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. Circulation