1940-11-30 — Page 13

Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

Another Brilliant Tiger Standish Spy Story

S

IR HARKER BELLAMY 'C.M.G., D.S.O. leaned back

in his chair and looked at his companion with what might have been taken for pained surprise.

Tiger Standish, seated only a few feet away, pointed his pipe at the speaker as though it were a revolver, "You know I'm talking sense, Pic- thesu

facer" hc declared. All

damned peace cranks ought to be interned. Each one of them is a potential.enemy. Can't you see that fool, Wauchope, the Home Secretary. and put the fear of God into him?" Bellamy secretly amused, did some more lip pursing.

"Teh! Teh!" he said again, “do you

realise, young man," and now he

had changed from the Victorian

The Man of PEACE

by

Sidney Horler

ment. Why, dawn it, they were not merely defeatists; they were actuni traitors.

re-

But, controlling himself, he membered just in time that he was there to do a Job of work. That meant he must conquer his own feelings, however powerful the latter were; so he continued to maintain his pose as that weird individunt, Captain Roland Slingsby, late of the Second Midshires,

con-

It was in this capacity that he tributed some fatuous remarks from time to time, and was rewarded by finding that certain of his listeners received these with every kind of approbation.

But now. It was the turn of the star guest of the evening to speak. Gustave Rodt (an appropriate name, Standish decided) was stated by Lord Moresby to be a professor of philosa-

governosa into the Edwardian school station? By God, I did! The in- lord said, "and I would be delighted phy at Zurich University. master, "that you are speaking in a fernal check! They talked about if you would join us." very derogatory manner of a very we' and 'us' and to top it all, they high official of the Crown?"

ended up by playing 'God Save the

The next minute Tiger had his King!' nearly smashed my set.

MORESBY HALL WAS

revenge, for he brought his fist down What do you think, B7 Are they SANTLY SITUATED

with such sudden force on the top of broadcasting from this country?" the desk that Bellamy jumped at Bellamy waved his hand. least six inches in his chair.

"That is for you to find out, my "Stop playing the goat, B!" cried boy; what do you think you're here the secret ngent. "I tell you my for?" blood boils every time I see this poisonous propaganda muck in the papers. And I'll be off before

to feel a little slack.

Inclined to mischief.

with

I

don't lose

It

✩

cost

me

of

papers

乩

It

this particuon had started

subject.

on

WIS re-

then, 49

ve song.

to

at

"It is well for

us, gentlemen," declared the host, in his tinny blcat, "to listen attentively" "to what our PLEA- Very good friend, Professor Rodt, has the to tell us, because he has unique sources of information--it is a fact, I edge of Dartmoor.

believe,

Professor, that you have re- mate, of course, but

were its owner was apt to explain, he liked cently visited Germany, and

there given the opportunity to dis- to come down to Devonshire from the crowded ways of London, in order cuss the present situation with many

prominent personaülles?" to meditate. The obvious retort was

"That is so." returned the Pro- that, with no other house, within a fessor, the words issuing from behind murder you: excuse my mentioning WESSEX HALL had been the scene dozen miles, he had plenty of room the thicket of a somewhat fearsome it, but the very alght of you this W

of many strange gatherings in the in which to do it.

beard; "and it is because I decided morning turns my stomach!"

Lord Moresby's family seat dated that this information, would be of The man who was his closest friend; fifty years of its existence, but Tiger and his most fervent admirer, paid Standish, as he presented the ticket back to the early 18th century and use to you, my old friend, and no more attention to the insult than which Bellamy had given him a few was worthy to be included in that those of your compatriots who think

"The tome,

Great mind ("and

you momumentat

along the same lines, that I under- he would

a full hours previously have done to

was of England." It some Homes

took this present journey to England, flavoured compliment.

trouble to get hold

that, majestic pile, calculated to charm the which, I must admit, proved tedious, "Oh, but you can't go yet, Tiger

exhausting, and somewhat that connoisseur, and to enslave the ordin- exha

hazardous my lad," he retorted: "you didn't I can tell you!"), decided

ary eye. One wondered how the A burst of tepid hand-clapping think I telephoned you just to hear it could scarcely have harboured the sound your unlovely voicel more motley collection of human great house could be kept going in greeted the announcement. As though

these days of terrible taxation. There happens to be a little commis- beings than his eye rested on now. Yes, a wonderful possession, especial- fessor, having made certain arrange- warmed by this applause, the Pro- slon waiting for you," and as he Here was mugwumpery in excelsis; spoke, the customarily grim features long-haired men and short-haired ly in these days, was Moresby Hall. ments with the denser parts of his Just now, however, it housed a beard, now screeched himself into full relaxed into a mischievous smile.

women; sickly-

y-looking individuals Standish, reading the signs, frown- who were so busy with their idealistic collection of cranks who would have

been more nt home mental cs- What you in England have first ed, Bellamy never smiled unless he thoughts that they had not stopped to wus about to pull his leg. But this wash themselves thoroughly. Cranks tablishment at least, that was Tiger of all to consider, my dear friends, man being his superior, he sat down of almost every conceivable descrip- Standish's opinion, as he sat in the he said, "is that Herr Hiller is again in the comfortable leather chair ton.

fter heart a Man of Peace. Oh, I know splendidly-proportioned library after dinner on the night of his arrival, what your skilful propagandists say by the Are. The interview wus He felt as allen 09 a police in- There were no fewer than twelve

In Aus- taking place in Bellamy's private

Poland, and room, and Tiger started renting his spector at a nudist party. But, con- men in the room (the house-party as tria, Czechoslovak ravages pipe

quering his feelings, he walked to a whole numbered twenty) and all Norway. But we, as objective real- "What is the job7" He enquired, the seat at the back of the hall and these men appeared to be possessed ists, must maintain a sense of balance: A week had passed since that did his best to change from his normal by one single, burning purpose: that surely no one here would pretend to dramatic encounter

August self Into Roland Slingsby, ex-captain was getting the war with Germany deny that if Great Britain had been Zeldier in his secret headquarters of the 2nd. Midshire Regiment, who over ns quickly as possible and by defeated in the last war and had had

through club in had sent in his behind Caesarine's night

almost any means short of suicide, such cruel impositions placed upon Regent Street, and was beginning violent change of conscience.

men At least half of these

bore her as were placed upon Germany by He had dressed himself for the part famous names-homes

in the Versailles Treaty, that your great famous Bellamy stroked his prominent by wearing weedy moustache, and many intellectual walks of life--but soldiers and statesmen would not nose, another sign that his mind was an even more repulsive suspicion of as he listened to their blatherings, have made every endeavour to repair

a beard. Looking round upon the Standish decided that their wits must the dam

damage to the national morale? "I was worry, Tiger, to hear you facial fringes of the other men, he have completely deserted them on Suppose, for instance,

that all the express yourself so forcibly on the decided that he was in character.

southern part of England-that coun- subject of the propagation of peace," The meeting, the object of which,

The

when try fair beyond description-had been he said, and then stopped.

the anudgily-printed Lord Moresby brought up the sub-cut off under the peace terms imposed "Come on, get on with it!" was the according to

programme, was: "This Needless fect of a leader in the "Times" that by a victorious enemy? Would not impatient rejoinder. "I've got an Sacrifice and

Con How It

Be morning, and, reaching for the paper, every patriotle Briton have declared appointment at the dub in ien' Avolded!" was 10 start nt eight had quoted the exact words:

that the situation was intolerable?" minutes,"

o'clock.. But owing to some hitch, It "Reluctantly bat resolutely, the "As I was saying, Tiger, returned was twenty minutes later before Lord huge machinery of military endeavour THE VOICE DRONED ON. All the Bellamy, with perfect good humour, Allstair Morcaby, the Chairman, has been set in motion and nothing crack-brained arguments that had "I was sorry to hear you express pounded with his gavel on the baize- can arrest it now but the full restora- been ventilated by the Fifth Column yourself so forcibly on the subject of covered table before ever seen the existence in Europe. There will be not only before Munich, but after-

"of promotion civilised friends of the German Chancellor, the propagation of peace, because this ca

Standish, who lind new job of your calls for sympathy man before, wondered how he could no peace but a just peace, and, as wards, were trotted out: and, whilst in that direction."

possibly go through the prospective the Prime Minister said last week, Standish did his best to sit still "WHAT?" The young man looked as though ordeal, for his lordship was one of there can be no security for peace in his chair, he had the mortification

ever while the German race is In the of he contemplated jumping at him, the oddest humans he had

not on; though only a keeping of the present regime and or calve this stock of staic fish re- Bellamy became serious. He had middle-aged man, he was dressed in the ideas which inspire it."

merely with tolerance, but with acclamation. had his fun, had enjoyed it, but now the clothes of sixty years ago. His To anyone but a hopelessly Jop- "And I tell you something else, my thin, querulous features seemed to be sided crank, those words would have good friends," Professor Rodt said making a

questionmark of the whole brought satisfaction and a sense of some twenty minutes later-it had

this length of time universe, and his voice, when he be- hope-satisfaction, because they be taken "I want you to get to know him, gan to speak, proved to be in keep- tokened confidence in our military exhaust the first part of his argu- Tiger. He is presiding at a meeting int.

effort, and hope because, when success ment that present-day Germany is -et-le-Wessex-Hall-Wessex-Street, very dear friends," he said, in-would-mean-the-complete a very different... nation to what it..........

to-night. You will be

of the scourge that had was in the last war. Was Dasured thin, high-pitched bleat "you all a

person than Field. know why we are gathered together devastated Central Europe, and was by no less a "Shall 17"

here to-night. We are met here as now threatening to destroy the peace Germany can hold out for at least Marshal Goering himself that Nazi "You will be there," replied the men and women of Conscience to of the whole world. Chief of Y. 1. "You will not only register

economically." our protest against this But the various men lolling in the ten years be there, but you will spethusiasm of completely unnecer another forty

confortabic armchairs of their host Ten years!" broke in the bird-like you will arouse the

went on for

had, in

Moresby, the audience by getting on the plate minutes, and Tiger, who fell that up to ring farms, held the words voice of Lord

and derision.

"Yes, my friend, ten years," repeat- ample form and dishing out some dirt one of two things must inevitably ACH DEBATER APPEARED TO ed the Professor: she has Here is the line of country."

Standish made no attempt

that he would have HAVE HIS OWN PARTICULAR stocks of oll. In spite of what may be rupt because he knew that this was out for a pint of beer, started to his majority agreed that

cause that is exhausted, she can manu-

unlimited fresh no time for persillace.

supplies feet, waved his programme high over of the war was not Hitler's deter- facture

the "Although professional soldier his head and cried.

Becret methods her minution to dominate, first, Europe through you won't give your right nome. of

scientists have given her, coal

using and then the world, but the failure "Magnificent, Mr. Chairman?" Three minutes later he was saying of the different nations to co-operate uments-they are colossal!" course you sent in your papers six

AS A DA

basis. As for her stock months before this bother started his plece. He would never have in free trade. They all more of because you were convinced that all believed it possible that such blather agreed that is the belligerente rence Tiger felt tant if he didn't get some

could

Another quarter of an hour, and war was contrary

could have come from his lips, but be induced to sit round a to the dicint

diclates of my conscience

very well, "supplied the the deeper he sunk, the more they table, then everything would be fresh air he would burst. Complain-

applauded.

satisfactorily solved. Incidentally, of ing that he didn't feel ather.

He told them how he, Roland courte, Britain would have to give which was the gospel truth, he begged "Exnelly, my boy; only make it Slingsby, a captain in the 2nd. backker colonies

to surrender auch room.

He heard a confused murmur of the better. The point is that I want hearing the volee of conscience." harbours as Gibraltar and other bases you to be invited to spend a week- felt that I could no longer be a man guarding the sea routes to the Far voices as he stepped into the corridor. "You' say that man is a soldier?" chd with Moresby at his place in of war: that henceforth. I must East-in short, she would have to Devon. The house will

Rodt had stopped his reck with change myself into a man of peace.. be willing to sacrifice practically all Professor

her a harangue to ask the question. cranks, and : must be the crankiest. And so on for another forty minutes, the things that, now made

with

"He was a soldier, Professor," wa special emphasis

the world power. "Nice fellow, aren't you?"

desirability of coming to terms with Standish had great difficulty in the reply, but he has now seen thi "Reen reading the papers lately?" the enemy as soon as possible... maintaining his role of peace-monger. light. I met him at a meeting On Bellamy obliquely, and not "before" civilisation is irretrievably What he wanted was to get up and of the Propagation of Peace Council mock half-a-dozen of these crack at the Wessex Hall, London, a few any attention to the other's lost,"

He had no sooner sat down than he brained heads together, and then nights ago, and he was so stirred by O course. Why?"

felt a hand on his shoulder. The open all the windows to let in some the enthusiasm of the meeting-oh, "Did you happen to see that para- bird-like face of the Chairman fresh air. Unless he had actually what a splendid meeting it was graph which, coinchow slipped by the was regarding him intently.

listened to this seditious nonsense, he that he actually volunteered from the Censor?"

"I am giving a small house-party would honestly not have believed audience to come on the platform and "Do you mean the one about the at my place in Devonshire next that there were men of British blood address our members himself. And.a so-called British pirate wireless week-end, Mr. Slingsby," the noble who could give voice to such sentl- TURN to Page 14, Column Three

It was time for business.

"Ever heard of Lord Maresby?"

"The peace crank?"

clapped eyes

him.

tion

and

to

happen-namely, inter- to do his stuff immediately, or rush PET of formula, but the said to the contrary, and even when

the

ol

strongly; the stronger you make it Midshires, had awakened one night would also s to Germany; she to be excused, and walked out of the

of

Went

comment.

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