Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, June 06, 1934, Image 8

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Medford mail tribune., June 06, 1934, Page 8, Image 8

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE EIGHT MEDFORD MAIL TRIBTJNE, JLEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1934. MOCKING HOUSE waiter C. BROWN ,al8: Sergeant Harper ..an a piece ot ettino and the i.atitnoHV of a manufarturer of die guleee to 00 on ae cluee to the myi . terloue death ot two men in Pierre Dutreene'a houee. The etrlno may explain what became ot one 01 the death gune. but the information about the dlegulee onlu complicates mattere. He ie u(ion(n the housekeeper, who hae told him that a maid recentlv lett the Dulresnes' employ. Chapter 30 PUZZLED HOUSEKEEPER TjOW long hav you beau Hying il 0Ter tha garage?" Harper MSSd. "Since about the middle ot De . t ember." "When did the decorator! i!nlh?" ; "About two weeks ago." "Why didn't you move back to the house?" . "Mr. Dufresne thought It Just as well to leave things as they were until the house was opened again. There was to be a big party then, I believe." "Then, since the middle of De cember there has been no one stay ing In this house at night!" "Mo. After the workmen left each day Mr. Holllday locked up and brought me the keys. Every morn ing he came tor them, so the men could get In and work.", "Were you here In the house at all yesterday?" "Yes, In the afternoon. I was In every room ot the house." "What then?" "I locked up and went back." "Was It snowing then?" "Just beginning." "Your husband was taere all the time? In the evening?" "Yos." ' "During the evening, did you at any time look out ot the window, over toward the house?" "Not that 1 recall. We went to bed early. The next thing we knew the 'phone was ringing and Andrews was telling me that some one had been killed in the breakfast-room and to hurry over. Bo we got np and dressed." "Mrs. WhILmore, what would you ay It I told you that this house bas been frequently occupied at night during the last few weeks?" The housekeeper stared at him without the slightest change In her grim expression. 1 "Am I to imply from your silence that you don t believe me?" "I don't believe It," she snapped. "It's Impossible. I would have known." "Well, It happened. Probably It was the man who was killed last night. In fact, it's possible these nocturnal visits began as tar baok as last October, while you were still living here in the house." "That'a absurd," Mrs. Whltmore declared. "Perhaps I can prove It to you. When this place was closed tor the summer the ash-pits for the fire places were cleaned out?" "Certainly." "Well, If you will look Into the pit from this room you will find quite an accumulation of ashes there wood ashes. That means those ashes have accumulated since last summer. In other words, some one has been using that fireplace." For the first time Mrs. Whltmore looked startled. "But the hearth was always clean and ready," 'she muttered. "I would have seen had It been used. I've been through this room a doten times." "Ot course the hearth was clean It waa swept clean every time It was used and the ashes put down the chute. Fresh logs were lett In place. From the amount of ash In the pit I'd say the Are had been lit halt a doten times." not burn down to Its socket in four or five hours. But we have the so lution to that question. We found a box of candles In the drawer ot the buffet. This box originally held a dozen, which are now only short stumps, more evidence of prior meetings in this house. The tour candles you put In the holders, Mrs. Whltmore, are lying there In the buffet, untouched." Mrs. Whltmore ahook her head. "This is all newa to me." "Another thing last night the electric current was switched off at the fuse-box. Is that the way you left it each night?" "Why, no. The only times we cut oft the current was when repairs were being made to the wiring or the fixtures. The lights were all right when I left yesterday." Harper paused again and there waa more curiosity than animosity now In their locked glance. "Tell me," be began anew, "did Mr. Du fresne ever come up here In the evening? Any time since he took up his quarters at the Austerllts?" "No, he did not." "Did Mrs. Dufresne ever come np here at night alone?" The housekeeper's eyes took on a venomous glitter. "I see what you're driving at," she snapped, "and you ought to be ashamed to ask the question. The detective smiled exasperat lngly in the face of her fury. "Aren't you a tittle quick on the trigger, Mrs Whltmore? I haven t made any ac cusatlons. I merely asked It Mrr Dufresne had ever come up here a night?" Mrs. Whltmore sprang up. "Sb did not. See it you can twist the around. The Ideal It that'a what bussing In your head you'd bell, open the wlndowa and let sor clean air lnl" jkjRS. WHITMORE pondered this "a In pusiled silence. "While the logs were beginning to burn, smoke would be coming from the chimney," the detective contin ued. "I take It that you never no ticed that from your wlndowa?" "No. No. We new saw any thing Ilka that or we would have looked into It." "Another thing, Mrs. Whltmore. These two decanters were found on this table. When did you last see them ?" "They were emptied and cleaned last summer and put away In the middle compartment ot that buffet" "Well, you can see that they've been filled. The man who broke In hers last night knew his way about the bouse. And It you atlll have any doubts, there la the matter ot the candles. When you were In here yesterday, what was the condi tion of the candles in those hold ers?" "They were fresh candles, not used at all." "Yet when we got here last night they were about to expire. Now a twelve- or fourtean-lnch candle will THE Incensed woman italked t ward the door, leaving behind b a Sergeant ot Detectives wi seemed no whit abashed nor ei barrassed by her vehemence, li deed, hla face assumed the pleaai expression of a man wbo has sui denly collared an elusive Idea. Her angry suggestion about ope: lng a window, by some hidden proi ess of mind, bad linked Itself wltb i piece ot twine tucked away in hi pocket. In a flash he grasped th significance of that clue and the force ot this Intuition carried certl -tude with It. Mrs. Whltmore, throwing open the door for her wrathful exit, hit the lanky Lafferty, who bad that Instant put his hand on the knob to enter the room. Latterly hunched his shoulderB and raised his arm in front ot htr face In mock defense.. "What did you do to the old crow?" he Inquired. "Her feathers are all ruffled and, unless my ears deceive me, she was cussing as she left." Harper had unrolled his piece of twine and was fingering It thought fully. "Charming woman, Mrs. Whlt more," he exclaimed. "She thought she was giving me a piece ot her mind, but she just told me where that missing gun was hidden." "That's as clear aa mud, Where do you think the gun Is hidden?" "Come on," Harper Invited, "I can show you quicker than I can explain It 1 know I'm right It must be there. I ought to have fig ured It out even without finding the atrlng." They made their way to the top floor, without meeting any one en route, and mounted the cramped and sharply-turning shaft of steps that led to the square, glass-enclosed cupola or tower that crowned the house. Tbe detective raised one ot the windows, after a stubborn resist ance, and slipped out over tbe sllL Lafferty followed. "What now?" he queried, turning up his coat col lar. Harper stood looking around. From this elevation the surround ing world appeared Ilka a soft white wilderness, stretched away to in finity. But the detective had only a mo ment's thought tor this. Hla feet left clear tracks In the pristine whiteness aa he went carefully to ward the edge of the root. "Watch out you don't start slip ping down that slope," Lafferty warned, "or you'll end up with a broken neck." They walked gingerly along the danger line, careful to avoid any sudden slip, Harper with hla eye cast on the short, steep elope to his lett Suddenly he stepped ahead and pointed down to a dark blotch In the snowladen spout that edged the roof. There It 1st There's the gunl" tCopyrtght, JJJ, by Walter 0. Brawn) Tomorrow, a revolver ttlli Harper things tit wants to know. T AFTER KIDNAPING BEDFORD, Ind June . (AP) Ralph Shields, lb, who waa kidnaped by a gunman at his home this morn ing, was released near bere later and given possession of hla automobile. He was unharmed. One or three youthful gunmen wbo terrorized soutbern Indiana last nlgbt kidnaped Shields and forced the lad to drive him away. The bandit, sought by 300 deputies and citizens for the slaying of a dep uty sheriff and the wounding of a policeman, slugged Gilbert Shields, uncle of Ralph, when the elder man tried to Interfere. Bloodhounds and powemen combed the Knobby Hill country west of here In search of the other two bandits, believed to be the ones who fled last night after wounding John Ffaffenberger, 85, a Seymour policeman, and killing Harold Amick, 33, a Scott county deputy aherirr. TOLEDO STRIKE HAS PEACEFUL ENDING TOLEDO, O., June -8. (AP) To ledo's automotive strike, which brought on rioting, the killing of two men and heavy property damage, had a peaceful end today. The plants of the Electric Auto-Lite Co., the Bingham Stamping Sc Tool Co., and the Logan Gear Co. reopened under agreements approved by union workers and company officers. E LBWISTON, Idaho, June fl. (Pi Columbia basin root rot Is laying law thousands of acres of wheat la be lieved to be the most sudden aud widespread disaster to grain farmers In the central Idaho region In recent years, growers said yesterday. So serious has become the situation IB fields that 10 days ago were con sidered bumper crops that he Univer sity of Idaho has asked that federal agricultural experts be sent here to study the disease and . a condition which threatens land In Nea Perce, Lewis and Idaho counties. Field expeditions Into numerous areas today confirmed previous re ports. . The disease, resembling dry rot, fol lowed in the wake of unusually fa vorable growing conditions and a mild winter. Cheese manufactured In Mississippi-planta last year totaled about o.ouu.uuu pounds. PIANO PRACTICE r Mmi.,;.uv,Hi-u Aw! THAT'S NOTHING 1 CUT MV GASOLINE BILL IM half usiWfj standard WITH TPTTSa.CTUSJI UNgURPAgSEP I zee m. .. w 11 I By GLUYAS WILLIAMS (OHMS, U)K.U?I Srfe DOWrl AT PIANO RR HALF HOUR'S 'PRACflCE. SftRES AT PIANO etSOMlW EvimUAUy 6EfS HIS MUSIC, 01)1" FROM P0X,8P1UIK6 WSf ON FLOOR. 1AKES WSTitfE PICKING ff OP PRAC-fitft FCR A MINUTE OR TWO AMD (SETS OP To CAUTO eepie seuer Trim" Hra be our in a lithe while PRANCES TOR A FEW WOMEWS ANP SHbUfS TO MOTHER. IS TiME UP VEf ? ISTOLp 5HE'IL CALL HIM WHEN IT'S TIME. AND 6EfS 10 WORK MlKP BElK5 16 WAHDET? FROM PIANO TO PROSPECT'S Cr THE BASEBALL TEAM MOTHER CftUS WHV ISNTHE PRACT1CIK6? GET'S lERV BUSr" W FEAR THE HALF HOUR Ml6Hf K EXTENDED FOR TiME OCT 6E&INS TO 6Ef UNEASV. CAUS FINISHES PR&CT1C1N6 SOFTb K SHE WATCHING THE TiME Wrfrt ONE EAR COCKED SO HE'LL AND IS .SHE SURE THE CLOCK HEAR AS SOON AS SHE CALLS HAS NT STOPPED , (Copyright, 1834, by The Bell Syndicate. Inc.) (,-(-, S 'MATTER POP w (n -Mow D'"& osEnT A VJ-HAT . JjF well, Te.-ie- "grVc4lC'B.J,Vw, A UTTI.6- )bflJJ&y) Cok SLAW, Alj' A J By 0. M. Payna FT rrfCC. ,C c2p V i(Copyriglit, 1M4, by Th Bell Syndicate, Ice. TAILSPIN TOMMY Skeeter Puts Two and Two Together! ST. JOHNS. Newfoundland, June A. (AP) A forest fire today swept through the coastal vlllaga of Keels, destroying 35 dwellings, a church and a vlllaga school. Many eltlsens pleoM their belongings In boats and ahored oft Into Bonavlsta bay. u)AT Do vou mean'O ( coeu,e.veRYoNri knous THtRe WAS-SOMETHIVT J ABOUT THE BATTLE ABRUPT AN' QUeee.--- S 7 BE-TWEEN COLk AND ABOUT MONTY A SKIN V) MONTAGUE--AND PIENTV SHtrAN TP PUT WILK X OF FOLKS HEARO QACfe ON TW PAY ROLlV S MONTY THREATEN 11 ' DONT ( I loAfc STANOING Keer -. cio&e to monty when t ME IN I? WE ASkEO SHEAN TO i SUSPENSE, V SIVE WILK ANOTHER. J TOM---- X CHANCE -HE WAaJSj By Hal Forrest BUT HIS EYES LOOKED HARD AS FLINT- I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICS f3 nil v. , ,vt MONTY HAD PLENTY . KcAoortc, TO CONK WILK" fcJUT DIDN'T TO CAt IT LOOK TOO OPETN-' eo H6 S5.TS HIM oa-k urn th LOT AN - ANt J3 THEN flONTY SETS HIS A sneak into hansar. thirteen that (might took th' "dud" tracers outta doug's spandu cup an' s'jBSTrruTeQ REAL BULLETS - SO IT WOULD LOOK UKET . vuuo ujas TH- It ' BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Anchor Island 1 i MatyuiMi-w; v. J - i i NOW,lR,YOUR ORDERS1 KLcA'ac 7 LAW N IKE HAS DONE MIS PART TO DATE-HE'S FETCHED j YOU HERE, SAFE AN' -v sOUND IT'LL BE DARK SOON SO- By Edwin Alger WHY CAN'T WE OROP ANCHOR FOR TONIGHT OFF F1SHTOWN? THAT'S THE LITTLE VILLAGE THAT'S SHOWN ON THE MAP, YOU KNOW THE NEBBS Gone I A aft It- O u ii i im i -jr.- fw-e r ...,ft i r is i t FISHTOWN ? A NAME. LAD. AM' THAT'5 ALL WIPED OUT BY THE LAST HURRICANE WHY. ON ALL OF ANCHOR SLAND, SO CAP'N IKE'S BEEN TOLD, THERE'S NOT A LIVIN' "bOUL IT'S A DREAR AND LONESOME SPOT KJeu we wavs. LSM SLIDER., HEARTSICK AKJD LOWESOME, (SOiKJGi BACK. MOMIPPEO - Awo" AS THE TRAIKI KJEASS TWEOTY, WIS SPK3IT3 KISS IKJ AvmClPATlOrJ OP SCEIMG HIS -.MFC. m 1 WELLSIT VJOKJT BEC LONJG MOW 5E I beporec l see mecr aiod ivl ee TME BIS SUV AKJD TE.LL HEB IT'S ALL. PAULT AJOD IT OUST TOOK A. .LITTLE EMtPE-RlEiKJCe TO ciND OUT JsJORTMVILVE5. WAS SJO PLACE -er - TOR. US OREGON cmr, June 6 (API James Anderson, 19 of Bolton, drowned In the Wlllsmetta river hera BRINGING UP FATHER jeeieranj wnen ns nil rrom a log Into m feat of water. Th ondy waa recovered about 90 minutes later by hla brother. Wllllsrh. J.I " 1 1 I 1 Hill id I ! 'II II Tnd Mkrk Sf U S m omte WHAT MAS SHEC ROOMS By Sol Hesa MORTHVILLE MRS. SU WHY7 MR . SU DER , MUMBEHr. MRS. SLIDER CHECKED WE SAME COT OF MERE SOME we had weeKj aso i 1 WENT ik TVIOUSWT VDU'D S aM -J. f .:,r7TT'l I 'aw J 1 1 ' - If Vv a. ir cue "l CUP rV C. V. If" lf IT PCFSUMDTUm DIDwr ADORESS MECR BUT AIO I WAS TWISJK IT OM M.V SHE SO? SHE MUST WAVE LEFT ) WHERE YOU J ICOULD SESJD ifk V HER IMA1 L UCH TTn VJRIGLGY'S (SUM MY SON CANNY ws PihacHEo FOR BORROWING A PIANO. SEE' 11 VOU CAM GET HIM OUT ISENTPOttl ALDERMAN MURPHY-IF H&CANT1 FIX IT. NOSOOV CAN 1 t r I HERE HE) j COMES I NOW DAN KTV 3 A3 GOOD AS OUT . J sir ic WELL. WHAT I CAN I OO POR VOU? we WANT YOU TO GET SWEENEyS BOy OUT HE BORROW ED A PIANO By George McManua I OH , YEAH WELL., IT WAS MV PlAMO .' 111 .an;,, ..., j