1956-09-21 — Page 4

: Page: 4

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1950.

EERE

The Oval Test Murder THE HUNCHBACK MAKES

T

ONY LOCK, tall and "It's like this," Lock said. loose limbed, and """Before lunch I bowled at thick-set ruddy Jim Bowerman's end, and after Laker seemed to lunch Jim dld, Now, before make Quarles's large office lunch he was using the com- look a little smaller. The puter. I told you that." detective looked at his watch anxiously. "Shouldn't you be at The Oval?"

They both laughed, "We shall be in time." There was an awkward pause, Then Laker coughed. "You asked us to let you know anything unusual Bowerman had done during or after lunch. There was one thing that Tony and I noticed but it seems too silly to mention."

Tony Lock broke in. "You know the computer Bower- man used-the clicker. Was one found in his coat when they took him to hospital?

Laker took up the story. "And after lunch ho wasn't using it. He was using dice, or something like that, pass- ing them from one hand to the other as most umpires do."

Get photographs

Quarles closed his eyes and was silent for so long that the cricketers feared he had gone to sleep. Then be said to Laker: "You're absolutely sure of this?"

"Certain."

W"

SO FAR

[7HAT was the "proof" with which umpire Charles Bowerman threatened, to expose an unknown man he met in The Oval pavilion on the first day of the Test? And why did he accuse his fellow-umpire, Jack Petty, taking his white coat?

Private detective Francis Quarles tella Inspector Leeds that if he can find the answers to these questions he will For, in the middle solve the mystery of Bowerman's death.

of the Australian Innings, the umpire staggered and fell.

He died later of atropine poisoning. Quartes, who was watching the Test with Dr Gregory Kane, has interviewed the widow and radio commentator, Leo Macion, with whom Mrs Bowerman was friendly at one time. Now, on the morning of the second day, two men call at the detective's office.

19 secretary Molly Player announces them—Mr Lock and Mr Laker.

penniea

Again Quarles was allent, until Laker said: "We ought to be going, Mr Quarles. Is that any help?”

A

ΘΑ

A TOY FOR QUARLES

She came back with the valuable time should be paper, and Quarles saw from spent in answering ques- it that Bowerman had been tions. "Nothing exceptional report, Quarles. A umpiring on the 11th in a to Warwickshire match

of at straightforward CASO Edgbaston Play which had atropine poisoning. Pupils been abandoned for the day still dilated several hours ut lunch-time.

after death, nothing unusual A considerable amount was taken, shouldn't like yet to say exactly how much. Anything else?"

"Now I want to talk to about that." Doctor Klipper, who's per- forming the authopsy on Bowerman. Will you get him for me?"

"Method of administra tion?"

"Can't be definite. Ten to one It was by the mouth."

Quarles asked a question. "No, can't say we've speci fically looked for that. Want to do ro? I'll ring you

you to get photographs of or stones or clicker or anything else. But these four people. I've letter- I'm pretty sure these were ed them A. B. C. and D. It difficult. dice-red, white and black shouldn't be too

press agencies can they were, and they had The

Slightly indignant spots on. Pretty large dice, probably give you all of them-If not, Inspector too."

Leeds might help. Then take

"Yes," Molly Player Ricky Rowan off the Lassiter case.

Tell him to paused at the door as she down the Morrin went o t. "I've remembered It was? There you are, then, “Can you remember exact-

Hotel, Lewes, and find out who those two people are

to see you just me who came what Bowerman must have been ly Jim, you

of these people using ?"

"The greatest possible if any wrong."

help. You might call it the stayed there or were around now-they're cricketers.”

on the night of August 11. hand his

"Molly." Quarles said. Laker

It was a slightly chastened Dr missing piece in the puzzle."

Tell Ricky it's

who urgent. "We'll make

telephoned a sports com- Klipper through his hair. "It's not

"You quarter of an hour later. When they had gone I want to know today. But mentator out of you yet.” the kind of thing a bowler

were right. Two small punctures Tang for you Quarles

Molly first of all get me a Times

Of course usually notices much.

a for August 12. It should Doctor Klipper sounded on the right palm.

you understand I can't ray what know. After all, an umpire Player and pushed over

slightly indignant that his caused them." Can use what he likes, slip of paper to her. "I want be on the file.

"I wasn't wrong." Jin Laker said obstinately.

"If you could just explain what you're trying to tell me--" Quarles suggested,

ra

Was

go

to

back."

ON THE MOST DRAMATIC DAY

OF A CRISIS-DOGGED CAREER

It is the job of a political cartoonist to present a whole political situation (as he sees it) in one single black- and-white drawing. No political cartoonist in the world does this with more consistent, if controversial, brilliance than Michael Cummings. And of no subject has he been more piercingly perceptive than Sir Anthony Eden. Today --alongside his latest cartoon-we present a Cummings In six flashbacks Cartoon Biography of Eden, the Premier. ---with Cummings' own new captions-it sets the scene for a political drama.

CAN HE GET OUT?

D

For

you. Mr. Quarles, any-

thing." said Jake.

waa little he could do now untii

reported Ricky RowILN from Lewes, Quarles sat down to watch the cricket. After a few minutes a voice behind him roid: "Hello. Queries, Given up the case?"

"No," said Quarles grimly. "But think I can."

Francis Quarles then paid visit to his friend Jake Jobley. Jake was a little hunchback who had a gent Jacility for making such small ingenious toys as a

και burglars'

Quarles turned to sco tho miniaturo

features of Inspector Leeds. packed neatly into a tiny man

Inspector Leads. cure case, chess sets with false features of bottomy, heels, and suitcases with two

that

shoes with Also "Don't know how grown men

can watch this stuff," the In- "Come and have drink, and I'll tell you some- thing you don't know."

Laiso bottoms--one for discovery spector said. by alert customs officials and the other for the Importation of diamonds or drugs,

In the bar the Inspector said:

out

It would have been ludicrous "Know what you said yester- ever to apply the word honest to day, that we shouldn't clear up

until we found Jake Jubley, but Quarles had this coge helped him on more than one what the proof was that Bower occasion, and the little hunch- man had with him? Somebody Broke back expressed himself delighted elso had the same idea. to make the toy that the detec- into The pavilion lart

and went through the un tive wanted.

room with a fine tooth comb. →..

"For you Mr Quarles, any- thing." he said. When he learn ed that it as wanted that day,

"You know cricket gear's re- paired there when no matches

by JULIAN SYMONS

**why I remember

Tory Vorfavorise 1020 hd PDECOD

domina

Ats Deervativ

• Minister when

1944.

Churchill still in offee Eden 35 eternal Crown

the prince.

ABMX

fo

PLACE!

both like two andersen bomber, with l en the frike.-May 11

"How've got 19 make praemone) Borz

101

• Eden, now Premier, fights peace

election programme.

Eden moves

men meneurs fe as per mi-atube: 11.

Eden gets Garter Cummings suggests more orders including from Neguib.

one

Tony

Hamamber whet

+

Kad 1981 KE we new, a...”

All-party attack on Eden,

How To Dertt úro net Joy' hreint

Glubb Pasha out

AND SO TO THE PRESENT

WITH COMPLIMENTS

OF THE T.M.C.

Cummings

Private eye Anthony Eden sleuthing a missing canal is

trapped in an attic. A sinister Egyptian holds a dagger to his heart, a razor-slasher creeps in through the window, a Chicago gunman pounds up the stairs, a time bomb reposes on his lap and his bicycle has been carried away in the floods...

NOTE:

★★★ FOR THE BEST SOLUTION FOR HIS ESCAPE, CUMMINGS WILL SEND TWO CANAL SHARES (SUEZ)—CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTING

howover, he raised his hands in are on? This morning there horror. "Absolutely it cannot be were bats, pads, balls, all over done, Mr Quarles, I have two or the floor. Doubt if the chap got three jobs here for gentlemen what he came for, by the look who mustn't tell you their of thing What's up, Quarles, names, but if I don't deliver" seen a ghost?" He ran ង finger acroes bis throat.

Quarles Was on his feet "Bals, pads, balls," he sold, "Jake," Quarles said. "Who "ve been a fool not to see 1. was It kept you out of trouble before. You remember what when the Ross boys were after Petty told us. Come on, Inspec- you? Who told the police you for, it may not be too late."

had nothing to do with making

Very cloveT little blow- twins used? guns the Harvey

thos

Who"

Kend

Two minutes later several dicapproving members jostled by a largo dandylsh

The hunchback stopped him. man, followed by a red-faced

His eyes were wet, but then he police Inspector, racing upstairs Mr in the direction of the umpires"

crled coably "For you

Quarles, anything. When?"

"Six o'clock at the late!"

"Six o'clock it shall be."

room.

(COPYRIGHT)

• All characters in The Oval Murder story--apart from players -- are

By the time that Quadles got to The Oval it was obvious that Test the struggle for fret inrings the lead was going

lo to a bitter one, In their opening spell of the morning Lexdwnil

and

Miller had dismissed both May and Washbrook. Bailey and Evans were out there now, and England still needed 40 for the tead.

With a slightly guilty feeling. but the knowledge that

there

Actitious,

TOMORROW:

entirely

The case is solved

DID YOU you

? KNOW

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