1936-01-21 — Page 11

To-day's Short Story

THE CHINA'S MAIL

The Shooting

I

Of Constable:

Slugger

By Lord Dunsany

PASSENGER SLIPS

FROM GANGWAY BARBER-WILHELMSEN

Jury Add Rider. To

Death Verdict

verdict of death by

misad

was returned by a jury Coroner's enquiry before Mr. W. Schofield, at the Central Ma- ONCE told a story nocut a) - “He had a good heap of ear

murderer called Steeger.tp show for his digging." Inspect gistracy, yesterday afternoon into It got into a magazine and for Ulton said "but that didn'the death of Chang Fook, aged rather shocked some people; say that he'd only just done it 1455 years, who fell off the gang- quite right too Smithers is Lots of people beard a shot, though plank of the steamer Tai Lee on my name. And my friend Mr. nobody saw it Were and the the night of December 6 and died. Linley found out how Steeger whole body photographed by in hospital the following did it. But they couldn't hang X-rays and there's no sign of s

The jury also made a [him; that was another matter. bullet.”

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So, of course, the police watch- "Could he have hit Slagger mendation that gangways for San Francisco & Los Angeles Panama Canal New York ed and waited. And one with a nick-te through the third-class passengers should bej

PŁO-BRITISH INDIA-APCAR AND &y Inspector Ulton called at window EASTERN & AUSTRALIAN LINES Mr. Linley, and said: "Steeger's tor

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́s hit wider and should 'possess

our flat and shook hands with “No, first floor,” said the Inspec- railings which might be detach

"The room upstairs. And able, failing which they should ¡done it again.”

Steeger shot him from his anthave a "cargo net stretched under and stairs roor Foenly there's no the gangway.

ballet. The wound roes a little The jury comprised Messrs. S. "He downwards, and Steerer's poper S. Perry (Foreman). A. C. I Bow-

storey was the higher one of the kar and A. Stalker. two. If you could only find that ballet for us.”

Linier nodded his head Isaid, "What is it now***

And Inspector Thon said: has killed Constable Slugger.”

"What?" said Linley. **TOP man that helped you so much over the other murder?”

"Yes," said Ulton. "He had re- tired-- But Steever never forgave

“A deep wound. I suppose.” *Oh very," said Ulton.

JAPANESE OBSERVERS AT NAVAL PARLEY

"He must have extracted it”

London, to-day-The Japanese And now he's killed him.”

"Oh, no. one crossed the street delegation has accepted the in- after the shot. Mears that's the vitation to leave observers at the "What a pity." said Linley.

constable there--lives in the very Naval Conference. — Reuter's "Its a camped shame. I said: įstreet, twenty-eight doors away Bulletin Service. And then the Inspector saw me and he was out

of his house in I'm a small man, myself, and he ten seconds: the whole street was hadn't noticed me.

empty."

told you

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29th Feb.

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THE KING

(Continued from Page 7). In these and in many other ways

So

touch with sik position realised the important although necessarily mobtrusive," par that the King

the pays a stimulus to the national played in the British crisis that led to the establishment of the emer unity of purpose which was essential to enable the Mothercy coalition Cabinet in August, Country to face and overcome its

1931. diffenities.

Sensible of the critical situation The Throne was in no small with which Great Britain was measure the link, that kept the face. His Majesty bent all bis. Empire together during the criticalergies, within the limits of hig days of the war. Since then, it constitutional capacity, to bring

->

"No," said Linley. "I speak quite suppositionslv.” | "He didn't have the bullet tied!

"Then what's the use of think- Ham- the said. “Yon understand that to a thin wire," said Linley; ng about them.” I said.

it's purely a suppositions case." "you'd have thought of a thing "Because it's happened," said

"Oh, quite," I answered

Linley. "When a thing's happen like that." "Because it wouldn't do to rel "Yes we thought of that." said e you've got to admit it, and try has been no less a great unifying her the leaders of the political saying outside this room." he went the Inspector. "But a big ballet and see how."

and consolidating force. But it parties. Mr. Bamsay MacDonald's jon; "that anyone said, as Steeger like that would have left blood! "What about a big arrow." I safe a-say that the Throne as an acceptures of office, at the risk of had murdered anycze. Wouldn't marks somewhere, either on Slug said. "And pull it back by a institution would have been far Party ostracism, was largely due ido at all. Render yourself liableger's sill or the street, or the string."

less intent but for the charge to the King's insistence that * Besides, I never

cualition of all parties, without an "Worse than the bullet tied tofter of its occupant. any wall of Steeger's house; and there:

immediate dissulation, was neces thing of the sort."

a wire,” he answered: "Säll more

Silver Wedding weren't any." "Quite." I repeated.

"What cheek," said Linley, "go blood-marks."

I was amid the dark shadowsy above all the country was "He quite understands."

Ito face iwealmly and with well- said ing and Linley. "How did Steerer ki Slugger's house."

living right opposite

Jong," I said.

existence of the British Empire

emergener poor Slugger

"Yes," said the Inspector. "And!. “Ingenions."

Queen celebrated, on July 6, 1918. The inspector paused a moment Slugger knew what Steerer was comment

the twenty-fifth anniversary rider of his people.

hing was in a very read sense, the and looked at me. then at Linley, waiting for too. But he wasn't I got a bit huffed when he and then he

their wedding

The Times, went on. "That's going to give up his house on wouldn't say more than that, and

In this time of trial," said in leung article, said that Great began to argue with him. “Buti

Majesty is our earnest des Britain had to

thank the King Linley was right. They didn't find share the sorrows of our people,ore than anyone else for a signal any spear, for one thing when and, so far as in us lies, to alleviate service in having brought the party they searched Steeger's house their suffering. But, while our leaders together.

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TO-MORROW'S STORY

To-morrow's story will be "Like Alfreda.”

by Ger. maine Beaumont.

what we can't make out.” he said j "He lived in the house opposite- Slugger's, in the village of Other- thorpe, only four or fre miles! away from the scene of his other crime. And we'd have said he (shot: Slugger across the street es he sat at an open window. And the had a big shot-gun that could jhave done it, an eight-bere, and —

there was a ghastly great wound

"What about a spear ten yards of war; and when, indeed, the reordered plans its grave nationa

was Linley's only was at stake, that the Kingid It is a period in which the

*

“A wad?” said L.

and, for another, there wouldn't bears are heavy at de hough The people's appreciation of that jhave been space for it in the of the bereavement and stress service was expressed in a remark- jupstairs room-

which have befallen the nation, we able manner when, at a later date, And then the telephone-bell have seen with joyful gratitude the following the return of the coalition įrang. it was Inspector Ulton. whole-hearted response to the call Government the King and Queen Linley went to the phone of duty-which has reverberated Dussed through Lonon to witness ¡“They've found a wad in the throughout the Empire.

a performance of Noel Coward's His Majesty proceeded to acclain **Cavalcade. " The pent-up feel- SAILINGS. in Slugger's neck going down that account Steeger thinks he street," he said

wards into the lung."

do what he likes. having

warmly, the noble and self-ings of the public, sow that the had been deter "Did they find the gun?" said escaped the first time."

“A wad of the eight-bore," he sacrificing spirit in which our political issue

brothers across the seas have given mined, were expressed in a de- "Slogger had his window.open, answer. "Bettreen the

their best in our united defence ofonstration of loyalty to the King "Oh, yes,” said the Inspector-you say.”

houses."

liberty and right to express in and Queen almost without parallel "Of course, it was all clean and "Oh. Jes."

"Then he shot him.” I said. packed away in its

ever-increasing admiration for the jesen in the heart of the Empire. spirit which pervaded all ranks of The twenty-fourth anniversary, tire the village constable got în, Linley. "Because you'd have to

the Empire's forces in every zone on May 6, 1994, of King George & and he had heard a shot: it was prove it; considering weather.”

of war, and to praise the spirit of accession to the Throne, was mark that that made him go. and he "Oh, yes," said Ukion, "Mears

ed by felicitous messages to hi his subjects generally. went at once; he went to Slug will swear to that Slagger had

"We have seen a ready accept Her Majesty from all parts of ger's house first. Yes, he found his window open in all weathers, fire for a long time, and I could ance by all classes pen and the Empire, although the occasion

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"We know that," said Linley. "Well, what's the difficulty said 1. " you know it already?"

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J

that he might have lost the bullet,

that whether the doctor get the The paper was in, his band.” And after a while. he said, burdens which the war has brought the elaborate preparations for the bullet out and was careless.enough! "It certainly looks as if Steeger "Ring up Scotland Yard Smithers,courage in times of crisis, calm celebration of the Silver Jubilee. to lose it. though he says he didn't shot him through the window, and ask if there was any sign of mess and sell-possession when, b Head Of Great Family or whatever happened, there's no said Linley.

barning about the wound.” his air attacks, the energy sought The King's conception of his sign of any bullet; no exit wound "It stands to reason he did.” I did it, and they said no.

Th, ta terrify the non-combatant pop-office, as a constitutional monarch and no ballet in the body, just the said Ulton. "But without the doctor had thought for a moment lation of this meat city, and at all to whom a vast Commonwealth of lone enormous wound, the sort of bullet to show, you know what a that he felt some small foreign mes an unfaltering determination free nations proudly acknowledges you might make with a jury would do. They'd go and let particle, which made, then think to persevere to the end in the main fealty, was revealed pre-eminently

in the fourth tenance of our-righteous cause.

Christmas Day erowbar, and no weapon of that him of."

New Understanding |message which he broadcasted from sort discovered, so we can't prove “Yes," said Linley. "How wide but he said that he was mistaken On the visits to the industrial his home at Sandringham in 1985, Janything and we've come to you was the street?”

and that there was nothing there arets of Great Britam during the and which was so happily attuned, Jagain. We must get Steerer this "Ten yards from wall to wall," and no sign o burning. A war, Ther Majesties had been in its spirit, to the deep-rooted.

time."

said the Inspector. "Barely that. I told Linley. and all he said pressed by the evidence in many domestic instincts and love of "What did he want an eight- Nize yards two feet."

was, "Then it was nothing that

quarters of a spirit of mutual con-simple, family life that have char- bore for?" Linley asked.

"Well, I'll think it over said burned away?

cession animating both employers acterised his reign. "Well, to shoot Slugger really," Linley," "and let you know to And he was quite silent again and exployees in regard to matters Describing Christrass Day as a said the Inspector. "But unfor morrow how I think. Steeger did So was I, for I could think of affecting their individual interests, festival of the family, His Majesty, tunately he's got a perfectly good it."

nothing. I knew it was Steezer, and a readiness to sink differences in a simple, bouely address that excuse for it; he does actually be very glad if you would" just as he did; but that was no in order that the essential work of deeply tonched his subjects," said Ishoot ducks with it on Olnie Flats, said the Inspector, and he tumed good."

the country should be carried on he would like to think that those and sells them We can't go into to go away. And at that he no "We must hang Steeger" he Referring to this to his speech, the listening to him through- and say what he really ticed me again, and told me that said after a while. And I knew the King said We may cherish, put the Empire were bound to him, bought it for, after that " any suggestion from me that that he was thinking of Nancy belleve, well-founded hopes that, and to one another, by “a spirit the Steeger had ever failed anyone Elth, the girl Steeger murdered in the farmace of war, new links of one great family" In that co of understanding and sympathy are operative spirit, he felt, the world he would be highly crinciza), “as!

the last time

time He sat silent for being forged between man and a large would overcome its though he hadn't been slandering so long then that I thought it hadnan, between class and class; and difficulties. "at Steeger (if that's the word for it) besten him Time passed and that we are coming to recognise Diering in many respects from wasbimself for the last fifteen min was even afraid that he had given as never before that we are all king Edward VII, King George utes. I said I wouldn't say a word it up, which I know be right not members of one community, and nevertheless brought to his great "Digging?" said Linley. "When against Steeger, and the Inspector to do, because I was sure he could that the welfare of each is de office no lesser sense of its pro- (did this happen 2

solve in 20

[pendent upon, and inseparable found importance and infirence. "What do you make of it?" "How did Steezer do it?" from, the welfare, of, all. “

In his relations with his subjects asked Linley

asked after a while.

Political Crisis

he displayed rare gifts of under- "But it was freezing hard last Me?” I said. "If he shot "He shot Shugger" said Linley. Few except those in immediate standing and revealed Wednesday, wasn't it?” replied Slugger and the ballet. did

“How?” I asked: Linley

{through, it must be still in the "Well, pretending to dig.” said body" na sklep the Inspector. "But we can't hang : “But they've found that him, on that. No one would dig isn't,” said Linley. while it was freezing that hard; Let me go down there and have that we can't prove it, and wela look,” I saids."

couldn't hang him on it if we “No, Smitters? the said. could

won't find anything Scotland “No, it just shows you and mejhar missed as that he's up to his old tricks "Well, what "are you going to blemm first." Lagain.

(do?” I said:

For I saw he was just on the verge of giving it up. "What

"No," said Linley "Did constable find Steezer when called?"

"Yes," said the Inspector, the back of the house; he digging in the garden"

"Last Wednesday," sald

Inspector.

That's 30 said the inspector It was mowing even as ther ninduenikmatakoak spoke, and had been freezing al

(P60 JUILDING. CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL HONGKONG | the week. I sat

fust listened,

asked.

20

2

virtues that goald, not fail to touch

"I don't know, he said. "And frozen air of the late evening the hearty of his people.is hed already done muco I never, shall”

And there the whole mystery was

you give your mind to it***

"Eh, "well" said he, “give me chess problem to look at.”

furt

Oh yes you will" 1'zaid. "If the moment he put his head out establish the Throne in the he

a central of the window. Here was one of of the people as

ever unifying national and imperial the brightest minds I had known, hard at work on a problem, force, distinct and aloof from

tional interests, party, or clie "You "No," I said. "If you get look and yet he had to see what he was Under George Va Yarding at them you'll never leave looking for by shoving his face strengthening of that conceptada them alone. Let's solve this pro- into it, and that purely by chance of the action of the Throne has Yes, there were icicles of all sizes been steadily pursued. Brig hanging about the window, and he

cageably assisted by the Quiden almost bumped his face into them and other members of the Royal He drew in his head and said, Family, devoted himself on every They won't get Steeger yet possible occasion to the task of They'll never prove this to a jury making the influence of the Comt The bullet was made af ice.” a useful and kindly one in the life

THE ENDI

of the people.

"Oh, well," he said. "then give me some fresh air. I must have

So I opened the window and he fleaned right out, breathing the