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