PLOT FOR A SHORT STORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 21

PLOT FOR A SHORT STORY

(By STANLEY CLARK.)

JOHX DAWXAY flicked over tlio pages . of his Press cutting book rather impatiently. His mind lmtl never been so barren of good workmanlike plots, and in desperation lie was turning to real life incidents for inspiration. Thrillers—murder tales, or stories of gang warfare in the underworld, but chiefly murder tales were Dawnay's favourite medium for earning a living. He turned the pages of his cutting book more rapidly now. There was enough material here for a hundred novels, but none of it gave him the slightest• lead. He began to read with only scant interest a cutting headed "Barnet .\lurdcr Mystery Still Unsolved." A sub-heading ran. "Complete Absence of Clues Baffles Police." It was not a promising beginning, but he read oil: "After three months of intensive search, during which scores of police oflicers have been constantly engaged, there is still 110 definite clue to the murderer of Alan AVcllsted. who was found dead on March 4 at his Hat in Baxendale Koad. Barnet. "It will be remembered that Mr. Wellsted was killed by repeated blows of a heavy poker which was found lying beside the body." Dawnay felt his interest quickening as his eyes travelled farther down the report. "Mr. Wellsted, who was, of course, the well-known (ilm actor—at the time of his death he was starring in the R. and .T, film. 'Spirited'—was last seen alive at midnight on March 3, when he left his flat and walked away in the direction of the railway station. No one saw him return, but at noon on the following day he was found dead beside the fireplace in his sitting room. Xo witness has come forward to say that any suspicious characters were seen near the flat, and there is no evidence of any visitor to the actor 011 the evening of his death.

"The difficulties of the police have been increased by the fact that, despite inquiries ranging over a wide area of the county, they have not been able to discover where Mr. Wellsted went when he left his flat at midnight, and how long he was away. There was also no clue of any description at the scene of the crime. It is understood that finger prints taken from various articlein the flat have been those of the dead film star or his cook, Mrs. .Tudd, who lives at 23, South Street, Barnet." Dawney laid aside his cutting book and sat back in his chair. There might he a plot for a short story here, he thought. Film star murdered. What would be the motive? He thought jealousy offered the best line. Film stars earning fabulous salaries must necessarily have enemies, lesser stars, down-at-heel actors doing crowd parts might reasonably be supposed to envy their more fortunate fellow workers. So far. so good, thought Dawney. Now he had to think out a probable method of committing the crime without detection. That was rather more difficult. lie sat back for half an hour and concentrated 011 the problem. Then a smile of satisfaction came over his face. Every big star had a "stand-in,*"' a man or woman who looked sufficiently like the star to be able to take the hitter's place 011 the set while cameras and lights were adjusted to the satisfaction of the director. Some of these stand-ins, he had heard, were extraordinarily like the stars for whom they Worked.

He briefly sketched the plot of his story. His star would have a "standin" who was very like him, almost his double, in fact. The stand-in on this account would have conceived an inordinate jealousy of his fellow-worker, believing that he, and not the star, should be earning the big salary, convinced that ho, and not the star, had the acting ability justifying the huge payments. . The "stand-in" would go to the star's flat, and wait until he was certain no one was near to see him enter. He would then commit the murder, come out when it was dark, show himself to various people sufficiently to impress 011 their memories that they had seen the star alive at a certain time, and slip away to freedom. Dawnay became quite pleased with his story when he had worked out these details. In a few moments he was seated at his desk tapping away at his typewriter. Ho drew his chief character carefully, brought in just those facets that he imagined most stars presented to the world, and when lie had finished decided that he had produced a story that would not be hard to sell. Dawnay was right in that. Within a few days of his agent receiving the manuscript there came a letter to say that it had been placed with one of the national daily newspapers. Dawnav promptly forgot the whole thing and turned his attention to the search for new ideas. But lie admitted that the story read well when he received the cutting from the newspaper. His stfir was a gem, without any doubt, of the type on which the "fans" doted.

It was not more than a week later when the blow fell. It came in this shape of a letter from the newspaper stating that a Mr. William Snagge had written to say that he was contemplating taking action for libel against Dawnay and the newspaper. The letter revealed that Mr. Snagge had been "stand-in" for the late Mr. Alan Wellsted. _ And then, for the first time. Dawnay realised, with a shock of horror, that in drawing the chief character for hu story he had drawn a faithful portrait

(SHORT STORY.)

of Alan Wellsted, whom lie had seen many times un the films. And just as surely lie had drawn a picture of Mr. William Snaggc. JJawnay set oil' for London and his solicitor, post-haste. It was a very worried young man who was shown into the ollice of .Messrs. Bond and Bond.

Yet he arrived at Victoria with plenty of time to spare and made up his mind to walk along the Embankment to the Courts. He was walking along, his eyes Jixed moodily on the pavement jtisi in front of him, when a hand clutched liis arm. He looked up into the face of a friend—-Detective Inspector Da vice of Scotland Yard. "Well, Dawnay," said the inspector. "Why the heavy frown? Aren't the plots coining through as easily as they might?" "Too freely, I should say," answered Dawnay, trying to smile. "Where are you oIT to then?" asked his friend. "The Law Courts." "Oli! Going to listen to a case?" "You're right, I am. The worst of it is that I'm in this one." "No! Here what have you been up to. mv lad?" "Libel." Davies looked at his friend sympathetically. "I'm damned so.rrv to hear this, old man." he said. "Look here. Can you spare a few minutes to let me have the details? Never know but I might h" able to help a bit. "Come into the Yard," suggested Davies. "We can talk in comfon there." When they were settled in Davies' oflice Dawnay began his story by a description of his hunt for a plot. The detective sat up at the mention of the We He ted casr. "That's strange," he said, "I was on that case for a time until they took most of the oflicers off when they couldn't find a line. f!o on, old chap," Dawnay went through with his tale to its end, and then turned to hifriend. To his amazement, Davies gave every indication of not having heard a word he had said. "I say—•" began Dawnay reproachfully, when Davies leapt to his feet. "Excuse me, old chap." shouted the detective as he made for the door. "You can find your own way out, can't you? I'll see you later. And keep your pecker up." The next moment Dawnay was alone in the room with the echoes of the door which had banged after the detective. A little, angry, the author gathered up his hat and gloves, and moved out into the corridor. Slowly he resumed his interrupted walk towards the Law Courts. •» » » • Bond, liis solicitor, met him at the entrance to the Courts. He was smiling happily and began to pump Dawnay's hand up and down with enthusiasm. "Congratulations. JTr. Dawnay,' he said. "It's wonderful news." "What cIS you mean?" asked the mystified Dawnay. "Has Snagge withdrawn his ease?" "No, it has broken down. He has just been arrested for the murder of Alan Wellsted."