PETER SIMPLE'S POSERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

PETER SIMPLE'S POSERS

1. What is Nirvana? 2. fliianti is one wine, Tokay anotlier, as any bon vivant will quickly assure you. In what countries are they produced? 3. "Blue-etocking" as a term is rather outmoded, but do you recall its real meaning? 4. If a bargee is a worker on a barge, what is a burgee? 5. Sophoinnre is a familiar enough term in American magazines and films. We know it means *ome kind of university student, hut exactly what kind? 6. ITors d'oeuvre is something we relish before the meal proper. Then what is the chef d'oeuvre? 7. Apiculture is—well, yes, beekeeping. Then what about pisciculture, aviculture and silviculture? 8. In what pnrt of the world is a judge palled the deemster? 9. Peevishly classifying all the Tounger fry in his city office as '"commercial plankton," a scientificallyminded friend prompted me to ask how many persons know the meaning of the word plankton. Do vout - (Answer* on "L*""»«rrh

10. Keerbohm is a familiar .hnjrlish surname. Who is Max Beerbohm, who received a knighthood in the recent Birthday Honours? 11. King Alexander was assassinated at Marseille* in 1934 with the French Foreign Minister (M. Barthou). Kin? Alexander of ? 12. Which can live longest —parrot ■ tortoise, elephant, tree, rhinoceros, pike tuatara, scorpion, millipede, armadillo' 13. Admittedly this i* a hard one but if you can answer it, well —aren' you clever? Who was the French ad miral Nelson defeated at Trafalgar? ! 14. Who was the explorer first ti 1 reach the South Pole? 15. Where is Prince Edward Island? 16. What is a toucan? ' 17. Who was the first President o Czechoslovakia? 18. The capital city of Bulgarii is ? . 10. Who was the first Governor o . Australia? of New Zealand? 7 20. Do you remember who wrote "Fa i from the inadding crowd's ignoble strife and what are the next three lines? iVith the World" Page)

"Thet doesn't answer my question," said Mr. Budd stubbornly. "I asked you what you were doin' between half-past twelve and half-past one!" ''I was out," replied Daniel Thane. "When thj> moon ia at its full the epirite are abroad. The ancient goddess of Isis dances with Thor on such a night, and the souls of men can rise above the trivialities of mundane things and commune with the gloriee of nature." "Crazy as a coot!" murmured Mr. Budd below his breath, and looked a little helplessly at Hadlow. He had dealt with all sorts of strange people during his long career, but Daniel Thane was completely outside his experience. "During the time you were out did you £(> anywhere near t lie Manor Ifouw!' 1 asked the divisional inspector, in an endeavour to answer the mute appeal jn his confrere's eyes. ■'Why should you question where I went';" demanded the queer man. '"Is not the country free to all who would enjoy its ehiilljjrin}* moods V" '"There's certain laws of property," faifl the big man. I '"I violate no laws!' retorted Daniel ! Thane. "Neither the laws of man nor I the laws of nature. But if you would Kpetik further with me, come inside. My habitation is open to all men who are heavy laden."

Mr. Budd was inclined to take this ;is a subtle reference to his stoutness, hut lie followed the other into t lie niir- '.' row glad t<i get out of the ruin, which was trickling eoldlv down his ', back. The floor was bare of covering, hut scrupulously clean, and the queer ma.n led them into a room oh tin , right. Here, also, was noitlier carpet nor linoleum, bill tho board* had been scrubbed to a whiteness that was dazzling. There was scarcely any furniture. A plain dealtopped tal)lo *tood in tho centre, and lx'side it a chair. Against one wall had been built a row of bookshelves, also of plain wood, containing several battered volumes. On another table near the window, rather to the big man's surprise, stood mi ancient typewriter. The sight of it set anv doubts he might have, had <it rest. * Old Reuben Hayles , suspicions had bceti correct. The letters which had so alarmed him had come from this strange individual who had set the lamp down on the centre table and was re«arding them gravely. "You are looking at my typewriter"" he said suddenly. "A present from my niece, and an instrument that has been of inestimable value to me in mv studies." "Very useful things," said Mr. Budd. "So you did write those letters to Mr Hayles?" "Why should I deny it?" answered Daniel Thane. "I knew that death was coining to him, and I warned him. I could do no more." "How did you know?" The superintendent adopted a conversational tone. "It was revealed to me," said the queer man. "I was vouchsafed a vision." "But why did you send them annoymouslyV" inquired the fat detective. "And post 'em in London?" \ '•Because I did not wish Hayles to . know they emanated from me," answered the other. "Had he been aware of the ; source lie would have ignored them. He was a self-willed, obstinate man." [ "You often go to London?" asked the . superintendent. I "I go occasionally to visit my niece who works in a large etore," said* Daniel - Thane. "I did not anticipate that my i warnings would have any effect, but I , hoped that they might prepare Reuben Hayles for the doom which was inevit- ' able." t Mr. Budd gently rubbed his cliin. He i was in something of a quandary. He lacked sufficient evidence to arrest this I man for the crime. Even had lie believed * him guilty, which he did not, to do so 1 .would necessitate endowing him with 3 supernatural powers. But at least his visit had resulted in something. He had fc discovered the origin of the letters, and ~ the discovery had satisfied him about one thing, and the new possibilities it ' gave rise to surprised and puzzled him. He wanted time to consider this extraordinary case from the fresh angle which his discovery had suggested. In some respects it was alarming, and v , the problem how anyone got in or out of Reuben Hayles' bedroom was still uiij solved. But it offered fresh material to work on. e There was nothing to be done with Daniel Thane at thin stage of the inquiry, and they took their leave of that strange man. He accompanied them courteously $> to the door, and here Mr. Budd put his last question. "Why did you sign those letters 'The Prophet'?" he asked casually. The queer man surveved him haughtily, h '"Because," he said gravely, "I am a 0 direct descendant of Mohammed. it He watched them until they reached the gate, and then closed the door. £ "Well, what do you make of that?" ,jj said Hadlow, as they set off to return ltr to the car. ° "The poor feller's barmy!" answered the big man briefly. tj "I know that!" The divisiona e ? > inspector was a little in-patient. "I ' • mean, do you think he's guilty of Hayles' e, murderV i't Mr. Budd shook his head, d- "Xo, I don't think he's guilty," lie declared. "He wrote those letters, and to he certainly had a hand in the killing of Hayles, but I don't think he'e guilty of murder." "You mean he's mad, and therefore not responsible for his actions?" said of Hadlow. "But still, I don't see " "That's true, but it isn't what I j a meant," answered Mr. Budd cryptically. And all the way back to the Manor 01 House the divisional inspector tried to discover some sense out of this contradictory assertion, without success. If a £ ever Hadlow had been relieved to haye e a murder investigation taken omt of his hands, it was now. (Continued next week.)

VEGESAN (Continued) —