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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1933-08-10, Page 2THE . Mystcrio s Masquerade By J. R. WILMOT SYNOPSIS. At a London dance club Molly Car- stairs meets 1toger I3arling who Prom- ises to het her a job. The following morning Molly is stomped by a police- man -and taken to the pollee station, where she is identified by a Mr. and rs. Silver as their missing niece. That night at the Silvers' home she discovers she is being used as a deCcr in a gambling house. Major Carstairs, herers fxt father is on• his way home from India. 4 fur- ther crisis develops when Molly runs Into Roger Darling leaving Paul Silver's study, where there has been a quarrel. CHAPTER XIV. Roger Barling drove away from Lt wn House in his smart two-seater. The sight of Molly Carstairs standing outside the door of Silver's "office" had taken him completely off guard. It had, in fact, unnerved him. As a consequence, he drove with reckless disregard of his own safety and the safety of others towards the West End. Hastily garaging his car, he went to his flat. In his room he mixed himself a gen- erous whisky and sod and rang for Cleveland. "What would you do, Cleveland, if you'd made a fool of yourself?" he de- mandeu of his indispensable factotem. Cleveland, being the perfect "gen- tleman's gentleman," supplied the an- swer immediately. "Since you're no fool, sir, I should forget about it" "But what if you didn't want to for- get, Cleveland? What if you wanted to keep on reminding yourself that you'd been a fool, what then?" "Is it the same lady, sir, may I ask?" "Have feminine you suddenly developed a comple, Cleveland? Can't you answer a question without imput- ir.g a motive like that? What an ex- traordinary fellow you are." "I beg your pardon, sir. I can see .1 should not have been indiscreet. Well, sir, to return to your inquiry. An .an- swer to that depends entirely on the extent of the foolishness." "Thanks, Cleveland," sighed the young man, dropping into :'. comfort- able chair, "that's very helpful; very helpful indeed. Oh, by the way, Cleve- land, am I dining out tonight or must we contribute towarcls our own cost of living?" "I have it in' mind, sir, that you promised to go across to Lady Burn - acre's, sir, to meet Mr. Benjamin Grackle, the sculptor." "Crackle?" asked. Barling, with a smile "That sounds promising, Cleve- land. Burnacre—Crackle. Jolly good I must remember that one for dinner, she's sure to want me to make one of my infamous after-dinner speeches." "Grackle, sir. GRACKLE—same name as the famous National horse, Bir." "That's spoiled everything, Cleve- land, and just when I was trying to forget what a fool I've been." "Maybe, sir, you will still forget." When Cleveland had gone, Roger Barling felt the spirit of dejection aettle on him. Why in the name of little apples hadn't he spoken to teee girl when he had the chance? But he'd been so rattled with Silver that he hadn't been prepared for meeting lier. And then he wondered whethr after all he hadn't made such a fool of himself as he would have done had he recognized her again. She'd treat- ed him shabbily. She'd deliberately deceived him—given him to under- stand that she was all alone in. a cruel, cruel world when all the time she was Paul Silver's niece. But the thought caused him to pause. If Molly Carstairs were Paul, Silver's niece, how came it that she was living on her own in Chelsea? That didn't seem to fit. The landlady at Chelsea had been expecting her to return; in fact Molly had hinted that someone might be calling to see her. It was extremely confusing and need- ed a great deal of explanation. Then there was the note he had written her asking her to go about -the Job he had sought for her. And she had not replied. Why? Simply because she had been pulling his leg? She knew quite well that she didn't need any job—that she had, in fact, already got . job—a job as a decoy in Paul Silver's gambling salon at Hampstead. "I'm beaten," he told hireself mis- erably, "beaten to a frazzle. I don't understand it, and I don't see why I should be bothering myself about it, or about her. She's fooled nee, and that's all there is to it. Goodbye, Miss Carstairs, that's your trick, and because I'm not playing any more, it will be your last." But if Roger Carstairs thought he could dismiss Molly Carstairs from his thoughts in such a manner he was not one of those men who are, through the medium of the advertisement, ex- horted to know theinse's -e.. "After alI," he told himself, as he wrestled with his boiled shirt an hour later, "it was jolly queer meeting her again like that, All the same she might have said something; .might have.... In the midst of the dressing some- one rang the front door bell. "A gentleman eo see you, sir," an- nounced Clevelaf°d, "I told him you were dressing, lrai to was adamant, sir. His card, sirs" Barling took the card and read "Detective -Inspector Blayton, Scot- land Yard." "Cleveland, have we committed a crime? Think, muni Has the Bent- ley been standing without lights some- where, or haven't you paid for the meat?" • "Not that I recoaleet, sir.' "Well tell '•ine we'll pay immediate- ly I„ "I meant about the crime, sir." The ,young man grunted. "Show the gentleman. in, Cleveland." Inspector Slayton was a tall, good- looking man, with a fresh complexion and slightly greying hair.. In his own opinion he should have been promoted Superintendent at least five years ago, but the Commissioner had an anti - Superintendent complex and liked In- spector Blayton rather well, "Mr. Barling?" inquired ch Inspec- tor in a pleasantly cultured voice. "Sorry to interrupt the ritual and all that, but I'd like a few words with you, if I may." Balding had managed to connect collar to stud with the assistance of Cleveland and turned a smiling face to the Scotland Yard man. "Thai's all right, Inspector, Cleve - laid regrets he hasn't paid. It was a n.ental error; no fraudulent intent, you know." "What the duce are you talking about?" asked the amazed Inspector. "The neat," supplied Roger blandly. "It was the neat you came about, wasn't it?" Inspector Blayton had been born with a sense of hu.nor. It had assist- ed him greatly in his dealings with lunatics. "Let's talk about that another time," he suggested, "What I really came to see you about was Mr. Car- ruthers. Roger Barling immediately became serious. • "Do you mind it I give you a • hisky, Inspector?" "T..anks—just a little soda, if you don't mind." "And now about Carruthers. No- thing serious, I hope?" Thi Inspector took a sip at his glass. "Why should you think that, Mr. Barling." "I know him quite well, and—he's dead," answered Roger, quietly. "Just so—he's dead. I was not for- getting that. In. -'act, Mr. Barling, knowing him as you did, perhaps you could detail some of his habits for me. How he used to spend his leisure." "Might I ask the object of this in- terview, Inspector?" "Certainly. To he quite frank with you, Mr. Barling, it has been sug- gested to the Yard that the Coroner was misled as regards his verdict. That it wasn't altogether an accident." "You mean he was murdered?" The Inspector shook his head. "No, not exactly, but don't you think it possible that he might have committed. suicide?" In that moment the name of Molly Carstairs flashed with vivid projection into the young man's mind. Also in that moment he reali: . d the trend of the Inspector's 'questioning, and while he dearly wanted Paul Silver to get his deserts, he had no desire to drag the girl into a criminal prosecution. "That is impossible for me to say, Inspector. I knew Carruthers quite well. We had met here and there for many years. He was a likekable fel- low, rather headstrong at times, but always kept the bit between his teeth, if you know what I mean." "Yes, I think I do. I suppose you knew he had been gambling a great deal?" "No more than most of us, I sup pose," smiled Roger, ruefully. "Do you know where he used to gamble, Mr. Barling?" Roger laughed quietly. "Well, In- spector, seeing that gambling is a sort of national vice, it would be difficult to say. Even at the most respectable parties there are opportunities for a modest flutter. I shall probably be inveigled into a game of Chemmy at Lady Burnacre's tonight. But do you seriously suggest that Carruther's co.arnitted suicide as a result of gambling losses?" Bailing," he smiled. "Time's no ob- ject on a case like this, 1 can wait, and perhaps next time we meet you may be able to remember." slowly Inspector Slayton descended the steps that led to the street. Ile was in a thoughtful mood. It was quite obvious to him that Mr. Roger Barling knew something, The Inspee- for had been watching his hands. What the face frequently refused to disclose, the hands nearly always did, and Mr. Barling's hands had clenched, quite involuntarily, (To be contiry ed.) Vagabond Song There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood— Touch of manner, hint of mood;. And my heart's like a rhyme, With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time. The scarlet of the maples can shake me 11k3' a cry Of bugles going by. And my lonely spirit thrills To see the frosty asters like upon the hills. a smo)i;.e, There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir, We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame She calls and calls each vagabond by name. —Bliss Carman. 2 Nobel Prize Winners Pirates Still Sail And Ply Trade On the Coast of China They Find Their Prey—Also Off North Africa Despite fast liners, long-range weapons and a world-wide system of trlegraphic and radio communication, the pirate still plies his trade, as wit- nessed by the recent case of the five Gerina-is who seized a Chinese ship and were later captured in Dairen, Manchuria. Every so often come re- ports of the activities of Chinese pirates, whose methods the Germans copied, and of Moors preying on Span- ish vessels off ti,e coast of Africa. The North.. African coast regions have known pirates since the days of Greece and Rome. And the Far East bas been the -scene of piratical depre- dations carried on with great regular- ity. The China coast is the greatest remaining centre a operation's. Un- settled conditions in the war-torn country and the lack of central auth- ority have resulted in a plague of piracy from which even American and European war vessels have not been immune, being fired on repeated- ly from the shores of the Yangtse River. The principal depredations in Chi- nese waters, however, radiate from the Bias Bay region, where England found it necessary to employ submar- ines to check the evil. The coastwise trade is the chief • sufferer, Chinese bandits and pirates boarding small vessels in the open sea and taking such part of their cargo as is valuable or can be easily trans -shipped. If the loot does not :,one up to expectations,. the more important passengers are, removed and held for ransom—all too frequently an ear or a finger accom- panying the demand on relatives. This type of operation is carried on by well organized bands of pirates, some of whom possess as many as a dozen vessels, well armed and fast, and with a spy system in many of the Chinese ports. A WOMAN PIRATE CHIEF. One of the leaders of these pirates has long been reputed to be a woman, Lai Choi San, who controls directly or indirectly a large fleet of junks and is supposed to have a rough allegiance paid to her by scattered forces which have been estimated as high as 40,009 men. Some of her bandit sub -chiefs have fortified islands off the coast, and the forces at her disposal have conducted looting and punitive expe- ditions into the interior to consider- able distances. Another method of the Chinese pi- rates has been practiced successfully against large steamers owned by for- eign companies and carrying Euro- pean passengers Hundreds of coolies are shipped, as on the British steamer Helikon, and at -:a given signal when the opportunity comes, the supposed passengers seize the ship, loot it and kidnap passengers. Out of Jobs in Germany Two German -Jewish winnere of Nobel Prizes are without jobs, sas "Time." Both are full of years and distinction. Dr. James Franck, fifty- one years old, was a professor at Got- tingen University. He won his prize in 1925, for experimental physics. Professor Fritz Haber, sixty-four, was director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical and Electrical Chemistry in Berlin. 'He invented the important synthesis of atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen into a•_nmonia which supplied Germany with expdo- sives and fertilizers during the war. Like Albert Einstein, Haber and Franck resgned their German jobs to avoid Adolf Hitler pogrom. • More than fifty other German -Jew- ish professors of pure, applied and medical sciences have either been forced to resign or have been rudely thrown out of their chairs. No other eminent scientihts have followed the example of Professor Hermann Jacob- sohn, Indo-Germanic pbilogist at Darburg, who threw himself under, a t"ain. But maw a Jaw in Germany is known to be carrying an ampoule of poison for escape in case of racy riot. A sharp Swedish cartoon recently flayed the Jewish scientist's plight in Naziland. The cartoon showed two brow -beaten Germans eyeing a burly lout in the Nazi uniform who was striding through a university ]l U.. First citizen—What is the policeman doing here? Second citizen—Shl Sh! That is the pian selected to succeed Einstein. "That was what I had in mind, and as I am—and have been for many years—interested in gambling parties in various parts of London, I have welcomed this opportunity to discover just where young Carruthers lost so much money as to cause him to do what I believe he did." "Isn't that rather. dangerous, In - Spector? I mean in view of the Cor- oner's verdict?" "Coroner's verdicts are frequently quite helpful things to Scotland Yard,. Mr. Barling," smiled Blayton, grimly. "They sometimes have the effect of putting people off their guard and enabling us to get to closer quarters than we might otherwise be able." "I see," nodded Roger. "But I'in afraid I can't help you, It would take a long time for me to compile a list of all the places I mat Carruthers, and I'm rather late as it i Inspector." Inspector Blayton arose from his chair and finally emptied his glass. "There's one thin about me, Mr, Liverpool Archery Club Takes Up Lawn Tennis Liverpool.—Great Britain's ancient sport of archery is still practiced upon Merseyside, but the historic Mersey Bowman Society now numbers mostly bow -women. In 1781 the Mersey Bowmen was a flourishing club. The ground over which the members shot thea has long since been covered with houses, and they have moved out to a corner of one of the city's beautiful parks. Nowadays the archery societies' are closely allied with lawn tennis clubs, in fact, only about 20 per cent, of the Mersey Bowmen are actauily bowmen. The• rest play tennis, By the same means we do not al- ways arrive at the same ends.—St. Real. aw Summer Flashes A Timely �.; sok 'hie cheese most largely consumed in London (England) is Cheddar. Property worth $100,000,000 is stand- ing empty in the city of London just now. Radium to the value of about $175,- 000 can be.placed in an ordinaryltable- 'spoon. Out of London's 7,800 taxicabs, 513 were new last year and 800 the year before. This year is the centenary year of the permission granted to London to have its first main -line railway. Applications for houses on the Lon- don County Council estates totalled more than 200,060 ,in a recent period of twelve months. Shipping, laid up in the ports and rivers of Engand amounted to 3,233,000 tons during the first quarter of this year, . Gt. Britain's stamp is, the only one in the word which does not have to bear, as part of its design, the name of the country of origin. H.M. the King will shortly open the greatest dry dock in the world. This has been built at Southampton at a cost of $10,000,000. Acidosis Not Due to Excess of Acid Acidosis is supposed to result from the formation of an excess of acid in the body. Professor Yandell Hender- son and Leon A. Greenberg of Yale University threw much cold water on this view in their National Academy paper. The .acid of acidosis is lactic acid. Henderson and Greenberg pre- vented animals from producing it— easy to do by giving them small doses of monoiodoacitie acid and then re- ducing their oxygen supply. Under the conditions a bad case of acidosis was produced, but without the forma- tion. of any increased amount of lactic acid. "Some other theory will have to be developed," is the lacca is con- clusion of the experimenters.. n Swimming Writs the Toronto Globe—"At time Of year when so many liver are being lost in lake and river there appears most opportunely' booklet issued by the National Coun oil of the Young Men's Christian As sociations of Canada, entitled. "Swim ming; Diving and Life -Saving Man ual." Publications dealing with the art of swimming have been numer sus and valuable, and in this bool an effort has been made to correlate much 'of the material that has been issued bearing on the general sub jeot of aquatics._ "There are -illuminating chapters on the best methods of teaching swimming, both' to old and young; on how to overcome fear; on the different strokes and their value; on correct breathing; on diving; and— of tremendous importance—the most effective methods of approaching those in danger of drowning, at all times a perilous experience. "Methods of resuscitation are dealt with at length and in easily understood terms. There is a page of "Don'ts for swimmers and non- swimmers," onswininiers," which, if observed, will go far to prevent tragedies in the water. Altogether, the book, which is extensively illustrated, is of great value to all who contemplate enjoy. ment of bathing in lake or river dnr' ing the summer season." There is no difference in quality be- tween white and red Cheddar or Che- shire cheese. The colour is inserted to please the various districts. Sixty-five per cent. of the cargoes en- tering and leaving West Hartlepool Harbour are carried in Swedish, Dan- ish and Greek ships. If all the greenfly in a radius of thirty miles round London could be com- pressed into a solid mass it would be larger than Westminster Abbey. A cinema screen built up of glass rods, on which the filmed actors are shown with more depth, instead of be- ing just flat representations, has suc- cessfully passed its first tests in an American laboratory. Honey bees as we know them to -day are not much better than those which flourished 9,000,000 years ago, accord- ing to one German scientist. Most other animals bred by man have been greatly altered and improved. An aeroplane was recently used to transport a herd of dairy cows to the New Guinea goldfields. A previous trip on foot over the mountains had taken six weeks, and all the cattle died on the way. The air trip took forty minutes. Interesting facts as to the popularity of illm stars with boys and girls came to light during a recent test in Gt. Britain. The boys liked best, of male stars, Laurel and Hardy, Jack ,Holt, Slim Summerville, Jackie Coogan, Ronald Colman, and Richard Dix; fe- male stars, Janet Gaynor, Marie Dress- ler, Jeanette MacDonald, Joan Craw- ford, Constance Bennett, and Norma Shearer. The girls liked,.of the men, Ronald Colman, Laurel and Hardy, Jackie Coogan, Robert Montgomery, Ramon Novarro, and Jack Holt; of the women, Janet Gaynor, Constance Ben- nett, • Jeanette McDonald, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Evelyn Laye. Adolphe Menjou and Anna May Wong came at the bottom of the lists of boys and girls. Russian "Sport" ..tory chill conies ander the heading of "si,•ort.," in Soviet Russia, here are some of the boys at Moscow, a few of the 100,000 citizens that recently took part in a. giant field day •program. Note the standard of sturdiness, One Frock Does Work of Three Paris Dressmakers Concentrat ing on New Ideas for Budget Styles 'to Meet Reduced Incomes Paris.—Styles to meet the income are the latest fashion stein. With prices already slashed 30 pet cent. from last year's scale, dress makers• are concentrating on nest ideas to make one dress •do the work of three. Interchangeable jackets, belts, scarfs, skirts and capes coin. bined with one or two frocks make "quick change" costumes ready fox many affairs. While the most friyolous perishable fashions hold sway for chic women who can afford them, dressmakers are giving thought to reduced budgets by bringing out frocks of less costly ma. terials designed to stand the greatest possible wear. Crinkly 'scarfs and jackets are Schiapareli's offering. A red crinkled crepe scarf to tie under the chin and a white scarf to cross under the belt make one plain dark blue dress r' adz for morning or afternoon. Many advance fall styles are like• wise tuned to meet reduced incomes, Bruyere makes a skirt and jacket of mahogany brown wool, with two dif- ferent blouses. One, of white crepe makes the ensemble a suit. The other of the same brown wool converts the skirt to a dress. "You aren't going away this sum. merV' "No. I've discovered that one may become engaged on her own front porch Just as easily If she sets out to do It." ISSUE No, 31—'33