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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1933)
PTGE ETGTTT 1IEDF0RD SIAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1933. 7h- HIDDEN DOOR BY FRANK L. PACKARD SYNOPSIS: In order to gain ad mittance to the Uatk't headquar lira. Colin Hewitt, novelitt. hat hod to ditguite htmtelf at Clarkie Lunn, a gitngtter, and hat wit netted the murder of a rum run' ner'e erew. the captain ot vihich had wrecked the Uaek't huge Ca nadian counterfeiting plant. Colin hopee to trap the Maek, ctar of the New York underworld though he if. Vote he reagent a elight wound received atoard the echooner, and pretends to be weakened by lott of elood to at to tpend the night at headquarters. Buck O'Mara, leader et Colin'e gang, end the Barneus, who care tor the houtt, leave Colin nlono to rett. Chapter 44 THE HIDDEN DOOR IN any case It was fairly apparent that nothing would happen until Barney came back and until then there wa nothing to do but lie here and wait. The time dragged by. It seemed u though the waiting would never end. And then at lait he heard the back door open and footsteps come along the hall and go up the stairs; and presently they came down again, and he heard a door open at the head of the ball, and Barney peak to his wife, and the door close gain. The sero hour) Re fat up on tbe lofa and removed his shoes. It he were caughtl He shrugged his shoul ders. They had given him a snub nosed automatic tonight that was In his pocket now, and they had taught him tonight what price human Ufa. Back O'Mara np there was a mur dererperhaps, with the exception of the Mask, his master, the most cold-blooded and callous of the lot If he were caught. It would be the end, but not his end alone that was alL But he did not mean to be saugbt Hla quarrel was not with Buck O'Mara! Everything appeared to be in darkness. . He crossed the room without a sound, went out Into the hall, and gained the staircase. But he halted as a faint glow coming from above puttied htm, since obviously tbe lights themselves In the upper hall bad been switched off. And then he remembered that there waa a transom over Buck O'Mara's door. He went on again, up the stairs, but on hands and knees now. He had made no sound, and ha had heard none. ' Tour or Ave treads from the top be halted again, and this time stretched himself out flat. This was the point of vantage that he had de termined on. In tbe light from tbe transom he could watch Buck O'Mara's door, while he was hidden from view himself even it the hall lights were turned on. By listening Intently Colin could iven bear O'Mara moving about In bis room, tor the transom was open but there were no voices. The minutes went by-many of thorn. A grim sense of defeat began to settle upon Colin. No Helmle Schwann, no Mask came up that private stairway at the other end of the hall. And Buck O'Mara had shown no Indication ot leaving hit room. What It O'Mara were merely preparing tor bed, and had no Colin crouched low. O'Mara's loor was opening, and O'Mara, a slgarette In his mouth, appeared tow on the threshold. For a mo ment he stood there, glancing up and down the hall, then reaching back Into the room he switched off the light. There was nothing to be seen In the hall save the glow of a cigarette lip and a blotched shape to which It aeemed to be attached. Colln's yea strained through the darkness. The glowing Up and the blotched hape moved straight across the hall and through the wall, as though Ithere had been no wall there and disappeared. FOR a moment Colin lay there motionless, hla mind In a date- then It began to clear. There was no Illusion about It. no possibility ot mistake. Buck O'Mara at the pres ent moment was somewhere on the other side ot the wall. A trick door. ef course that was obvious. One of the "stunts" ot the old Wine Press, unquestionably, lott there Intact Well, be had been right about one thing that Buck O'Mara would communicate with the Mask tonight That was unquestionably a certain ty now. 'That waa where Buck O'Mara bad Just gone either to the Mask In person, or to make contact with him In some established way, The house next doorl No wait a minute. Colln's brain waa probing, sitting swiftly now. There waa 8olly the cobbler. Benny Malone had apoken ot a secret entrance from what used to be the grotto. He con sidered this tor an Instant then shook his head decisively. It could not be that for Benny Malone had said that the passage to and from Solly the cobbler's waa used by all the members ot the mobs, whereas no one was permit ted up here In the big shots' terrain except the big shots themselves. There remained then only the) house next door. A grim smile twisted the corners of Colln's mouth as he began to re treat downstairs. To search tor the trick opening ot a trick door here In the darkness was Impracticable. He knew there waa a bidden door here. and approximately where It was that was enough tor the moment He could quite understand now why Buck O'Mara had not wanted Clarkle Lunn In that other room to night) Helmle Schwann's expected arrival might only have been need as a pretext He regained the horsehair sofa and lay there staring Into the dark. The house next door. That brought old Keppelsteln Into the forefront ot the picture. Old Keppelsteln waa now proved to be far from Just the Innocent bystander that Benny had believed him to be. The memory of Colonel Har- greaves flashed through Colln's mind. Who was this old Keppel steln? A masquerader? The Mask himself? Perhaps. Or was he Just a rung higher up the ladder than the Barneys here the keeper ot tbe In ner gae? Out ot tbe darkness there cam no answer. Colin expected none. The point was be was now In possession of the tact that the house next door held tbe secret ot the Mask's exist ence, Identity, and activities. How solve that secret? How put the finger indisputably on the Mask? Suppose even, for Instance, that old Keppel steln was the Mask how prove It? It waa not so easy, In spite ot all he now knewl But there waa a way, there must be a way If he could only hit upon It This was the laat ohapter, wasn't It? The climax. Ha couldn't afford to be stuck. How would he He swore softly under bis breath, then hunched his shoulders. Well, how would be writ It? He gave hla mind free rein. It atumbled at nrst there were too many pitfalls; then. a plan or waa It a plot? took seed, began to ger minateflowered. And he was still rehearsing Its details an hour later when. In spite ot the discomfort of his couch, na ture at last had her way and be dropped off to sleep. COLIN looked at bis watch as be made bis way toward the publlo telephone booths In the Grand Cen tral Station and frowned slightly, It was ten o'clock, the morning al ready halt gone. Not altogether hla fault though, ot course. To his own amazement he bad slept soundly on that accursed horsehair sofa. It bad been long after eight o'clock when be had awakened to And Buck O'Mara standing over him. Buck O'Mara had told him ha wouldn't be wanted on another Job for tbe next few days which was very good of Buck O'Mara I After that he had coma uptown to his room. There he had divested himself ot his bloodstained shirt re placed the bandage on his arm with absorbent cotton and adhesive tape. which he had purchased on the way up; then, changing his clothes, he bad gone out to get something to eat Mrs. Barney had not mentioned breakfast of which he was sorely In need. Well, perhaps an hour more or less wouldn't make much differ ence! Reaching his objective, he en tered a booth and called a well-re membered number. A moment later a concise, official, but unmistakable voice came over the wire. t "Sorgeant Mulvey speaking." "Oh, hello. Tim." said Colin. "It's good to hear that old growl ot yours again." There was a sudden gasp and with the gasp officialism fled. "Well, for crlpes' jakel" boomed Sergeant Mulvey Jovially, "If It ain't" "Better not!" warned Colin. "Lis ten, Tim, I've got to see you and see you quick. And It's got to be some where where there's no chance of a hltoh-up between you and me being spotted." "What's up?" Oeteotlv Sergeant Mulvey's voice had sobered. "A lot!" said Colin tersely. "You're not kidding, are you?" "I wish I were!" exclaimed Colin fervently. "Name the plaoe. It's got to be water-tight" (Copyright, lilt, Frank 6. rackard) Sargaant Mulvey, tomorrow, gets --viral shocks. McLeod MCLEOD, Sept. IB. (fipl.) LadlM of the community met at th Dele Sawyer boem lut Friday. Tbe oc culon was a turprlte ahower for Mlu Jean La&ietter. wboae marriage waa reported to take place In the near future to Dernal Culey of Prospect. A double surprise was elected when the announcement waa made that tbe marriage bad occurred Wednesday, September 0. Tbe best wishes of tbe community are extended to Mr- and Mrs. Cley, who expect to make their boms at Red Blanket, where tbe groom Is employed. Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Hoag and son Leo have moved back to their former borne across from McLeod store, and Mrs. John Atchley la now living in their cabin near McLeod bridge. Mrs. Pred Morgan visited friends here Tuesday. She is at present mak ing her home with her mother In Medford. McLeod relief kitchen operated full time Tuesday, canning tomatoes for a number of local families. Harry Harding and daughter Max lne returned to their borne Sunday, after an absence of a year, during which time Mr. Harding was em ployed at Crater Lake. He U driving high scbol students from here to tbe Prospect bus line, and Miss Maxine la enrolled in the Prospect grade school. FOR PUBLICATION Following report from several sec tions of the rtty Friday that adver tising was being solicited for a pub lication, allegedly sponsored by the Medtord National Guard, Capt. C. Y. Tengwald announced that no such publication has been authorized by the National Guard and asked toe people to report any solicitations to police headquarters. The Guard, he stated, was putting out no publication at this time and had authorized none for publication by other sources. S'MATTER POP- By C. M. PAYNE 7 YoULL. WEA12LV I MAW ) 15 OT 3?ie. vm-tIeu J NaT2lvV . T euu Me; 6AIT 1 MU6T JCf SoiT A MO KIEMT. l TArTt MV MetJi C IkiB. I -n-.. ' Wri&.A 1 SotiT tEEM To j T (Cbpyrlght, 1983, by The Bell jrnnests, Inoj THE NAPKIN By GLUYA3 TTUAMS a- StifttS IN CM HIS SOUP SP1US A PROP ON HBV KECK- CWT FlKP If . LOOKS UNDER HE AMD riEOS W LAP JfoR, 1?iBLc. DECIDES Hf DIDN'T NAPKW HAVE A NAPMN T6 8SlH WTTfl S6wus PA6SW6 Waiter ia BRW6 HIM A KAPKlN WWIE WfcV!W6 REMOVES SPOT FROM KCKTiE AS BEST HtT . CAN Wrfrt HANOKf RCHIEF WfcrlER FAILS To BRIK& NAPKIN. DOESN'T DARE It) TACKLE SOUP A6WM WITHOUT CUE, AND S)S ' Mm BUSBOV MEANWHILE WAITER ,VA HAD TAKEN HIS SWJNALS lo MEAXl HE WA6 THR006H WITH SOUP, RE MOVES IT. CATCHES HIM IN TiNE TBRKS IN 1TME ID CALL BlJS BOV BACK AND EXPLAIN IT WASN'T BUTTER HE WANTED IT'S A NAPKlrt WAtfS, BUS Boy AND WArTER. ARRIVING WITH NAPKINS Af LAST . SOUP IS NOW 1DO COID 16 EAT (OopyrlgM, 1983, by Tbe Ball Syndicate, Ine, TAILSPIN TOMMY Looks Like Goodbye Treasure! By GLENN CHAETTN and HAL FOBRESI NOTHING COINS 1 POINT NEEDS VOU IN ITS 8USING.SS- eesioes i outioeish POUNDS SWE fIE THAT LIFE- oELT- SK6ETER1 W . ; t (OEISH A HUNDRED , it L MP m - CSlllOS UFtT- BELT, X WHAT ON J M AN' 6WTY-FIVE POUNDS' W iLMf 'L- VSSy Ofr f TAIlPIT. fe CAR.TH Oil MM'licA A CFR.N GOOD BHX - THE LEAK" Fr - V ;i rrA T 7 1 L . M i lTTL l. L,3'Lr VJ. I If J sm&ZJ' iff WWAVS. TCV vtJU ROYS ARE VERV BRAVE - AND I iV34IR LIVES THAT U5S jSS'fctRAVO; MIGHT SAVE A FEIO 7 1 DOWN WITH I SACKS OF SOLD" I (THE 66CD AND I SHALL --UR LOITH .1 THE 3HIV:i LD-- I J CtH6 66CD AND 5fiz kav IT KHALL UP BOUND TO WIN "Happy Days Are Here Again!' By EDWIN ALGER Missouri Leader Pastes JBWTEHSON CITY, Mo., Sept. 1. (fi) flam A. Baker, 69, former repub lican governor ot Missouri, died et bis borne here laat night. Sell It Elsewhere. AAXiBM, Sept. IS. OP) Brewing oi ben in the rehabilitated Salem brew ery Is expeoted to start about CM to bar 1, Superintendent Frank Sohmldt ot the Salem Brewing association an nounced today. Beer will be bottled under tbe old name ot "Salem Beer, with a label little changed elnce the "good old days.1' JvElTT H MttOOPS! SAVr THIS GWES tH, yjHAT'RE H TO HILLSIDE? T JM W'mWllll MG EXPLAIN"! DONIT VMANT Jftgft A i KIDDING ME , ARE VOL? xa RIGHT 1 n RED" LftSS,A CHANCE 1 YOU SOIM' SI DON'T CARE Wl, llMMm 3LSTTNOTICKeTS--NANT SPECIAL. .HONOR RIGHT ? OH, 60LLY ffo GST & TO TELESRAPH THS GEHERftU WM toOQBEN? I WHT DOUG BWAiil TO CHARTER A SPECIAL. TRAIN ?j S I LOOK AT THAT ROLL) . BUSY TRAFFIC SUPERINTENDENT OP MfM, Z ,i--ZiL eiLVER rS' WM TRAIN FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED Jiillhwl, ZM S I X BELIEVE YOU ! ,M,ON T I 1 JUS WHOLE BLAMED RAILROAD ! ffltfvTSSFMA DOES' EL " 'wJl'l "Vi ANDFIFTY PEOPLETHEY'LL lllli E h, I ELlENe YOU T VK5sr!a ftJjSK 0H,OYt HAPPY DAYS AR6 jeT W THE NEBBS Good-bye And Good Luck By SOL HESS fuRaJERM hwU.,DiD NDO f 1 hWOVED eVERV A II f vwELL. AT LAST X f VWELL.lTa HUHAW if riV" t0 llr... 1 TJrr I miuuth OB mv smV. S i 1?,. ivjm& -rn MakP. MISTAKES.! TiMt VJ J "TWS ' A. LLOwbBf.PUL. ( TRACTS VOD OUST TrJOvAJ, HOKJeSTLY, HOLU TWt,HUWY PLACe AMO I'M GRATEFUU STUMBLED IWTO A ABOUT YOUR. I TD VCXJ POR 5EKJDDOQ, mg CR-ErAM OF J V FIOMIKJG) PLACE I "1 ARB (3oio MOMS ABTSR TXHtft MUCH- fn tXT AfJD miaov Poa ( ITS A GREAT PLACE-APTER YOO'VS ' BEEN) THERE A LfEEK. , -U K OUUNJ i t-lOflE tM IT EVER SO HUMBLE AMD evfm'ip vouR wipes folks nue WITH V. vou, LOOKS GRAT akjo TWE OMLY klM& !M THE OFFICE OFTWEHOTEL SOC I ETV LU&LL. LETS (bO HOrli A.KJO CALL IT A VACATIOKJ -THAT pSSgiJ) A FREEDOM FPOM j IffiTOUTV AKJD OlEVa v. jr x- BRINGING UP FATHER I err cou. rr JwbT Oiien", V" If I haws rT- rLL TELEPWOrJ J MPoeviR mr r- to rr I to omt'V Wv-rv diom't OMCvt?4T0 IJ 1 1 THOT THAT 6EFOV? CHICAGO' THS FAMILV 1 Y . V L ' lk ' StEMS TO OB p W ' I 1 gy. Qua iiw ttymm tmtitm. fae, pwi tunm but-motmer- i-M-nReo or WRlV4Q-Vou SHOULD AT LEAVT ADORE'5 OME OP THESE EMVELOPEAMD L&T ue tws phone AVHI By George McManus MOW LI4TEN1 rVE at least twentt people to call UP so don't . PlGURE OM U3fN3 THIS PHONE- I v . I VY 1 - OIVE ME A TICKET TO CHICAGO- 2J There's No Guesswork in Tribune A. B. C. 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