1940-12-27 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 27, 1940.

SHORT STORY

TINNED MEAT By L. T. Hamilton

WING to the unfriendly activi- Englishman told him and the og

lies of one of her powerful rattling his winnings in his pocket, neighbours, the Government of or, to be more correct, rustling the the Repubile of Neustrin decided notes, said: "I'll put some busi- See me in the to send its ace investigator to the mess your way.

where he main library at ten a.m." Embassy in London, would be listed as assistant mili- tary attache.

This Intelligence agent was known to his comrades-in-arms us Captain Barra. He was dark of hair and sun-burnt of com- plexion, not above the average in height with a knack of passing in the crowd in spite of an individual cast of features. I should have put him down as a Basque, but he was English, from one of the home counties, in fact.

Blakesley was there with bells on as he phrased it, and received an order for tinned meat that took

He had to wire his breath away.

and Buenos less buth London Ayres before he could accept it, "We are chartering special steam- ships. It's the biggest order the firm's ever had and the first from Valdania.'

He had been wandering about Europe, a young man with an ex- pensive education, no particular tralning, and very little money By one of those chances of Fate, he had saved the Premier of Neustria from the bullets of a half-wit. That statesman, finding that Barr (as his name really was) was a good linguist and had had some military training both at school and in the Territorials, put him in the Neutrian Army for a start and then had him sent on confidential missions until the cool young man proved himself and reliable.

then Barra was transferred to the General Staff, X Branch, and visited foreign countries with malice afore- thought. He was also rough on rats, as many enemy agents dis- covered to their cost.

course.

**

"Money all right?" asked

I rather cynically, but then some governments do not like paying čash.

part of the

I was heartily thankful to learn Blakesley was in that young Athens. I did not wish to meet him for some little while. Then Barra popped over and told me to release a sensational yarn about secret agents deliberately damag- ing the meat cargoes with a new corrosive acid of intense strength that had been invented by a Ger- man chemist. He even gave me the name and formula of the acid. "You can say it was that notorious free-lance spy, Captain da Souza, who operated," he told me. always safe to blame anything on Da Souza. He doesn't care.

Russian battle-song in which you when he wined the crowd of them to recover at least could hear the hooves of the ca- in a posada the night before we amount, valry hordes charging across the sailed. He paid out good money plain, the clash of steel, the bitter to them and left the chief rufflan sorrow that comes after battle. a number of demijohns of some When she came down from the liquid, instructing him not to al- little stage reserved for vocalists low any of the band to drink it. and soloists, the crowd went mad..

"We jumped ship" at Port Said She had "got across," as stage folk

Already say.. Vasseur kissed her on the on the return journey. cheeks, then turned to her hus- there was a rather nauseating band and asked his permission; odour pervading the ship, which that was the Frenchman's way. was otherwise as clean a vessel as must have seen of its kind. It sur- Vera, my charming, you leave that canine resort, the Pink prised me that the Dutch skipper odour Dog. You must come here. Ex- paid no attention to this cuse me talking business, but and, when I mentioned it, merely there is no time like the present. winked and said it was my ima-

rum I will have the manager draw up gination and the fumes of a contract, which you will sign mixed. So thereafter, I held my before you dare to leave." Then tongue.

I guessed rightly enough in a low voice which I could not that Barra had been up to some help overhearing, he mentioned a villainy. figure that left the handsome Rus

"Okie Dokie,” answered our siap gaping. Tears filled her eyes. I reported back to Fleet Street, host, "Twenty per cent, in advance But it means comfort, freedom bronzed and fit as a fiddle, also and the rest to be paid, part on from worry, oh, many things I with a comfortable sum of money shipment, part on delivery. Boys, cannot express." "Then do not in my possession which Barra had you see before you a rising young try, Madame la Princesse." repli- paid me for what he was pleased business man. The Arm has put ed Vasseur, with a courteous in- to call "my moral assistance." He my salary up, quadrupled it, and clination of the head.

said that I made a perfect Profes- my commission alone from this

sor of History; in fact, he would deal win give me capital enough We finished that party pt ten in advise the Neustrian Government to retire on if I wanted. Also, the morning. At two in the after- to give me a Chair in the subject. they have put my commission up

noon I was roused by Barra, for further deals. Yoicks, boys, spick-and-span in Bond-street The managing editor received volcks."

tweeds, clear-eyed and alert. me somewhat in the manner the governor of a Borstal institution "Do "You must have a head like a must welcome a runaway. rhinoceros or a hippopotamus, or you see this?" he barked, and both of them," I grumbled. "Rise threw me over a message from and shine," he ordered me, "I have our man at Peltars, the capital of a job of work for you. Get leave Valdania. of absence from the rag in which you perpetrate your inanities and do what I tell you, and you will have plenty of tobacco in your old tobacco box."

Barra made an excuse: "I've got to slip out for a few minutes. I'll be back without fail. This drink ing is just getting interesting."

The girls had to be reassured that he was returning and when they had been pacified and Barra had left us, Blakesley turned to me and said: "Not a word of this, mind you. I know it would make a good newspaper story, but I'll hand you something big when I get permission from London."

A likeable fellow when not on the prod was Barra I was din- ing with him in Paris when he received the news of his appoint- ment. "More trouble," he sighed, "and I was so happy here. Nothing to do except visit the Ministry for We had been talking in English, War.

certain You know that the French and it was pretty

that and we work hand in hand, of neither of the girls had the fain- I was Barra's only con- test suspicion of what Blakesley fident. There were certain reasons had told us. They knew a little for this which would take too long English, just enough to make to explain. I was annoyed when casual visitor buy them a bottle of young Blakesley strolled over to champagne and other trifles. our table, flanked by two cuties, Blakesley only knew Barra as a and the foreigner who spoke good English, one a dazzling blonde other a raven black.

like many other Continental officers who have been

partly educated in Britain or had Eng- lish tutors at home.

"Grave scandal of War Office Contracts. Reserve supplies of to be putrid. tinned meat found The War Office has recently pur- chased from a firm of internation- I was due for a spot of holiday al repute a vast consignment of anyhow, and London was quite Argentine tinned meat. The sup- agreeable to

leaving my plies were examined before ship- French assistant in charge of our ping and were, apparently. in Paris Office.

An is- good condition on arrival. sue was made to troops on man- oeuvres along the Neustrian fron- tier and the meat was found to be It had seemingly been contaminated by some erosive

עות

"Come with me to London," said Barra after I had eaten, with some

rotten. a difficulty, a species of late lunch.

He had been imbibing, but was not blotto. "Hello, you two. Why! for Barra! I have not seen you donkeys' years. I'm throwing a He had no knowledge of Barra's party and you are in it. The bub-connettion with any form of secret bly is on me.” He spoke to the service. In fact, my friend from pretties in French and they turn Neustria was supposed to be in ed out to be Ysolde de Something Paris to attend courses at the or the other and Liane de Quelque Senior School of War. Chose. These were their names, let it be understood. In reality they were not patricians, but they were very attractive girls,

war-

Barra said: "All right. I'm free until to-morrow evening, so if you want to make it a 24-hour sitting lead me to it. "It's a go," shout- ed Blakesley, "We will do all the joints. Glad I met you. Where do we go from here?"

That started it. Paris is re- galning its pre-war night life and there are scores of cabarets and night clubs which unly get lively at midnight.

Blakesley confided to us that he had made a big coup. He had Handed an enormous contract for his firm and had been paid part of his commission in advance. He Was also to receive a handsome bonus for introducing new busi- ness to his firm, an internationally known firm of wholesale provi- sion merchants who dealt in gov

nment contracts, among other things.

•

Neustria.

we

I am in.

about

"It is

It is

a good advertisement for him in a way."

an

So I spread myself and the story Chief was front-paged and the congratulated me warmly in official letter and called me some- thing appalling on the telephone. "Ananias would be ashamed look you in the face, you double- decked robber," he barked, "but it was a good story."

to

A day or two later I was visit ed by the fair Ysolde and the dark Lane, who opened on me in per- fect English. "Mr. Blakesley talks a little too much, don't you think so, Mr. Carroll?" said the first. "I'm glad that Captain Barra sent his wire from the all-night post- office at the Bourse," said Liane. Then they both put out their pret- please, ty pink hands," "Money, m'gleu," they chorused.

"Er. what the devil do you mean, holding me up in my office?" They laughed joyfully, and Liane said: "Oh, M'sieu Carrol, you will be calling us gold-diggers next. Caplain Barra Don't you know employed us to, what do you call it, let me see, oh, to contact M'sieu Blakesley?"

The damned scoundrel," I eja- culazed virtuously.

this

Again they laughed and time it was Ysolde who spoke. "You made your little share, did you not, M'sieu Carrol? Well, we want ours. We know the money is safe, but we made la bombe last night and now we are on the rocks, dry, busted."

"You speak very good English." They both curtsied in mockery. "Thank you, kind sir."

We took the afternoon 'plane to chemical." Croydon, and I motored with "I think you had better go back Barra to the Embassy. "Wail to Paris and say nothing here," said my friend. "I must see your expedition to South Ameri- his Excellency and procure funds ca," said the Chief. "We cannot and papers."

have our correspondent mixed up in such matters." Then he smil- He kept me waiting an hour ed: "You

I damned saboteur, and a half, then came out grin- knew that young Barra would be ping. "All set,

leave for up to some monkey trick or the "I nearly fainted when Ysolde, Hamburg as soon as possible. I other. Anyway, you have prob- altering her voice, announced. "I want to pick up some technical ably averte 1 war. The Valdanians come from Brum," and Liane, her gear there. Here is your passport, were all armed and raring to go, eyes sparkling, told me that she you are temporarily a citizen of but they have no meat unless they was born in that pretty little vil- Your name is Martin slay cattle, and they would have lage at the foot of the Surrey hills, Our friend returned and applied and you are a Professor of History to buy from Russla if they want namely, Peckham, which is Postal himself to the wine and eventually of the Central University travel to make trouble before Winter sets District S.E.15 of London Town. proved himself to be the life and ling to enlarge your mind.

Get out of my sight and for "Let's go and have a drink,” I soul of the party. He had the a certain Volche, a research chem- goodness sake send me some newa, suggested. "One of the things we girls in fits. Blakesley, who ist, from the University staff, tra- None of your cabaret dope." So came here for," they chorused. speaks French very well, was yelling for more technical reasons, I departed for Paris, leaving Barra I put a call through to Barra laughing till the tears rolled down We are both poor and honest, but at the Embassy where I had din- who instructed me to inform the his face, and others joined us, not too poor and not too honest. ad with his Excellency the Neus- fair damsels to go to Van Reyn, Prince Sabrine, the handsome ex- Do you get me?"

trian ambassador to the Court of the Dutch private banker, who Cossack leader: Veru, his wife,

certain St. James', who gave me a capital would pay them over who earned the family living by "Yes, I suppose so." I murmur- news-story as a sort of bonus for moneys. singing at the Pink Dog; Rowland, ed doubtfully.

my efforts.

When I gave them the good of the Transatlantic Press Syndi-

Both the second and third con- news they both kissed me raptur- cate; Lawrence of the London In Hamburg Barra put me to signments of meat of the Valdan- ously and Liane dated me up. Briton; De Vasseur, that most drinking with a burly, black- ian Army were found to be con- Ysolde publicly announced her in-

deep charming of boulevardiers, and bearded

sea skipper, a taminated. Unfortunately, the tention of laying her snares one of the cleverest all-round men Dutchman, with a marvellous ca- government, anxious to prove its Barra, and chanted. "Oh, mama, pacity for rum and schnapps. He good faith and to stand in well go get that man for me." but she'll had a very high opinion of Barra, with the British interests, had have a hard journey. He's a hard It was Vasseur who insisted we but of few other people. should be his guests at the new My friend appeared the night paid the bill; now they were suing nut is Captain Barra. Miramar, in which he had a large the Dutchman was sailing for La interest. This place, which only Plata. He ordered a heavy pack" opened at midnight, was decorated age to be delivered on the skip- in Mexican style, the waiters wore per's steamship, and then inform- vacquera clothes of black velvet ed me that we were sailing with decorated with silver, and the the Dutchman, nominally as mem- oigarette and chocolate girls were bers of the crow, but in reality as decked out as Mexican belles on a passengers. "But what about the baile day:

paper?" I gasped.

I have ever met.

..

Barra grew more and more bor- It was a new fashion which had

"Oh, that is all arranged. I ed as Blakesley told us how he caught the fickle fancy of the telephoned your editor, wham I had met an aristocratic old gentle- Parisan rich Bohemia, and seats met last year, and he says that if man on the way back from Buenos were difficult to obtain in the sup- you come back alive your job will Ayres who had turned out to be a per-room. Prices were exorbitant. be still open to you, but that if big noise in the Valdanian Govern- În the usual course of events I you get into trouble you can be ment, Now Valdania, was the would not have dared set foot in hanged, shot or merely drowned powerful and unfriendly neigh- the show, even allowing for the as far as he cares." bour. of Neustria, and I grew in fact, that the French franc is 179 "That's consoling."' terested, but not Barra, who ap- to the £ and I drew my earnings plied himself to the wine and to from England and so won on the whispering naughty nothings to exchange. Ysolde and Liane in turn.

"

-

We anchored off a wharf some way from Buenos: Ayres and case after case of seven-pound this of Vasseur had visited Mexico, what Tómmy Atkins calls bully the holdi The old gentleman had a mania where his family had vast finan- beef were loaded in on the old-fashioned card game cial interests, in order to bring There were several obvious Val- or ninochle bezique as we call it back some senoritas who could danians attached to the crew, un- they In England. He liked to gamble certainly dance. He had designed doubtedly as guards, but on It. Now Blakesley had learnt their costumes, bitself, it proving were busily piled with rum and The game from a wealthy maiden on the local, cut and colour, and so did not do much in the way of aunt, and he sat in as the old the way they performed the Ha-guard duties. I hardly saw BarrÜ gentleman's partner at a game banera was enough to provoke St. during this period. He was busy called Auction Bezique, which is Anthony himself. feally a very skilful and interest- ing form of garnbling.

The 0.g. was delighted with him antone evening; asked him what “he did for a Irving, The young

all night together with a ruffianly crew who certainly were not tho Vasseur Was always generous stevadores: who had been londing | and always tactful: He knew that the cargo. Although' dirty, un- the Salminds were poor, so he shaver and rough, they were of a asked Vera in a low tone to give higher type..

Us

song which she did, a weird: 14, when with Barra, however,

Guests and judges at the n Hong Kong Football Club-orðu

training, display

for