacket which Mrs. Lower knitted with such loving care last year is now, happily, Jady knocked at her lodger's door.
in such a state of disrepair that She opened the door, which was un- locked, and found, as you know, a I am at last furnished with an dead body. There was every appeur-excuse for not wearing it. unce of suicide. Maggilees lay crum pled on the floor, a pistol-his own with his own fingerprints on Pin it apply matter from his hand. The fingerprints are con- sistent with his having held the pistol. So la the wound in his right temple. "In short, Dumbell, we could accept the hypothesis of suleide were not for this tell-tale glasu."
"Ah!" said Dumbell. "So they're
Hitherto, I have had to sneak furtively down back lanes with my overcoat tightly buttoned over it. Even then, such is the Instinct granted to the lower forms of animal life, dogs have growled and whimpered us passed and people on the Star Ferry have moved away from
nic.
I
"Maggilees," he said briefly. Dumbell looked surprised. "Caw of suicide, sir, surely?" was his con- inent. "Everybody says so."
"Dear"
answered
Playfair, someone else's Angerprints!", ¡motioning the other
FI chair.
Playfair frowned, "No, I'm sorry, "Here, ladles and gentlemen, ww have one of
seems, Moths, it but once again you're wrong. We're the Yard's brightest
have no This scruples. They'll come at any detectives** candidate, I'm told, up.against a very clever man. for the Inspectorate-and he wanders glass-which contained, not poison, thing. around Headquarters elting every but whisky and water-it was lett body as a witness. Let me remind about a quarter full-this glass, Dum- you, my dear Dumbell, of the motta ell, bears the #ngerprints of the tate!
Maggters. Dr, I think, Haig of Bemerside.
No"
he added, "not Haig, but one of those Scottish caleftning."
MURDER
My mother-in-law is knitting me a pair of bed socks. Red ones with tassels on them. Last year the cat slept in one and the wife used the other one for polishing the silver-ware. I shall probably be made to wear impressed once only, on a newly-muffler. This also will be
"But--here's
point-there's my something fishy about them. Look at the photographs. What you'll see -be handed over his lens the "And what is that, sir?" asked and thumb-prints of Maggies
right hand, cleverly impressed, but Dumbell, looking a tritle crestfallen.
"They
quoted Playfair.
polished surface.
"They say. What do they say? Let them say. Let them say, Dumbell," he repeated, with suppressed excite- rent in his voice. Mr. Mungilees
He was
did not commit suicide. murdered."
"Dumbell's face registered aston |istiment.
"Pulsen, sir?" he asked, staring hard at the tell-tale photo- graphs,
For the second time Playfair's repty was sarcasily. "Evidently," he said. "One can tell at once, can't one, frum these photographs that the contents of the glass were poisonous? Pull yourself together, man. Sit there and Isten to me, and I explain what I have in nund.”
Dumbell had the sense to make no comment.
"Does that make sense, Dumbell? I suppose it's theoretically possible
that Maggilces, having clasped the plass firmly in his hand, never shifted the position of his fingers and never touched it with the other hand. But, surely, it's most unlikely. The sug- gestion that came to my mind, as amp as I saw these photographs, is that someone polished the glass and then Impressed Maggilees! prints, after he was dead,
Anger-
"And if that's so, Dumbell, it's the work of someone who is undoubtedly a criminal and, almost certainly, a murderer."
Dumbell had followed with close attention. "You're right, sir," het said. "The suicide's a fake. What I'm going to do," he said, “is to sel Various routine inquiries in motion."
home-knitted.
However, I am used to a muffler, and know exactly how far away from the house I have : to be before I take it off and put it in my pocket. When re- turning home I put it on again just before entering the front door.
I wish I knew how to knit. I'd get my own back on some of these generous souls. 'Not that I don't know how to knit, mind you, but I'm no good at this fancy stuff.
that
Last year 1 knitted EL tent. I thought it would be cosy for the week-end. Unfortunately, it rained "The death of Simon Maggilees," said Playfair, speaking now in dear! Take this to Superintendent Pat-my young nephew is now wearing it A constable appeared at the door: one night and it shrank so much that earnest, "had.
as you say, every terson." The constable withdrew. appearance of suicide.
Let me"-
as a beret. he glanced at the reports at his elbow "What you're guing to do, Dum- me recapitulate the facts, bell resumed Playfair, is to see Maggilces was a man of doubtful Inspector Jumes, who's in charge of character, and of doubtful financial the inquiries in Bloomsbury. I want standing. Some say he was a share a much more detailed report that I've pusher. At any rate, his activities got on Maggflees' room and its con- have been reported to the Public tents." Prosecutor's department.
"Two days ago he arrived in town and took a single room in Blooms-
"Anything," said Dumbell, that iray throw light on the mystery.”
"No," corrected Playfair, "nol any- bury. A cheap, sparsely furnished thing. Everything. Dumbell. I want room for which he was to pay a from you a complete and exhaustive! pound a week. Last night he was statement-of-what-there-way-in-that seen to come in about ten o'clock. He was then alone, and there is as yet no positive proof that anyone pald him a visit.
THE TUMBLER
"But someone did pay him a visit, Dumbell; I'll stake my reputation on that,"
"The tumbler!" exclaimeti Dumbell, who was following with close atten- tion.
Playfair smiled faintly. "I'm coming to the tumbier presently.
"This morning," he continued. "Hat about 8 o'clock, Mr. Maggilee's land-
Bridge Problem No. 40.
By
** FINESSE
NI
5 3
K
QJB 7
9 0
N
NII
Nil
W
E
❤ Q D
6 3
5
D53
6054 Nil
• JOB +10 G
Clubs are trumps. South leads and North-South must win six of the seven tricks.
Solutions by Wednesday to "Bridge Problem", Hongkong, "Telegraph", Wyndham,
SOLUTION OF NO 39
South leads diamond six which; North wins North, wins with king of clubs and leada queen of cluba which South ruffs South leads diamond. seven which North ruffs with queen of spades and leads small spade which West must win and then must lead up from queen-nine of diamonds to South's ace-ign.
room."
DUMBELL'S NOTEBOOK
Three hours later Dumbell, armed with his notebook, presented his re- port,
"The room." he began, "was a small bed-sitting room, about ten feet
There's a gas-fire in by nine. a ring for boiling a kettle, and a sink, with hot and cold taps. It's lit by a single electric bulb. The bed is a single bed; one of those new-fangled contraptions that let down from the wall. By the way, I've searched thej bed-clothes; nothing is hidden there."
"Good," sald Playfair, "Continue.*
"Apart from the bed," sald Dum- bell, "the only furniture is a table- on which that tumbler was standing a wicker armchair, and a chest of drawers.
The chest of drawers was:
empty. Mr. Maggilees' possessions were all in his trunk, a cheap aftale of imitation hitle. They were"-he consulted his notes-"a clean shirt, two collars, a suit of pyjamas, a pair of socks, a safety razor and a cake of soap rolled in a towel. Also, wrapped in newspaper, a shaving brush, toothbrush and tube of, tooth- paste. And his hat and cont, sir. were hanging behind the door."
"That all?"
"That's all."
"And what was on Maggileza? person?"
Dumbell again turned to his note- book. "A handkerchief. A wallet containing two pounds and a return ticket to Northampton. A bunch of A fountain pen. Eight and sevenpence in change; and a railway timetable."
keys.
"And that's absolutely all?" "Yes, sir."
"You've been through the room) with a tooth-comb?"
"Yes, sir."
"Looked under the sink?" "Yes, sir."
FINGER PRINTS
"Good
Playfair stroked his chin. enough, I suppose, by the way, no new fingerprints have come to light?"
"None, sir." "I didn't suppose
would. any
This problem was found not too Well, Dumbell, we have to search difficult and the great volume of for a criminal as to whom, so for. solutions proves that this type of there's no clue. But it's quite certain tricky problem has great fascina- tion for many people. There were that someone, other than Magglices, The far too many correct to give names was in that room last night,
evidenco of those Angerprints 18; To the few who were wrong I may
that an opening lend of trumpa Armed." falls.
Correct solutions from Mrs. A. King so? Emjay". U. M., A. E. G., "S'enay" and 7. K.
shy
What reason has Playfair 'for sap-
(Solution on Page Two)ą
Mind you. I'm not saying winter hasn't got is compensallons. tot rum with lemon and sugar in it, for instance.
LUCK IN WINTERS
You folk are mighty lucky in your winters. In Alaska It gets so cold at mes that you can snap the flame of a candle and carry it around. This saves a lot of endle. On the other hand, you have to get out of bed and pound the flaine_with_a sledge hammer before you can get it to crack up and go out. Frozen, of course.
In the particular part of Alaska where I was located they gave you a hammer and a pair of longs to eat your soup with: You first cracked the soup up with the hammer and then fed yourself with the tongs in order to avoid frostbite.
My experience in Alaska put ten
onto my life. I was years.
there only nine and a half years, but 1 had to wait six months for a boat. It was in Nome that I first learned to knit. It is at home now that I am forced to hold skeins of wool while the wife rolls it into a ball.
"How much longer have I got to sit here like a big mug? Holding my arms out like a big mug! I want to read my book!"
"Not much more to go now. Mind, it's caught in your thumb!"
RAY OF HOPE
"Why don't they sell the flaming stuff rolled up in balls? Anyhow, what are you going to make with
117"
"I'm going to knit you a jumper."
SECTION
FRIDAY,
COMES AND HOW!
The mild winter they're having in Hongkong has almost
Spoiled this trip for the wife.
Girls' and Boys' Corner
Name
Address
Dear Kiddies,
This is all my own work
Did you have a jolly Christmas?
suppose all your parties are over now and soon you will be settling down to school-work again.
} received
of
Age
pleased to receive those cards, thank you so much,
Wong Chiu-yung: In last week's competition, the name of the second bird was Bluetit, so you guessed cornelly.
"What! Out of this stuff! Can to thank Belly and Laurance Becker, This week's competition is a clue-
you see me in a pale pink jumpert Do you think I'm a sist The doug can sleep on It!"
"There you go, you've got it all tangled up."
large number Christmas cards this year and 1 want Murgie Xavier, Yeung Kit-wa, Suen Mo-tuk. Amalla and Maria Sates, Wong Chiu-yung, to Shuk-chun, Ho Man-chan, Aurea Marques for their very kind wishes. I was ever no
out of that
less crossword puzzle. It is a simple puzzle with words favourite rhyme,, "Old Mother Hub- burd."
A clueless crossword means that the words below are not clues, but
and down to all the spaces.
"I woudn't be found drunk in a home frightfully upset about losing the actual words to be fitted in aeroso nulin-nulla in a thing like thut them.
"If you're thinking of any experl- ments in nullo-nullas, you can take the sweater off before you get in."
"I won't wear It!"
"Oh, yes you will" Spoken quite calmly, just like that.
If someone would only knit me
The best way is to All In the something sensible, like
a type longest words first. Then you will writer cosy or a knitted sort of see how the shorter words 61. Ink arrangement to go over cold door- or pencil may be used. Do not for- knobs or some flesh-coloured thing get to fill in your name, address and to go over the tip of my nose, there age in the coupon below the puzzle, might be some sense in it. As things
The words to be used in the puzzle are; I'm Just here to be practised are:
ACROSS
And the awful part of it is that I know I'll have to wear it just on, for the sake of
peace and quiet-
can see only one way of geting ness.
through the knitting season with USE, HUBBARD, 18, NOD, PAT, POOR, out serious domestic trouble. I will THEN, BY
DOWN There is one ray of hope, how suggest that my two small nephews ever. Judging by past perform be knitted a complete outfit
from ances, it won't be finished until next berets to bootees. They're too young PET. FUI, SAY.
CUPSOARD, AT, DONE, 100N, DOGS, summer, and by the Ume she has to put any real fight, and by the undone the sleeves four ar five time the outfits are finished, the times and dropped a few
dozen nephews will be too big to wear stitches here and there, it will them, so no harm is done and every- probably Anish up as a tea cosy or body's satisfied.
The prizes will be given In order a child's overcont at the church
of merit for work which la correct Anyhow, judging by the present and the best completed according to bazaar.
of progress in the knitting nge. Many years ago, before I was department at home, I will have married, ale knitted me a scarf. I nothing to worry about unul 1040-
rate
Send your entries to Unele Eddie, /o "Hongkong Telegraph," before 4 p.m. on Wednesday,
A Happy New Year to you all.
used to carry it in my pocket until and, in the meantime, anything Uncle Eddie
It was time to meet her, and then might happen.
I`would put it on. Such is love. Next week I propose to give full Now that I have more sense I just details of a knitted thimble for sall- leave, the things fa trams and come makers.
DECEMBER 31, 1937.
Current Affairs Test
HOW TO DO IT
Fiva possible answers are given for each question. Example: Primo Minister of Groat Britain Is (1) Anthony Eden, (2) Hailsham, (3) Baldwin, (4) Chamberlain, (5) Lloyd George. The numbor 4 moaning Chamberlain has been placed at the right of O on the scoro shoot. (Solutions on Page Two). Home Affairs
1.--Parliament meets on January 12. Historically, Parliament goes back to the reign of (1) George 1. (2) King Alfred, (3) Henry II. (4) Charles II, (5) William
2.-The First Lord of the Admiralty has visited Malta. He is (1) MP. Oliver Stanley, (2) Mr. Ormsby- Gore, (3) Lord Swinton, (4) Sir Thomas Inskip, (3) Mr. Duff Cooper.
3. His Majesty the King has us-
---1-4; scuted to the marriage of Princess Frederika of Brunswick to Prince Paul of Greece, Consent of the British monarch
was necessary because Princess Frederika is the (1) great-granddaughter of Queén Victoria; (2) daughter of King Edward VII; (3) niece of Queen Victoria; (4) daughter of King George V; (5) grand-daughter of
Victoria,
milltary observation posts have been erected on the Hong- kong Kwangtung border. The frontier.is delineated by (1) the
Pearl River; (2) a large line of mountains; (3) the Shum Chun River; (4) a barbed-wire fence; (5) the Kowloon-Centon-Rallway.
World Affairs
UJIT
5. The Tatarescu Government has resigned in (1) Roumania; (2) (Czecho-Slovakia; (3) Albania; (4) Poland; (5) Hungary. 6.-Japanese have
landed Wangcum Island, neur Hongkong. Wangeum Island is (1) British; (2) Portugese; (3) Chinese; (4) French; (5) Russian. 7-The Japanese have captured the capital of Shantung. The chief town of this province is (1) Tientsin, (2) Nanchang. (3) Hankow, (4) Tsinan, (5) Chang- Bwane Matsul has issued fur- ther warnings to Chinn to cease resistance to Japan. Mulut is (1) Premier of Japan; (2) Jopan- ese Foreign Minister; (3) Com~ mander-in-Chief of the Japanese naval forces in China; (4) Am- bassador to China: (5) Comman- der-in-Chief of Japanese forces In Central China,
General
D.-Sheklung was heavily bombed: by Japanese planes this week.'" Sheklung is on (1) the Yangtze River; (2) the Shanghai-Nanking Railway; (3) the Canton-Hankow
(4)
Kowloon- Railway; (5) the East
the
11 Steve Donoghue-is-retiring-and-
will become a trainer. He rode the Derby winner six times, the last time being in 1923 on (1) Captain Cuttle. (2) Humorist. (3)
Crusinna. (4) Papyrus, (5) Gay
12.-Japanese planes have frequent- ly been sighted over. Lantau Istand
which is (1) Chinese; (2) Portugese: (3) l'hilippines; (4) French; (5) British.
was seen recently in Hongkong
in the film (1) Souls at Sea; (2) Se A Star Is Born; (3) Broadway Melody of 1038; (4) Captain Courageous; (5) Wings of the Morning.
Arts and Books
15. Another successful Pantominá was produced by the Y.M.C.A. this year. It WOS (1). Dick Whittington;, (2) Robinson Cru- sue; (3) Jack and the Beanstalk; Van
10.--In "Punch and Judy" Mr. Val Gellgud brings "Ruritania" up to date. Ruritania was created by Daniel Defoe, (3) George
(9) "Anthony Hop (4) Rudyard
Kipling, (0) W.
Winderella: (5) Rip
10,
Life of Emile Zola" is a historical film. The title role is played by (1) Sucha Guitry, (2) Fredric March, (3) Paul Muni, (4) William Powell,
Harry
THE
George
Memoira of is a trilogy. (1) Siegfried (2) R. C. Sheriff, (3) de lo Mare, (4) Compton Mackenzie, (5) Eric Linklater. ID-John Buchan has produced a new historical study. His sub- Ject is (1) John Knox, (2) Augustus, (3) Gustavus Adol- phus, (4) Pericles, (5) Montrose.
Sport
20. The lead in the First Division of the English Football League is still maintained by (1) Leeds, (2) Arsenal; (3) Wolves: (4) Brentford; Preston N.E.
(5) 21. The Hongkong Mixed Doubles
Chu
Championship was won this week (1) Fincher and Miss Perry: (2) Rumjahn and Mrs. Chiu Chun-chlu; (3) Mr. and Mrs. Burnett; (4) Guest and Miss Grimths; (5) Capt. Murray and Mrs. Holmes.
22.-Joe Louis will defend his heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden on Febr. y 23 against (1) Schmelling; (4) Farr; (3) Braddock; (4) Carnera; (5) Nathon.
23-Australia has already chosen Its captain for the next Test series in Enginnd. The team will be led by (1) McCabe: (2); Oldfield: (3) O'Rielly: (4) Brad-i man; (5) Richardson,
SCORE SHEET
Kantor River. 10-Lord Rutherford was buried in
Westminster Abbey. He left an enduring reputation as (1) blologist, (2) physicist, (3) astronomer, (4) chemist, (5) psychologist.
(0).
(12)
(1)
(13)
(2)
(14)
(3)
(10)
(4)
(16)
(5)
(17)
(0)
(18)
(7)
(io)
(8)
(20)
13.A new De Havilland plane was used Imperial Airways on the Hongkong route this week. The
(D)
(21)
(10)
(22)
machine
(11)
(23)
SCORE:
was named the (1) Daedalus; (2) Delphinius; (3) Danae; (4) Doric; (5) Diana. 14.Annabelle's husband passed through Hongkong this week. Annabelle, famous French star.
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