June 1950 School Magazine

June, 1950

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

June, 1950

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

SHERLOCK DUNKLEY'S FIRST CASE I, Sherlock Dunkley, do hereby declare the following state- ment to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Having made this declaration, I shall proceed to relate the most exciting event of my short detective career. For about a year, I have been caretaker at the C.I.B. One day, while I was dusting Detective Burgess' office desk, the telephone rang. I picked up the receiver. "Detective Burgess? Good! Our silver's been stolen. Do hurry. Twenty-one Almond Drive, Subiaco." The voice gave me no time to reply. The woman had "hung up". I pondered the situation, then bethought me that this might be the opportunity of a life-time. The Detective was out. I changed my pipe for a professional-looking cherrywood in the Detective's rack, gave my tie an artistic twist and dis- carded the duster and broom. Within five minutes I had arrived at the scene of the robbery. I was soon acquainted with all the particulars of the event. The thief had introduced h imself as a salesman and had pilfered the silver as the maid ran to show her mistress his card. On this card was the tell-tale name of the printer. Having reassured the lady, I ran into the street. I had come by the 'bus, but it had gone. I saw a black car with chromium streamlining standing a t the kerb. Taking this to be a taxi, I called for the driver, but he was not in sight. I reflected. 'Td better take it," I thought. "Explanations later. I must get my man." Jumping in, I quickly drove to the C.I.B. to glean particulars concerning Ballmore, Johns and Co., printers. Suddenly, however, as I sprang from the car, another car drew up behind, and two policemen emerged from it. "All right. You can't get away", cried one. "It's the right car, Joe," he said to his companion. "What's in that sack in the back seat? I bet it's the silver." Then I suddenly realised that I had unwittingly taken the car in which the crook had been escaping. Evidently he had deposited his first haul in the car, driven round the corner, and then had gone to steal more valuables from another house. Later, of course, I explained it all to the chief, who was very impolite to me, and who ordered a qualified detective to take over the case. Now that I have related my part in the solution of this case (which mas my first, last and only part in the work of detecting crime), I beg you to excuse me, as I must sweep the stairs before the chief arrives. - JUDITH C. GREEN, Form III.A. 37

A SOLDIER'S BIBLE If there is one book in any Christian home which is cherished above all the rest, it is the Holy Bible. This book can be made more sacred only if it is has beautiful memories woven around it. Such is a Soldier's Bible. .... It was given to him on his last days of leave by his mother. She had a promise from him that he would read it every night, even in the thick of the fighting, and he had kept that promise. On the slightly torn fly-leaf of the little black book, she had written, "To my only son, from his mother". The writing was fading now, but he had read those words so many times that, no matter how long he lived, he could never forget them. His Bible went with him everywhere. It went through Tobruk with him, and suffered, for a short period (for its owner escaped) in a German internment camp. Then the soldier and his Bible came home again for a v:ery short leave, before leaving for New Guinea. Here again the Bible went with him everywhere. It was with him the day that a Japanese sniper shot him in the back, and it lay with him on his rough hospital bed as he was dying. He clasped it in his fevered hand, and realised that its beauty would be with him always . With this thought in his mind, and a quiet smile on his lips, he slept, forever. - ELIZABETH OLIVER, Form III.D.

SONG OF THE RAIN. When the skies are dark and grey, You will hear the rain drops say, "Pitter patter, come and play In the puddles by the way, Come and play while it is day In the rainy weather." See the little drops of rain, Sliding down the window pane, Knocking as they come again, Begging you to come in vafn, Telling you to come and gain The joy of rainy weather. Do not heed their merry way, Or their chant-"come play, come play, Come and join us while there's day, Do no: linger do not stay." Soon their song will pass away With the rainy weather.

NANCY TOW, Ill.C.

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