TUE SPRINGFIELD NEWS
THURSDAY AUGUST 23, 1928
T p / E d is o n M arsh all
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE— thinking he hnd seen me.
Ills form
Dr, Lung, out Nailing with Alexan I wns perfectly visible In the moon
der iterce, u detective, tell« nt 111» light. ut I had kept mostly In the
projected trip to Huuthvrly Downs j shadow Rut all at once he Increased
Mi tree advise« lilni to k e e p hl» «yo.il Ills pare.
wide open whi 1« them. On th« way j I walked faster, too. My quarry
In ii truln Dr. Ming 1» attracted by A broke Into n slow trot. It was Im
girl, who later fnlntw Dr. lx*ng iri Jt possible ihsl I could run behind him
b«-r, mid looking Into her ling, 1» as- ' and still keep out of sight Ko I
ouik I ik I I o hnd n loaded revolver. I made a furious dash toward hlin at
Dr, Dong meets A l l mud Du«, all top speed
Oriental, who condurts him to Mouth
For a moment I thought I would
ley Down», where he meet« Mr South- overtake him before he saw me, hu,
le) unil III« «on, Ernest Houthley, Mr, when I had covered half the distance
Hayward and hl« «on, Vllns. and then between us he begun really lo run He
Joaephlll« Houthley, who 1» the girl • straightened out his long legs, and
be hnd met on thu train. Josephine fairly seemed lo fly straight for the
tell« him (he «lory of Houthley Down» marsh nt the bottom of the hill
anil H r ghn»t, which 1» not th'- ghost
"8,op, Robin!'* I shouted at him
tit n humnn being hut of n tiger.
“Hlop a, once!”
Dr Ixmg linn a quarrel with Vila»
He only Increased his speed
I
Hayward over Josephine, and hnd«
never saw a man run faster. I was
thut the Haywards have a strange
authority over the Houthley». He 1« In good condition, and I gave him
ordered to leave ifciuthloy Down». The the best I hnd lie hadn't the chance
rain prevent» hltn leaving at once. | to elude me that he had In our pre
Dr. Ixing and Ernest go out on the vious encounter earlier In the even
road In the rain looking for the track» ing The moon was out now.
of a liger that Ernest »ay« are there j He splashed across a pond of shst
They And the track» Ixiter Ernest | low water at the base of the hill.
and Dr Ixmg see a prowling creature . Possibly he thought I would not fol
tn the hall at Houthley Down«. Thl» low him here. But he was to be
No water was deep
frightens the elder haywurd, who also f disappointed
See» It. Ernest begin» to feel that j enough to throw me off now I was
Abtnad Da» 1» perpetrating »ome, going to find nu, hl« connection with
(he crime If I had to follow him to
deviltry.
The elder Hayward 1» later found < the mainland across the swamp.
dead, his neck broken a» If by a j But at once he splashed out of the
galnt’s blow.
pond and circled hack up the hill. 1
The coroner and police arrive In or- , was soaked to the knees, but I gave
der to Invnatlgate.
It no thought. Of course he couldn't
Because of the murder, Dr. Ixmg run so fast up the steep slope, nor
must remain at Houthley Downs All could I. And by breath was coming
the persons there are questioned by In great sobs before 1 approached the
laapector Freeman
house.
Dr. Ixing becomes Jealous of the
He swung about the great structure,
love he believe« to eg|»t between Vi and 1 dipped far enough to one side
las Hayward and Josephine. During to watch I ssw him slip Into the
the cour«e of Investigations of the postern door that led to the library.
crime Dr. Ixing becomes suspicious of
Twenty seconds later 1 entered the
a man named Robin, lie determines same room Evidently he hoped to
to wstrh him.
elude me In the mete of rooms Bui
NOW READ ON—
he had forgotten one thing.
His bools—the same boots that had
In some way that I was yet tn find . left the telltale track beside the rock
out, he was Involved In the problem ■ —were splashed with mud and water.
of Houthley Downs. He had washed I They made a trail across the rugs and
the blood from the rock on the hill .hardwood floor of the library. And
side. He had eluded the Inspector they turned Into the den
and myself In the chase In the dark
Once more the drama of Houthley
ness Now I hnd found him with Downs hnd shifted to this little room
Houthley working upon the engine In Once more I stood a, Its threshold.
the power-house—and yet they had And I had a curious sense of porten
seemed merely Io he examining It. tous developments that would come
rather than nt work 1 remembered to pass within Ils doors.
that neither of them had held loola In
Houthley and Josephine were stand
their hands, or even seemed Io have ing up near the same table that had
any tools with them.
figured In the drama of the previous
I was suddenly deeply suspicious of night.
this man Robin, 1 remembered Hint
“Close the door," Southley told me.
he hnd volunteered hla services
"But where ts that man Robin? I
to the negro Sam. and that looked saw him rush In here. And 1 know
as If he had business of his own it he has something to do with this mvs
Houthley Downs. Hla excuse for tery.”
coming seemed somewhat trumped-
"Robin? You mean the man who
up. Resides, he looked his part helped me In the power-house?"
too well. He was too perfect an
A large blue portiere hung a, the
example
of a certain type -if j side of the den. and on, of the corner
squatter. He had an English accent, I of my eye I saw it waver. No wind
and I had been watching all through | blow It. And then, looking straight.
wiy visit at Houthley Down« for the I saw the ends of white fingers tha,
Intrusion of some one with such an I clutched Its folds.
accent.
»
"Mr. Houthley. the man Is hehlno
Roderick.
of whom Alexander that curtain now!"
Pierce had told me. who evidently
Then the w in behind the curtain
had not yet put In his appearance, answered me htmself.
had lived long years In England. The
'Oh. old Doc Long!" came a famil
names were somewhat similar, loo; iar voice. "You're the most persistent
and 1 had heard before of that pecu devil!”
liar trait of human nnture that In
There Is only one person Jn the
fluence! a man agnlnat giving up his world that calls me “old Doc Long."
own name altogether. The alias he
The hope of hearing his voice about
adopts Is usually somewhat similar this cursed house of the Houthley«
to hla own name
wgs dead In my breast. 1, was the
I made a feint of going back to « voice of the man J had longed for,
book. Houthley seemed relieved. He whose deep bratn and able hands
left me In a moment, and Joined his would so quickly bring light where
daughter In the den. Vllns had gone there was shadow.
to his room, and lost ns It wns among
He pulled the curtain aside, the
the many, breathleaa corridors of the gray eyes laughed a, me. I saw
great bouse. 1 could Imagine It was through the disguise a, last, and mar
the Inst place In the world he had veled a, my blindness heretofore. Of
really wished to go. 1 drew my rhn<r course It was no one but mv old and
up to the great dormer window that trusted friend, that world-famous de
verhnuse. And T tective and fisherman, Alexander
overlooked the
didn't rpr one
Pierce.
nenth my eyea
After we hnd got through pounding
The hill WRR
one another on the hark nnd roaring
There WRR A R
out what a pleasure I, wns to meet
face of the swamp, leap,ng ever to again T hegnn to put a few questions
my eyes. I waited possibly five min to the great detective. And all the
utes. And then I saw Robin emerge time I marveled at his disguise.
from the power-house.
"But why didn't you let me In m
For a long minute he waited In It?" I demanded Just a little hurt.
the shadows, and my suspicions
I aaw laughter In his eyes, hut his
leaped to a certainty. Then T saw face remained grave.
him steal away toward the edge of
"You are doing ao well without me,
the marsh.
doc," he replied. "And the way you
A minute more and 1 was out In chased me through the mud—It was
the darkness too, trying to shadow rich, my lad! What a persistent devil
him. I tried to keep to the leas open you are! Miss Southley—If ever this
part of the hillside and yet not lose young man gets on your trail, you'll
sight of my quarry. He walked slow never be able to shake him off."
ly at first, and I ahortened the dis-
"Miss Houthley already knows that."
«anew between us to one hundred I commented. "And look at my trous
yards. As yst I had no reason for er legs— my best dinner clothes. You
PAGE THREE
lh> end I confess I don't care for sect and wind And bird had 'helF
disrulses ss a rule. And now I mibt chorus.
hid you good day, and go search yon
I don't know where my (hough's
der Jungle for Ihe murderer of Hay were that long afternoon. I tried to
ward"
!
read for a while. It wasn't a sue*
Freeman laughed uproariously.
cess. I knew that my stay-at South«
"With a rifle, too!' he exulted. *Td ley Downs, so often threatened, wag
think you were going elephant bunt- at Its end at last. Tomorrow ws
l,o g Of all the quixotic enterprises! would would all cross the mar h to
I Yi ou can't believe that the murderer testify at the coroner’s Inquest; and I
Is still at large, when I have him un would never return to Houthley Downs
der mv constant supervision In the again. The mystery and the charm
Illustrations by PAUt FREHth
house! Pierce, I have every admira would go out of my life to stay, is
tion for your qualities, bu, I assure the swamp-water gilded beneath ths
are a trifle wet yourself"
astounding — for Its perfect and you you are making the mistake of bOat'
___
.1
"These beautiful boots protected abounding aptitude to make a fool of your career."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
me" Then he grow serious “Be- yourself."
"Every one has to make mistake«
sides, Ixing- among your many tai
And he left me tn ponder In the sometimes. Inspector," Alexander re-
enta I'm afraid you can't claim to hulls below.
turned quietly.
"Besides—I don't
be an actor Just a look— a word— Inspector Freeman — who had suppose you remember about the
might-have given me away. It was learned the truth at last—and I breaking of the levee—how the mur-
Now Located in
inuch better that you devote your walked down to the shore with Pierce derer would have time to cross th»
Miner Building
attention to the excellent work It.- at 11 o'clock the next morning The Isthmus to the plateau, but couldn't
npector Freeman has been doing And rowboat waited for my friend, and In possibly go farther?"
ss to Ihe reason why I came In dis- It were two strong colored men to
"I remember that perfectly. But
KU|He_| don't believe the time Is rivw. Alexander had pul on hip-boots the real murderer didn't try to crows
quite ripe to divulge It I assure you «nd was armed with a heavy rifle. af a|| ffe came hack Into the house."
that It served my ends very well." And It was plain to see that Freeman
"Then there’s the matter of the
"But It seems you trusted every was entirely contemptuous of the «cratches—and the legend, and the
one else" 1 glanced toward Bouth- whole proceedings.
rest of It. None of these things
A pair or two of cor
ley and his daughter.
"You're a funny one, Pierce," he must be overlooked. Freeman. And
rectly fitted glasses
will smooth out more
"Naturally Mr. Houthley knew It. spoke jokingly—and at the same time I’ll meet you both soon after dark.
wrinkles and frowns in
I came at his Invitation—and your meant every word he said "In the
We watched the negroes row away
a week than cold
own, of course, too, Txmg Miss South- first place, coming with all that stage across the dark swamp water. He
cream will do in a
ley learned the truth Just this even- scenery on yourself It takes one of was gone all afternoon. Once It
month.
Ing. and I consider It a distinct rs- you correspondence school detectives seemed to m e that I heard the far-
flectlon on the ability of her father to do stunts like that I suppose you off echo of two rifle shot«, but I
and myself to Judge character that thought that the murderer would rec- couldn't be sure. Freeman continued
Make Appointments
we waited so long In making her an ognlxe your determined face from hla Investigations.
Vilas • walked
Whenever Possible
ally. Bu, I will say—Its more her your picture In the newspapers—and about on the green hillside like a
father's fault than mine "
make himself scarse before you could hunted man. The long afternoon
"You must remember that my ac- A*4 out the handcuffs."
waxed hot. the shadows lengthened,
Dr. $ Kurm an U). H lo o d y
qualntance with my daughter wax
"Rather a different reason, my dear the sun cast Its glamor over all the
©PTOMFTP 1ST * EYfcSlGMT V K Î a Ü m
somewhat slight.” Southley explained Inspector.” Alexander answered h<m waste of the marshes. Twilight drop
SUITE A5I MINM BAXXk PWOut 562
CAST BROADWAY
to us "She has been swgy to school as he egan to slip the grpat cartridges Ped like a white mist, and the stars
EUGENt CRE. ^5#^
so much—only here a few weeks. B*- Into the magazine of the heayv rifle, began to crop out of the sky The
side«—she did know a few things. "It wasn't the murderer I was so night life of the marsh awakened In
I'm sorry I didn't tell her more."
frightened of. In the first place, I
Father and daughter exchanged didn't -want yon to leave the scene In
smiles. Josephine herself seemed disgust. as you might have done upon
changed It was curious that I had recognizing me You were doing too
Tuesday, September 4, we will open in our new quarters in
not noticed It the moment I stepped good work."
the Miner Building. As this will be the first day of the
Into the room. There was a new
“You needn't have been afraid of
regular Fall Term, it will be a good time to enroll for a
light In her eyes, a rising of the do- 'hat. The man was already In my
Stenographic, Bookkeeping, or Secretarial course. Ask
llclnua color that played ever In her hands And I'm glad von appreciate
about it.
cheeks Again I ssw the smile that ’he work I have done.”
I had marveled at that night In the
“Perfectly. Freeman, perfectly. It
drawingroom long ago. Evidently wa" particularly clever the way you
there had been developments In the found the shirt."
IT’S A GOOD SCHOOL
mystery of which I was not aware.
“Of course, you were In the hall all
A. E. Roberts, Preuident
Miner Bldg. Sept. 4
"Remember, we will need your son ’he time."
.
Telephone 666
Eugene. Oregon
’ss," Alexander told my host.
"Of course. I wondered what yon !
Alexander and 1 walked together and my good friend Long were going i
Into the drawing-room, and we had a to do.”
A t troeeru. drwgjiat».
minute's talk at the foot of the
"I suppose you know that the shirt
hardw are.
d e p a rt» *« «
•tores sad Standard O il
stairs.
1« going to put the noose about Ahra-
Sorvice 9totk>o«. Pockod
ia lut« (w ith improved
"I’tn going to my room now," he *«** neck?"
•p ra y e r’. ptats. quart».
gailon*,5-<oH©®».barr«l»
explained "It’s a maid's room on the
“One can never tell. Inspector."
aad 5» barrel».
di*"*"
third floor, but It fits my purpose
"It’s a piece of evidence that can-!
perfectly. I have a few chemical not be questioned—although I admit •
experiments to make."
the final tests as to the authentic,tv '
"Of course It was you who de- of the stains has not yet been made?
stroyed the evidence on the white
“And besides. Freeman—there are
stone.”
other reasons why I thought It best
"Not destroyed It. Merely gath- that certain occupants of this house
ered ft up. I wanted to make some ddn't recognize me,” Alexander went
bind tests And It pained me to on seriously. “It would help out In
cause you and the Inspector ao much
1
— w«—
disappointment."
“I Imagined It would!"
Then we had a little laugh togefh- 1
er. It was all too plain* that a deep
professional Jealousy existed between
such free-lance experts as Alexander
and staff detectives like Inspector
Freeman.
“But why In the world did you tear
that piece from Ahmad's shirt?” I
ANNOUNCEMENT
EUGENE BUSINESS COLLEGE
Kills 'em dead'
asked.
Alexander laughed again—a hoylsn
Joyous sound that died quickly In the '
alienee of the room.
"I'm afraid that Is evidence of my
quixotic nature," he said. "But I had '
to have sample of the blood-stains; !
and I knew It would break Freeman's 1
heart If I took the whole shirt. Ho I
Just tore off the piece."
He sobered and became veri busi
nesslike. That was one of the mar
vels of the man. One minute he was
the best of comrades—boyish, laugh
ing. Irresponsible The next, he was
the cool-headed, tireless sleuth with
every nerve and muscle alert.
"There’a work for tomorrow," he
went on swiftly. "You'll have your
part to do. So will Southley have his
part, and hts two children. Tomor
row I'm going to take the Loat on a
little expedition—over to the plateau.
You are to meet me on the path at my
return—Just after nightfall. You can
have Ihe Inspector with you If yon
like. Southley and his daughter will
he cloae about, and they will know
their parts. The hour to strike Is
almost, here.”
“And Vilas? What about him?
And Ahmad?"
“Ahmnd Is the suspected murderer
I'm afraid Vilas won't do.”
"But Josephine Southley would
think otherwise," I told him with
s o m e bitterness. “You m u s t
know—that they are allies.
You
couldn’t have missed that point."
"Allies?” he echoed coldly. "What
do you mean?"
"She’s going to marry him—that’s
what I mean. And she's bitterly
against me. Thinking that her lover
night he accueed of the murder of
hi« father, she told the detective
thtnge that Implicated me and got
him to hold me here,"
He turned and etarted up the atalre.
"Sometimes, Dr. l-ong," he told me
alowly. "your mental grasp la quite