PA Gil TOUR ; The OREGON; STATES!! AN, Salem, Oregon, Wedaesday Mornlaj, January, 23, 1933 i - t V-'V. ' ' , ji f If 't i 1 A M I Founded till - ': "No Favor Sways U: No Fear ShaU Act". From First Statesman. March 2t. 1S51 - : THE STATESMAN PUBLISHING CO. V ' -j! 'Charles A. Spbicub Editor-Manager ' 1 Sheldon F. Sackett "- . llanaging-Eaitor ' Member of the Associated Prtu : . , ' - ', "Thm Aqaoclatrtl Preaata cxcnulwly entitled la tha dm for public Hob of i awa dlftpatcbcs cifiiil t It or not oiherwisa cradlud la ' , ihis paper. '-.'.".'.- J - ; Impending Class War. THE Pacific coast should brace itself for an outbreak of in dustrial warfare trhich t"hreaten3 proportions of a minor civil warj The shipping interests and the radical unions are squarinsr off for the renewal of the 1934 struggle the set : tlement of which was only aTIisagreeable armistice. The cen ter of the struggle is the port of San Francisco ; and there the rivals are girding their strength for a showdown fight Other ports will merely be satellites in the struggle, but they will be involved. Unless the government with swift steps take3 command of the situation there appears to be no escape from a prolonged strikeJockout,, which will in reality be a sample of class warfare. ; ' v. 1 1 : On one side are the militant unions led by Harry Brid ges. These coast unions are so radical they refuse to follow the leadership of j the more conservative national organizations. Ryan, president of ILA, the control the coast longshoremen in 1934. Now the ISU. the sailors union,' has expelled from affiliation the Pacific-lo- . cals by revocation of charter. Bridges leadership have far bigger objectives than just win ning a strike. It is apparent that the regard the strike mere ly as a tool of the class warfare to be waged unrelentingly r i with each period of peace merely a resting spell to recruit strength for fresh attack. Their effort reminds one of the . general strike in Seattle in 1919 of the shipyards workers, when :the leader said they were starting a revolution that , would end "we know not where". . ' Against the radical unions is the Industrial Association of San Francisco, backed by the entrenched wealth of that city, which is the financial capital of this coast. The associa tion represents the other extreme Its history has been one of : bitter opposition to. labor. Its countenancing or support of ' vigilante methods makes it hated as a typical fascist unit. There is little doubt that the employers have suffered severe " ly since the 1934 strike through failure of the unions to abide v by awards, though their resort to "quickie" strikes which have at times paralyzed shipping and made operations un profitable. So the employers now have a "case, and the pros pect is that they will use it if possible for the crushing of the Bridges organization. I In the middle are the conservative Labor union leaders who oppose the Bridges control and methods and purposes. Their strength is not on the local field but in the state and national organizations. It is not certain whether they will or ganize fresh locals with orthodox charters or not In the mid , die also, we surmise, as shippers of lesser ports like Portland where class feeling is not so intense; and where shippers and workers could probably agree shortly were it not for the in terference from San Francisco, though this is pure conjec ture on our part. , And in the middle, -very much in the middle and in the --. muddle are the general public, the people who use the ships for transportation, those who like "the lumber mill workers must depend on the ships to move goods, and the public which is concerned with industrial peace and prosperity. This "great party to the conflict is impotent to move for a sensible decision. J - , ' ' ' v It is possible for the impending struggle to whistle off with merely some escape of steam. But the signs indicate a , muster.for a tinish fight Steamships liave been laid up, in part because f the difficulties, in part perhaps as a "lock out". The militant unions have been busy with organizing : until they are now very cohesive. The only hope we can see is for effective And prompt action by government to stop the class war before it gets started ; and how the government can - do that we are not sure. ; Mayors Ifavor Manager Plan THE city manager form of government has worked very well in various dties of this Btate, particularly LaGrande, Oregon City and Astoria. Oregon City is the closest of " these! and, there Tery steady progress ias "been made in retir ' : ing debt, in maintaining the public works and m making the ' city government efficient in what It undertakes. Astoria has had a difficult problem because of the mountain-of debt piled up before the manager plan was adopted, tmt even there prog - resa is being made and before many years Astoria will be on its feet ... V ' " Salenv needs a good business administrator. While the credit of the city is still sound, we are "bonded up to our legal limit Many improvement liens are delinquent. "V igilant as the mayor and oouncilmen try to be theyomethnes wake up and . find where expenses have gotten away from them, as on some of the cooperative improvement projects. The mayor has had to do considerable of the executive work;3ut the mayor is a f non-alaried officer who has to run lus own business to pro " vide his own living. Mayor Kuhn heartily endorses the man ager plan. Douglas McKay when he was mayor saw the wis dom of such -a plan and started the drive in that direction. . JThe experience of these men is good testimony as to the jus tification far adopting the manager form. In brief the charter amendment reduces the overcrowd ed council from 14 to seven members, xetains a non-salaried ""mayor, 'creates an elective, office Tf municipal judge. The ' council would appoint the city manager and treasurer, and the police and fire chiefs would be appointed as now provided under civii service. Subordinate employes would be appoint ed by the city manager who would be working executive of the council The plan is fairly simple; and worthy of trial. The charter amendment ought to be approved. " I "Ward and the Portland Sehoolboard THE Portland schoolboard had a stormy meetmg Monday night when various patriotic organizations protested the use of a Portland scheolnouse lor a meetmg to be ad : dressed by Dr. Harry F. Ward. Dr.Ward is allethodistlwho is a member-of the faculty of Union Theological seminary in ; New York. Be is a radical socialist, -honest in his convictions, ' and nota coward in expressing his convictions. He is a work ing hand rn many of the Tadical organizations of the country. Grant that all of this is true,-Dr Ward is nevertheless an American citizen, a man of intelligence and culture, with " a right to his own ideas on public questions and free under our constitution for expression of bis opinions. Though we ; may disagree with his opinions we defend his right and priv- ilege to Fpeak his views; and believe that as long as school houses are used as open forums there is nothing wrong in al lowing him to speak in one. . , i i The sooner our patriotic organizatiqns realize8 that' sup pression is the most unsafe method of combatting "erroneous "doctrine the sooner their efforts to. pre serve American in- stitations will ain success. The answer to Ward and all the other pinks is not to stone them or jail them but to answer .heir arguments and their appeals ; and best of all to improve conditions in this country so the radicals will have 1'ttle tin der to strike a match to. ,i ? - We don't .agree with our Townsend friends that they have the right prescription to take the kinks out of our na- tional indigestion, but we don't object to their meeting in schools if they make the proper arrangements with the schoolboard. . i ' The Statesman stands by the constitution,: including the . amendment for free speech, It's the best means we know of. : uresemng our democratic institutions.' " "? r-- longshore union, was unable to The militant umons under the Tta; Great Game of Politics By FRANK R. KENT ; : Copyrijtt ISii. 1 Tka Bittimori Sua Dissension Their Hope ." - i ' ' Washington, Jan. 28. THE Preildent'i tUp at the Sa preme Court in hla Taesdar press conference, followed as It was lj , . . ; - -.- tir.ii.... j complaint aga i Inst "Injustice" i and Attorney - General ft Cun j mlngs predic tion of scores of injunction : suits to follow : the decisions, ia Indicative ' of the New. Deal er's feeling to- T ward the court. ; They-want to rerolt. but as rraak a. Ktat ' yet they don't dare to let themselrex Zo for fear of the reaction. HOWEVER, the combined Roose-TeU-Wallace-Cummlngs comment strengthens the conviction held by many that soon or late Mr. Rooae ?elt will more dramatically to make' campaign issue between himself and the court. The idea is that unless he ; is prepared to admit the; great basic mistake of trying to temake America outside of tha Constitution, there is noth else for him to do. The gravity of this course is-hard to exag gerate. It seems a desperate step, indeed, and the hope is expressed that apprehension of the political consequences, if nothing else, will in the end deter him. DEEPLY resentful of the barrier the court hag erected athwart their wide-flung plans, some of the Roosevelt advisers are urging a real blast without further de lay. The more cautious, while convinced that ultimately the "ap peal to the people, over the head of the court," has to be made, warn that the time is not yet pro pitious and the risk altogether too great. They counsel a wait for other alx-Jo-three, 0r, perhaps, they hope, ft ve-to-f our, anti-New Deal decisions. IN brief, some of the New Deal ers' strategists, looking at it trom the political angle, now have reached the staea where thv would rather have adverse decis ions than sustaining ones, provid ed always the court divides anil a minority opinion is presented. If inese come. It is urged, Mr. Roosevelt wiU be In a much stronger position to make hln la- sue than how. What they fear more than anything else are un animous COUrt dlSttnDTOTSl Vo-mr people know the extent of the in ner New! Deal demaraliznn caused by; those four unanimonn opinions last May, nor the depth ot tne relief caused by the Stone minority opinion in the AAA casej THE real jRooseveit hope lies la a continuation of the dissenters. In a country lik thi. th.r. . n litieal danger for any man in as sailing even a divided Rnnromo Court. A fine wav to nannd on self politically to death is to buck a united court, in tt,m mass mind of the country the court is practically the Constitu tion. One mlrht aa well dwlr against the Bible and the flag. Except Among the more Inflamed of the New Dealers, there is ap preciation of these facts, and, in consequence, their dally prayers are Tor further minority decisions. IT may be well ta reneat tha sir. nlficant fact that what they want now is not favorable decisions but a court divided as closely as pos sible. Perhans one reaenn tnr this U that the chance of getting uToraoie aecisien. except en TVA. ia coneedarilv rcmnta m. ertheless, that Is the way they ieel. A five-to-four decision, for example, on TVA, the public-utilities law or the Ouffev enalnn. trol bill, before the election. would stiffen them up for a fight. Improve the New Deal morula nnf result in the campaign dramatiza tion of . the court-ar&inRt.th. President issue. OF course, developments of the next few months" may whollv change the situation, but as things are todav. th Mow re.i is being branded -from top to bot tom aa unconstitutional. And in the final analvsis. "New nair. think, there is nothing to do about It except dispute the court's interpretation mil :tn . . ,k.i.. the Con8titulon. There isn't any prospect at ah of chansinr tha court unless Mr. Roosevelt is re elected. : At this tlnwr thjr are three reasons no change can be made one4a -the-very gratifying state of; health ot all rthe: Jus tices; second, the fact that it is extremely doubtful' that any Roosevelt aDDolntmont u : ih. court, other than- that of a Sen ator, could be confirmed; third, that even if he appointed a Sen ator, there la -not th lAiut HMt that, once on the court, the ap pointee would take the New Deal view. It Is a Terr interesting state of affairs - and - anm i th White House inner circle is not,. particularly enjoying. . , Compliment Pastor DAYTON, Jan. 28 - Compli menting: Rev. F. E. Fisher on the ere of his birthday, a delightful surprise was given by the adult Bible class 1 ot the Evangelical Sunday school at his home Thurs day night. Ashland Folks Locate . ROBERTS. Jan. 28. - Buck Rife has sold his tract of land to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Isely of Ash land. The Iselys took possession of the land last week. : Forsythia Blooming s . RICKEY, Jan. 2T- Spring has come to Rickey. - A forsythia bush Unreported. In iairbtaomv-v? i,. ; - Bits for Breakfast ' By ki. HENDRICKS' Mrs. E. T. Adair has. entered her 12nd year: ' This colnmn. in the issue ot Feb. 4, Z2, told of thel "long useful llfef , of Mrs. E. T. lAdalr. Salem. Oregon, who had on Jah. 2? celebrated her 87th birthday, a V - There are not many things to add in a short sketch, excepting the Important fact that she has. "by reason of strength," as of holy writ, added to her days four full years. '-.'j j " , . -.j.- On Monday the 27th, she cele brated her 9 1st birthday entered upon her f ind year of life.' More Important, the four years that have Intervened have taken no apparent toll from her faculties. She still sees well, hears dis tinctly, and has a keen mind and a good memory. - . W . Her sisters of the Salem Re bekah lodge gave her a reception at the lodge rooms on Monday evening, present there, as an hon ored guest, was her grandson. He is C. Adair Lockwood, who served his country on the Mexican border and In the American navy The Safety Valve Letters from Statesman Readers VOTE FOR FEE BILL January 27, 1936 To the Editor Dear Sir: At this late hour before election when it seems very likely that every bill will be defeated, I would like to make a last hour plea for a bill which I feel will have much to do with the boys' and girls' happiness in college and through out their entire lives the bill authorizing student activity fees. When President Tatt visited our college, he made tbis state ment, "Ten years from the time you leave this college it will be impossible for you to remem ber exactly anything you have learned here. Don't misunder stand me. I am not discouraging education, but it is your associa tion with boys, girls, and instruc tors with high Ideals which will prepare you for the future and wUl be your greatese comfort and benefit." It seems to me this Is the answer to the bill. If this bill does not pass, a great many students will feel they are saving by taking no part In the student activities and they will miss some of the finest things In life; namely, being able to en joy sports, music, fine entertain ments and the ability to play and mix well with their fellowmen. I worked my way through college and as I look back the training I received through student activities has meant more to my pleasure and success, than anything else. During the depression, the wel fare of our children has been seriously neglected. We cannot afford to allow them to pay the I sad price of this economic con fusion. They are the army with which we march to progress. The only guarantee to a safe and sound future Is a well-trained, healthy youth. We would be foolish Indeed not to provide for our own sur vival. They are the greatest of our possession! and upon their training for well or til depends the whole of tbelr father's house. If you believe thla. go to the poll and rote! SO C Tea. Youra very truly. : David B. Hill FAVORS MAY PRIMARY Salem, Ore. January 25, 1136 To the Editor: I wish to avail myself of this column you generously provide to answer your article supporting a September primary. You state the various angles quite fairly except' on the rital point. The issue la' simply this, must we be bound hand and foot to the party system.. Close to one-third and perhaps' more ot the Oregon electorate do not think so, and no matter what obstactles are thrown in their wy will not long consent to such a system. . ' Even a constitutional lawyer could find no difference dn the two parties in this state. They are merely associations of office hold ers and seekers with prlvelege seeking interests who own, control or support and in turn are sup porting by the general press; This combination of money and pub licity usually succeeds in nomi nating men subservient to it. We, of the class who do not be lieve everything we read In the papers and sometimes compare election promises with pre-election . and i post-election perfoxm ances. demand the right of fran chise. You admit that under the Sep tember primary law, it we find the above combination ot money and publicity nave nominated men we we are powerless. J admit we are in bad shape any way but -even a losing fight Is some satisfaction and more American than just, listening to the birdies sing. . . So by fan means let ns keep every avenue open in Che hopes that. some day men who can think in .terms of common justice to all and special privilege to none will some how win control of the gov ernment of this state. Again thanking yon for the use of thls-column. M, Van Busklrk . Rt. 1, Salem (Editors note The class re- fered to Is not powerless. It still has. the privilege to nominate an independent candidate. The only independent candidate elected to an Important office under the May primary system was Julins Meier; and there is no question he would have won If his -nomination had occurred after a September pri mary. - . A party realignment would be much more realistic, -as -pointed out in an editorial on this page Tuesday. It may come; or the Farmer-Laborer party may grow into m party of power.) during- the World war. He la now radio: engineer at the great transforming- station ot the Mackay Radio -and - Telegraph company three miles, from . Hillsboro, Ore gon. This station serves the land and sea stations in this section of the world. - f ; t Mrs. Adair first became a mem ber of the Rebekah. order at Oak land. Oregon ( "new" Oakland ) , 65 years ago. She has long been connected with the Salem , lodge. She has been through all the fchairs. i --:" For 62 years she has been a member of the First. Congrega tional church of Salem joined in 1874. yW . v Her memories and those of her Immediate family .. have reached back far In American history. She recalls her father and mother telling that when they went to Germantown, Ohio, they passed through Cincinnati, and that at the time that great city of the present had only three houses. V Mrs. Adair was the youngest child of a family of 10 children, and she is the only one left. She was born Elizabeth T. Hoff man, at Germantown, Montgom ery county, Ohio, on January 27, 1845. Her father Was Jacob Hoff man, a pioneer in that region. V When Mrs. Adajr was born, her future home In Oregon was then in a no-man's-land, claimed by two nations, coveted by five, own ed by none. She built the home where, with her daughter, Mabel Adair Lock wood, at 363 North Liberty street, she lives. This was in 1915. S S Mrs. Adair was married to Ir vin M. Adair, near Madison, Ohio, September 26, 1869. He was a railroad worker and telegraph op erator, and a good one, holding positions in several towns and cities In that section. S " When their daughter, Mabel Adair Lockwood, was born, Nov ember 21, 1871, at New Madison, Ohio, the great Chicago fire was raging. The telegraph operators kept her Informed every hour of the progress of that historical con flagration. S Two operators were working with her husband at the time, and the whole country In reach of the telegraph offices was kept at fever heat over the exciting news by fre quent bulletins they would now be called "flashes." S S Irvin M. Adair was born at Thornton, Indiana, October 15. 1845, the same year ot his wife's birth. They crossed the country In a mixed freight and passenger train to San Francisco, thence to Ore gon by the steamer Ajax, In 1873. S Mr. Adair loved the land had an ambition to follow general farming and fruit growing and they secured a seven acre-tract near Salem. They made this their home, but Mr. Adair operated telegraph and railroad offices in Polk, Washing ton, Douglas, Linn and Wasco counties: was at one time train dispatcher. . S S The family was in Albany in 18 It, and Mrs. Adair recalls the great parade and the .bonfire on the court house .grounds there In September of that year, an receipt of th news of the nomination at Chicago ot Benjamin Harrison for president. Mr.JLdalr being from Harrison's state. Iadisna, was an enthusiastic participant in the celebration. He died at Albany December 7, 1888. Ifr. Adair opened the Postal Telegraph company's office in Sa lem, while "Billy" Dumars was the original man in charge ot the Western Union office here, and maintained In nls office the first public telephone in this city. The two were .great friends and companions. A few old timers yet here . will recall that Dumars thought a great deal ot his friends, and some of them will recall that when he learned ot the death of Mr. Adair he had to be taken home to a sick bed. (Concluded tomorrow.) Twenty Years Ago January 29, 101 At least SO persona lost their Uvea when the ..San Diego dam, swollen with flood waters, broke last ptrht. ; ; ' v The Eugene Daily Guard was plaeed in the hands ot a receiver yesterday. Louis D. Brandela of Boston has been nominated by President Wilson to fill the place on the supreme court bench made vacant by the death ot Associate Justice Lamar. Ten Years Ago January 20. 1020 Police officers in Salem win "crack down" on motorists who fail to .stop at the newly posted through streets. . ; , Whitman smashed Willamette's dream of the northwest title by defeating It 82 to 26. last night. A hotel, drug store and dental office were totally destroyed by fire at Oakrldge Thursday. Sirs. Frank Spenner of , Sublimity Passes Away SUBLIMITY, Jan. 21. Mrs. Frank Spenner died 'Monday ' at the Stayton hospital after an Ill ness of several weeks. She leaves her husband and. four sons. She was the oldest, daughter -of Mr. and -Mrs- William Voa Handle, ijx ' it VVy "HIGH SCHOOi; TAGEDF CHAPTER XVIII ! My father was really to be pitied the next few days. Of course, the police did not suspect him of any complicity, in getting Bruce away, bat naturally he was in a ticklish situation. Sunday morning the pa pers spread the news of Brace's "escape1 across the front page. They ran Brace's pictures again, and one -of my father. And they had some news beyond-what we bad been told the night before. Brace was pretty fortunate in getting away. The dumb detective had given him a grand opportunity. The fellow really had goad inten tions. He arrived at the Golden Gate Ferry slip just as Bruce drove en and they began te take up the Sngplank, or whatever they call it. course, he could hare shown his star and demanded to be allowed on the same heat. They would just have had to hold it. But instead of doinff that, he thought it would be safer to call O'Briea for instruc tions before following Bruce. So knowing the boat would not arrive at Sausalito for twenty minutes, and that car once on would have to stay.-fce stopped at the wharf to phone St Joseph. Ordinarily, it might have worked. HW would have cot O'Brien in five minutes, O'Brien would have tele phoned Sausalito, and Brace would have been nicked on as he left the boat. But lock was against the poor dateetlve. Two other people ad missed ths boat and were using tne thana -ta tall their friends ae. Again-the doiectiTe did aotnuhli authority, but waited patiently. fident ha had lota of time. When ox cms. he did rot tha phone, connections were Wd and the call was a long time goina through. O'Brien him self wasted torn precious time bawfinc the man out. Se Bruce and his companions left the ferry tm cruestioned and proceeded north ward. It was Just a matter of lack. After that, however, Bruce must have teen clever, for his car was not picked up until it reached Uriah, a matter of several hoars. A constable there halted it, hut Bruce was ne longer driving-: in fact he and his woman companion had disappeared. Only man and wom an ware left. At first, thev professed ignorance- of Bruce- Lloyd, It de-4 veloped that they did not know him under his rizht name. They lived in the apartment house where Ber- niee Carter lived and baa been in vited to sein ner sad her friend for a trip. They -themselves were anxH ions to go to Kurexa wnare u woman's fetka lived. -So they ac cepted the invitation. . On tha wav. Bemice had become Ql. They stopped at an isolated tan on the highway, where she was to star until rreninr. Since insisted that the couple continue on thetii way in his ear. Asked if tney um not think this atranaethey admit ted it did seem so, rot that it seemed lortcal enouarh at the time. The pottee did' et -entirely believe their story and were holding them. Ia tha meantime, they were also checking the Inn. They found that , no one Had registered taera tne night before, but that a young couple amrwefiftC the description oi the fugitives had had dinner there and then -taken erthbeemd bus. Aa the papers went to press, as therities were lnvestlratinr the bus line, hut aa yet had gleaned no re snlts. A hardened criminal could have done no better in makinr aa es cape," commented Allen, who was apparently moreaaun. Dad shook his head. "Ton are riant I cannot ondetstand it. I was 'certainly taken in by him. 'No fool like an old zooir nut ra not so sure that he Is ruilty yet. We do not know who this woman is. Perhaps she is someone ho feels he must protect. Yet, aa far as I am con cerned, she makes it worse." ; I was thinking. I am afraid had I expressed - my- thoughts, - they would have been as hitter as Dad's. I was not convinced that Bruce had shot Connie, but he had certainly sold us all down tha river. Dad went to telephone O'Brien. When he -came back, he had ne fur ther news of Bruce, but he did have ome on tha other ancles. -"O'Brien- is .pretty sure that the murderer is travelling north with a blonde woman i ia other words, he is almast ready to pronounce Lloyd he does, win yen take the easel" asked uother. Filling Up at the Old Mad-Hole We were all surprised: in spite! ef the events, for that meant Dad, too, was convinced of Lloyd's guilt. Be dropped the subject. "The In spector had some other news that will interest the children. Their pal,. Metvtn, has been released I "Keleasedr i exclaimed. wny, thought the police had as much on him as anyone." Then I stopped, for after all, my family dldnt know yet that I was in Inspector O'Brien's confidence. I "I suppose they have." answered Dad, "but tha police cannot get him to talk; so they are going to follow him, in the hopes of getting some thing on bis companions, or at least finding out why he had the gun that night.8 "He might get away, like Bruce. Dad sniugged. He looked tired. He had taken this thing awfully hard.. I "What 01347" 1 questioned. "Carrinrton went to San Dieeo Saturday morning, accompanied by his ahadow. a man who ia more re- fliable than Lloyd's was, evidently. lie went to the hotel Mrs. urrtmr ton had phoned from, and found; like the police, that she had flown. He was as puzzled as they, it seemed. But not o resourcelesa." "What did he do?" "He began phoninc their ac quaintances and friends and found her atoppint with a couple they anew, ale went out there ia a taxi. louowea bt tne aetecuve in an other.- I ddid they get her?" "What did she have to eayf" "Sh refused to talk without -What wiU they do with bexl" "Tawy are returning her here to be questioned. "with on suspect escaping toward uanaaa ana anotner picked up lust tuts side ox Mexico, that a good de tective would come to some sound conclusion in the next few days.' "Yea," said Dad. "yon would think so. But pTobabry by that time sometainf else will turn up: i The cirls were cuiet about Brace wnen t went to school Monday. suppose they thought that we would consider bis running away a sort of family disgrace, since Dad had as sumed more or less responsibility for him. It made things awkward as I didnt want to bring up the sub ject, still f eelinc too badly ever it, and yet I didnt enjoy their silence. So it was: a personal relief when Melvin came back to school Tues day. That gave us plenty to talk about over our malted milks I He looked ratner pale and very ouuen. do the school s bad boy ia back. began Helen. "Yea, And Mother thinks It is just terrible that we have to associ ate with him." Patsr contributed. "The great American democracy. as Alien would say," I added. Allen has a lot of unorthodox ideas and often gets into arguments with the social science department "Of course, no one has Droved he to a murderer; the police let him go, which Indicates way nont think be u guilty, Helen argued. "Murderer or not, ho is a gang ster" : i . "Not ouite. But of course, he car ried a aunT "And he has bad .companions. 1 Dad said." "Well, weVe always known be is a had w.eimittd Helen. I took a hand in the discussion then: I dont know why, lor I nsuH ally try not to say anything against anyone, even wnen i aave uroor. guess I just wanted to forget about oruce. i "As a matter of fact,- X stated with some authority, "the against Melvin is aa good. If not better than that against anyone else. He had a motive because Con nie refused to sign bis parole. He was known to have called on her at 8:30 that night, to bars Quarrelled with her and kit angry indeed. He bad a gun." v: ----- "Very true," Helen assumed her sunerior air. "but the run was not the one that fired the fatal shot, to they aay. And even if it were, t would hare to have a aileneer on it if he threw that pert away, why didnt hs throw ute wnoie ran cuii- And besides." Patsy Joined her. "Mr. Perkins saw her alive after Melvin left" course, Jlelvln eouldnt have eomJtwcki" was my sarcastk4n- "There hasn't been much about Perky lately," Helen said ignoring Yon know." Patsy towered her Toice to a whisper, "between you and me, he's the one I'd pick." It looks to me, i commented, as if the police agree with you. at least partially. They are undecided between Perky and Bruce Lloyd." At last I had broken the ice. Both girls talked like mad after that Bruce was the one they were all really interested in. Although, of course, they didnt know him aa well -S J 3 .1 I J ft .1 aa a wo. ana uwy oian i aave uin personal contact 1 .bad had, still they had sort of adopted him as an ideal, too. We figuratively wept on each other's shoulders over his dis appointing development We got real chummy again and forgot our differences. uz course, they had picked up a lot of rumors and a, lot of ideas about him and about this Bernice Carter. Ne one eeemed to know who she was, but everyone had some opinion of her, none of them good. Helen looked around the room and whispered to Patsy and me. You know I overheard Dad and Mama talking? last night and they said that they didnt think this Car ter woman was all aha ought to be, Mama said their running away to gether like that proved it Dad said something ia French, one word ef which I think was 'eaercaes,' yon know, meaning look for. I eouldn t ret the rest" "I know that one," Patsy whis pered back. "It's VfcercJUs Im frmme.' It'a the same aa sarins. look for the woman ia the case . "I tappost Dad meant f.then," went on Helen, "that ha thinks Bruce committed the (murder and that this Bernice was the reason." "Something like that" agreed Patsy. "There's more than that to it" I said sadly. "All these older people dont want to tell wt what they think: so that means it's bad. They think we're awfully dumb, I guess. Anyway, the whole mess is -is sordid" and TO have to admit I was crying. Helen patted my band. She con tinued the conversation on a differ ent track. "You know," she said, "they hare completely disappeared into thin air. They were awfully clever about it I heard that the police found the driver who picked Bruce and Bernice up at the hotel Saturday eight He drove as far as WOlits. There the bus stops for five minutes while there Is a change of drivers. He saw them go across the street to a candy store. He him self went into the station, which is a corner ef a drug store, to talk to the new drives; And that'a the last that has been seen of them." Didnt they go on!" "No. The new driver never saw them at alt" "What about their baggage T" "There were only two small ban. AH the passengers got off for candy. cigarettes, etc- end ao one saw them take the bags, but they were gone." "And no one ia town saw them afterward!" No. The earth must have opened and swallowed them." Whether luck was with them or Bruce showed a creat skill ia elud ing detection, I have never decided. But they certainly got away clean. The talk with the girls stayed on my mind. It made me feel even worse than I had before. When I got home that afternoon, I went right op to my room and I cried. A year later aa I look back. It seems silly. But it was the first time any. one I liked and admired like that had let mo'down. After half an hour. I beran to feel huarry. I did nt want to go downstairs and have Mother question me about my red eyes; so t went into Allen's room to look for a candy bar. He usually has one around somewhere. As I eouldnt find any, I was about to leave when it occurred to me to look in the pocket of the coat he had worn the day before. I even looked in the inside pocket as boys are fun ny about the way they use their pockets, All my fingers touched was a fountain pen, I nulled it out, in tending to lay it on the table for him, but I dropped it instead. I would have been just as happy had I seea a snake rnnr on the floor. There It twinkled e at tne the "CBS" ef Connie Sinclair In glow, ing gold on ths greea barrel ef the pen! " . (To Be Continued) UU.KJ