1954-04-19 — Page 4

Page

THE CHINA--MAIL,

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1954.

Continuing the ADVENTURE of the DARK ANGELS by Adrian Conan Doyle

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR

I gloomy seclusion on an estate in the New Forest live Joshua Ferrors, a widower, retired from žila Sicilian vineyards, his daughter, Daphne, and thres servants--McKinney, the butler, and his wife and sister. In a cottage on the estate lives James Tonston, who had managed the vineyards in Sicily.

Deeply troubled, Miss Forrors calls at Baker Street to seek Sherlock Holmes's advice, She tells him of a singular chain of events which started when she discovered a coloured print nailed to a tree on the estate. It portrayed nine winged angels, grouped in six and three and dressed in black. The figures "6/—3′′ were scrawled underneath.

"M

Y first

tion,"

reac- she

went on, “was

that it was a curious way for the carrier from Lyndhurst to some new-fangled calendar and so, plucking it down, I took it in with me,

deliver

and WAS on my way up- stairs to my room when met

my

landing.

1

fo

"My father seleed the candelabra and flung it at the

windows

With a gesture he rushed into

to Lin-

or three times a week despite into the house. He must have father on the my father's open hostility teken the pleture to my father,

what he considered an

for he kept to his room for a warranted Intrusion.

week afterwards." "It was some weeks later, on Holmes.

"One moment,"

interrupted "Can you recall the 11, February

10 be precise, the exact date when you found that our manservant came to me the picture on the oak tree?" just after breakfast with a most curious expression on his face. It's not the Lyndhurst carrier this time," he announced sourly, and I don't like it, Miss.

tell the de-

**"This was on a tree the avenue,' I said. 'I think McKinney should Lyndhurst carrier

at the tradesman's liver entrance instead of pinning

Lo

don't

things in odd places. I pre- fer angels in white, you, Papa?

"

"What I the matter, Mc- Kinney?'

"It was Doeümber 29,"* "And the second appeared on the front door on February 11, Miss you say. Thank

Ferrers, pray proceed with your interesting narrative."

you he sold at last. "you and there by clumps of holly mut plan a new life for your and bounded in every direction self, preferably in London, where by the dark outspurs' of a great you will quickly make new forest.

friends of

of your own age." "But my father?"

After some miles, on moun- ting a long hill, we saw below Holmes rose to his feet. "Doctor Watson and I will us a shoot of water and the of Beaulieu accompany you at once to Hamp- groy, hoary ruins

road plunged shire. If I cannot provent, at Abbey, then the

into the forest and some ten least I may be able to avenge!""

whose

The NEW Exploits of

SHERLOCK HOLMES

your report of Mr Forrora's

"Holmes!" I cried, borror- minutes later we wheeled be- neath an arch of crumbling atruck.

PIL'S no good, Watson" he must do nvmuslined by suicide." said, laying his fingers gently en ble gak trees

inter shoulder. "I locked branches met overhead Miss Ferrera's would be the basest treachery to in a gloomy twilight this brave young lady to arouse pointed forward. "It is as I hope that I cannot share. I feared," he said 'bitterly, "We better that we face the facts." are too inte."

The facts!" I replied. "Why, a man may have a foot in the grave and yet live."?

of

his

"Suicide?" Interposed Holmes

Holmes sharply:

Riding in the same direction as ourselves, but far ahead or

horror study

We

there is

said

2.

"Aye, what else? Ho's been glooming for weeks past, as all

the household can testify," and now he's cut his throat from ear to "ear."

CAN WE

STILL TALK?

By Les Armour So now we are forgetting

how to talk.

The authority for this is Mr Norman Fisher, Man- chester's Chief Education Officer.

Educators have been toll- ing us for years that we are forgetting how to think, forgetting how to spell, forgetting, forgetting, for- We have taken getting...

"Hm" Holmes dropped on his knees beside the body, "And it all with equanimity and this is the weapon, of course. A gone our sinful ways un- horn-handled clasp knife with concerned.

a retractable blade, Italian, 1 perceive.

"How do you know that?”* "It has the mark of a Milaneke bladesmith. But what is thin? Dear me, what curious object."

The house, flunkey, and grub situation apparently is HOLMES shook significant because "the best his head. “It has conversation .

was heard not been load when there was a leisured ed," he said, "for

But this, surely, is the final blow. The time has come to take a stand.

Nevertheless, we must hear Mr Fisher out.

He says cocktail parties, He rose to his feet and closely party games, radios and "My father must have realised Holmes looked at me curlously us down the avenue, I caught a

glimpse of a police constable on examined the thing which he television sets are dealing instinctively that the danger lay for a moment.

had

picked up from the grass death blows to conversation. a blcycle. behind him, for, seizing a heavy

It was a short-barrelled rife, cut Watson," he "True, candelabra from the table, 11

immediately The drive opened out into a off must

behind the The situation is aggravated one movement he turned and thoughtfully. "But

waste no further time. Unless my wooded park with a gaunt battle trigger by a hinged stock, su by the fact that "we live in fung if at the window.

mented mansion set ald the that the whole weapon folded "There was an appalling crash memory belles mo of glass and I caught a glimpse train to Hampshire within the broken terraces and parterres of into two parts. "It was lying by flats or small houses, have of the curtains streaming like hour. A few necessities in a bag that saddest of all spectacles, an his head," observed the constable. no servants and not a great

old-world garden run to wilder "Seems that he was expect na deal of food." great crimson bat wings in the should meet the case."

ness and bathed in the red glow trouble and took it with him fos wind that howled through the I was haallly gathering my of the setting sun. At some little protection. shattered casement. The flames of the remaining candles blew things together when Holmes distance from the house, a group

came into my bedroom,

of men were gathered beside a Bat and dim, and then I must

stunted cedar tree, and, at a word "It might be advisable to take from Holmes, our driver pulled have fainted, When

up and we hurried towards them "Then there is danger?"

across the turf.

you will observe minority who could entertain that the grean in their own houses. Now, "Deadly danger, Watson," He

The group was composed of

19 undisturbed instead of the former din- forehead with his amote his

But what have ner party, we have that hand. "My God, what frony. She the policeman, a gentleman with in the breech.

a small black bag which I easily we here? Perhaps, Watson, you fantastic organised shout- has come just a day too late." recognised and lastly a man in would lend me your pencil and

accompanied Miss

ing match known as the brown weeks and three days ago, when Ferrers from the sitting-room pale suntry tweeds with a handkerchier n

face framed in "It's only the hole in the stock | cocktail party.” mutton-chop whiskers. As we for the cleaning rod," rapped drew near, they turned towards Mr Tonaton. us and I could not repress an

Of course, the conversa- exclamation of horror at the is spectacle that their movement "What then? You stuck the tion is not quite hopeless Fisher concedes disclosed to our eyes.

handkerchief wrapped around the yet. Mr pencil into the hole and now that philosophers and jour- AT the foot of you've withdrawn it. There's nalists still talk pretty well. the codur tree nothing on the handkerchief,

came to

"The words were hardly out and went away mumbling and tinued our ellent, "my father Myself I was lying on my bed, your revolver," he said softly,

before he had of my mouth

print matched the

from The. For a moment, he stood speech- less, glaring down at the piece of paper in his shaking hands while the colour ebbed from his face, leaving it drawn and livid.

***What is it, Papa?" I cried, clutching him by the arm.

~ The

Dark Angels,' ** he whispered. Then with a gesture of horror, he shook off my hand and rushed into his study, lock- ing and bolting the door

be-

"Ask the front door, sald he,

stroking his beard,

"I HASTENED 10 the entrance,

and there, nailed

★

"One evening, it would he about #fortnight later," Con- and I were sitting together at the dinner table. It was a wild, tempestuous night with driving squalls of rain and a wind that sobbed

and howled like # 10gt to the front door, soul down the great yawning WGA มุ similar

the ancient that chimneypieces of print to that

mansion. which I had found on the oak tree In the avenue. And yet it was not exactly similar, for this time

only

six in the angels were

"The meal was over and my number and

the Agure '' was father was moodily drinking his marked on the bottom

of the port by the light of the heavy page.

candlebranches that illumined "I tore it down and was gazing the dining table, when, raising at it with an inexplicable chili his eyes, to mine, he was seized "From that day on, my father in my heart when a hand reached with some reflection of the ulter never left the house. His time out and took it from my Bngers. horror that was at that instant was spent in reading and Turning round. I found Mr freezing the blood in my veins. writing in his study or in long Tonston standing behind me. Immediately in front of me, conferences with James Tou It is not for you, Miss Ferrers, and behind him, there was stou, whose gloomy and severe he said gravely, and for that window, the curtains of which character is somewhat akin

you can thank your Maker.

were not fully drawn, leaving a his own. I sw Him seldom But what does it mean?" I once of rain splashed glass that gave at meal times, and it would cried wildly. If there is danger throw back dan glow from bave been unbearable for

father, then why To to my

does the candlelight. were it not for the fact that 1 he not summon the police?

"Poering

through this glass bad the friendship of one Because we do not need the was a man's face, noble-hearted

Mrs police, he replied. 'Believe me, "The lower part of his fea- Kordham the wife of the

your father and 1 are quite tures was covered with his hand, Beaulieu doctor, who, perceiving capable of dealing with the altu-bat beneath the rim of a shape- the desolation of my life, per ation, my dear young lady. And, leas hat a pair of eyes, grinning ested in calling to see me two turning on his heel, he vanished and baleful, glared into my own.

hind him.

woman,

to

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The next

day, my father made no reference to the incident and the window was repaired by a man from the village. And now, Mr Holmes, my story draws to

its close.

we

"On March 25, exactly six As my father and I took our places Holmes paused at the bookshelf for breakfast, there upon the to slip a slim caltbound volume table lay the print of the demon into the pocket of his Inverness angels, six and three, But this cape mad then, scribbling a tele

number gram, he handed the form to Mrs lower Hudson in the hallway. "Kindly

Am that it is despatched БЕС mediately." sald he.

ACTOS

time there Was no

the scrawled Fortion.

"And your father?" asked Holmes very seriously.

"My father has resigned him- self with the calm of a man who wait

inescapable upon Destiny. For the first time for many years, he looked at me gently. It has come,' said he,

and It is well!

#

A four-wheeler carried us to Waterloo where we were just in time to catch Bournemouth train stopping at Lyndhurs Road station.

It was a melancholy journey,

..

"I am aware of that, Tut, this

curious."

most

lay the body of and yet you find it curious. What an elderly man, the devil did you expect?” His arms werd~~. “Dust.” outstretched, the "Dunt?"

"Precisely. fingers gripping

Something

NOT QUITE HOPELESS

But,

as for the rest of society, things seem to be

pretty bad. Pointedly, he makes no reference to the has conversational abilities of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in the grass and his head thrust up been hidden in the hole and his corner seat, his ear-flapped at so grotesque an angle that his hence the fact that the walls are educators. Someone might travelling cup drawn down over features were hidden from view. clean. Normally there is always tell him that the declino in "I THREW

his eyes and his long, thin The bone gleamed in his gaping dust in the stock-holes of guns. conversation is not a very myself

fingers Lapping restlessly on the Curvet, while the ground around But I should be glad to bear good conversational topic. kgees besides

window ledge. I tried to engage his head was starved into one few facts from you, Mr Tonstos, him, imploring

But what of his case? Paris our companion in conversation great crimson halo, The doctor as I understand that you were him to

first to raise the alarm. It Radio and television may put and to convey a little of the sym- stepped forward hurriedly. the police, to put pathy that I felt for her in this

will save time if I hear them not be so bad as he thinks. This is a shocking affair, Mr from your own lips instead of He admite that radio has this time of anxiety, but though her Its chill replies were gracious and kindly, Sherlock Holmes," he cried ner- reading through your statement. shadow over our desolate lives. It was obvious that her mind was vously. "My wife hastened to

made "the best conversa- The shadow is nearly 1ted, my

preoccupied

own the

sho station as soon

tion"

available. generally child,' be replied.

received your wire. I trust that thoughts.

she was in time to meet Miss Ferrers?"

mystery

an end that throw

ta

Then, after a moment's hesl- tation, he laid his hand upon my

hend.'

*

with her

"Thank you, yes. Alas, that I could not myself have got here in time.”

the

★

He might go further.

An essential of good con- "Well, there's little enough to versation is something to talk tell," said he "An hour ago, about. Radio and TV, surely, I strolled out for a breath of air have widened our horizons and and caught sight of Mr Ferrers enriched our fund of informa standing under this tree. When tion *It seeing that you expected I halled him, he looked round EVERYONE'S RIGHT-

I think that we were all glad when, some two hours later, wo alighted at the little Hampshire station. As we reached the gates a pleasant-faced woman hurried policeman suspiciously, forward.

the tragedy, sir,” observed the and then, burning away, seemed

to put his hand up to his throat, Moreover, a decent education,

CONVETERA

anybody, any stranger, should communicate with you, sald he, say only that your father kept you always in ignor- ance of his affairs and that he bade you state that the name of the maker is in the butt of the gun. Remember those words and

I saw him stagger and fall once the prerogative of the few, forget all else, if you value that "Mr Sherlock Holmes?" said "I did, constable, Hence my When I ran up, he was lying as is now the right of everyone. happier, better life that will she. "Thank heavens that the presence."

you see him now, with his throat Hasn't that helped shortly commence for you. With Benuileu Post Office delivered

"Well, I'd like to know..........” goping and the knife on the that he rose and left the room, your telegram in time. Daphne. Holmes tapped him on the arms beside him. There was

"Since that time I have seen my dear!" little of him, and, at lust taking Mrs Nordham! But....but I and leading him to one side nothing I could do save send spoke a few words. When they the manservant for Dr Nordham my courage in both hands, I don't understand." wrote to Sir Robert that I was in "Now, Miss Ferrers," said rejoined us, there was a trace of and the constable. That's all"

rellef in the man's worried face. Most illuminating. You were deep trouble and wished to meet Holmes soothingly. It would It shall be as you wish, air, he with Mr Ferrera in Sicily, were him. Then, inventing an excuse, help us greatly if you will enta, find yet un rely on me, you not?" I slipped away yesterday and entrust yourself to your friend. Tonston repeating his staterem

Str Mrs came up to London, where

I know that you to you:" Mrs Nordham, Robert, having heard a little of will take good care of her. Come. the story from my lips, advized Watson." me to lay my problem frankly before you.

tion?

And Is it true that the best conversation was found in the tomes of the leisured minerityT A good part of that minority lived pretty much in isolation and, no doubt, devoted, itself to pretty small talk

was..

How about the bubbling

which spring up "Wall, detain entlemen, I shall versations

you no longer if you wish over a tankard of "ale in the

What The man in tweeds turned his to return to the house. Watson, | tocal?. about the never

and often ceasing

brilliant We halled a fly in the station sunken face and pale grey eyes perhaps you would care to re-

which occupies the yard and, in a few moments, we in our direction. "I don't see main with me. And you too, chatter I have never seen my friend were free from the hamlet and why I should," he said tarily, constable,”

COTTON TOOMs of our univer more grave. His brows were bowling along a desolate road "You're the law, aren't you, (WORLD' COPYRIGHT RESERVED) drawn over his eyes and he that stretched away straight as Constable Kibble, and you've shook his head despondently. a ribbon, rising and-dipping and taken my statement already.

"It is kindest in the long run rising again över lonely ex- have nothing to add. You would that I should be frank with panses of heath broicen here bo better employed in sending

DURING

+

The Adventure of the

- Dark Angels will be

concluded - tomorrow.

WHO'S ONE-THIRD DEAF?

the British General Strike of 1926,

when the trains were not running, a man whose bed-' room overlooked the Dis- trict Railway complained that he could not sleep. He Was disturbed by the silence;

If he had spent that week in the country he would probably have complained; not of the silence, but of the appalling raket kicked up

By J.P.W. MALLALIEU, M.P.

* deaf" while ther: are

ZAK

and so lowers our powers both: [of resistance to disease and of

recovery, iroud th

stick as it has: for centuries?

And who will dare to cast the housewives'. uspersions on conferencen over the garden fence?

The Scientists

sayTM YOU

are

So I am surprised that so are meant to be warnings--but little is done to prevent noise. In fact, even in daylight, switch- Only the other week, the House ing headlights on and off is an equally effective and dar. safer

of Commons were discussing the abatement of another milence Warning-for example, it" gives smoke. But "I" do not think we

notice of intention to overtake have discussed noise, once in the without startling the driver nine years I have beert ・・

a sudden wrench; at ahead 4 member

his wheel

Indeed today borns are used, Even the old Noise Abatement, not for warning, but for protest League has been liquidated. and recrimination--and we CRIL

do without: theE.T

True, London and other cities. have got rid of trama, which are are many odber

that could be done."Lord Hos Bubuk seed to be responsible for 20 has suggested the by crickets, bull frogs and from one-quarter to one-third planing machines if we ant percent of street poles But adoption of cremation, church, clocks,

in the sumclently used to it, but it still. ! It just depends what you're ordinary street and that in the gets us down. It sets us downs, which are responsible for pace now being ab

40 percent, are: siliik: allowed, to used to. One man wound closest, street so far discovered even if we are asleep.

brump through the streets with cometeries could be in the world...the corner of GRE PALASAN CARA

playgrounds and ad dimit (nearly).

another

Sixth Avenue and 34th Street in Lord Horder has described backboard dapping, mudguard row now made by chil

and other-louse, paris ratuing the stresia New York they are two-thirds how he watched a baby sleeping and loads so inescurely Cartered Ache

peacefully in coff woman that they call against the skies. unallenced" carl camed

man's

But whether we like them

rok, most morinda do

Recent experiment

Medical Resmechin Cou

shown that

deal.

tha

GEN ARTENSIENblow, Thal baby did not ¦ Bince the war the owners of

the waken „but the furned over, and impro