Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1960-09-01, Page 5TEMPLE OF THE GODS -- This architectural masterpiece of an ancient culture is the 1,000-year- old Tolin Temple, mighty remnant of Mexico's Totonac civilization. Excavated and restored, the towering stone temple Is located near Papantla on Mexico's East coast. The temple was the site of the Volodore Rain Dance, an ancient Totonac religious ceremony appealing to the gods for rain. Fooled The Nazis With Fancy Dress This Postman's Knock Was No Game course, ••Nige girl. She once d1:4'. some tyPing for me." Bond turned. "We found dt diary in her fiat. It contained a list of names .and .addresses. We're paying all those mentioned a visit in the hope that they may. be able to help us. Vol; see, air, Veronica Elton was found early this morning by the fiat cleaner. She had been strangled." • Basil registered just the righ4 .degree of shocked incredulity. "Where did you last see Mee :glop, sir?" 13a$il pot a hand to his. 41414 "Some weeks ago, I suppose X114.St have been. She typed a report for. me and I went „roUrrt to her flat to pick it UP." "Yon • didn't see her last night?" "No, Definitely not!" "I see." The Insp-rior nodded. "Then that's all for „low. But if you do think of anything later that might be of help to us, you'll get in touch, won't you?" Basil led the way Into the halt, It was all going very neatly, Thes. police hadn't a thing on him„ As they reached the front door there came a knock. Basil opened it to see • the postman carrying a small flat parcel. The Inspector stepped forward. "A birthday present, I expect,' he said, "I'll hold it, sir, While you, sign for it." • • 'Basil's hands were clammy .04 he signed the slip and the post- man walked away. He had recoge .nized the handwriting. "This parcel is from Misr Veronica Elton, sir." Inspector Bond spoke quietly. "Her name and address are on the hack" "It's probably one of those re- ports • she was • typing for me," Basil said. "Would you mind opening sir?" The Inspector handed the par- cel to Basil and stood watching as he nervously tore off the string. A bundle of letters tied with: blue ribbon slid to the floor. There was a note and the inspec- tor picked it. up and read aloud: "Happy birthday, darling. know you'll be coming to my flat to-night eo find these letters,. but you'll be disappointed, I'm put- ting them in the post this after. noon, I always meant to tetura them and I thought they'd make a nice birthday present. It mean we have known and loved each other just one year. Good-byes Basil, darling Veronica." Inspector Bond locked up. "A. -present from the dead; eh, sir?' From "Tit-Bits". icy. Then ,she crossed, the 'phone. "'A matter for the police. I think," she said quietly. Ide snrang across the room, grabbing the hand that was reaching for the receiver. "Where are my letters?" he add- ed. She tried to pull away from him. But his, hands came up and fastened round her neck. It was soft and smooth. A red haze be- gan to blur his visioa. "Basil, don't, the letters are—" But his mind didn't register what she was saying. lie was suddenly bemused with the pow- er he had over her. She was still trying to tell him something. trying to speak, but his fingers went on squeezing and squeez- ing... There wasn't a sound in the room. Harsh light poured down on Veronica's agonized face. Basil's hands were hot inside the thick leather gloves. He stopped pressing. He released his hold on Venn- lea and she slipped, to the floor her blonde hair streaming across her face, half concealing her glazed eyes, He straightened up, his heart thudding wildly. He hadn't meant to kill her, It was an ac- cident. He had only come for the letters. But why should any- one suspect him? Veronica had p. dozen or more men friends, Any one of them could have inurder- ed her, He left by the fire escape, got into his car, and drove quickly home. With his wife away no one need ever know that he'd been out this evening. Towards morning he fell into a fitful doze; and it was only the constant knocking at the door that jerked him awake. The knock came again. He pulled on a dressing gown and went to answer it. Two men stood on the step. "Sorry to bother you, sir. I'm Detective-Inspector Bond and this is my assistant, I wonder if we might have a word with you?" Basil looked surprised as he led the'ay into the sitting-room. "Decided to take the day off," he said, running a hand through his tousled hair, "My birthday, you know." "Then allow me to wish you many happy returns of the day, sir, the Inspector said smoothly, "I'll come straight to the point, "The matter concerns Veronica Elton. I believe you knew her." "Veronica. Elton? Oh, yes, of DEAD HONORS — Seldom seen Nazi decoration's make a brief appearance at the funeral of Albert 'Kesselring, in Bod Weisee, West Germany. He was big brass during the war. friende, and then jauntily set aft for Berlin, But of course he never set foot in the Chancel- lery. On his return he was greeted, like a conquering nom Be told amazing stories of the magnifis cent reception he had received from Adolt even said that Hits ler had given him his secret telephone number. On the strength of these lies Schmidt became a local celeb- rity. Prominent people were proud to make his acquaintance. Then he had another brain, wave. Be couldn't possibly go around in overalls or in his cheap suit. He designed a magnificent uni- form bearing the rank badges of a major and, the type of ,swastika badge which .only the top. Nazis affected, To complete the pic- ture he draped himself with a silver cord. "An honour bestowed by the Fuehrer," he explained airily. The amazing part is that he was never challenged. Believing that silver cord meant something significant, swaggering Wehr- macht, officers greeted him as a colleague. Of course, it couldn't have happened elsewhere, But Germany and Austria were uni- form crazy and Schmidt was a resplendent 'figure. To his credit, however, his deception was not entirely a matter of self-aggrandizement, Strangely enough, it did a lot of good. For , Elfried Schmidt was no Nazi. By, making use of his assumed rank and arrogance he was able to rescue many in- nocent folk from prison — and worse. For several months he had a winderful time. Then the blow fell. The military authorities knew nothing of the life Schmidt was leading, Austria was part of the Third Reich and Elfried was called up for the Wehrmacht. He had one nagging fear. Would the authorities discover his imposture? If so, he knew that his fate would be unpleas- ant indeed. His crime was a heinous one. Indirectly he had insulted the Fuehrer himself. No wonder that he was in a state of blue funk when his bat- tery commander showed him that newspaper report. But why had Elfried Schmidt told his extraordinary story to a re- porter? To show how clever he was? Nobody knows. Yet — and he could scarcely believe his luck — everything was soon all right again. He resold to exploit his Nazi masters to the full. No more barrack rooms for him! He hired a handsome apartment and every morning marched into the camp after a leisUrely breakfast. Al- though he still wore his private's uniform it was embellished with the silver cord of honour, This was the battery commander's order. He also laid down that Schmidt should,be paid the com- pliments due to an officer of high rank, When he arrived the guard solemnly presented arms. Everything went very pleas- antly for smile weeks. Then El- fried Schmidt had another shock. He was asked by the German, Secret Service to give his opin- ion of some enemy aeroplane en- gines which had come into its possession, Anxiously he ex- plained• that he was a railway specialist, he know nothing about. 'planes. Schmidt became an even more important figure than ever. He decided that such importance When Gunner Elfried Schmidt returned from Christmas leave he had a severe shock. "You will report to. the battery commander euediatelY," the sergeant of the guard told him curtly. His heart working overtime, Sehmidt obeyed. Diseipline was strict — almost savage — in the Wehrmecht in 193$, and the fact that he was summoned so per- emptorily suggested serieus trouble — and Schmidt had a guilty conscience, His anxiety was heightened when he found his battery commander surround- ed by several ,officers. Schmidt snapped to attention. "Heil Hitler:" he cried, The battery commander, a cap- tain returned his Nazi salute and stared at Schmidt with interest, He picked up a newspaper 'from his desk and pointed to an art- tele. "Does this concern you?" he asked. Schmidt glanced at the article, and quaked with fear, For that article did concern him. It told a story which was utterly false. ' Mein Gott!" he thought. "Why did I open my mouth? Why did I tell that reporter such a tissue of lies?" He felt like a trapped animal. "That is so, Herr Hauptmann," he said huskily. Then the Incredible happened, The attitude of his superior of- ficer changed. He leaned over, seized the bewildered Schmidt's hand, and shook it warmly. "But why, my dear friend, have you kept your great ach- ievement a secret?" he exclaim- ed. "You, a brilliant engineer the confidant of our beloved Fuehrer himself , to serve as a hum- ble soldier is completely ridicu- lous!" Gunner Schmidt s w ay e d. These German officers and his battery commander actually be- lieved this report! He listened to the captain's final words. "Of course, this is the end o.t soldiering for you. From now on you will be excused all Mili- tary duties, will pursue your en- gineering experiments and do exactly as you wish. Germany has need of men such as you. Heil Hitler!" It was the start of a new and remarkably pleasant life for Elfried Schmidt. From being an ordinary soldier he was now a person of importance. Not for him the fatigues, the drill, the eternal parades. He was treated with respect. And he let it be known that he had many confi- dential telephone conversations with the Fuehrer! Awed by such knowledge, high-ranking officers saluted him deferentially, But what was the story behind this colossal bluff? Although only a humble- workman, Elfried Schmidt had always had great ideas. Above all, he wanted to impress his neighbours in his lit- tle native town near Vienna. A clever draughtsman,' he made a blue-print of an engine which he asserted would be the fastest ever known. Then he /eked letters which apparently broved that his invention had een enthusiastically accepted by the State and would go into pro- duction immediately, He faked a letter from Hitler. This said that in gratitude for his wonderful invention he had awarded Elfried Schmidt a high honour, and ordered him to re- port at the Chancellery, Schmidt showed the letter to all his deserved a uniform — and again designed his own. It was in pure comic opera style — but it delighted his chief. So much so that he grant- ed Schmidt the use of a staff car and a chauffeur. Schmidt felt that he had really arrived. But it couldn't go on. For some reason people grew sus- picious. Schmidt was arrested and accused of being a spy — 'which he certainly wasn't, He tried to bluff, threatened to telephone his friend Hitler on the secret line. Unfortunately, however, that story had been in- vestigated, and its falsity reveal- ed. 'The game was well and truly up, And to the Nazis, living in a mesh of intrigue, there could be only one reason for Schmidt's pose. It was his daring method of ferreting out secrets for an enemy power. 'Yet Schmidt had the last laugh -- or almost. It would never do, thought the worried authorities, to let the whole world know how easily they had been deceived — and by an ors dinary workman, They just couldn't face the 'ridicule which was certain to follow, And so Elfried Schmidt was merely sentenced to a short term of imprisonment. World's First Floating Spa BAD OLD DAYS — Ct looks like twenty years ago 4n Nazi Gets many as Hermann Goering and Josef Goebbels talk together in. l-lcirreburg. Hitler's hendhenen are played :by Werner Bistro m r left, end Willi Krause for the new film, "Trial by Treason." Bistre'm is •a •local hotel receptionist picked for the part :becauiso of his remarkable resemblance ,to Goering. this flat Veronica had those let- ters he had written. It wouldn't take him long to find them. If only he could 'be alone here fOr just one hour. Veronica untwined her slender legs and moved closer to him on the settee. "And where does your wife think you are this evening?" "Look Veronica" he turned earnestly to her, "there's no point in any of thiseLet me have those letters back. pay you if you like." She drew away from him, frowning. "I don't need your money. I like you for yourself alone, you know that. We met almost exactly one year 'ago. Re- member? It was your birthday. The restaurant was crowded so you shared my table and we talked." He stood up, "Veronica, for the last time — my letters, please." She smiled and curled herself up provocatively on the settee. "Darling. I don't know where they are just at the moment. After all —" she opened her eyes wide — "they are all. I have left to remember you by. Twelve beautiful letters, gone for every month we've known each other." The 'phone rang and she went to answer, it, Hungrily he glanced round the room again, That bureau in the corner. Was that where she kept the letters? Or that alcove cupboard by the fireplace. Perhaps they were hid- den in there. He heard her talking on the 'phone, "No, not tomorrow even- ing, I'm afraid. I already have a date. Another time, then." Basil got up and opened the door and went out, He took the lift to the ground floor, To-mor- row evening she would be out. Just one hour alone In that flat and he'd find those letters. He had to find them, Basil was very thankful he had kept the key Veronica had given him some time ago. It was eight o'clock the snext evening when he let himself into her flat. lie moved silently over 'the carpeted floor towards the small bureau. The d rawers weren't locked. But after a three-minute search they yielded nothing, He tried the cupboard alcove, even the cocktail cabinet, He looked behind the pictures, under the carpet, beneath chair cushions. lie flung cushions aside, turned over the settee, and groped into the tapestry. When the light snapped. On be- hind him he swung round, feel- ing like a trapped animal, Veronica was standing there, a fur cape over her evening gown. She closed the door and stood looking at him, her expression When the new 38,000-ton pas- senger liner, 'Windsor Castle, leaves Southampton on her mai- den voyage to Cape Town in August, she will be the World's first floating spa. Besides benefiting from sea breezes and sunshine, passen- gers will be able to obtain spe- cialized treatment for a num- ber of complaints. There will be physiotherapy and hydrotherapy departments, staffed by experts, in addition to the usual Medical facilities. The doctor in charge will co- operate with passengers' doctors to ensure that where necessary a particular treatment can be continued during the voyage. "rt is felt that the Wittdeet Castle spa will Melte a tremen- dous .contribution to good health hi these days of Sit ea a and strain," Said a Union Castle spokesman. "The absent it on. prevention rather than cute." A wereen'S Ideal hien is one cleVer "enough to Make money and foolish' enough to aperid (MARIANO tH HOMESTEAD — Brother* Tattii tette dild 4We? Sunkincl, tiadteri gale Marry"forni.ly ;hell-466mi Steve .§0Ord the reMaint of their ,worCniti $850. Mille the bratlieri were, frying tri•ealvItige ;Paritotat: Airde 000 !tome with rifle and pistol. The house: Was COMpletely Party. flesh dyed 61.64 with l t others when' a brush fire Swept IFIFTEEN YEARS 'LATER' — Students picket the United Notions !etiildirtg Nev York. they are demonstrating tor nuclear ` baortb ban an the flAteeoth anniversary of the Hireshloia A Complete Story by Leone Stewart The telephone shook in Basil Austin's hand. His wife was in the sitting-room, the door partly open. She had the radio on, but Veronica's voice at the other end of the line was loud and demand- ing, "Basil, I'm warning you, If you stand me up again I'll do some- thing drastic. I could easily come round and see your wife. I'm sure she'd be very interested in what I have to tell her!" "I'll call you," he said as sweat broke out on his forehead. "To- morrow." He replaced the re- ceiver and steadied himself be- fore walking into the sitting- room. For a time Veronica Elton had thrilled and excited him, made him feel ten years younger. Now she was a menace. The party was over but she wouldn't call the whole 'thing off, Mary put aside her sewing as he entered the room and went over to him. "You shoudn't let the firm have your private 'phone number. It's not fair. Af- ter a long day at the office you don't want to be pestered." . She sat on the arm of his chair. "Darling, I feel so awful about going away. It'll only be for a few days, I know, but I won't even be here for your birthday." He squeezed her hand, She hadn't heard any of that conver- sation, thank goodness. "What shall I buy you as a birthday presnt, Basil?" Mary stroked his hair, "I can afford something really nice now. Uncle Roger's will is going to make all the difference to us, We'll be able to spend our holidays abroad and buy a new car. Isn't it all excit- ing?" It was, in a way, Basil had his own plans for the legacy his wife was about to inherit, He wanted to start up in business on his own, and that ten thous- and pounds would be very use- ful, Which was why he had to cut Veronica out of his life, had to oil the wheels of his marriage and keep Mary contented. If she ever discovered there was an- other woman she'd leave him, taking her fortune with her. Veronica sipped her cocktail and stared at Basil over the rim of the glass, "I thought you loved me. You said so enough times in your letters, But now the breeze is little cool, isn't it, darling?" "Veronica," he said, wearily, "It isn't that, I'm a married man." He glanced round the well- furnished room. Somewhere in . • .