1961-07-29 — Page 12

THE CHINA MAIL SATURDAY, JULY 29,1081..

The Killing at Ascot

401 020040

STARTING TODAY

TODAY A FOUR-PART THRILLER

The body was lying behind a bush...

she had once been

"A

beautiful

ND another thing," said Chief Secur- ity Officer Donald Ro- gers, *There are still some of you who are mugs enough to believe that you can judge people by their appear- ance and that anyone who turns up at the meeting tomorrow in a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley GREAT

by

Leonard Mosley

is automatically to be Was there enough beer and between

publicity-seekers come ing in.

swarm

One last thing," said Rogers. "Don't forget one other foet about Ascot. Our job is to protect the public and let them have a pleasant week's racing. But we also have a duly to our employers—and that means we have to see that no one else except the successful backers get their hailda on the money that will be spent here tomorrow."

He turned to Ann Hanson, his young assistant sitting beside him behind the desk. "How much money did the his knees. Andy's Tote take in last year on Royal

considered either a mill- whisky and gin (and a cheerful "beat" is the stable and Hunt Cup Day?" ionaire or respectable." enough

He paused and let his eyes range slowly over the small group of men and women sland- ing around his desk.

SUSPECT

"Not In ese times you can't,"

staff) to keep the paddockc from Jast night

bars flowing with good spirits? onwards, In the

360 private boxes, There was Millicent Gray, who would the refrigerators keep the resembled a very country type champagne, and the strawberries even in her neat tweeds, and wil! and cream cool, and would the look like a duchess today when electric stoves keep the turile she appears in the Royal Enclo- soup hot?

zure in her model gown, Paris The problems facing Donald hat, and Teasy-Weasy hair-do. Rogers wore something else again,

You can't keep crooks out of

KEY JOB

Ann said: "You should know, It off by heart, chief—£224,200," she looked down at her notes, and added: "And 15s."

Rogers nodded. "All right. Let's see that

the

buzz of the Inter-com and All He was interrupted by the

Jeaned over and ficked switch,

"It's a call from Berkshire police, chief," seld the operator, There's a patrol car trying to contuel you. Shall I cut them in?"

A VOICE

The doctor bent over her.

DRAWING

BY:

Robb

then he shook his head he went on. "Don't forget a grey a race meeting. But a good

'There was Freddie Jones, ex- topper can conceal a prison crop security officer, backed by an

are 100 people employed on this "You mean" the superin- what's all this about the "It was America," said Rogers. es well as A buld head. For expert and experienced staff, can Policeman and expert tic-tae

racecourse, and they've all got lendent, looked uncomfortably Benefactor? Don't you think In 1958 it was Rio de Janeiro. the purposes of this exercise, keep them under control, even if inan., There was Maisie Evans,

staff passes.

41 Ann = "was she what we I ought to know?".

Bookmaker kidnapped, Held for You suspect everyone, - he can't always keep their hands who looked like a kindly wash-

There was a pause and usually call interfered wlib'? The chief glanced at Ann and ransom, Mastermind; the Beng though," he added, allowing his cut of other people's pockets. room attendant and will be do-

whistle and crackling as the That's what we thought at first, then back at the superintendent, fuelor, 1950, Lisbon. A gold leathery faceg to relax into a For this, probably the biggest ug just that from the first race

circuit passed over. "Yes, sir," But she wasn't. Doe says those "Come back to Ascot with me," consignment matched this time. hint of a smile, "I think you can Royal Ascot of them all. Rogers on today, listening to the chatter

Rogers told him to go ahead. gaid the voice, “We lmow that, scratches, were made 'after she he said, “and I'll show you And guess who was behind it? presume on the bone flure of had been drilling his men and as the punters girl friends come for a few moments, as the room But this is different. You see, was shot, probably when the something."

anyone who turns up lize to women for months. Looking

in to powder their noses,

fell slient. only the sound et air. this girl has been shot. We killer dragged her here. Other- morrow in the buck seat of them over in that office yester-

wise no signs of struggle, There was Sammie Smiley, a telephonie trying could be heard think she is dying." coach and four."

day, you would have found it burnished Negro from Trinidad, through the speaker. And then

Nothing in her anger nails. Sho hard to believe that these were who knows all the boys from booming in came a voice.

didn't even scratch him." agents of law and order,

They Nalung Hill. And....and.... looked like everything but.

There was Andy Grant, Aridy In looked exactly what he had oned

It had been a hard day yester- day at Ascot for everyone.,

and....

All of them with a key job to

ure opened

Monday before the opening can only bu described theatrical parlance.

the gates The prin- cen-u stublo boy. His face was do once

as the public, the elpal stars of the show the the colour of St Paddy's Hanks, today

the wide boys,, and the lds bow legs so bent that even comblers, horses, the jockeys, crowds, that is are still in the while he was standing at atten- bookles, the pickpockel, wings. But otherwise, every- tion Lester Piggott could have owners, ane la rehearsing like mad. And crawled

yesterday there were Bitches

and frustrations of a kind that would drive the producer of n Drury Lane musicut into frenzy.

A

through the

the

the

trainers, the 111m and space starlets

inodels

and

COPYRIGHT: Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd., 1961. Specially written for the China Mall by Leonard Mosley. All characters are Лctious.

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AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES

From the speakers

balls rang out.... "This is the red signal'

STAND BY

THE BELLS

-

1960. A horse doped at Monte Carlo Suspert; the Benefactor.” ----He paused, and then he said: "He's been moving closer and closer. · And now, the night before Ascot — the biggest and He took out a notebook. It was almost dark as 'the two, richest Ascot we've ever had ---

approached the Rogers covered the mice was opened it, and extracted a card, chrs-

main what happens? A girl is shot, "We didn't and her handbag, racecourse buildings on the he works inside the course. All his hand and said to Anne We haven't found her shoes yul, Ascot road last night. At the who says to us is: The Bene-- the car out." To the others "ether. But we did find this. stable entrance a small queue of factor, Wednesday. Do you don't know what this is about,, but you'd better stand by." And Know her?" It was an Ascot horse-boxes was willing to go blame me for suspecting

stoff. 359..

in. Outside the two pubs on this

the the mike: "Okay,

year

Benefactor's then, into

either side of the gates small target is-us?" Don't bother about the car, ' Ann was staring down at the smots of wiry, brown little men come In my own.. Where are girl. "I do. It's part of my job. in breeches and tweed jackets Intercom. A volce said: "Chief, The light flicked on Rogers's you?"

Her name's Rita Moreno. She's were downing their beers and, the staff is still waiting for Sixteenth hole, sir. Down one of the giris the catering gossiping about the prospects in Instructions." by the lake. The super says 12 company brought in. As a bar today's races, hurry, sir. There isn't much mald. I think."

ome.

-that

two

The chief turned to Ann:' “I The bells in the slim clock want every member of the staff The body was lying behind a Suddenly, as they watched, tower above the new stand back at their posts within

In that ime I am bush, and it belonged to a there was a convulsive move- chimed 9.30. They clashed with minutes. once quite beautiful girl. The ment from the girl and her lips a voice over the loud-hailer going-to-scund the Red Signal. polles doctor had wiped most of began to twitch, as if she were calling "Testing, testing, Yes. The Red Signal." the dirt and blood off her face trying to talk. The doctor bant lesting.” Only

As.. Ann, got to her feet, ho a few lights and neck, but she was not over

on: Tell them I went her, listening? Rogers burned in the stand,

A mist went pleasant to look at any longer dropped on his knees and tried was rolling scross Ascot Heath, every room, every car, every

gone through to listen too. The doctor, seeing and Ann shivered.

stable, every The bullet had.

toilet--and parti- her back and come out by her him, shocks his head and rose di

cularly every bor and kitchen shoulder. Her dress, hanging to his feet.

searched with a tootheomb." about her slim legs, was ripped. and there were scratches wherHallo, chief," he said.

Ho

In the anteroom cf Rogers's office his staff were still walling: He brushed past them with a

ever the flesh was visible as it turned to the superintendent. "Be with you in a minute," and

"We'll a

way,

super. Can't 'leave her lying

denk.

Ho

RED SIGNAL

***

To the superintendent he Baard: "I don't know what

to-

A nurge had rigged up a hore all night, poor thing threw a bunch of keys across to portable blood transfusion unit And then to the ambulance Ann, and she went to a and the tube was rod with men: "All right get her aboard in the wall. Presently, she come

you this! we don't find it, "That you, Mr

Rogerst plasma, but. It wasn't moving, and take her in, boys. But back and put a folder on his were looking for, but I can tell

we're in trouble. From Calling Chief Donald Rckers,

Rogers and Ann Hanson went careful now. There's only b

For God's "No Calling...."

acrosa to the superintendent thread left in her. Ascol racecourse,

super," said Rogers, morrow onwards there'll be and he put his hand on the sake don't break it."

flatly. "The Benefactor isn't 2 £230,000 in cash floating around Azn had passed the micro recurity chief's arm, indicating They waited through the horse. It's a man." He opened this racecourse — and it's my phone across, and Rogers look to Ann as he drew him toward tenso momenik while they the folder. “Real name, guess the Benefactor is on to it," et up. "Rogers speaking. Go the body on the wet grass that edged a stretcher sently round unknown. Even the under-

she needn't come any closer, the body and lifted it across to world doesn't know who he is. then. licked down a switch,

ahead."

It's Folice Constable Christie But Ann, her fresh, young face the ambulance,

of Berkabire police, sir, I'm a little pale, esma with them. falking from, Wentworth

course,

golf

The super's asked me

to tell you he's sending a patrol

car over for you. Could you come here at once?

SCRATCHES

Nationality — unknown, "Age ------ tinknown

THREE WORDS grimly.

ground."

He looked at his watch and

red

Background un- "All right. This is the losown. Except," he added, signal, Red algnal. Red signal."

"his criminal' · back“ ·

From all over the course - from, the lotos, from the stand

The doctor came back.

----“ bells began to ring, echoing "Not nice, is it? said the what are you doing here, chieft

and re-echolniz

the through "Why "Fact is, we've got a girl here superintendent,

empty corridors BOTOLA the and she's got an Ascot pass anyone want to shoot a lovely I thought horses were your line."

misty heath. The superintendent Rogers said shortly: "Any- in her pocket. A staff pass," girl like tho17"

No use trying to He began There were giggles' from the

else?" Rogers's thing's my line it it's to do with

read, 1965, got up to go. "Anything

sald, Thero are about 20 security staff around the desk. words were cilpped and unemo Ascot. She was trying to talk December, Hialeah Race Track, to leave now, super," Rogers

to you just then, wasn't she? Florida. The favourite "Listen," Bald Rogers, "there tlonal.

gates between

Just Fancy That

would

The and grimly,

TARGET

423

That

wis -the

Did you get what she said? pulled in the Everglades Stakes different Iron

That's a funny thing," said and a gambling syndicato took you and the exit slamming shut the doctor. "She's been trying half a million dollars off, the ai this moment-and only 1 and

au electrician can to talk for the post 10 minutes, tote and bookies,

get you But all she could manage wore

through thom."'

A light flickered on the

the "Rickey Pineto, the Jockey. same three words. Didn' make sense to mie,"

convicted and sent to jail for intercom, and Rogers filcked the "Well, try them on us," conspiracy. Implicated two switch and picked up a lele»:

members of the gambling, ayndt phone, "It's for you, super." The muperintendent listened, "The Benefactor, Wednes. catę, 'All said the plan had been PUSSIA is on the verge of putting GIRL into orbit around day. That's what she kept master-minded by a man they said: "Dec" and

the earth, believe solonists a space listening part in Get-saying. The Beat an, kept new only by the hang of the instrument down. He looked at

the Benefactor."}....

chief. many. Professor Ifeine Kaminski, head of the observatory, si |nesday.'". Bochum, said that they had recorded female voloes on radio wave- -He stopped, startled, as Rogers He nipped the page. 1956, hospital ke gi Rita Rioteny.

Detroit Race Track. She died five minutes ago,”. lengtha vied by Soviet rocket men.

grabbed him roughly by the June.

Lotes Lickelt flooded Rogers: "Did she say any- shoulders. The chief was very Falso tenso now, "You're sure the the pay-windowa 20 minutes thing?!.

"Yes," 'said "the said

The Bonefactor" after the end of the big race, arked, urgently,

* Haul, 300,000 dollars, Msauger drht; "but it's not going to help *The "That's right,” replied the of printing arm which forged the you: All she said was himael. lickets said he set up plant and Beeforur, v odnestia),*** doctor, 100sening "What's the Benefactor? The look all Instructions from tomes The waming belle were still inces- ons he know as the Bermfactor." ringing, urgently and horse?" Rogers Tanored him. To the The superintendent protested: sanily, across Ascot Heatli,

CARGONGON ampresi avizite), | stsporintendent | he

"If "But that's America, phlet.", |that girl says anything more," je

VALIA

Turf a saran

UE 351-ton Dutch ship Caribia made a colourful show, in Poole want to hear it, miner 10 may be important, vilaily Important." 71 Pava a shortband writer

Nov. 11

Nov 14.

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TWENTY Derbyshire miners and their wives leave for

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And then to Romeen shut

...

#

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