Southern Oregon Miner, Thursday, November 15, 1945
Fi
OVERNIGHT r « P
GUEST
ö q B E N A M E S W IL L IA M S
T H E S T O R Y T H I S F A R : A dam B ru re ,
F B I o p rra to r. on a ( lip to hl» old home,
ra n Into hl» p rrvlo u » bo»». Inspector Tope
and M r». Tope,
Tope found a m an
m urdered at au lo r a m p operated In-
Bee D ew a ln .
M rs. Tope »aid (he m an
« a » M r. l edforge, head of N ew E ng land
a lilltle s . H oldom . frie n d of Ledfo rg e, wa»
found u n ro n a rio u i In hospital. H is e m
ployee. K e ll, had disap peared . Tope be
lieved M rs . K ell*» body would be found
In bottom of q u a rrie s In H oldom 's r a r .
Ledforge was said by his office to be in
N ew Y o rk . P rid d y , who w orked at the
ra m p , r a m e running in and said that
there was a m an In the ro tta g e — Tope
and B ru re found K e ll looking w here the
m u rd ered m an was found.
And Tope suddenly was calm.
“Kell,” he said. “I'm sorry about
your wife. Don't think me—imper
tinent, unkind. But—had she any
faults? Were you jealous of her?”
“She was all right, sir,” Kell pro
tested. He added: "But I couldn't
help being jealous of her. She’d go
away, week-ends when I’d be at
home, and when I couldn't go with
her, with Mr. Holdom keeping me
busy all the time."
"Where would she go?”
"She always told me where she
was going, but—I tried to telephone
her. sometimes, and she wasn’t
where she'd started for." He wiped
his brow heavily. “ It made me
crazy, sir," he confessed.
Adam realized—and his hair pric
kled at the thought—that Kell spoke
of Mrs. Kell in the past tense, as
though she were dead!
Tope asked: “Where were you last
week-end? Ten days ago? Up here
or in New York?"
“In New York, sir. Mr. Holdom
couldn't get away.”
"Mr. Ledforge in New York?”
“I don't know, sir.”
[WN U FLATUmsl
tant consideration for this harried
man. and something like sympathy.
He said straightforwardly: "Sorry,
Kell! But I'm acting for the law in
this matter; and Mr. Bruce here
represents the Federal Government,
Department of Justice. I suppose
you know that you’re involved in a
serious affair. Kidnaping is serious.
Kell. And so is—murder. I won’t
press you; but if you told us a little
more, it might help in straightening
things out, and—in finding your
wife!”
Kell stood grimly silent, twitching
and shaking.
“Some one,” Tope urged, “tele
CHAPTER VIII
phoned the Ridgcomb police that the
coupe had been stolen—telephoned
The big man looked from one to
from New York. You didn't do that,
the other. "Why—yes. sir,” he said
did you? You weren’t in New York
miserably at last. "My name's
Saturday morning, were you?"
Kell.”
"No sir," said Kell.
“That’s much better.” Tope com
Then they all heard a car on the
mented. "Where's the Holdom lim
drive, and Tope spoke to Adam.
ousine?”
"That may be Mat.” he said; and to
But Kell responded with a coun
Kell, while Bruce turned toward
ter question, his cheek suddenly
the door: "This is Mr. Cumberland,
purple, his whole body shaking with
the District Attorney, Kell. I'm
a sort of passion.
afraid he'll lock you up." He add
"Where's my wife?” he cried.
ed: “If we get any trace of Mrs
"Where's Mrs. Kell? Where is she?
Kell, I’ll let you know."
What have you done with her?”
Then Cumberland came in, Mrs.
Tope said simply: "We haven't
Tope beside him. Adam admitted
6een her, Kell. Was that why you
them both, shut the door.
came here? To look for her?”
Tope made explanations—summed
"She’s gone!” Kell cried desper
up
Kell's statements—and silences.
ately. “She’s gone! I heard in the
Mrs. Tope spoke quickly.
village that there was some one
"Inspector." she suggested. “ Kell
dead here. 1 thought it might be
would
know Mr. Ledforge if he saw
her—”
him."
The Inspector looked at Kell's
Tope's eyes quickened. “That's
feet; and he demanded:
right,” he agreed. He chuckled.
“Let me see your shoes—the bot
“Ma'am, I never thought of that.
toms of them."
Of course he would.” He spoke to
Cumberland, eagerly. "Let's get up
Kell, after a moment, lifted one
there—let Kell see him. see if he
foot, standing on the other; and
knows him.”
Tope turned the lifted foot with his
hand to look at the sole. Kell top
A moment later they were all in
pled and almost fell; and Tope re
Cumberland’s car, and soon they
leased his ankle, caught his arm,
turned into the byway that led to
steadied him. Then the old man
Amasa Dewain's farm. The ambu
asked:
lance of Will Banion, the undertak
er, was backed up to the kitchen
“Do you ever wear heel-plates?”
door; a laden stretcher was just be
Kell's eyes flickered. "No sir!”
ing wheeled out of the kitchen as
“Sure?”
they arrived. Amasa Dewain, heavy,
“Why—I’ve got an old pair of
ponderous, silent, stood in the light
shoes with plates on them.”
ed doorway.
“Worn them lately?”
“No sir.”
They approached the stretcher;
Tope nodded; and he said: "Kell,
and Cumberland said to the under
there were some things in the pock
taker: "Will, let this man see him!”
ets of those overalls this dead man
A sheet was turned back; an elec
tric torch threw its beam on the
wore. A valve-clearance gauge, and
a knife with a steel handle marked
dead man's white face. Tope and
In a scale, inches and centimeters.
Adam thrust Kell forward.
Did you ever see a knife like that?’
“Look at him, Kell," Tope direct
Kell shook his head stubbornly.
ed.
“Sorry, Kell, bot I am acting for
And Kell—though they could feel
“Well, that’s funny,” Tope protest
the muscles in his arms contract—
ed. “That’s queer! You work for the law in this matter.”
looked steadily enough upon the
Holdom; you’re his chauffeur. You
“Mrs. Kell?”
dead man.
live over his garage. Well, this dog
“She went to Boston to see her
That Mr. Ledforge?” Tope de
blanket came from his garage; and cousin.”
manded.
_
the overalls and sweater came out
Tope nodded; and he went on, in
Kell shook his head. In the wait
of the machine shop behind the ga
rage, where you keep your work sistently: “You used to work for Mr. ing silence his hoarse tones were
clothes. I think they are yours. Ledforge. How did you happen to clear.
“No sir,” he said sullenly. .. .
They’re big enough to fit you. You’re leave him?”
"Mr. Holdom wanted me.”
When Will Banion heard Tope
an Englishman. That knife came
"Did Mrs. Kell approve of the speak Ledforge's name, he pressed
from England. I never saw one like
change?”
nearer, incredulous, astonished. He
it in this country."
“Yes sir. She didn't like my work cried:
"I heard that the coupe came
“Ledforge? The Utilities man?”
here,” Kell muttered. “And she was ing for Ledforge.”
“Did you? Was he a good boss?”
Mat Cumberland started to speak
in it. She drove it away from the
"You could never tell about him,” but Tope interrupted him. “ You're
house.”
“Well,” said Tope, ”1 don’t know Kell explained, almost abstractedly. Will Banion?” he asked crisply.
"Yes."
where she is, but I can tell you "One day he might be as friendly
"Well, I want you to forget what
where the car is. It's in the quarry as you could ask; and the next day
hole, up in the mountains above the he might not speak to you at all. you've heard,” Tope sternly direct
Holdom place. We're lifting it out sir. You wouldn't know him for the ed. “This isn’t Ledforge. You heard
same man.”
tomorrow.”
Kell say so. Now get along to town
Tope stared at the big man for a Doctor Medford here?”
Kell uttered a low, startled ejacu
lation; and Tope stopped, expecting long time. Then he asked casually:
‘He’s gone ahead, going to meet
the man to speak. When Kell did “Mr. Holdom treat you all right, did me at my place,” Banion said meek
he?”
not, the Inspector demanded:
ly, and turned to his task. When
‘Yes sir!” The big man was at the ambulance was gone. Tope spoke
“Know anything about that?”
"No sir.” The answer was prompt. ease now, quite off guard.
to Cumberland. “Heard from young
”1 suppose you didn't put it
And Tope asked sharply: “Then Dane?” he asked.
there?”
why did you hit him over the head
Yes, he telephoned awhile ago
Kell cried harshly, on the verge of and leave him beside the road down that Holdom can make the trip to
breaking: “No!”
near Hartford Saturday morning, morrow. They’ll be here by noon.
"All right,” Tope said sharply, unconscious, with a fractured skull?”
Tope nodded, and he spoke to
pressing his advantage. “Why didn't Kell swayed where he stood and Cumberland. “You’ll want to lock
you bring Holdom and Ledforge up his ruddy cheeks drained white. Kell up, of course. Drop Mrs. Tope
here to their homes last Friday?” "Why did you?” Tope insisted. and me at the Mill, and then you
And, quickly: "Now, don't lie! We “Why, Kell?”
can take him along to town.”
know you left New York, with them
There had been no warning in his
Back at the Mill, they found Ned
in the car; and we know you got manner, nothing to stiffen Kell to Quill talking at the door with Bee
home alone. What did you do with resistance.
And the man stam Dewain. The trooper reported to
Ledforge and Holdom on the way?” mered now:
Tope: “Well, sir, I’ve been up at
After a moment Kell answered:
"He told me to, sir! Made me!” the quarry. Got some wreckers on
"Why—I had engine-trouble, sir. It
Adam, at this admission, whistled the job. They say they can get the
looked like a long job to fix it; so soundlessly, and grinned with de car cut of there tomorrow morning."
they hailed a car and got a ride light at Tope’s shrewd guess so in
Tope nodded, and he said: “Quill,
to Springfield, told me they’d come credibly confirmed.
this man is Kell, Holdom’s chauf
on home by train. I got the car
Nonsense!” Tope said curtly. feur.”
fixed quicker than I expected, and ‘You
mean to say he told you to
“Sure, I know him,” Ned agreed.
came on, and met the train at Mid- kill him?”
“We caught him in Faraway
dleford, but they weren’t on it.”
No sir, just to hit him,” Kell awhile ago,” Tope explained. "He
“Hah!” said Tope scornfully. urged, almost pleadingly. “Hit him probably came in the limousine, left
“Took you long enough to think of over the head. He told me to it around near here somewhere. See
that! Where have you been since hit him and leave him.”
if you can find it.”
then?”
“O.K.!” Quill assented.
He stopped suddenly, and Tope
“Looking for Mrs. Kell—places I prompted: “Go on! Go on!” And
The District Attorney suggested,
thought she might be.”
“You know^
when Kell was silent. Tope said almost regretfully:
“Where?”
harshly: "Come, Kell! You hit Mr. Tope, if this had been Ledforge, we
“Well, one was in Boston, and one Holdom because he told you to. could find plenty of people around
in Worcester. Then Mr. Ledforge What’s the rest of it?”
that might have had a grudge
had a lodge back in the hills where
But Kell, a new strength in him against him. Most of us put money
he sometimes went for a rest. I now, put on a mask of courtesy, of into his securities. Amasa Dewain,
thought she might be there.”
for one.”
incredulous surprise.
"Why?” Tope demanded; and Kell
“Whoever killed this man, it
“I, sir?” he said. “I don’t know
hesitated, did not answer. Tope what you mean, sir. Mr. Holdom wasn't anyone around here, Mat,”
cried: “Well, was she?”
Tope said shortly.
hurt? Not badly, I hope, sir?”
“No sir,” said Kqll, and Tope de
“How do you know?”
Tope
grinned,
and
he
looked
at
manded sharply:
“Because some one from outside
Adam Bruce. “This man's too much
“But you found some one there?” for me, Adam,” he said. “I guess is checking up on it. I told you
"Mr. Eberly was there. But he he could help us if he wanted to. there were two men here Monday
hadn’t seen her.”
I judge he doesn’t know that Mrs. night trying to trace the car—Whit
“Eberly?' Tope looked at Adam. Kell really spent last week-end
lock and Beal. They slipped away
“He’s there now?”
Kell said furiously: "Keep your early. I’d like to talk to them; bul
“Yes sir. He and Mr. Ledforge tongues off her!”
there’s no telling where they are now! ”
lometimes went there together.”
Bee Dewain said triumphantly:
Tope whirled on him. Having
Tope frowned, startled and dis goaded Kell to anger, he was about
Oh, yes, there is, Inspector!
turbed. “Did Mr. Eberly know Mrs. to press his advantage; but he saw They’re here—came back a few
Kell?”
in Kell’s eyes an insane fury which minutes ago. Mrs. Priddy’s giving
“Oh, no sir, but he said no one checked him. It was not fear that them supper right now!”
had been there!”
restrained him, but rather a reluc
(TO BE CONTINUED)
’ ASK MS
«ft ’
ANOTHER
?
M ighty Good Eating.'
A General Quiz
" IK
iM t i#
T h e Q ueationa
1. H as the definition “ lig h t” or
“ h ea v y ” c ru is e r anything to do
with its size or tonnage?
2. A person a t the N orth pole is
how m any m iles n e a re r the ce n te r
of th e e a rth th an if he w ere at the
equator.
3. How m any m en w ere in
volved in the six y e a rs of w ar in
Europe?
4. What island is called the
P e a rl of the Antilles?
5. Is it cole slaw o r cold slaw ?
6. F o r how long a re fed eral
ju d g es appointed?
7. A nahuac is an ancient n am e
for w hat country?
T h e A n aw era
1. No. It re fers to the size of its
m ain guns.
2. T h irteen m iles n ea rer.
3. T w enty-seven m illion of which
16 m illion w ere Allies.
4. Cuba.
5. Cole slaw.
6. F o r life.
7. Mexico.
till« t il ( lilt f u ll ''
ORN
K e llo g g ’« Cor n F ie b ea br mg
you n e a tly a ll the p ro tre -
liv e food e le m e n t« o f tha
w hole g ra in d ec la re d eeaen*
t ia l to h u m a n n u tr itio n .
Pirosi
FOR QUICK RELIEF F(ROM
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’ ¿4»
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JAN’S LINIMENT
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Se® \ J ° u r N e a r M f « r e s t o n e
D e a le r S to 're o r F ir e s to n e
S ta r
Por tha ban in nutic, latían to tha "Voica of Firatíona" avary Monday avaning ovar NBC network.