1927-10-25 — Page 11

NEW SERIAL STORY

THE MERAFIELD MYSTERY.

CHAPTER VIII.

By R. A. J. WALLING, (Author of "The Third Degree," "Fatal

Glove," olc.).

I walked home thinking very hard about the story of the Mon- day afternoon. It was a plausible atory if the mishap on the lugger,

whatever it was, could be account ed for if it had been a cutter and both men had been knocked over board by the boom, or if they had been

when

I was about to leave thought came into my mind. asked:

THE HONGKONG" TELEGRAPH.

BRITAIN AND IRAK CONFER.

REVISION OF AGREEMENT.

London, Oct. 24. Conversations upon Anglo-Irak questions will begin at the Colonial Office to-morrow; between King Feisal and his Prime Minister, Jafar Pasha, and the Hon. W. G. A. Ormesby Gore, Acting Colonial Secretary, and Sir Henry Dobbs, the British High Commissioner in Irak.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1927.

SCREECHING SIRENS ON WHANGPOO.

SHANGHAI COUNCIL'S WAR.

of

Following a complaint against the unnecessary screeching sirens and the volumes of smoke emitted from launches in the river, which seriously interfere with conduct of business in the offices on the Bund, the Shanghai Muni- cipal Council has instructed the police on duty at the jettles to ighten up surveillance and report

This step has been taken in reply to a complaint from Messrs. Beck and Swann, Secretaries of the Shanghai General Chamber of Com- The complaint states, ac- merce. that it is no uncommon thing to cording to the Municipal. Gazette

There is an explicit stipulation offenders. 13 I contained in the Anglo-Irak treaty that the diplomatic instruments begoverning the relations of the two countries. should be automatically revised every four

years. The March, 1928, but the visit of king Feisal and his Prime Minister to time for the next revision is

London has enabled that task to be anticipated by a few months

registered as 19th or 20th?"

"Would calls after midnight Immediately I found myself on the right track again. Calls after midnight were recorded under their proper dates.

In the register for the twen tieth, almost at the beginning of the list, I found:

unawares by caught heavy sea. But Newberry was an old fisherman who would not be likely to have missed such an ex-7132. Three minutes.' planation.

And I wanted to know more about that motor-boat, only there was no one to tell me.

"2.17 a.m. Exeter 9293 Westport

I repressed all the excitement felt at this discovery.

"I want," said I to the superin- This was linked up in my mind to discover the origin of a cer- tendent, as a matter of business, with the events of the Wednes-tain call. Would it be possible to day. There was the link, plain tell me the name of the subscriber enough. in Overbury's note to whose number is Exeter 9293?" Mernfield: "After what happen- ed on Monday....wait for a tele- phone message. You ought not to miss it"

ایلم

"Business" of the Court, Mr. Franks ?"

"In a sense, yes." I stretched my conscience so much difficulty.

far without

irea,

I sat wondering and considering after dinner, with my wife oppo-

It took him a few minutes to Bite me. I felt many compunend the name. Then I left his tions about my wife. I could not office with the knowledge that confide in her if I was to keep seithin half an hour of his death my word with Lady Merafield, Sir Charles Merafield frad received and it was all the worse because telephone message she was so worried by what had house of Dr. Robert Sandys, of from the befallen "that nive woman."

Chitilchampstead; in the Exeter may say that she

fully Was persuaded of Lady Merafield's innocence. though she did not well- quiet little market town I knew Chittlehampstead very share my knowledge. Her con-en the Toothills of Dartmoor, viction was based not on facts about a dozen miles to the west she had a feminine trick of ignor-of Exeter. But I had never heard ing them in favour of impressions.of Dr. Robert Sandys, or Lady Merafield was innocent just connection

of any between because Lady Merafield was not Merateld. I looked him up in him and a woman who could be guilty.

Kelly. It could only tell me that "They're a long time getting he was a medical practitioner, one at the truth of what happened at of the two in the place. Merafield Tower," said she, slart-i ling me (as one's wife alten will startle one) by expressing my own thoughts aloud.

"Yes," said I. "they are. But it's a deep complication, and they haven't much to go on."

It seemed, unlikely that a coun- try doctor could have anything to do with the events

of those three days at Merafield Tower. But there was the plain evidence of the telephone register.

Within an hour I had settled my business for the day, 'returned to

Rosebank, taken an early lunch, and left in the car, telling my wife

that I might be fale home.

I wondered whether I should spring on her the iden that had been growing in my mind since I sat there puzzling at the connec-

The distance from my house to tion between Mason's story and the note in my pocket book, and Chittlehampstead is about thirty particularly at the meaning of the five miles. The last eighteen led reference to a telephone call. through the mountainous heart of The idea was that if Mason's su Dartmoor, and the pace, of my gestion, however improbable, had general purposes two-seater over any basis of truth, Lady Mera-those steep and awful roads was field might be in real danger un- not high.

On Warren Tor, almost less I could get closer to the the crest of the journey, where facts. Then, as if my mental the narrow ribbon of road winds processes were being shown to her up as into the clouds, I heard the

Belf?"

British Wireless.

WAS

hear on numerous throughout each working days many as five or six launches at the "Customs" (Kiukiang Road) Jetty sounding their whistles together in succession to each other for pro- longed periods before departure, Ibefore I had got moving the big thus creating a nuisance and inter- car was over the top of the hill..fering seriously with the business As my little one chug-chugged of firms and other establishments about. Mr. Atkins, for his story the Bund. This nuisance is by no after it I did some hard thinking having their offices or premises on

not at all convincing. might have been inclined to swal-ed to.

I means confined to the Jetty referr

low the telephone message but for "Another serious cause for com- the fact that not a soul in the plaint is the dense volumes of smoke world-not even my own wife which flood the Bund frontage on knew anything about Chittle-occasions when the wind is blowing hampstead, unless, which was un- from any of the Eastern quarters, bellevable, the superintendent of at times filling buildings in the telephones had spoken of Evan then, there would have been constitutes not only a nuisance, but it. vicinity to such an extent that it

happen that Atkins had described. no time for all the events to

a menace to health.

"It would appear to our Commit- It was impossible to resist the tee that there is urgent need of conclusion that Mr. Atkins pos- regulations controlling the sound- sessed more facts than I had-ing of whistle signals and the fir- that he was busy putting me off ing up' of launches and tenders the scent, and that I should have moared to the public pontocns," the

him than I knew at present. to find out a good deal more about letter concludes.

most iniportant consideration was For the moment, however, the that he had gone ahead of me to Chittlehampstead, and that I had him. It would take me all of half no chanee whatever of catching

an hour, probably more, to reach that place. He would be there in

ten minutes.

However, I had the conceit to

fancy that my brains were 19 good as his. And I reflected that if he were in any way hostile to Lady Merafield, he had at least

given me a line of country which I could not see before. For ex-

While promising action regard. the Council has referred the Cham- ing Municipal pontoons and jetties,

ber to the Harbour Master regard. ing the nuisance emanating from launches plying in the river.

OUR GOVERNOR IN JAPAN.

ENTERTAINED AT EMBASSY.

Tokyo. Oct. 20.

1

Sir John Tilley, the British

ample, my visit to Chittlehamp Ambassador, gave a dinner last stead was essentially a specula-night at the British Embassy in tion until Atkins arrived. Now honour of Sir Cecil Clementi: the knew for certain that it contained Governor of Hongkong, and Lady. one of the clues to the problem Clementi, who are now on a visit

was exploring.

to Japan.

the

"And so, in forty minutes, from

General Baroa Tanaka, the time he left me. I checked Premier; Mr. Debuchi, the Vice the ear in the market square of Foreign Minister: Admiral Vis Chittlehampstead, and turned in count Saito, Governor-General of under the archway to the old Korea; Mr. Hamaguchi, President conching yard of the hotel.

of the Rikken Minseito Party; Kelly had given the address of Viscount Kaneko and many other Dr. Sandys as Kestor House,

Japanese dignitaries were also Brand, Street. Broad Street was a Square. I prospected for Kestor House, and found it, a neat place, rather large, with a garden inside

JAPANESE NAVAL

on a cinema screen, my wife said:shrick of a Klaxon behind me, and thoroughfare ending in the Market present at the meeting..

"Can't you do anything your-pulled in to the near side to let the big car pass. It swished by I gazed at her in astonishment, proudly, a large saloon with the She sat there fiddling, over some-chauffeur only on board.

A hundred yards ahead of me thing with a needle or a crochet. hook, I can't remember which, it stopped; and the chauffeur put

to pull me up. and put this most crucial ques-out his hand tion in the most casual way.

drew alongside him.

I

a cob wall, and a brass plate which told me almost all I wanted to know. It bore the legend: "Kestor. House. Nursing Home for Private. Patients. Robert Sandys, M.D.. M.R.C.S."

When I saw that, I had no doubt about what I should do. I rang the bell.

own.

MANOEUVRES.

EMPEROR SUPERVISES.

Tokyo, Oct. 20. H.I.M. the Emperor left Tokyo Station for Yokosuka this morn- ing, in order to supervise the naval manoeuvres now grand

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It was Atkins, and the car was Could I do something myself? Merafield's. I must have looked Yes. undoubtedly I could. I

all my gaping wonderment. could see two or three things

"I beg your pardon, sir. Of which I might do at once if course, you are astonished to see disregarded Lady Merafield's re-me. But I thought you would Yes, the maid said, Dr. Sandys quest for secrecy. The point was excuse me.. A telephone message

The was in What name? I gave my whether the time had 'conic, 13

came to Merafield Tower for you.

It would convey nothing. she said it might come, to use the I took it, and neither I nor Mason So I saw Dr. Sandys in his information contained in Over-could understand it. It was sim-office-a highly respectable prac- bury's note.

titioner, with a perfect office man- ply to say that the person you were looking for was not at Chit- ner. Whatever had been

gineered from the house of Dr. Sandya on the 13th August, I felt certain he had nothing to do with it.

"I think I can make some in

quiries. I don't quite know tlehampstead, and it was no good where they will lead mc. I've going, I went over to Rosebank been considering it. I will begin and found from Mrs. Franks Oint you had started." So I came after you.

to-morrow."

"I'm glad." she said. "You follow me? I don't quite know where they will lead me, elther in person or in the resalt. They may mean journeys."

,

en-

"Sorry to bother you,, doctor," said, "but I've been trying to overtake Atkins, the chauffeur. I suppose he's been and gone?"

"M-ab-Franks?" said he,

I sat in the ear and stured at him for a full minute. He re- mained respectful and apologetic, his eloved hands on the wheel.

"Who sent the telephone mess-seeking for credentials. ure, and why should a message for in prison and under this dreadfule he sent to Merafield Tower?"

"I don't care," she said, "so long as somebody does something. Thal nice woman ought not to be

cloud."

I asked, at length.

"I am sure I have not the least

"

"Yes, solicitor," said I taking a card out of my case.

"Ah! And you've called about Mrs. Briscoe ?

I suppressed my eagerness, and tried to speak in a casual tone.

"Yes," said I, "I am very anxious to see her."

This talk finally embarked medea, sir. They gave the message upon the solution of the Merafield and then rang of" mystery The next morning I

"It's very good of you to take asked for a private interview with the superintendent of the all this trouble, Atkins," said I.

"Not at all, sir. Both Meson "A pity, a pity-told her it was and I thought it was well that you she insisted on going off in the not quite wise, to go so soon, but should have the message at once, though Mason does not know that car. She said the telephone.

message left her no choice."

telephone system at Westport. I fear I presumed a little on my official position in suggesting that he should allow me to examine the register of telephone calls for the 19th August. But I obtained it, and spent a long and doubly thoughtful of you, At

I have come after you."

"Ah!" said J. Then it was

xins."

troublesome hour scanning

"I did what I thought was best columns of figures in the search for calls put through to Marafield on the spur of the moment. I suppose you'll be going back now, Tower on that day.

sir

Merafield's number was "West- I did not answer Atkin's at once. port 7182." I made note of every I eat looking at him hard. He call and iof the time at which it waited patiently. was recorded. There were four

"No," I said. "I think I shall between ten in the morning and go on to Chittlchampstead. But five in the afternoon. Then no-you will be going back, of course ? thing.

I think not, sir," said Atkins. With the aid of the special "Now I am go near Exeter, I shall directory of numbers kept in the to on there and call at Stanbury's superintendent's office I identified garage. There's a short in my these calls. They were all from lighting circuit that wants to be tradesmen in Westport, and pb- seen to." viously had nothing to do with my "Very well, Atkins. And thenk inquiry.

you."

He touched his hat and let in his clutch at the same moment, and

At the first attempt I had draw

blank.

It is

the

vessels participating

the unceuvres number 170, the total tonnage being 900,000 tons.

that understood Emperor will issue orders to the participating fleets to cease the mimic battle probably on Thurs- day, when manoeuvres are expect- ed to reach their height. Follow- ing their conclusion a grand naval review will take place in Tokyo Bay on October 30.

journey for nothing. Good-bye."" A journey for nothing! There. would have to be a pretty stern reckoning with Mr. Atkins before long.

It was no use for me to chase Atkins. I turned my car towards the moors again:

(To be Continued.).

THE CARE OF THE CHILD.

ments arise from defects in the The majority of children's all-

digestive processes and neglect of If ever in my life I found lying the bowels. It is obvious that the stringent remedies applicable to easy, it was then.

adults are unsuitable for the very

"Let me

"I fear that the message was

was young, sent by a subordinate and

Simplicity is the keynote of not well put." said I. "What time

therapy as applied to children. did it come through?"

hour? Baby's Own Tablets are the logi-- see, now-an

cal corrective of infantile dis- No, say an hour and a-half ago."

"And it said the car would be orders and their consequences, be- here for her?"

ing not only simple and efficacious, "Oh, yes. She was all ready but altogether harmless, oven for at the new-born. They quickly re- when it came, and went off once. I do not understand quite, duce fever, restore bowel regular- I thought Mrs. ity, correct indigestion, cure colic, Mr. Franks,

the message was check diarrhoea, allay teething Briscoe said

pains, relieve croup and colds, from Mr. Briscoe?"

"Oh, yes," said I, "very likely expel worms, quiet the nerves and indeed. I understood he was promote health-giving sleep in a ringing her up. But never mind, perfectly natural way,

Your chemist can supply Baby's I shall see him shortly, and things will straighten themselves out.

per vial, from the Dr. Williams, Most sorry to have bothered you" in Tablets, or post free, 60 cents "Not at all, my dear sir," said Medicine Co., 00, Kiangse Road, the doctor. "Sorry you've had the Shanghai.

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