Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 1934)
PAOE FJfiHT MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1934. I -gST i bo MOCKING HOUSE BY WALTER C. BROWN SYNOPSIS: Sergeant Harper hoe found two bite of evidence to support Me theory that the two men found ehot to death in Pierre Dureene't breakfaet room did not shoot each other, in epile of ap peorancee. One ts the fact that a certain bullet doee not fit a certain bullet hole; the other i a drop of water In a aloes. Nouj he hae found . where the murdered obtained the spent bullet he substituted for the one actually used. Chapter 23 MISSING REVOLVER T WAS a srjuat roll of old stair carpet. There was a scorched hole through the tough fabrle and a turther search showed a acar on the whitewashed uoards where the spent bullet had hit "We're on the right road now,' Harper exclaimed exultantly. "It we could only And that steel-Jacket bul let, we'd have our proof complete.' "I'm afraid the killer would hold on to that." was Lafferty'i surmise, "There's a natural urge to get rid of that sort of evidence," Harper countered, "and I'm counting on that" They swung their flashlight about at random. "What's In that little cubby-hole over there?" Lafferty poked his head down. "Logs tor the fireplace," he ar nounced. They moved those from one side of the narrow bin to the other but found nothing hidden beneath them. Harper flashed his light around the sides of the bin and the beam came to rest on a rough board barrier set flush Into the wall. The detective unfastened the rusty hooks and pulled It free, after struggle. A dark space filled with rubble was revealed, greeting them with a damp, musty odor. "That must be the space under the front steps,", said Harper. Lafferty suddenly raised his band. "Listen! tie whispered. "There's some one on the stairs. I heard a board creak I" He tiptoed silently In that direc tion, while Harper snapped off the light and listened, waiting. In a little -while Lafferty returned, dlegrun. tied. "There wasn't a soul In sight" be growled, "but I'm sure somebody was listening in." "I'm going to look In that hole, Harper declared. "Give me a boost up to the ledge." With his assist ant's aid he scrambled on to the shoulder-high ledge. Thrusting the torch ahead, ha crawled forward on bis knees. Lafferty heard a grunt of disgust as he brushed aside a black thing that crawled out from under a dislodged lump of mortar. There was a cry, a scramble back wards, and Harper slid down to the cellar floor In a shower of small . stones and dirt. His clothes were soiled with lime and the soft, mossy dirt and bis hands were brushing at the thick cobwebs caught around his head and shoulders, but in his stained fingers be held a lump of metal. "Carlln was right!" he exclaimed, . It was a discharged .45 caliber steel-Jacket bullet! "DUT, Steve, I tell you I saw It right there, burled under those handkerchiefs!" Lafferty pointed to the open draw er of the highboy In Pierre Du fresne's dressing-room. There was palpably nothing there now but the aeatly stacked handkerchiefs. "I couldn't be mistaken about any thing as Important s that It was not an automatic, but a heavy cali per revolver. Andrews was looking for Dufresne's extra pairs of glasses and they were In the drawer on the ether side. The gun was not In a holster. I'd bet a month's pay the bullets would be .45'." "I don't get this at all," Harper mused. "We went off by ourselves and made an Important discovery that has to do with the gun used for this crime. No one knew anything about our suspicions, yet when we return to this room less than an bout later the revolver has been spirited away. That's more than a coincidence!" Harper looked through the other' drawers in the highboy. The con tents were In meticulous order and It was apparent at a glance that nothing as bulky as the revolver Lafferty had described could be bid den there now. To be doubly auie that Lafferty jnd be had overlooked nothing, Harper went through the drawers once more, and gave the pleasant room a hati general search before either spoke agalr There was noth ing. "Don't forget" LaCjrty advised drily, "that there was a noise on the stairs while we were poking around the cellar. Some one In this house Is trying to keep an eye on us. I think it's Andrews. That fellow can move around with less noise than a snake." "If that was the revolver we're looking for." Harper went on, "1 don't see . ould be left lying around all that time." "But this gun was too big to ba carried around easily. It really need ed a bolster. 1 think you'd better tackle Dufresne on the question." "Not so fast. Let me think. If Du fresne did It and we tax blm with It, he'll certainly deny there evor was such a gun. If Andrews did it he'll lie, too. But 11 he didn't do it and doesn't know It's gone you stay here, Jack, and look through these two rooms tor that gun." Harper went downstairs. He met Officer Albright who had stood guard over Dufresne's room, stand ing In the hall, about to go off duty. "Has any one gone up or down these stairs Is the last fifteen or twenty minutes?" "Not a soul, sir." "I want you to do something for me. I want to find out If any one, left this house In the last hour, and if so, where they went Can yon manage that without arousing suspicion?" Albright signified that he could. The officer at the front door In formed Harper that no one had gone out by that way, whereupon the de tective returned to the breakfast room. He pressed the servants' bell and signed to O'Connell to leave the Held clear. When Andrews entered be found the detective bent over the table, carefully examining under the lens the fingerprints the dead man had left on the twin decanters. Sergeant Harper looked around, as If sur prised, then said, "Oh, yes. Sit down, Andrews. I want to ask you a couple of questions." "ANDREWS, we are trying to trace the movements of this man who was killed here last night Wa know thai he changed into some of your master's clothing. We as sume that he lit the fire In the hearth. By the way. was that al ways prepared for the next light' tag?" . . "Yes, sir. In the season It would be cleaned early every morning and freshly packed." "Wa noticed that there was quite, an accumulation of ashes In the pit in the cellar. Was this hearth in use while the re-decoratlng was going onr "I couldn't say, sir. I have not been In this house for some weeks." "How long hss Mr. Dufresne been at the Austerllts, Andrews?" "Mr. and Mrs. Dufresne spent the summer at Moose Head Lodge, sir. That's on a small island off the coast of Maine. We came back early In October, but we bad only been here a week or two when we went to the Austerllts." But Mrs. Dufresne has been stay ing at Mrs. Morlock's." Since the holidays, sir. The dec orators have been very slow. Of course, I sometimes came up here with Mr, Dufresne to see how things were progressing. . Donaghy was here much oftener to bring back things that were needed." Was the house closed up while the Dufresnes were at Moose Head Lodge?".. "Oh, no, sir. The Whltmores looked after. It all summer." How many keys are there to this house and who has them?" : Mrs. Whltmore baa the only com plete set of keys, I believe, but I suppose you are more Interested in door keys. Mr. Dufresne has a set and so has Mrs. Dufresne. I have keys to the front dooi and back door. Donaghy has a key to the back doqr. That la all. air." "The household keys seem to be fairly well scattered around," Har per remarked. "Not unusually so, Andrews re- pltod, with some asperity. Oh, I m not criticising. An drews," Harper replied easily. "This man who was killed showed a sur prising familiarity with the place. He knew, for Instance, how to get hold ot those liquor bottles without turning the place inside out." The butler looked at the twin de canters." Then he must have found his way to the wine cellar. Those bottles were not kept filled. They were empty last time I saw them." But your wine cellar Is kept un der lock and key? When we searched down there we found the door se curely locked." Yes, hut the key hangs behind a beam, easy to reach, but out ot sight You would have to know where to look tor It That's what I thought Now, An drews, one more question. I must file a report of whatever firearms are kept on these premises. Mr. Du fresne reports that he keeps a revol ver in the house, a .45 caliber. Tbat Is correct Isn't it?" Harper glanced up covertly but the butler's face was as impassive as ever, nor did he hesitate over his reply. "Yes, sir." fCopyrijaf, tm, by Walter 0. Brawn) Harper turns up mora putillra Information, tomorrow. FLEET'S ARRIVAL KB WYORK, May as (UP) Fath er Knickerbocker duated oft his beat silk topper today and the young wonwn of Manhattan began sprucing themselves up for the big naval ahow which opens Thursday. The mightiest display of tea strength ever scan here will be put on by the navy In the bay and the Hudson river, with a proceaelon of BA worships through the narrows and past President Roosevelt. Aboard these ships, which will range In else from the huge airplane carriers a-id battleships to orulaers and gunboats, will be 3000 officers and 83.000 men, all primed for a lot of fun In Manhattan. They will be swarming over the Island, taking In Brosdwsy and strolling along River side Drive until June nth when the big show will be over. STRICKEN EXPLORER , BALBOA. C. Z , May 3 (CP) The United States destroyer Hale returned to port Sunder bearing William A. Robinson. Ameretan explorer, ssved by an emergency operation by naval surgeons, who flew to his rescue In the Otlapsgos Islands, In the Pacific. Robinson was rushed Immediately to the Oorgas hospital, where he ex pects to recuperate after a narrow escape from death. STUDENT BODY FEES REQUIRE STATUTE TO ENFORCE PAYMENTS SALEM, Ore., May 28. MP) Ad ministration of a. compulsory $0 Xm for student activities ot extra currlc ular classification in the state's high er Institutions of learning are pos sible only by statute, Attorney Gen eral I. H. Van Wlnwle held today In a second opinion on the matter of fee charges. The opinion was given Chancellor W. J. Kerr following a report of a special committee of college authori ties on a plan for the charging of the extra-curricula fees. Van Winkle held he was "unable to arrive at a conclusion that the cre ation of a fund for the establishment and maintenance of musical organi zations, athletic contests, a dally newspaper, and other activities re ferred to as extra-curricular, it In cidental to the curriculum of stu dents In all departments of the uni versity or college, and in view of the lack of direct connection I am of the opinion that all such activities are not Incidental to the education of all students." Van Winkle added that the only suggestion he could make would be the aame as In the former opinion "the enactment of a statute author izing the collection of such fees." WALLA WALLA.Wash. (UP) Po licemen here faced the probability of wiping their hands on their handker- I chiefs or blue uniforms following an ' "economic" action of the police de partment. No towels were provided in the washroom. TAKE CHAIRMANSHIP PORTLAND, Ore., May 39. (API IT. B. Van Duzer, Portland lumber man, today advised Governor Meier of hla Inability, because of press of private affairs, to accept appointment as chairman of the state unemploy ( ment committee to succeed Raymond B. Wilcox, resigned. I Estea Bnedecor. who was named to ' succeed Alex Barry, resigned, had pre viously declined to serve. J. M. Chambers of Balem was the third appointee, named In place of Paul V. Marls. HITCH-HIKER KILLED WHEN LIGHTS HIDDEN CENTRALIA. Wash. (UP) Joey King, 18, walked along a highway last night, attempting to hail a ride from passing motorists. Two cars approached him from opposite direc tions at the same time. Joey raised his right arm. The 'lights from the first car blinded the driver of the second. Joey was run down and killed. By GLUYA5 W0X1AM5 SUBURBAN HEIGHTS . FRED PERLtV IS 50 f J5SV ABOUT PE0PIE . WAUON6 ON HIS LMW THAT THE NEIGHBORS THOROUGHLY" ENJOYED WaTCHIMS HIS MISERY" WHEM HIS BOSS ' CAME OUT TO VISIT HIM RECENTLY 'AND TRAMPED ALL ODER fur PLACE, FRED KoT PARIKS To SAY A WORD '(Copyright," 1B34, by The BeTl Syndicate, Inc Mb S 'MATTER POP By Hal Forrest By Edwin Alger Bv O. M J, -VJw p eS : i V J fr (Copyright, mi, by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.) TAILSPIN TOMMY Wllking "Washes Out" , BEN WEBSTER S CAREER A Doubt Or Two ' - WOWOLD LUCIUS 0'MALLEYtitlli;- OM, HE' LL g ABOARD SHIP, THOUGH, 15 3AV. "SON, YOU'RE 1 NO, TM NOT X LET'S HAVE IT. 1 -BUT I'M PRETTY SURE O'DONNELL O'BRIEN SURE rT GET THE GREATEST PLACE IN. THE NOT UPSET BY g MEAN VM NOT BEN -MAY BE g 1 CAUGHT CAP'N IKE BOILED OVER AT ME, AND , t2- OVER IT, (j WORLD FOR THAT KIND OF THESE YARNS THAT E FRIGHTENED BY fj I'M THE ONE I TRYING TO PUT SOME LEFT IN A HUFF-! DIDN'T il l DAVE- t GOSSIP TO START ANYWAY, AL0N20 AND LUKE u THEM, BUT J'S. WHO'S VvRONG--J THING OVER ON ME, AND MEAN TO MAKE HIM AMD, BEN-J MJ fl lh -rrTr-j, ! WE'LL BE PRETTY CLOSE TO HAVE PICKED UR l , i n MTirsmiMIM ju.LsgsiE 1 THINK TLL JUST ASK T ANCHOR ISLAND J N fj the fljUiiDo I m uoing Away fPMyT FOR VOUMCS MKl VW1TM fM f l'M NCTT U&PPV, MB NEBS, 1 ymffWMmkifc- I TWHRe.'S KJOTWIKIG I CAM SM TO VOU JPM-.SRtsbWWL L I domt peei- v o just -fwe mwSjMA (tt's o'kj& to make vou peel Akjv -.iM-V-? 557. l-.!TeJi Trr RIGHT TUlMS IM LEAVING MV WmPW& OIPreREKI-r WHILE VCO ARE IKJ THlSFRAMe 7fW4vSTlU- cominis,voo ookjt .Xfn wn kmmo because she Wx WMwY of mind .sot id so awd see her q?sr M' SEEM veV HAPPV WSllJli f VUOUUDMT COME DOWKJ HERE -4r W ' M7 AMD SEE IP 1 COULONPT CHAMSE HER MIMD f -N AKJO 1 BELIEVE I'LL GIVE VOU MV JM, , )- W DOr-J'T ARSoE, COA.V - PO A PELLCNU VJHO HAS, " K CT ifSffliW RESlGKIATIOrO MOD SOTO jrwmi- t VV. ( AtOEA&V SAe vol) DOrJT SEEM TO HAVE J . . BRINaiij'FATHER . "" iit 1 n , . 1 u r n n By George McManui KS&'SV EQNrT 25 5?, I mcgiES richt-i : -yes-this is i 3t i d like 1 sorrv,sr-but 1" man-be we Fl TwrMATT J A DOCTOR- MUST shea doctor- doctor W to see the doctor S needs a ITWMeTF1 57- J I J ' ' CUTTEM'S WIM- ASLEEP- I'VE DOCTOR ;j By Sol Hen Paym
