PAGE FOURTEEN
grrJi
MOCKING HOUSE
.BY WALTER C. BROWN.
..urMB: Atttr receiving
)( r,fi of threatening lettere, Went
llttfrcene ie ambushed OH a tonetu
road, Sergeant Harper hat lelt
Dufreene drunk in hie euite at the
A ueterlite, alter deciding to oven
the latter1 hotue on Powhatan
Terrace a bait for the wood-bo
kilter. But before that can be done
it ie found that Officer Hamill
and another man are tying dead in
tlte breaktaet room of XJutresne'e
honee. Harper. Dovle, a newepaper
reporter, and eome other are tt
veetigatlng the crime
Chapter Nine
JHREE SHOT
pTPHE icon of ths crime tu a
i-L conlly-furnlsned breakfast-room,
resplendent with polished wood,
gleaming silver, sparkling glass.
Against a background ot dark
stained wainscoting and richly em
bossed wallpaper, hung here and
there with the bright colors of hunt
ing scenes. In the center of the room
stood a refectory table, with eight
chairs ranged around It three at
each side, one at the foot, and a
more formal armchair at the host's
place.
'. On this table six slender wax
tapers bad burned down to gutter
ing stubs. There was an open tile
klreplace, Its wide hearth protected
by a finely meshed copper screen,
and a massive log was still burning.
Its heat was sufficient to give the
room a comfortable temporature.
Unfortunately, there were two
dead men to turn the scene Into a
mockery. There was the friendly
light of hearth-log and candle with
the acrid fumes ot gundre still lin
gering on the air.
Officer Hamill lay Just Inside the
door. He was sprawled at nearly full
length, his legs drawn up Just a
trifle, the weight ot his body resting
on his right side.
The cause of death was fully ap
parent without moving tbe body
two bullets had been fired Into his
left breast, one directly Into tbe
heart, the other slightly higher and
closer to the sternum. So much for
young James Michael Hamill Offl
eer 1615.
At tbe head of the table, seated
limply In the host's chair, but In a
.very natural position, was the other
man. His body bad posed In such a
life-like position that the Jagged
black hole drilled through the fron
tal bona seemed an Incongruous
mark. This man was faultlessly at
tired In evening clothes, and the bul
let's Impact had not even Jarred
loose bis gold-rlmmed nose-glasses,
with their thin black silk cord.
His features, adorned by a well
trimmed moustache and goatee, was
tilted slightly, as If he were bored
or abstracted In thought Both his
arms rested on ths table. His right
hand still clutched an automatle
gun, bis left held a cigarette, which
bad burned Itself out, searing the
floBh ot two Angers,
A number ot things stood at his
place. There was a packet ot clga
rettes of a popular brand, with an
open paper ot matches beside It,
Both were about half used. There
were two small carafes, each hold
ing a different liquor, A used, but
now empty whiskey glass stood near
his hand.
Harper was Inwardly amaied at
this tragic scene, but his astonish
ment was self-contained, Not so Of
ficer Clymer's, on whom a great
Il.lht had dawned. "Say, that must
be Pierre Dufresne himself," he
blurred.
HARPER had ordered the others
to keep their posts by the door
while he wont forward to get a bet
ter view of the bodies and to exam
ine tbe wounds at close range. He
had leaned over the man In the
chair, looking long and thoughtfully
at bis face. Then, without disturb
ing the position of the body, he had
gone through alt the pockets. Noth
ing of Importance cams to light.
Harper turned and horded them all
out of the room.
"I want every one to stay out of
. this room until the photographers
have been here," the detective or
dered, "and keep your hands off any
thing that looks as If It might hare
a fingerprint on It,"
The reporter, Doyle, buttonholed
him as he was closing tbe door on
that grim scene. "1 thought Du
tresne was under guard tor the
nlghtr he said. "How the devil did
he get up here alone!"
. Sergeant Harpers reply was
'. cryptic. "You'll want to know a
- groat deal more than that before
, the night's ororl"
The reporter pricked up his ears
' at this mysterious prediction, He
looked longingly at that closed and
locked door, but he had covered Ser-
geant Harper's cases before and
knew that bis statements were nev
; er flim-flam.
Harper stood In the center of the
j spacious hall, the key to the room
nf trABfiflv tn him hanit rinvla vnn.
j dered why the detective had so
PORTLAND, Ore.. May 11. (API
Portland's 84th traftle accident fa
tality since December 1, the begin-
nlng of the police fiscal year, was
i listed In the coroner's record book
j last night. Prank It. Beach, 81, In
surance company official, was fatally
Injured when ho was struck by a
17RIGLEVS
GUM
eHuAiUx at i
uuiptly locked up the scene ot the
shooting after bis first scrutiny bad
shown him that both victims were
beyond medical attention.
The candle flames reared high
and cold, tbelr flutterlngs casting
weird shadows of the six men up
the walls and obliquely across tbe
celling. "Have you tried all tbe
lights!" Harper demanded. "Are
you sure none of them Is working!"
Connally spoke up. "Tes, sir. The
Juice must be cut off."
It must be cut off at the meter,
Suppose you go down In the cellar
and see If you can find out about It,
And while you're there, take a look
at the heating arrangements. We're
going to be here the rest ot the
night, by the look ot things, and we
can't work without light or heat."
Officer Connally went to the cel
lar door, drew the bolts after some
tugging, and descended the stairs.
In a very short time he called up to
say that he had pulled the lever on
the electric meter. Tbe candles were
blown out.
Harper turned to Hllleary. "Ton
and Connally . were first on - the
scene, weren't yon!"
"Tea, sir. We followed Officer
HamlU's footprints from the call
box to this house."
"What did you do while you were
waiting! Were you here In the hall
the whole time!"
"We had a look around, carrying
those candles, but we didn't leave
this floor. It was dark everywhere
and we couldn't see much, but found
all the doors locked except tbe
front door, of course. Everything
seemed to be In order."
Harper nodded and turned to hit
men. "I want this house searched
from top to bottom. And keep your
eyes open for any signs ot recent oc
cupancy. For Instance, there must
be a bat and overcoat somewhere
about"
Officers Clymer, Smith and Hll
leary scattered for their search.
Harper picked up the telephone and
dialed the Homicide Bureau. Hi
made a very terse report of tbe don-
hie killing, giving only the address
ot the house and the telephone num
ber. To the listening Doyle's sur
prise, he suppressed any mention ol
names.
TTARPER put In a requlstt 1 foi
the police ambulance to be senl
up at once, with a Coroner's deputy,
the official photographer, and thi
usual technical experts whose duty
It wss to make the baslo survey In
homicide cases. He also requested
that Detective John Lafferty be noti
fied ot assignment to the case and
told to report at once to Headquar
tere.
By the time the detective had On
Ished telephoning, Connally hatf
coma up from the cellar. "Every
thing will be O.K., Sergeant" he re
ported. . "There's one ot those new
tangled oil heaters down there. II
was going all right but the gauge
was set very low. I moved it to ser
enty-flve."
"That's line. How are the arrange .
ments down thero!"
"Very neat sir. Everything cleat
and wide open. You can see al
around It from the foot ot the stairs
I spotted the motor right away."
"Is there a shovel down there!"
"Yes, sir. There's a carpenter'i
bench In one corner with a wholi
stack of tools lying around."
"All right Connally, here is a Jot
for you. Get a shovel and clear I
narrow path from the front door tt
the sidewalk. But do not disturb oi
cover over an; of tbe footprints thai
ara already out there In the snow
That Is most Important Then go ot
duty at the front door and see to II
that every one who enters or leavei
the bouse walks In that path."
One by one the men roturnet
from their search upstairs. All bad
the same report to make every
thing spick and span, with no slgt
of recent occupancy.
Harper glanced at his watch. "I'vt
got to make a flying trip down town,
he declared, then turning to Smith
and Hllleary, of the Bandit Chaset
Squad, "you .two bad better staj
here until the Headquarters men ar
rive. Then you can check out"
He gave the koy to the locked
room to Officer Clymer. "If they get
here before I return, get them start
ed In there. Tell the photographei
that I want an extra set of prints.
And warn everybody that that room
Is to be left exactly as It Is. Nothlni
Is to be disturbed. Tell the doctot
to watt for me. I'll be back soon."
Connally appeared as Harper was
buttoning his overcoat "Just all
tight while I'm gone. Don't go pok
lng around for clues until we hare a
better Idea ot what to look tor. And
don't go outsldo the house on any
account, or you will be contusing
the tricks In the snow."
(Copyright, ItSf, fey Waiter 0. Broun)
Harper makes, tomorrow, in lm
portint tall at the Auiterllti.
rented automobile driven by Philip
Hoffman, 18, of Portland.
All kinds ot Kg blanks tor sale
(or rent, no bunting, no trespassing
and other cards for sale at Commercial
Printing Dept. ot Mall Tribune.
For Garden k-,uwing Tel. 9U-J.
c&xm m?mm mh mm rvrH
' MEDFOED MELTJ
Fl
AND FOES MUST FILE
EXPENSE STATEMENT
SALEM. Mey 11, W) Sponsors and
opponents of ' referendum, measures,
undor a new 1033 legislative act, must
file statements of expenditures ana
donations for and agalnet the act five
day prior to trie election. It u an
nounced here today by David o Hara
election clerk In the secretary of
state's office.
This law this year applies only to
the sales tax, the only act reterenaea
by petition for the May 18 election
These expenditure statements of funds
used -up to the five day period must
be In the secretary of state's . of flee
by Saturday night, May 13. In aam
tlon the law requires an estimate of
the total amount expected to be spent
In the entire campaign.
No statements have as yet been
filed, but O'Hara directed attention
to the provisions for the benefit ot
those not familiar with the new law.
Theee statements .are additional to
atatementa to be filed after the elec
tion In conformity with, the corrupt
practices act. The other measures on
the ballot were referred by the legis
lature and the act would not apply
to them, OUara said.
TOLO, May 11. (Spl.) Although
Mr. Tule had been In poor health
for some- time, his axidden passing
was a shock to all. He was always
an earnest worker for civic better
S 'MATTER POP
Tolo
) T?uTST3lMci ON f rATCiM'T VoO AAfO) fftV. M AvV I O'ff) 1 IT rlA9 (
JU A LITTLE . OfoT-ro, TrWt ? L-w ' '
I ov. maws j sT . idea! J -Mr&Kgr si & 1 r0 " i I5s
Tm foM 'A m bl? RSSi car
TAI1SPIN TOMMY Was Tommy's Face Red!
THMt.k-tJOIH I I
PtUMSEP INTO
TOM Any AMD
SK7a? 0W
to ihvBonSArt.
OiO 77 TH
iWCCyvVCOiS
AND
we SOUND OF
SOAfOAe OfWJ-
TAE OOOPS OAT t
ft r Kuen in
VJUtsriAi Tve
TO SEE
suoA6.
OUT OF A
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER
fvOU'RE 9URES5HE COME ABQARpN fAGAIN? HERE 5ErJOCUPPS.TO THE h5?SWil-2k?JJi
THEVRE GONE. Aftl IQHT .CAP'N 'TBHA HA?THIS ewVp ArD TO LAV 1 "u&--SM ' ?4 SSkOli 1 HAVE ? SEEN SUCH A BUNCH O'TOUGH MUGGS
eH?DlDVOU L? S ?nu7 ACA DIVER : IhifW ArV VWWABOT I ' ONETHIrS- 1 AS THAT ONE-EYED SKIPPER HAS ABOARD
THE NEBBS Oh Yeah? . - ByJoMIess
I y TM.5 PLACE IS A syS TOO SAD TMct VMELU, 1 GUESS IT "TOK I fTTJfIJgTrSSri
V CALLED UP TWa 6BAUTV JpLACe SHOULD BE - THE SUOEft KlO TO POT THIS )5f u2JloT SEE COOSRESSIOM SO 1 ,
WOP ASJO I CIOT SET A J ry3 SUCH A GOOD PLACE OSJ THE MAO THE OMLV lZW TVIF WO TOTAKEAW THE FATHERS A
UMT1L MOMDAW- BUS.UESS SHE'S I CREDIT VOO CAMTAKEFOR TV4.S I W ' 'lZ. ZoUSk Tp HEIOASW'T- 1
Ve POOR GIRL IS SO SETT1MG DOUGH IsUOOEM SURSTOF 8US1K1ESS V lix OUT MV IDEAS, TO LET NIM J&
BRINGING UP FATHER ' By George McMannj
I MOPE MACOIE WA f IN.IALLV I P f 1 1 1 ' I I ( WOW. THAT fl Mil I 1 yPtliftf VWloi4'
"ISS TH&r?y i - I tSI to F1 timovt taiJgb,- I I II I ZlL U(
UPVTAIRS- , ' KV UT IT-. ? M ; r M WO Hi BELiEWEVOU N
1
TRIBUTE, MEDFORD,
ment, was a member of the school
board for eight consecutive years, be
ing the chairman at the time of his
death. School was cloned Tuesday
and the flag hung at half mast aa
Tolo community paid its final tribute.
Many and beautiful floral pieces cov
ered his ' last earthly resting place.
O. A. Baker and Mr. and Mrs. W.
L. Cotton, formerly of Ashland, who
purchased the Pine Tree service sta
tion and tourist , camp, are well
pleased with-their new horns. They
have been busy cleaning, painting
and putting In shower baths. - They
say scarcely a day passes but that
they could rent more cabins and
Oap'ri Ike's "Whatl"
aPPPPl9jbMadi
WMWm TELU w,THOuT
r cmY : WHAT YOU NEED IS
f WKJOERSWao STANDARD GASOLINE
'M" UK IT- SHE'S WITH TETRAETHyL
'7 W LOS IN 1 POWER i TJMSURPASSEDg
iicefiTER cut- mimm m )mm vzmz&mmmm, km&&m5m wmmsmm
J TnMNSf 7? V2erSESi. m rt-o..o3UTL I'lLSftftiJ KOia--MAVE,e i 3 fiRACt; ROUGH ME
kiajii5Saasaya"NeMggaH ra-a----- Ja WZ5tYVSSWAViWA tOHAT--raU,R6. fi- KNOUT " M(2!aegS-ivUr.KaVlUrM1
OREGON, FRIDSY, MAY II, 1931.
are planning to build more right
away.
Mrs. Johnny Bohnert and baby,
Marylln, spent the week end with
her parents while Johnny fished at
Fish Lako. Sunday they, with P. A.
Tracy and family, attended the Cen
tral Point Grange picnic at Grants
Pass. Miss Harriet Sparrow and Al-!
ton Whetstone attended also.
Mrs. Whetstone Is slowly Improving I
from a recent illness.
Annual meeting of Tolo Commun-1
ity club haa been postponed from'
May 10 to May 34.
i 1
Dance at Rogue Elk Saturday night,
May 12.
SUBURBAN HEIGHTS
IK CWVJIH6 THE 'SMALL DOVS WHO HAVE BEEN
MAKIK6 A PRACTICE OF WALKING ACROSS HIS
GRASS, FRED PERLEVOf 50 EXCITED THAT HE RAN
RI6W ACROSS ERNIE PLUMER'S FRESHLY SEEDED LAWN, .
AWD THE. BOtS, FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, HAD A VERV 600D -
-TikAf WnfT-ulKlC 1111 TDV TA CftlUtDr HIM,FI F WITH ERNlE
IITlb yjnitninw
run iri w uv, i w in.
(Copyright, 1634, by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
UMATlkftryj
HAVE SEEN
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
. iVJbK
vutmntisi
By C. M. Payn.
By Hal Forresi
JXACC
DOIN6 AEAR
4T 77r-S
Tis or
t?-ADE8
MARK TMAS
YOU V
4 PRIZE
ATEQ. ON-
By Edwin Alge
UJILI IN' TO RELIEVE THE BEST 4
oinwonnvAW NFUFO IM A L ME LIFE. 1
SUCH A BUNCH O' TOUGH MUGGS