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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1934)
PAtJE TWELVE r MEDFORD "MATE TMBTUvE, SIEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDXr, JTJXE 8, "193i. . MOCKING HOUSE HYXOPHM: Sergeant Harm, hat found th weapon that killed on of th two men found mur- aerea tn rterre uujrcsne- nous. .BY WALTER C. BROWN. It provee that the f lrnit,r and the ?oll0inaH did ttot kill each other. nt doe not tfnrffoaf, uiAo Hi, tntirrfem- viae. Harper taue the in' veetinatton muet not overlook the voegtbllitv that a servant may have had a hand in the killing. Chapter II THE ACCUSATION LAFFERTT lit a cigarette and blew the amoks upward at a harp angle. "Quit your bemmlug and hawing. Store. Tou can make the pinch any time you please. Vou might as well make up your mind about It and hare it erer." Harper looked amused, "go you're got It all flgured out?" . "Sure. It you really want the killer, just march up the atalra, walk down the hall, and enter the first door on the left." "Mrs. Dulresnet" ' "Exactly. I know It. Tou know it Dufresne knows it, too. He tried ito cover up for her by biding the gun. That's why he's been playing cat and mouse with us, afraid we'd turn np somotblng that would up set the apple-cart. Which Is just what happened." -"You're wrong, Jack," Harper said auletly. "This thing la a lot more 'Intricate than that theory of yours allows for. In fact, 1m just begin' sing to realize what a Gordlan knot we have on our bands." "That's a very apt figure of speech. Maybe you remember what happened to the Gordlan knot?" "Yos. Alexander couldn't unravel It, as there were no ends showing, so he sliced It with his sword." "Correct. I'd advise you to take the tip from Alexander. You've got your elgbt suspects, but If you look them over carefully you'll see bow the number dwindles. I take It that you are not trying to pin It on Mrs. Croyden or her pianist husband? Bosldes, they're really just visitors here. "Dutresne and Andrews were shut op In the AuBterlltz under heavy guard at the time. Donagby was on duty there, too, and It Isn't likely be bad a chance to leave the place. Anyway, his statements are easily jehecked. The Whltmoree were near jtbe spot) true enough, but they ,dldn't leave tbelr rooma after dark last night. The snow proves that . "What doea that leave us? One person, and only one Mrs. Du iresne, visiting at Mrs. Crelghton Morlock's. . " See what we have there. She de veloped a headache and didn't come down to dinner. Hoadaches, you know, require seclusion, A standard alibi. Then a mysterious outbreak of Ore In the Morlock garage.'Wasn't i that a perfoot opportunity for get l ting away for a while, unseen, us- i noticed 7 ' "By the luckiest of flukes, we have Howard Doyle's evidence, otherwise we'd be completely In the dark. I make the flat assertion that Mrs. Dufresne left Mrs. Morlock's, walked the mile or so to this bouse to keep her rendezvous and killed the man she came here to meet! And hare's my bit of evidence for that" Latterly paused dramatically, then brought forth a shapeless bundle, swathed In crumpled tissue paper, which be stripped away. A stained, warped pair of high-heeled shoes stood revealed. "These are the shoes Mrs. Dufresne wore last night," he explained, "They were on their way to tbe trash-bin this morning, via John Whltmore, when I rescued them." SERGEANT HARPER picked up i the once-dainty sllppors, ttc'r narrow brocaded aides now soiled beyond repair. They were still soggy to the touch. "I suppose," Latterly jeered, as Harper thoughtfully set them side Jy side, "that she got them In that 'condition just stepping Into the car at Mrs. Morlock's with Doyl and coming in here from the ourb to the front door, on a shoveled path, too. That lady went for a jaunt through the enow last night and she came here!" Harper paused In the charging of fcts pipe, the battle-scarred com panion of many a lonely vigil over knotty problems. "Does Mrs. Du fresne strike yon as the sort of woman who would carry on a clan destine affair, let alone stoop to murder?" he demanded. Latterly snorted. "Stevle, old boy, years and years ago t gave up trying to figure out women by look lug at them. Slater Aline and Stater Sylvia may be very sedate and dig nified wives, but In their debutante days, as the Bartell girls, they were I pair of pretty high ateppers, I can tell you. Old Man Dartell left each at them more money than was good lor tbem and they had a tree head and no one to answer to. I've beard plenty about them." "Been doing soma tabloid archeol ogy on the aide?" mocked Harper., "No, but I waa talking to Bob Johnson. That lad covered the so cial whirl when he first broke In with the Daily Ledger and he's got a memory like a filing cabinet. Ac cording to blm, tbe Bartell girls bad the polite circles of their day stand ing on their collective eara. "Incidentally, It might Interest you to know that In those days our good host, Mr. Flerr. Dufresne, was rushing little Aline. The engage ment waa rumored unofficially sev eral times and .there was plenty of buzzing and whispering when he up and married Sister Sylvia la stead." "To hear you talking, one would think that Mrs. Dufresne and Mrs, Croyden were now a couple of dow agers." "That was all of ten years ago," Latterly answered, "and ten years can make a lot of changes, but yon never can tell when the old fire will flare up again. That happens often enough. Remember taat Sylvia Bar tell married a man considerably older than herself, while her slstei well, I take Croyden for one of those artlstlo chaps, all nerves and temperament, charming aa an ac quaintance, but damn bard to lire with. Certainly - Mrs. Dufresne li still far removed from an age where one could say, "This woman Is past the time for love affairs." HARPER looked amused as hi held a match to bis pipe. "Very well put,"- be acknowledged, "al though the Implications are some what libelous. But listen, you oil social philosopher, does Mr. Dn fresne strike you as being the sort of man who would connive at hldlni his wife's guilt?" "There's such a thing as prlda Steve, and It takes aome queei turns. Many a man has brazened down the world In a case like that and taken his own measures In pri vate later." "No, I don't believe you're on tbe right track at all. There are plenty of gaps In your structure. What of this alleged lover, for Instance? He was here In the city, buying his dis guise, while Mrs. Dufresne was still at her summer home. That doesn't sound much like a clandestine affair." "Granted, but remember that the Dufresne summer home Is on an Island. Not much chance for secret meetings there unless, the third party came aa a guest. I think those two conceived tbe Idea of writing crank letters to Dufresne. After due Interval he was to be bumped off. Then Mrs. Dufresne would ha tree and the police would be busllj hunting around tor aome down-at the-heels homicidal manlao who never really existed. It's a clevei scheme." "I see. Having decided to disen cumber herself of the husband she no longer wanted, Mrs. Dufresne, In a fit of absent-mindedness, killed her lover Instead. Very clever, Jack, very clever." Latterly smiled sourly. "Just the same, old boy, I'm holding to my theory till you can produce a bettor one," he stated, i "Everybody but Mrs. Dufresne has an alibi for the time In question. Why don't you challenge her with it?" Harper shrugged. "You know the situation. Dr. Ulrlcb has forbidden ber to talk. What would be the use of trying to hold a vital Interview like that when aha can stop and think and write down the answers at ber leisure? Since you're so set on your theory, I'll delegate to yon the job of visiting the Morlock bouse. You can check up all you want, but don't let the cat out of the bag. Mrs. Morlock Is a relative of Mrs. Dufresne and If she finds out that we suspect anything It won't take long for It to get back to this house. Go to It! Here's your chance to show me up." "That's not the Idea, Steve, and you know It, Of course, there'! an alternate theory, built on the same base. Has that occurred to you?" Harper took a long pull at hie pipe, "I'm full of theorlea," he re plied. "With little encouragement I could build up a case against almost any ot the eight you picked out But who Is Involved In your alternate theory?" "Pierre Dufresne himself. Por- baps he discovered this affair and killed his rival. I'm convinced the elementary motives In my theory are right whatever the Individual moves may have been." The Sergeant's glance sharpened. "I've been toying with some such Idea," he stated slowly. (Conuright, ey Walter 0. Brown) Tomorrow, Hirstr works out e : frsth theory. SALSM, June 8 (AP) Officials of Oregon, Washington and Idaho will gather at Walla Walla Monday to dis cuss the gasoline tax laws ot the three eutes and the Interstate movement of gasoline trucks. It was announced here today. NTJW -TORK, June 8. (AJ) lan. ager Prankle Frltch 01 the St. Louts Cardinals and Umpire Rlgler were fined (100 each today by President John A, Heydler ofl the Nations league tor their altercation In St. Louie yesterday. VJRIGLGY'S GUM jaw r.t, t sj. i: IP. Titular Head Urges " Party Leaders to Give Due Rep resentation to Youth Principles Hearten, Word WASHINGTON June 8 P) eni tor Charles L. McMry ot Oregon, Re publican leader of tbe senate, U not overly impreued with the selection of Henry P, Fletcher of Pennsylvania u the new Republican national chair man. "A good man," Senator Mdfary said of Fletcher, "but not a brilliant selec tion." He had hoped for the selection, he said, of "an equally good man far ther to the vest, possessing sane and modern views." Several other western Republicans expressed disappointment. CHICAGO, June 8 Herbert Hoover, former president, today sent a telegram to the Republican national committee, as It greeted Its new chair man, Henry P. Fletcher, and praised the new "platform" adopted yester day. The titular head of the party, al though not taking an active part In the committee's meeting, Hoover urged the Republican leaders to give "due representation to youth." i He congratulated Fletcher, to whom he addressed his message, and' also' the committee, on Fletcher's selection as chairman, terming the Pennsylva nia n "most experienced and courage ous.' ""The firm declaration by the com mittee of Republican principles and purposes will hearten not only Repub lic no but the whole country' Mr. Hoover said. , 'Tor even those who disagree with us will realise the vital Importance of scrutiny and constructive debato of - all proposals, and opposition to those which will hurt the progress and welfare of the country. "In order to accomplish this service to the nation vigorous party organi zation Is essential and it Is Indeed imperative to the proper functioning of all popular government." Fletcher, elected yesterday as chair man of the national commltteo to succeed Everett ganders of Indiana, met with the committee and Repub lican congressional leaders to plan the fall campaign. . Fletcher met the committee mem bers today and told them the country must "put on the breaks." THE WORLD AT ITS WORST By GLUYAS WILLIAMS Authorities say it Is better to take in an "alley cat" than a Siamese kitten of unknown heredity, because of the breed's unreliable dispositions. r i - It a . M-t ri i j i . rsvy . 1 s ARE VOU SURE .ifiAKt. int-r i-vai sm wwy i 3- THESE ARE f&. THERE S ONLY UNt THINfcr Z FAST COLORS Wm s FASTER AN T HAT S I K; FAST COLORS liPlfi- FASTER AM' THAT'S 4 WM3ZmJL ife STANDARD CAROLINE 4 WMAMmWSL WITH TE TF? AETHVL m 1ELTW M I j I V P H Wllfc HOME IH Sl6Hf, At fn tHt Of A 10HS ANP TiR)N6 WALK WrA4 THE ! CWILDREK. VflU PISCOVER THAT SOMEIaHERE I ON 1HE WAV JUNIOR DROPPED HIS SUEKHER. 6lfM& I fc.fj (Oepyrigat, 1M4, by Tin Ben yairkate, laa.) WlUlftMS S 'MATTER POP- By 0. M. Paynei W-n ' v -Halt or-Vv -Halt- i Vf tt. orf.H TO l2 ONTwo y II LA L'JlLdl Mdm S W60W TVP 1 If kJM ftSagYta f-ZJ A X LWi . (Copyright, 1834, by The B.U Syndicate, Inc.) TAILBPIM TOMMY Some More Suspects! S fe l fi By Hal Forrest THNk fS TE GUILTY ONS ? 8S? WVMCVIVS-X . UJHO TOCO 'tocAe:- 'GSjoy, r wis THNK "YOU CIA T(00- T- we you're rr&&3 v ' S-1 S7v?ArrA' - - rSOY HSf1G. Asssr- AE THE FCX.e.oaJJA3 JLAE TO TAKE YOU X73iX OF 77S LOT 4 YD 5"?")CV you ooJv- - " W-71D " GEO" XKk-iHK. e,-jt PAPEB CCTTEJZ rWS BECAME TOO FsfMUffii. . UJTH HER 1 BEN WEBSTER' SOAREER-Oap'n Ike's Discovery c c. I WgMuolD IT STEADY WHILE 1 1 I f WELL, 'TWEEN TtS ATOV,CAP4TlTS A SHIP'9 1 f cmrStZZtLL aV7 Ar?f t"TAlE OUT THESE PEGS THE I I SHIFTY, WE'VE GOT Bf IKE, A BOY'S I MO0EL.M3U FOOL.I a' eiR- M rmr- laidTntheir 1 1 n ,y riPFr mmmMm L Vi itsthe sumkem AM GO BELOW I M l3fZ CABIN COVERS E 1 i JtrGT-ucoc Mfflffil ' TREASURE 3H IP i Tmmm gmya tiip r T i ccT5 y TRY THESE KE ONMultffll ( JlZA "1 THE NEBBS Lonesome and Alone - teM tooKiwa TChTrrTTT mgab. from mfJ -t k SHe-s workikig over at Yifte M 1 MAV BE A go-settimg, hoomdJI BRINQIMQ PP FATHER ' ' By Oeorge McManni 1 SEMT-THArr PRESH DUDE I fT ,M cscscsv I I f DID YOU III kjq . SOME OF 1! f ' . TTl I I I SO I HAD TO I '. OOWNI TO ORYAN'S CAJB JJJlGftK- . GET ME TmRE LftAPERS WELL? LICK TOUR'OR TO COLLECT A BILL !r I MR- 'GGS- MONEY? r7,tt L J FIVE OP THEM V , r-A ' -A-Y eXe ' r cSSS. RImm Kexe mmA ' -ilii r SHIFTY FETCH A LANTERN QUICK AM GO BELOW IN By Edwin Algel By Sol Hesi i
