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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 1933)
PAGE SIX JIEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFOKD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1933. 7 HIDDEN DOOR BY FRANK L. PACKARD SYNOPSIS I A fog driuee CoHn BtKitt and Oermaine Tremblay oehore ipAil oho ie taking him to try to deliver a myeterioue letter to an equally myeterioue man named Joe Laearre. vho may be at a etill more myetertoue Hehing club near Cap 6 VOrage, Oermaine'e home. They hear two men talking in the tog and learn that the "club'' ie a den of thievee and that La enrre ie one of them. Colin ie in terror of the Uaek, Lawarre'e em ployer, and hae used an aline. How he deeidee to tell Qermaine the truth about himeelf. Chapter IT GERMAINE'S PROMISE "VyO?" Germain Inquired softly. "And do von alwaya go armed T It li rather obvloui that thli club here la very far removed from the Innocent paradise of sportsmen that 1 It pretends to be! What are you? A detectlre?" "Oh, Lord, no!" Ha forced laugh. "But I've created a lot of them rather moldy ones, I'm afraid, I'm Colin Hewitt. I writ books.' "I know the name," ahe aald, "and I suppose, to be really true to form, I ought to aay that I have read and lored every book you have ever writ- ton, and" "Don't!" he groaned. "I won't," ah aiiured him calmly. "I admit I hare never read even one of them." "You wouldn't," he stated confi dently. "I don't write the aort of tuff that would appeal to you. Just thrillers as bloodthirsty and aa hor ribly creepy as possible, of course, l'ie never written a love story, for Instance, In my life. "Oh! Andwhynotr "Because I can't," he confessed, "There has to be a girl because the dear publishers Insist on It, but the best I can do Is most awfully uncon vincing I Just have to drag her In by the hair of the head. He heard her laugh ripple under her breath. '"Just Ilk I've been dragged In ionignt7" "Well r yes, In a way," he stammered. "But this Isn't a story.1 "Nevertheless, I rather like it ' being dragged In by the hair of the bead so far," she confided. "But why ,thls sudden theddlng of your oioaic, Mr. Hewitt or should I say, Mr. Howard?" "I see you haven't Judged me harshly offhand," he said, grate- fully. "Judgment reserved," ah an swered. "I asked you a question. "Because," he said earnestly, "I want to exact a promise from you that, for the Urn being at least, you won't say anything about wha.t has happened tonight," "isn't that a very strange re quest?" Her voice whs suddenly se rious. "I don't understand." "I want to tell you a little story, he said quietly. "Do you mind? I will be Just aa brief aa I can." "I am listening," she Invited. The minute passed many of them. The story did not lend Itself to brevity. There waa too much to tell, so many sidelights, If ahe was to understand. And so he told her of Annie, and French Pete and the Mask, and Reddy Turner' murder. Everything except his promise to Reddy, and the actual purpose of nls visit to Butch Connal'i room. "AND so you see," he jnded, "why at present I am a man without a home and without a name. That brings us to tonight. I haven't said anything ao tar about Laiarre; but t have reason to hope that I can get him to help me pick up the Mask's trail. That's why I asked for your promise." "Yon have my promise," she said Imply. And somehow In the darkness their hands met. She did not draw here away. And for a moment they aat thus In silence. He was not tongue-tied now he waa lighting to hold back the rush of words that were on his lips. He could not bring her Intimately Into his lite as mat ters stood. It would not be fair to her If he found that she cared. It would only be Inviting her Into dan ger of the ugliest kind. Hla hand tightened warmly over hers and then released It. "That'a ripping of you!" he said. "I don't need to tell you that the club. In Its own parlance, will be taken for a ride In Jui course and the road won't b any the smoother because of the delay." "What do you think they are do ing there?" ahe asked. "I haven't the faintest Idea," he aald. "But Laxarre?" she questioned. "I don't understand about Laxarre. You haven't told me who be 1b, or now you knew he was down here." "No," he said frankly; "I haven't And I am afraid that la on of the things that I am not at liberty to tell you. Personally, I do not see any reason now why you should not know, but I gave my word and I have no choice other than to keep It. I'm not throwing cold water, am I?" "Oh, no!" she declared emphati cally. "Of course you're notl I can quite understand. But there Is one question I dopant to ask. You said you hoped to get Laxarre to help you to pick up the Mask's trail. You remember that on of those two men Just said something about W. P.? That was what was on the card you found In the pocket of the man you fought with In Reddy Tur ner's old room, wasn't it?" "You go up bead," he applauded. "Well, that pretty definitely proves that the club here Is one ol the Mask's enterprises, doesn't It?" she demanded. "And therefor that Laxarra la on of tha Mask's men How can you expect help from him?" "That'a the only other thing I can't explain to you," he said, "ex cept to say that I am armed with an approach to Laxarre which ma; mean everything or nothing. I dc not know any mora than you dc what it's worth until I have tallied with him." "This whol thing Is terrible!' she exclaimed. "It is almost impos sible to believe that a flend such ai yon have pictured the Mask to ha exists as a human being." Colin laughed shortly. "TTB exists all right Witness Mr 11 Howard. But let'a not talk about him for a moment. There's a question or two I'd like to ask you. Tell me all' you can about tha club Itself." "I can't tell you very much," she said. "I've seen It, of course, bul only from a dlstancs when I've been out in my boat. It looks very nice, and father says it Is very comfort ably fitted up inside with electric light and" "Electrio light!" Colin Interrupted quickly. "That'a lntorestlngl Thai means they've got a power plant ol soma sort. I suppose they've bar nessed up the rlvor a bit." "I suppose so," she said, "though I don't know very much about such tblngs. But there are some falls right beside the clubhouse, and I don't imagine It would be a very difficult thing to do." "You mean It's what on would expect? All the creature comforts. Mr. Waldrow Konniston wouldn't be without them, of course. We!!, Is there anything olse you can tell me?" No," she replied thoughtfully; "I don't think so. I have already told you that no one from the club evei comes near Cap a l'Orage, s6 I havi no persdhal knowledge of them." I see," he said and fell silent for a moment. How best to mak oontact with Lazarro? "Look here,' he said abruptly, "I know there art no roads out of Cap a l'Orage, bul there Is nothing to provuht one from going qycrland to the club Is thero?" wot If you have the agility of i mountain goat and are aa expert woodsman," she answered laugh Ingly. "You would cut the time Ie half too, for I don't suppose, as tin crow flies. It would be mora thai three and a halt miles from the vll Iago to the club." That's also Interesting," he said "As far as agility Is concerned, 1 think I would be nroDared to take a chance; but as for the other quail ncatlon well, perhaps you know someone who could supply It?" She thought for an Instant. "The beat man In the village al that sort of thing." she said, "is an old timber cruiser named Anatole Bouchard. Ha speaks vory good English too, but" "Bouchard?" be broke In. "what sort of a man Is he? Is he to be trusted?" "It you paid him enough to make It worth his whllo." Her hand roached put. He felt her fingers close tensely on hla arm. . "Why all those questions about going overland to the club?" ahe asked. "You heard what those two men said. I I am afraid. What do you Intend to do?" "Not a thing." he laughed disarm Ingly, "except to arrange a llttls private Interview with Monsieur Joe Laiarre." CopyrlgM. 11I. frank t. Pochard) Colin ttumblts Info a ntw plot nd a new denaer. tamitrr,i DEER IN DEATH LEAP TO ESCAPE COUGAR HOOD RIVKR, Aug. 16. (AP) Be. Ileved to have been pursued by a cougar, a four-point, 170-pound deer leaped to It death over a 300-foot preclplo near Mitchell Point tunnel on the Columbia River highway. WIFE ACQUITTED OF POISONING HUSBAND SALEM, Mus., Aug. Id. (AP Jraate B. Coatttlo today was acquit ted of the polaon slaying of her hus band, Fire Captain William J. Cos tello of Peabody. ll..,W thi STIP m NATION APPLE GROWERS SPOKANE. Wtuh.. Aug 18. (AP) Pacific northwest fruitgrowers who borrowed $2,162,821 to finance pro duction of tha 1932 apple crop have repaid every cent borrowed, Joel Fer ris, chairman of the loan agency of the R. P. C. here, aald today. The repayment of the 1832 loans, Ferris said, brings to about 16,500,000 the repayments of 9,500.000 advanc ed by the R. F. C. In this district. The 1832 apple loans were made through six local credit corporations at Wenatchee, Yakima. Hood River and Payette to finance 608 growers who produoed 5,452,630 boxes of fruit. The repayment announcement was made on the eve of the retirement of John I. Tut tie aa manager of the agency here. He will be succeeded tomorrow by Walter Ferguson of Rockford. Wash. CAPONE TO FACE CHTflAGO. Aug. 16. (AP) A writ i directing the federal government to produce Al Capone In criminal court here August 29 for trial on charges of racket conspiracy was Issued today by Chief Justice John J. PrystaUkl. Federal authorities have Indicated they would abide by the writ. Capone is serving an 11 year sentence in the federal penitentiary at Atlanta for Income tax fraud. Capone had been Indicted with 34 co-defendants, an alderman, attor neys, union chiefs, trade association organizers, and gangsters, on charges V they collected tribute from legitimate business through terroristic tactics maintained by their associations, unions and thugs. Reld, Murdock & Co., cannon ot the Monarch brand Bartlett pears, will be represented at Medio rd this) season by Myron Root. S'MATTER POP- By C. M. PAYNE somtiki i Jjgryi I'll tMvjEto j I'LL TELL VA WWM, , ' T SNAPSHOTS OF A WOMAN PACKING By GLUYAS WILLIAMS SftRlS PAOON6. bti- deH6 Whether to Yake HER flOVERED CHIFFON PRESS CONSULTS H058AND WHO IS EMPHATICALLY SURE SHE WONT" HAVE AM USE FOR If. DECIDES To TAKE IT A irftlE IKTER DE&PES she's Tamk6 far more Thau she cm possibly" wear anp unpacks flowered outran PNISVUS PfiOflM6 MORE 6R LESS AND FINDS THERE IS A UTTLE SPACE LETT PUTS FLOWERED CHIFFON W ftSRIN BECAUSE 5HE Knows That if she does NOT TAKE IT, SHE IS SORE tovantit RNP5, HOWEVER, THAT HUS BANtS 8R0WN SUIT AND IWJ SWEATERS ART STILL 16 60 IN. REMOVES PRS55 CLOSES AND LOCKS TRUNK ttLUIfe HERSELF SHE'S 6LRD SHE DIDN'T TAKE THAT PRESS, IT WOULD OtfLY 6Ef MUSSED (Copyright, 1833. b Tha Bdl tjniiaU, be.) FIVE MINUTE'S 'BEFORE NftN COPIES FOR TRUNK, OPElfi (TOP AND CRAMS FiOWERED CHFWN W - TAILSPIN TOMMY When Gold Sinks It "Stays Sunk" By ULKNN CHAt't'tN ami HAL fOttUKSX NEEO AM HELP, ) C uOHAT DO YOU ALMOST R.UTHeR5V TOM-THGY . Sf THATlS A BREAK )A THINK OF OUR MA. WORK FOR. -ft25'2 CAN SWIM R)8 U$-l WASN'T 1 CHANCES TO s&- A LIVIN'--HCV- LIKE FISH! A, JU ( ANXIOUS FOR A . A RECOVER. THE JfS, ?&We ME THeRE'S ANOTHER. EXAMPLE. OF THE. FUTILITY OF RECOVEH.1NS SUNKEN TREASURE-REMINDS WE OF AN INCIDENT OF PIRATE HISTORY T05O HUNDR.EO YEARS ASO-A SPANISH-VESSEL LADEN wTH fi-QLD HAD 60NE DOION IN THE HARBOR OF PoRTO BELLO PRATCe ATTEMPTED TO SALVAGE IX , AND I WANT VOLUNTEERS toWE FOR TH' GOLD- STAY ON DECK AN PROTECT VOU kiP, YE SCUM" does: BOUND TO WIN-Lotta's Elation! By EDWIN ALGER " 1M OH, MOTHER, BRIAR'6 BEING 1 ncc riLfc 1 rvtMIN THAT BEN VMEBSTER. IS NEAR HERE AND IF BEN'S HERE, iio 3H7 I T. BUT MWBE JUNHTHBN IS WITH r 1 via i i . - .. - huNow-- irwwrtr,1 Jud--where's he poor, old ssr-rjf:: that' f hoof m PV-T . " -lifWKmpT rf i--y-f- l kreSV WT ;fBEEN ALLOW? iA BRIAR? afl& UN Vdq aim'T M VM V17Vsl(rft-W' MAM A iVTttna C TIK NEB A Fii Sry ' " ' rwnEM IS THE CLOSED 3EASOKJ OM i TOLD 'EM TO STOCK THSit JAiTdo VOu' "iW."'"' ' 11 V Wgc WAS A 6UV RV -mF Hftw 'PIGS AMD" WMEXJ DOES TWE FISH flAKE TEW YE ARS ASO- fJUPPOSE IF tlDOK i TUINK SO 1 WAME OF ABLEB TrVn Mfr 5, FRftWK USEC? JEASOM OPEN) ?.l HOPEDIDSEtvNMAT FEW FISH 13 LEFT ?A CRUISE IW MV CAR Q WHAT A PERSOM ' ' ABOUf i,,, p, r ITc T TO HAWS A LOOKIMi A MICS PIECE OF FRIED BASS i MO THE LAKE- IS 3MART. I AMD FOUMD A PLACE fl LEARMS IM HEMECVE-R USED LKyP P?ti ucr SLASS OIO HIS HOOK! 1 BUT I'LL. SETTLE. MOW FOR A CAVJjffl THEY SWIM AROOUD AMY- IvWHERE. TWEY WAVE Sj IMFANJCV THEY SA,0 THAT VOU cnLJLH Pi Ira 1 AMD KETCH A FISH ! OF SAROIVJES- I WAS TOLD TWETHISIG THAT LOOKS LIKE FiSH ANJD BOUSHT lOEVER A FR5 POR CHOP A WOC5K SlTV FISHES FISH HELD THEIR AMMOAL. J JCOUFE VONJC.DO NOU SUPPOSE J VfERSIT AMD TOSS IT TO A HRV?SuMAmWM REPLECTIOM J wso5T t4n'n-- . our guests rr KfcK .5 n 9 J "1 COULDMT -oFOOL fish with J f ; TW PHOr BRINGING UP FATHER " By George Mlanus ' boo-hoo'.whussandiii 1 hii not on t " I- jmm 1 1 Ljr-. . ! Z LEFT BEHIND. HOOLONT WELL? I THE TRAIN. - HEAVENS! HUH M CAN EE HAVE LET MINI GET OFF THt v MOTHER HE CTA ) , 1 1 rr I HE HAt TAKEN A LOT OF TROOSLE TRAIN FOR A MINUTE- SURELY . NVoi TELEGRAM AK) AIR PLANE- IfOR. U NOW- V V 1 , jJ I LEFT BEHIND AfsS FOR - MR hk WILL MEET US J ' 1 ll ,' i ill mi tM ' fcvju. I ill l i i m i. i::"i::ttt:.m I . I li ill rur-ii d ' . i I ft m 'X ' c . x At. ,.1'f W .Ijl-j l! liilSTC There's No Guesswork in Tribune A. B. C. Circulation