1957-01-15 — Page 4

Page

4,,--h--"

THE CHINA MAIL,

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1957.

FRANCIS QUARLES FINDS OUT

The

F

RANCIS QUARLES heard the sharp. crack from behind him, and heard the bullet also. It buzzed so close to where he was sit- ting, In one of the deck- chairs on the lawn of the Hotel Beau Rivage, that he clapped his hand to his ear.

His companion, the French detectivé Jean- Dupont, said sympathetical- ly: "What is the matter, my friend? You are stung by the wasp, yes?

Quarles took away his hand. "No. Unless I'm mistaken somebody much was trying to shoot me. Or you," he added as an after- thought.

second bullet

Now she was loaning on Dupont's arm....her face

was frightened,

It

He turned and looked at the hotel, which revealed only innocent-looking win- dows. At the same moment for while Dupont patted a small feminine scream came from the other side of the bright flowering shrubs, some 10 yards away, that separated them from the

деа.

ran

TWO NEAT PUNCTURES

a

Dupont got to his feet and to the bushes. Quarles followed him in a more leisure-

They found ly manner. pretty girl, whom he recognised the hotel guests, as one of Majorie Brown. She had also been sitting in a deck chair.

leaning ฟอร่ but now she Dupont's arm and her face was frightened

011

Majorie Brown's shoulder avuncularly. After a couple of minutes' search he came back to them with the bullet in his large palm, He had found it a few yards farther on, by stone steps that led down to the beach.

the

girl, takon her into our 'höme, given her clothes, jewellery, everything. Only yesterday gave her my blue dress so that she could wear it to the masked ball. And behind my back she plays up to Johnny. But I can't belleve that ho-" She broke

off

Her voice was high. "Where's Mr Quarles going?"

Francia Quarles, still holding the bullet in his hand, was wallding back to the hotel.

Dupont patted her shoulder. ngain. "Leave yourself'in the hands of Papa Dupont. He will pce that no harm comes to you."

An hour later Dupont found Quarles standing beside the flowering shrubs and told him all that Marjorie Brown had sold. "But what are you doing?" the Frenchman said. "Why did you go into the hotel And what are you holding in your hand? You are surely not still interested in that bullet."

"Shall I tell you the most Interesting thing about this affair? The second shot,"

"What do you mean? was no second shot."

"As

Thero

Our friend Sherlock Holmes would say, that was the

by

any affair between him and Elleen Gray,

Quarles also made some in- in the hotel, Ho quiries learned that Brown was said to be interested in Lola Montigny, the leading lady of a company performing at the local theatre.

The masked ball had fust at the bar, was nudged by a begun when Quaries, standing

short man with 0 sizable prunch.

From behind the man's black mask .como Dupont's voice.

Monsieur Brown has had a telephone call and is suidtienly called away begins. Is that not interesting?"

"Very,"

before

"And something

the ball

more

teresting still. He has gone no forther than the place where we sat this morning. Out there is darkness. It is an assigna- tlon he attends, would you not say that?"

"Come along," "Quarles said time to sharply. "There's no Josc.

They left the bar and looked somo in the ballroom. There

women two hundred men and moved, masked, in each other's

JULIAN SYMONS

"Now, my little one - the question is who fired this bullet at you?" Dupont sald, while Quartes turned the bullet over interesting thing. For here is a in his hand, looking เม DC- Becond bullet. I have Just found rasionally at the hotel's win-it among these shrubs" Quarles Rows as 1/ they held some opened his hand to reveal two sceret, "In 3 phrase, who little leaden pellets. wishes your death?"

"Nobody," the girl sald, and burst into tears.

"Papa Dupont has noticed you. You have the great charm, you have the handsome hus- band, Monsieur Johnny, you are not "Look," Dupont

He young. And yet you are said.

You

deceive cannot held out the straw hat Marjorie happy. Brown had been wearing. In it Papa Dupont. Now tell me." there were two neal punctures.

"Johnny-Johnny doesn't love "It was not you or I, but this

shot me any more." young lady at whom the was aimed," he said pulemnly.

"It knocked, my Int DIT," Marjorte Brown saidy shivered,

atid

"Then the bullet should about here." Quarles

be

looked

"Bal how is that possible?"

During the afternoon Quarles made some discreet inquiries about the Browns by means of a telephone call to a friend of his on the Evening Standard. He learned that Johnny Brown was the rich playboy son of an all millionaire. Two years ago he had married a model named Marjorie Mellors, who had a certain reputation around town,

Eileen Gray, Majorie's poor cousin, had come to live with them six months back, because Johnny Brown had begun to "tell you it's true. He loves take an active interest in busi- Elleen. You must ness, and was away from home my cousin have seen them together. He a good deal Brown's name never looks at me now.

several And, had been linked with that wonen,

but nobody knew of I've done everything

for

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arms.

among Quarles looked them for an ice-blue dress, but And it. He walked <id not quickly along to the door that opened on to the terrace

there. stepped

Dupont out followed him.

THERE WAS STILLNESS

and

Out on the terrace, and in the gorden beyond, there was still- ness except for the murmur of the sea. The scent of flowers But Quarles did was strong. not notice the stillnes or the flowers, He was watching a

"Honest, Dad, there was tons of snow here yesterday."

That's what my father taught me...says Woolworth..

Miss

PAMELA WOOL-

MWORTH, millionairess,

was in London attending to her latest business venture:

girl walking away from the films.

hotel towards the shrubbery. The girl was slim and upright, and in the moonlight her dress showed fee blue.

By

DAVID

LEWIN

What happens if the plotures cost more than they should

has a limit been set, I asked. "No limit-elther high or low sald Miss 'Woolworth, leading stars, Then I'll leave is difficult, but I bolleve it can ll to the technicians to make be done,

Pamela Woolworth is married i the film.

"I have chosen England is a to Now York industrialist Miss Woolworth, an "I do not see why money place in

the which

Alms Bernard

Ho Comberale. 28 year old should be wasted in films any will be made because it is is not involved in her Alm attractive brunette, is

active more than in any other business, cheaper here and the actors are activities. an

because I am so good. And it is near to brothers,

and the Europe for locations. interested in the art "Miss Gray," Dupont whis-angel" and shrewd business I am in films

new picture, businem, pered "She goes to the assigna- head of a

making company which will operate in England.

tion,"

4

Quarles moved quietly along the terrace. At the other end of it, past the ballroom, moon- light again glinted on something blue the barrel of a revolver pointed at the back of the walking girl.

Quarles raised his voice, "It's no use, Mrs Brown. I took the

"I have an art collection of Impressionist paintings in New interest in the ballet.

THE PLANS

LIKE travel and moving

Sho is the daughter of one of York and I have taken an active **】 around so I will go over to

the richest Woolworths and the granddaughter of the founder of the firm,

THE ADVICE

"I do not want to be a per- Spain when the film is on loca-

But I want to. tion former-ever.

there to watch exactly what goes on.. help young talent.

"When my company is work- "I do not see why films ing well and is established should be muddled in the mak think we shall be able to assist ing. I think things can

be

bullets out of that revolver this WHAT is her philosophy on young artists and build stars. It carefully organised and planned." morning."

Α woman in a dark red dress with White masic turned towards him. She said some- thing unprintable and squeezed the trigger. There was a click, nothing more.

money? Simply this: "Put it to work. Do not lose it."

me She said: "My father gave.n this advice when I first went into business. He said: "Choose your business partners with great care. Then put in the for By now Quarles was up with smallest possible amount her, and had pulled off the the greatest possible return.*** mask. Marjorie Brown's face, "I have tried to follow that distorted with fury, stared

at in every edit a corporation: I have donc, !

him

am

Dupont looked at her in running 2,000,000-acre ranch, I amazement. "Mrs Brown-but am associated with a cannery. why-7"

I have been in oil. I have just Gold o dress shop in Miami, Florida, And not for a loss. It is preferable to make-money. I think I have

SHE WAS MASKED

Quarles spoke briskly. "She got her husband out here with a fake telephone call-no doubt it told him that Lola Montigny would meet him out in the garden. Then she sent Elleen Gray in the same direction on some pretext, probably to get something she had left there.

me to shoot Eileen, throw the gun out by the body and di go back into the ballroom. Her husband would come out and

be found with the body. It was gun. No doubt his printa are on it."

his

"But why should she kill Elleen Gray?" Dupont asked.

"She was wearing a frock that Marjorie Brown had just given to her. She was masked. It would be assumed that had killed her in mistake for his wife. You and I, my dear Dupont, were meant to testify that Mrs Brown had been shot at this morning, Johnny Brown was tired of his wife, and she know it. She did it for tho

חי

In her latest business-alms- other people have put in their money too!

She is the president of the company which sho CD1]S Dragon Films-"because some- thing nice always seemed to happen to me when I read about dragons in fairy stories' as a child and anyway I rather liked the dragons."

THE CASH

yourself now," I suggested. YOU may be called a dragon

"I suppose I might necessary I could be.

"I know that in films-as in other businesses-there may be people who will try to take advantage of the fact that I am a Woolworth at I may have money.

"I have got

ot money—if you insist, a million but it is crude to discuss it. If I am to-be a dragon I have my St George: in London to protect my British

(Her St Georgu Colt tho

British

Rit."

you know then, this business man who introduced morning, that she was playing ball-polat pene to England).. A trick?

Bo far Dragon Films has made "I know it immediately, The

OneR

· plcture called: "The Silken ballet that was fired flow past Affai starring David Niven, my ear. It could not possibly It was a comedy, shown in the have made a hole In Mra West End with a mixed recep Brown's hat several yards away tion from the critica.

on

the other, sido of soma shrubbery When she show

Anve

Misg

learned from that," Woolworth

firmly

us the hat, and I found i have garned that comelles are bullet which she had dropped almeult to make........because my

on the steps, I knew that sie die

was up to something. I left you, made an illicit entry into other her hotel room, and found the.

of humour, may not; họ people's.

I do not want to make revolver there, connected to an So in futuro Wo stigli automatic time switch. I took

concentrate on drumas. M out the bullets, replaced the revolver, and waited for Mrs Brown to state the climax.{^/?]

\Thursday': LITTLE MAN LOST

Her next film starting in April la-called "The Frescott Affaie, " an action story with, a location In Spain:

Bald Me Woolworth: i shall, mako, sung we have the right produce mod director, and -1') take. A clone interess £5 the

Nor are her two

"My brothers pulled my leg and teased me quite a lot when 1 tald them I was going into Alms. But it is not a joke..

I know there are dragona around in the film business (or wolves, as you call them, MS, Lewin). But I think I can I have had ex- handle them.

19 perlence and I am in business.

And she makes her business

pay.