"BAFFLING CASE OF THE MISSING ORDERLY ROOM"

Arty AnTiDote, Issue VIII, 30 October 1943, Page 1

"BAFFLING CASE OF THE MISSING ORDERLY ROOM"

SIET3RMICK .TONES AT II IS BEST

’’The fact is" said Sotson, "that the Orderly Room Is no longer there — someone must have taken it." \ "Exactly, my dear Sotson'.’ She erluck Jones uncrossed his logs and stood, up. "And you, as Medical Officer, arc going to help me to . solve, the mystery." / ■ . ■ "But I don’t see " began Sotson, but Jones cut him short. "You treated the Colonel for some malady this mprning, I believe?" "Yes — mosquito bite on the maetus .of the left auditory apparatus, to be exact." ' ■ „ "Precisely, my dear Sotson; which would indicate that at the time - the Colonel was sleeping on his right ear." ' / . "Astounding!" breathed the Major in admiration, and a murmur ran round the mess as, to what possible bearing this fact sould have upon the' disappearance of the Orderly Room. "Ah! Gentlemen, I perceive that you are puzzled," went on Jones. ’"I read your thoughts. The answer to your unspoken question, gentlemen, is ’Deduction’". Again a huqhed chatter swept the gathering in which the word

’Deduction’ was heard many times. Truly, Sheerlu'ck Jones was an amazing man, "So now, as the plot unfolds itself, I feel sure that you gentlemen will excuse Dr. Sotson and myself. We will conduct a search of the? Colonel’s quarters for a possible clue. Come along, Sotson." And the great detective went out into the night. For several moments, Jones stood, chin in hard, surveying the Colonel’s quarters. "Foul play?" queried Sotson. Jones strode over to the disordered bunk. "No," he cried, "but a selfinflicted wound - observe this mosquito net — do you not see anything strange about it?" "Only that it is an American one." Jones passed his magnifying glass to the Doctor. "Study it more close-

ly. " He ordered. "By Jove," said Sotson, standing up - "A cigarette burn." "precisely, my dear Sotson. Proving conclusively that the Colonel smokes in bed, and burned the hole himself. As you will observe, the hole is just in a position to have been burned while reading a book." "I’d never have thought of that." "Elementary, my dear fellow. If the Colonel smokes in bed, he must have an ash tray, or a waste-paper recptacle handy - Ah! Here we are." Jones picked up a waste paper box. "But" ventured the doctor, "it’s empty." "Yes" agreed Jones, it’s empty. And now back to the mess where we will conduct an investigation of the suspeccts."-

Read next week, of the connection bo* tween a mosquito bite, a waste-paper basket and the raising Orderly Room.