1957-11-16 — Page 6

The

THE CHINA - MAIL, - SATURDAY, "NOVEMBER 16, - 1957.

Duchess of Nathan Road

She was no dizzy blonde. ́She summoned with a grand manner. And her favourite drink was MILK.

It's an

old friend

Grants

'STAND FAST'

SCOTCH WHISKY

now in the

tall triangular

bottle

Grant

Blended Scote

AD DALIJEME.;

HANDED AND

way.

Not at all. to fasten his shoolseg.... Tucked, man like you' who has done so

by. Besides which, you dict silp mo that hundred dollar bill which shows you have....what shall we say....same approcin- tion of ethical qualities?;

TWENTY-FIVE years ago I was sent down and crept up a dirty old stair- most daybreak, He bent down "Indeed not,

from Oxford and sent out to Hongkong. A They entered a dimly lighted in his shoo he found 'n hundred wall hero is not easy to como distant relation found me a job in the Hongkong chinese nat sucking at a pipe. He

room where an evil looking dollar bill rolled up in a note, branch of his import and export business. I held Eimore wished he'd postponed read it the better. the job, for six months, but after going on a this adventuro until his next "Hord luck pal. This should more than usually exuberant rampage, I found in myself out on the street with a month's salary in my pocket.

I celebrated this event by putting my fist through the office window, that's why I still have this from thumb to wrist.

up.

scar

Elmore accepted a cup of ban from a Chinese girl, and sipped it while the dirty old man pre- pared a pipe for him. He took

JAY ELLE

Introduces the first of our short story series

Hongkong writers write about Hongkong.

were twittering around

took it to the window to It read,

see you through. Never trust a Grand Duchess,”

Elmore sighed. "So here. I I mumbled some thanks, and

am right back where I started from twenty-five years ago. I ain also looking for a Chinese man with light blue eyes," I put on my aun glasses,

Baki something about being young at the time. But Eimere asked, "While I have been sit- ting here I've been wonderinst how a chap like you got mixed up with a dame ilke the Grand Duchess,"

"Could we have some miro coffee?" I asked.

"Also he has a neat seat on his ght hand from the thumb The next few months were

The boy brought us 10:0 tough going. I tried cut every in her lap. He was terribly the pipe from the old man, had, my pockets.

to the wrist." I put my hond's coffee, I took a sip and looked thing in my determination not surprised because

across at Elmore, "It was lice he wasn't a puft, and the last thing he We stared at each other across this, Sir. to be sent home, One or two aware he was so 'near her. He remembered before passing out

J was sitting in this the table for fully a minute, A Jounge, just about where we are of the

I got Inekets

into look out his handkerchief and was the Chinese man staring last, I was unable to bear the sitting now when just across the Interested the authorities, so I was mopping here and mopping siraight into his eyes, determined

suspense any longer, I said, aiale I noticed an exquisite was time to sober there, while half a dozen boys He awakened h an empty "Well, I can write you out a blonde drinking milk. On the lika room with a splitting headach cheque for five hundred dollars, way to my room, I hapched to I managed to land a job with, aparrows,

His watch, his ring, and his but I suppose you an American Shipping Line

want my pass her table and, I don't know whose headquarters,

Meanwhile the blonde stood pocket book were gone. He resignation as well?"

how it happened, but the next wero in

He leaned across San Francisco, and soon began in the midst of it all like on pulled aside the filthy venetian

the table. thing was, the glass of milk had blinds and saw that it was al- "Good to get promotion. Eventually. outraged Empress,

gracious not" he said, landed right in her lop......" I was the local manager, and At last he dared to make. the that is why on this particular following proposals. That the day, I was sitting in the Hotel escort her to her apartment, Splendide waiting for the newly. That he make good the damage appointed General Manager lo he had caused to her dress, She drop in from San Francisco,

listened in dignified silence, but finally permitted him call it rab, and they drove together to one of the shabby little streets at the back of the hotel.

The hell-boy brought hlm straight to my table. We shook hands and I asked him what he would like to drink. He settled for a coffee, so I ordered a

coffee #150, While we were sipping it, I asked the conven- tional question: had he been in Hongkong before?

His eyes twinkled behind his glasses; he remitided me of an owl about to tell a smoking room story. Oh yes! Indeed I have. Let me see, it must be fully twenty-five, years ago. But I have a good memory They've altered the place a bit, but I think I could still find my way around. And," he added, "I never forget a free.

I shuffled my feet. "You must And such # mcmory useful, Sir,"

"Very." I found the silence rather em- burrassing. "Do you remember much of your last trip here?"

He said, "If "you will order some more of this unusually

insipld coffee, I will tell you about It'

H's name was Robert Elmore, and as the son of the owner off the Shipplar Line, it was decids ed that he should learn the job on the job. He did everything you could do on a passenger Bhip from washing dishes to playing the saxophone in the ship's band.

They entered a bijou apart- Elmore two days In wonderland. ment, und there began for

She was not so modest as

Elmore had at first supposed for while she changed her dress, the left her bedroom door ajar, and

every now and again, Elmore saw reflected in a mirror the most provoking reflections,

Nina Papusky, and she was no She introduced herself 49

less than a Grand Duchess from the court of His Inte Majesty, the King of Balkanania. Το prove this, she showed Elmere a photograph which portrayed her wearing several yards of pearls and R coronet, and littlo else besides,

Furthermore, she phoned her friends, and when they arrived, they addressed her as "Your Royal Highness" and referred to her as "The Grand Duchess."

So passed the day, and the night was a montage of gaudy His first trip brought him to night-clubs, exotic .perfumes Hongkong for three days, so he and scented sheets. decided to stay ashore, for 2 The next day, somewhere to- night or so.

wards noon, Elmore and the He booked a room

at the Duchess breakfasted together Ifotel Splendide although he amid the delightful intimacy of would have preferred to stay at feathered pillows and scatterbe it more gaudy and cheaper cushions. place a block away, but he was ofraid his father would get to hear about it.

NO

for

SINECURE

Lord Hailes

BY HAROLD JAMES

London. legistative power to impose. The

which the XIEN Lord Hailes was appointed first Governor total sum

various WGeneral or a federated West Indies, some of his islands can be asked to play critics said he could not have distinguished between million West Indian dollars. Trinidad and Timbuctoo. It may have been true: but Jamaica and Trinidad, he will live to confound them.

of course, will subscribo the Hon's

sponsible for 43 per cent and The

attention to what could be the most worthwhile task of Trinidad for 38 per cent.

Since his appointment he has given his undivided share of this, Jamaica being re- his life. He has taken a keen interest in Caribbean total sum was fixed over a year history, and made a point of meeting all who can throw and a half ago. It will not go as light on the problem of the West Indies. To do so, he done then. Moreover, demands far today De it would have has mixed with ordinary migrants as much as with those on the federal purse will grow in high places.

*

rather than diminish. So the federal treasyrer' will have hla work cut out to balance hls budget.

***

And, having completed ha may have to make their name "book-learning", he will spend new-in preference to shining several weeks on the "practical in island politics where they side". travelling

From sheer habit eyes will round the are already known? A Elmore forgot all about self.

The party went so well that islands to see things for him-

turn to Britain for help but It is not only a gomble in there is a limit to what Britain reputation: it can also be a can do. British assistance to the duilles. He culled it "getting By the time he settles into question of money. For example, whole Caribbean region already to know the world." He added his job he will have a know can a politician who holds minty represents more per head of that the rate the Grand Duchess ledge his domain which few sterlal office in one of the population than that given to and her friends ate Cavlar and Governors-General have equal islands sacrifice his job for the any other region under the drank Vodien would have caused led. He will need it. For the chance of becoming a minister Colonial GMco. a revolution in Americs, let Federation is going to be faced in the Federation? One thing is none Balkonania.

with difficult problems from, certala; it will coat more to the start.

enler federal polities than to Every new federation has its stay in public life in the islands, Political circles in London terthing troubles. Central Africa It will mean, if not two homes, bellove the British Government and Malaya are no exceptions. at least a pled-a-terre in Trint will try to sponsor a "Colombe For one thing, a federation does dod.

Plan" for the West Indies to not command the same loyalty

which Britain, Canada and the that a smaller and more com-

United States would invited prehensive unit does. The com- It is in problems of this sort to be the main contributors-of ponent parts are jealous of the that the advice and Influence of outside aid." Ties of pentment authority at the centre, which the Governor-General can be and trade unite Canada and The Duchess asked Elmore is often distant from the local invaluable. And it is to be hoped the Caribbean. Both to Canada what he intended to do, when he capitals. For instance, over a that his persuasive powers will and the United States the Bri- would

sail, how her hot thousand miles separate Trini- result in someone like Mr Nor- tish West Indies act as a kind would break when he left, and dad from Jamaica; so the centre man Manicy, or Slr Grantley of defensive strategle screen. how much money he had left, scenis remote to those living on Adams steering the Federation Increasingly, the islands attract

Elmore told her he would the periphery.

into smooth waters.

visitors from the American He said he was sitting in the have to return to the ship in

The danger is that, if federal continent. Results of aid there reported his

politics Are lounge of the Splendide when he case the Captain

left to 'second would be more apparent to That he

raters', the saw an exquisite blonde at the absence, to his father.

Federation itself American and Canadian eyes next table across the aisle. She sailed the following morning. The Federation of the West will come to

regarded as than the resulta in the moro Elmore's heart was also Indies has all these troubles 'second-rate'—second to was by no means a dumb dizzy That

the distant Colombo countries, blonde for she had immense near breaking at the thought of ❘ and more. And its two immedi- component paris; and not only

The Governor-Gonoral could dignity. She summoned the leaving her. And that he had ate problems will be men and in local opinion but in the eyes help forward a plan like this by hotel servants with t grand five hundred dollars left. And, money. As to the first, the de- of the world,

personal contacts In Canada and anner, and although she was as an afterthought, he added he cislon taken by political lenders The other headache is money, the United States. He would drinking only milk, her manner would like to see an oplum dive in the Federation that a chodec Unilke most other federations, make a Brst-rate public rela--

must be made between federal this one has very limited, finan- tions man, for the Federation, was that of one used to issuing before he left Hongkong.

The Grand Duchess frowned and island politics is a hard clal.resources. For the first five He has good looks, a good pre- royal edicts.

Elmore

senco and, now, a good know- admitted he was

at this, but said that it could one, and one, Incidentally, that years, the federal government is fascinated. He gave her a few be arranged at a price. Also, found few supporters at West to get its revenue from profits ledge of the territories under

minster. For it is of supreme on the currency issue, and from his control glances, but if she noticed theas, that it was slightly legol. she ignored them. He decided

evening, the Grand importance to the new Federa- a mandatory levy on the island Lord Halles has an exciting to go to his room before she Duchess met Elmore at the dook tlon, that it should be gulded governments. From this latter assignment. It is one in which called the management,

where they pleked up a cab, in' le formative years by lead will be deducted any sume imagination, beldness and, above raised by the federal govern- all, tho will to see that the and after a bewildering drive ers of first-class ability.

But will the right men choose ment through customs and ex- Federation succeeds, will count around Kowloon, they stopped before a mean looking house the federal field-in which they else duties which It will have for much.

On the way, he had to pass, her table, and before he realised it, the glass of milk had landed

That

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

I'VE GOT NOTHING ADAINST YOU, REX, BANKO PICKED YOU, TO REPLACE ME AS STAR- HE MIGHT HAVE PICKED

ANYBODY

JOHNNY HAZARD

BUT I'VE GOT PLENTY AGAINST BANKS. I WAS A STAR-KE FIRED NB! para SAID I PRANKĄ TOO MUCH-

ALL THOSE

Lieg

NOW THEY KNOW

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

WHAT

ABOUT ME, I CANT GO BACK TO LOCATION. BUT, I'LL NEVER LET THEM/ FINISH THE

·PICTURE--

CAN YOU

DOT

FIRST+m THIS!

By Frank Robbins

LATER, WHEN KISWET, JOHNNY AKP KITTY RETURN

I'LL SEE YOU,

TO GIZMO'S HOUSE..

WHAT'S THAT LITSLIE

HOUSE BACK OF THE

DON'T BE A LOVELORN FOOL, KISMET, BABY! I'VE GOT A LONG STREICH AHEAD OF MÉ AND....... I'M NOT WORTH WAITING FOR!

TAKE THAT MONEY....

EVERY TIME YOU OPEN THAT BRIS, UGLY MOUTH OF YOURS,

GROKSIE, PARUNG... I. FALL MORE IN LOVE "WITH YOU? NOPE, LIL KISMETY STICKING

WITH YOU!

TIME'S UP BABY, LISTEN... UNDER

SIZMO

THE FIFTH FLAGSTONE

OF THE YEAHOUSE TERRACE... THERE'S ALMOST TEN GRANDI

TAKE IT AND 60 HOWE... FORGET ME! ·

AT THE NEXT

VISITING

SESSION,

GEORGIE?

UMAŃ ONE, JOHNNYI

THAT'S WHAT THE JAPANESE CALS THOR TEAHOUSE!

There's More than Magic in

FRY'S 4 FNDURITES

They

are Delicious.

AUSTIN!

THE CAR

for your

· HOME LEAVE

METRO CARS' (H.K.); LTD.

Agent 2) L. RONDON & CO. (DK) IND, E QUEEN'S ROAD (CENTRAL) HONG KONG