Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday "1 thought I left my lights on. Per- | haps 1 difhi't." lie took out his key. 1 "lliillo, the door's open." rhilip stepped inside and stumbled ovtT som'-thiiiK- He felt for ii light. ()a the floor was stretched a body. "Listen, public enemy." Philip turned on the girl. ''Aren't you get- ting .'i bit repetitious V The girl stared down at the gnimt man stretehed on the floor. She pushed past Trent and knelt. Gingerly she felt the hand, and then started to her feet. " Philip, he's dead !" " Madam, your .second rhapter is get- ting worse than the first." Philip was indignant. " Here, give him hi;; thirty dollars and tell him to clear out." "No, no, no!" The girl clutched at his coat. "Can't you see this is no joke? Look at his face—that's blood—real blood—on his shirt-front." " You mean—this " Philip gasped, and then knelt beside the still figure. It was then that he saw a terrible wound. He was white and shaken when he gov to his feet. "Come on, let's get out ol here " He took her arm. "Who do you suppose it is?'" "Don't know," he answered. "I'll call the captain. Listen, I'm taking no chance with this corpse disappearing, so would you mind waiting here—I'll be right hack." Peter Dean closed her eyes to shut out the sight of that still, dreadful figure. The Mystery Thickens PHILIP raced down a companionway and through the glass walls of the cocktail bar saw the bulky figure of the detective. "Sergeant, come quickly, there's a dead mar. in my state-room!" "You don't try that gag, sonny, twice." "Listen, this is on the level, and it's not the same man!" gasped Trent. " He's got a bald head, gaunt, wispy moustache—the man I saw you talking to with the captain." "V^an Mier? You're crazy. Why, I told him '■ Donovan spun round. " He should have stayed here, but " He broke off to grip Philip's arm. "All right, let's go, but if this is a jape you'll spend the rest of this trip in irons." Donovan fetched the captain, who pro- tested against being disturbed from a quiet rest. They hastened to the state- room. The detective knelt by the body. "It's Van Mier," he shouted. "He's dead! He's been stabbed!" Philip was just in time to put an arm round Peter Dean, who looked like collapsing. Donovan was fumbling in the dead man's pockets. "The^Dragon!" he yelled out. "It's gone!" Peter Dean and Philip Trent then heard that Van Mier had been carrying ill his pocket a diamond emblem known as the White Dragon, and that it was worth a fortune. The captain summoned one of his officers. "The passengers and crew must bo searched at once. ' The search for the missing diamond was still going on when Philip suggested that Peter Dean stroll on the dock for some air, as she was still looking pale. "I've never seen a dead body before," she confessed. "I wonder why she vi'as in such a hurry, and what he said to her?" was Philip's curious answer. " VVho are you talking about?" "That Chinese woman we saw." He squared his shoulders. "Here, let's forget it. They've got a dick on board, EOY'S CINEMA "No, no, no cried the giii. *' Can't you see this is no joite ? Loolt at his lace —that's blood—• real blood—on his shirt-front!" so let him run down clues; besides, I'm on a holiday." "It's cold—let's go down," Peter mur- mured after a while. "We'll have a nightcap," he sug- gested. "Do us good." Scarcely had they ordered their drinks when an almond-eyed woman came into the room, and with little steps moved quietly up to the bar. She was dressed in the clothes of a Chinese ser- vant, but the richness of the material denoted the master or mistress to be someone of importance. "Glass sherry. Hurry, please," she whispered. "Honourable lady feel faint. Ning take it to her." She took the glass. "Charge, please, suite ' R.' " "That's the servant woman we saw," hissed Philip to his beautiful com- pa-Tiion. "Let's follow her." As a result of what Philip had to report, an investigation was held the next daj' in the captain's state- room. Those present included Peter Dean, Philip Trent, Donovan, the cap- tain, his first officer, Mert Morgan and the two Chinese women. Li Tai was the name of the mistress, and Ning was her servant. Donovan was doing the questioning. " So you say, madam, that you've never met Van Mier, eh?" The detec- tive held out a white card. "Then how- did this happen to be found in your luggage? I'll read it. 'Mynheer Hen- rich van IMier invites you to a private showing of the famous diamond, the While Dragon, at Carillon's, Jewellers, 19, Reeves Street, San Francisco, on the 13th of September.' Explain that." "There is nothing strange about that." The woman faced the questioner fearlessly. Her English was perfect. " My husband had made an offer to Myiiheer van Mier for the diamond. He desired to give it to me for a birth- day present." "But Van Mier told me it wasn't for sale," interposed Captain Bromlry. "That I know nothing about." "Wliat's your husband's business?" demanded Donovan. " My husband is Mr. Li Yat." "Li Yat, the actor?" qiic>tioned Philip. "The Oriental star that's play- ing in San Francisco?" The woman bowed and watched Philip through half-closed eyes. " Wliat were you doing at night on the deck when we saw you?" the film star asked. "Why weie you so dis- tressed?" "My bracelet. I had just discovered it was lost." "But you foimd it again?" "By great good fortune a strange gentleman found it for me." " Would you know him again if you saw him?' shouted the blustering Donovan. "Could you describe him?" prompted Philip. "Hey, you stay outa this!" Donovan cried. "What are you doing—playing the cop in one of her trashy novels? ' "That remark is quite uncalled for," blazed Peter Dean. "Third-degree methods," scoffed Philip. "Shut up!" raged Donovan. "And quit butting in." "You're right, sergeant." Philip straightened his back. " It's none of my business. Thanks for calling my atten- tion to it. Good-morning!" As Philip opened the door a short, squat figure stumbled forward—Philip wondered for the moment if the valet of the dead man had been listening. "I beg your pardon, sir," said Williams. "Don't mention it." Philip stood to one side. "Come right in—the more the merrier!" The servant woman jumped to her feet and pointed a lean finger. " That man ! He man found my lady's bracelet!" "You're Van Mier's valet?" Dono- van glowered at Williams. "Why didn't you tell me you'd found the bracelet?" "Excuse me, sir"—Williams shrank March 27th. 39S7