PAGE EIGHT
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, .JUNE 12, 1934.
oMwuLtx at
MOCKING HOUSE
.BY WAITER C. BROWN.
SYNOPSIS: nergeont Harper be
lieves that the murderer ot the
stranger and the policeman found
dead in Pierre Dutresne's house is
someone connected with the houee
hold. But he hue no caee until he
can tdentifv the stronger and prove
how the murderor escaped without
leaving tracks in the snout, flarper
and Lafferty are eating luncheon
i th Duresne house.
Chapter 85
- MRS. CROYDEN
"THIS luncheon 1b Mr. Croydon'
I kindness, not Dutresne's," Har-
per explained.
"Lafferty put down hli empty cup
and looked at bl companion mean'
lngly. "Well, Mr. Croyden may be
Tery gracious and I'll go ball that
ahe's certainly not bard to loon at,
but Bob Johnson told me tbat the
leads ber husband a merry cnase.
And come to think ot It, Croyden
does have a sort of pained and wor-
rled expression. That's what comes
of marrying money. When two per
sons marry, there should only be
one bankroll and that should be in
the pants' pocket"
Harper frowned. "Jack, you
sound like am old gossip at a tea
fight. Mrs. Croyden Is the only one
In this house who has shown us any
co-ooeratlon at all. It she hadn i
acted as a buffer, we'd probably
have come to an open breach with
Dufresne before this.
"O.K." said Lafferty, with an Imp
ish twinkle In his eye. "I was only
passing on what was told to me,
forgot you have a soft spot for th
ladles of the house."
Luncheon over, they lingered at
the table, smoking and talking over
the amazing teat ot the murderer In
escaping from the houee without
tearing a mark In the snow. It was
a problem that gnawed and bit at
Harper's Hind, presenting a bold
challenge to his wits and Ingenuity.
While they were still at It, Mrs.
Croyden appeared In the doorway,
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said quickly
is both men rose to their feet
bed no Intention of Interrupting
yon." ' .
"Not at all, Mrs. Croyden," Har
per rejoined. "We finished some
time ago. Thank you for your kind
ness. We enjoyed the luncheon very
ouch."
. As Mrs. Croyden graciously dis
avowed the necessity tor their
thanks, Lafferty left the breakfast
room. Mrs. Croyden advanced Into
the room, glancing about curiously.
"How lis the case progressing?" she
Inquired.
Harper shrugged. "Slowly, per
taps," he confessed, "but that's the
order of nature."
The bright hair ot the lady ahone
wltb a rich golden gleam as she
srossed the bright shaft of winter
untight coming through the win-
lows. She glanced curiously at the
photographs scattered aoross Har
per's table. :
Tbe detective noted her Interest
tnd held out several for ber Inspec
tion. "Those are the fingerprints of
our unnamed victim," be explained,
"taken from the liquor glass found
on the table. They're greatly en
larged, ot course. Here are the ones
taken from bis gun not quite as
clear, you will notice."
"But how do you tell one from the
other?" Mra. Croyden asked. "Why,
the world must be literally covered
with fingerprints!"
"No, for not all substances or
surfaces will retain a print," he ex
plained. "A smooth, hard, polished
surface, like a mirror, or a table top,
or polished metal, makes the Ideal
contact Let me show you how It's
done."
HARPER went to the luncheon
table and carefully lifted the
goblet ot water that stood by bis
.plate. "You aee this? To the casual
eye It Is clear, unmarked glass."
The detective took the Insufflator
and sprayed the body of the goblet
'with a dark powder. Whei It was
sufficiently coated he tapped the rim
evenly with the dull edge of a knife.
iTbe looser grains of One powder fell
land the remaining ones settled more
firmly In place. Harper held It at
:eye level against the light where
I three prlnta of Andrews' Sngera
jwer plainly revealed.
Mrs. Croyden stood by the detec
tive's shoulder and looked at the
'glats. "That's very mysterious, and
rather terrifying," she murmured.
"But were there any strange finger
prints In this room, besides those
ot thst man?"
"Not one, I am sorry to say. Other
signs of this visit yes, but no finger
prints."
The lady turned to him wltb
serious tneln. "Mr. Harper," she
said earnestly, "are yon sure that
jour deductlona are correal? Are
you positively, absolutely certain
there was a third person In this
house last night? Otherwise you
have made a very serious charge.
This Is a terrible thing tbat some
.au us tbe suspicion tbat soma
one In this bouse Is a murderer. Just
these few hours has made such a
frightful change In every one. J
don't pretend to understand police
affaire and this one seems hopeless
ly complicated. It Is so tar from our
custom ot evory-dsy living that ws
all feel there must be some error."
Harper beard tbe emotional catch
In ber voice and lowered his gaze
from the lifted glasa to meet her
wide-eyed scrutiny. "Mrs. Croyden "
he replied In a voice equally grave,
"there Is now no room for doubt
We are always loath to believe that
any person within our own circle
could deliberately take human life.
We run against the feeling In every
case. But It hsppens. Last year
there were nearly live hundred
homicide caees In New Fork City
alone. According to the law of aver
ages, out ot every hundred thou
sand persons now alive about a
dozen will die within tbe next
twelve months murdered!"
The clear, wide eyes clouded.
"Please!" she cried. "I hate such
statistics. They are so sordid and
hopeless. Is there any real hope of
a solution, or are we all to go about
under a stigma tbe rest of our lives?
This worthless criminal who came
Into this house to die has more
power to harm us now than when be
was alive and threatening only one!"
Here was the same wild plea
voiced again, even aa Dulresne had
blazed forth. "Yes, I hr.ve been told
before tbat this unknown man's life
was worthless, devraved and crim
inal," Harper couatored drily, "and I
have also been cold that he Is an ab
solute stranger to every one In tbla
house. I Sod tbe two statements
rather Inconsistent"
ALINE CROYDEN turned pale,
and her bands clenched as she
took a step backwards. Fright and
terror stared out of her eyes with
tbe realization of the detectlve'a
warning. "We have no fear of what
you Imply," she declared. "If the
facts are dealt with honestly and I
trust you to do that"
"Thank you," be returned gravely,
and looked again at the dark
smudges on the goblet using bis
magnifying lens through force ot
habit Tbat thumb mark, with Ita
double ridge breaking across the
central whorl tbat was familiar,
aurely? Then the answer flashed In
to bis mind and such a startled look
came over his face that Mrs. Croy
den stared from hla transformed
features to the goblet and back
again.
What la It, Mr. Harper?" ahe
breathed.
The detective flashed her a look
as If he had entirely forgotten her
presence. "Just a small point, but
a curious one," he replied guardedly,
placing the goblet far back on his
work-table.
Now Mrs. Croyden, I'd like to
ask a few questions, If I may. Will
you sit down?"
First to make our records com
plete, will yon please tell me how
you and Mr. Croyden spent last eve
nlng, say from six o'clock on? We
are required, you know, not to ex
empt any one In a case like this."
Well, I think you will be quite
satisfied with our alibi. It consists
of about two thousand witnesses.
Last evening Mr. Croyden and Hugo
Palese, the 'cellist, gave a Joint re"
cltal at Orpheus Hall.
We bad dinner at the Savoy,
rather early, as there had been a
last-minute substitution In the pro
gram and Richard wanted a little
extra time for rehearsal. The con
cert began at' 8:45, and waa over
about 10:30. We had Just reached
home and Mr. Croyden waa foraging
In the refrigerator for a late snack
when Mr, Dufresne's call came
through.
Our house Is Just around the cor
ner, you know, on Cypress Lane.
In fact, you can see a corner ot the
back of It from these very windows."
As Mra. Croyden raised her arm
to Indicate the position of the house,
the sunlight struqk points of tire
from an unusually beautiful ring she
wore on the same finger with her
wedding ring, catching and flash
ing back the brilliance of two excep
tionally fine diamonds, a pure blue-
white and a canary stone, both per
fectly cut and matched and set diagonally.
Tbe detective returned to his
questions. "You were In the au
dience, of course? In a box seat?"
"Oh, no, Tbat would be the worst
possible place to alt I always
choose an aisle seat on the lower
floor."
"Do you always attend your bus
band's recitals, Mrs. Croyden?"
"Of course. I never have missed
one. Even when he goes on tour 1
travel with him."
(Copyright. teSl. bv Walter 0. Broum)
Dufrsin. tomorrow, assails Har '
par bitterly.
RADIO BALLYHOO FOR
PATENT MEDICINE HIT
IN MEDICAL CONCLAVE
CLEVELAND, O. Juns IS (API
Two resolutions attacking the sdvsr
tlsing of drugs and medicines over
th radio were presented to the
tieuss of delegate of the American
M-dlrsl Association today.
Ths Illinois Medical society pro
pcn that all such advertising be
discontinued. A New York delegst
advocated ths creation of a bureau to
regulate such advertising. The house
of delegate considered the resolu
tions today tor possible actions tomorrow.-
Radio advertising ot patent medi
cines was deprecated in a report of
the bureau of Investigation to th
house ot delegates.
"Much of the patent medicine ad
vertising that goes over the air la
reminiscent of the type used by nos
trum exploiter before the passage of
the national food and drugs act ot
1804" th report said.
"Such blatant quackery has
aroused ths medical profession and
even th more Intelligent part of the
lay publlo to th need of an exten
sion of th power of th food and
drug act to cover collateral adver
tising. Inatead of as now, merely th
advertising that appear on or In a
trad package.'1
E
PROMISED ELKS
Installation of officers will be the
occasion for a great salmon bake at
th Elks' lodge next Thursday, P. C.
Blgham, salmon catcher and chef de
luxe, having offered to spread a feed
for the brothers sfter the ledge ses
sion. Officers to be Installed for the en
suing year Include H. N. Butler, ex
alted ruler; Stanley Sherwood, es
teemed leading knight: Earl York,
esteemed loyal knight: Robert strsng,
esteemed lecturing knight; Ernest L.
Scott, secretary; Robert Morris, treas
urer; N. 8. Young, tyler; J, p. Pilegel,
trustee, three-year term; Delroy
Qetchell, trustee, to fill the unexpired
term of H. N. Butler,
"P. C." as Blgham Is affectionately
known to southern Oregon Elkdom.
knows Just the proper turn fir bak
ing the succulent salmon. His fish
come from the oven with a golden
b-owii crust, fnlrly dripping with the
natural Juices of the Ingredients. And
when "P. C." sets out to feed a few
hungry brothers he does not skimp of
the portions. Each diner gets a gen
eroua hunk of salmon, covered with
.ta own gravy, a two-fisted helping
of potatoes and enough other vege
tables and palate tickling viands to
feed a harvest hand. By way of top
ping off the meal, each member Is
handed all the beer or coffee he can
consume. -It
may be easily believed that when
Blgham agrees to spread a salmon
bake there are plenty on hand to pay
tribute to his prowess, both as sngler
and cook!
t
GUiLTY MURDER
ST. JOHNS, Ariz., June 11. (UP)
A Jury of cowboys and ranchers
today returned a verdict of guilty
against Mr. Dorothea Turley, one
time international beauty content
winner, charged with Intent to mur
der her huaband, Ernest Turley. re
tired naval petty officer on their
ranch near here last November fol
lowing an alleged oulje board and
fortune telling seance.
The trial waa one of the most sen
sational of its kind in Arizona history
with the daughter of the convicted
woman playing the part of the stated
chief witness, testifying against her
mother.
Phone 242 We'll haul away your
refuse. City Sanitary Service.
tffMy DEAR ALGERNON Msi fcrlWH
g WHAT IS IT YOU -fe-.-r-fa QUICKS JU2H
7 LIKE BESTABOUTiAt.;At-lU
STANDARD dASOLINEl6ETAWWy ilrefi H 1
WITH TETRAETHyL3!!!! ! !
THE MINUTE TBAT SEEMS A YEAR
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
6-2.
you rk06hije in yddr prospective "partner
the: vvoman with whom You had sharp
words over a dented tender i iv "tfte
TOWN SQUARE THIS AFfERNOOtf
(Copyright, 1834, by Ae Bell Syndicate, Int.)
S MATTER POP-
Th??' Call
cpuicy
9k
m
By C. M. PayM
wmfM- mm rwKr
m i m . v a wfta, t hv 7 &
I t V MA C J'l'ZsW- o.c. i3ow, ) Cite. S
' (Copyright, 1934, by The Bell 6jii.l ij
-
TAILSPIN TOMMY Who Killed Wilkins?
ATMS P
TulLM PfASONS
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MATED HIM"
WPfif CISLIkth
HUieo HIM?
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to ecxer fsr to
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tJHO MIGHT HAV ioST TVX5
THouiSAy'O 0l)P..
f- rilDnSHT Hq7KOL" tO AS AO
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Luke Is Startled!
JSBUNE BRACK, S0!7AQr
THEMCE -
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Wtfsaa vSwcat, x-u)t Acer, mo
Ml yCE p&esoe'ait o TyskeTcT
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TO GtE UiLK fi'fcTVtt.'V 40VCE
But iois nXED vro aMpei!
OOITH THE SIOWE PL OT- -
By Edwin Alger
By Sol Hess
All kinds et legal blanks tor sale
for rent, no hunttnsr. no trespassing
snd other csrds for sale st Commercial
Printing Dept. ot Mall Tribune.
WINDOW GLASS Ve sell window
g'.ass and will replace your broken
windows reasonably. Trowbridge Cab
inet Works.
1T6 GETTING OKAY BV ME-IVE 1 TM READS' TO CALL IT A ffl GOSH, DAVE, TM NAYBE YOU'LL BE STILL lMT lUFFERIN1 CATS
DARK FAST- v 5EEM ENOUGH RUINS DAY, BEN REMEMBER, GETTING EXCITED 1 MORE EXCITED WHEN WM HAVE TASTY IN H
WHAT DO YOU J TO LAST ME FOR ITS ONLY A SHORT RUN Wlli? NOW THAT WE'RE I YOU PUT ON THAT DIVER'S ME EYE OR. IS if
SAY WE GO M THE REST O' THE FROM HERE TO DEAD DOG ALMOST THERE A SUIT TOMORROW AND Jpa, THAT A LIGHT I'M J$i
THE NEBBS To Ba or Not to Be
I just sKjeojcreo out Mft3$Sr atc here 1 1 TO TWAhJl4 twact up to me.i peel MS loaj onj that bovs W Jf 5TAtsr OUTi
UCOWWG R3R MMM. LOOKING. POR. L TOR TUIS. ADBTISS)baO ENOUSW ABOUT IT. l I EDUCATION . 1 GAVE MIM X 7., f,Ni?B.OOV
UTTLe rest w$E&A vuor errueR , M us iuto all twis it was that stubborkj wipe, am education aultme a3'-i tme house, '
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BRINGING UP FATHER .
r-i . By George McManus
ftMuT UO.VoURE THEtjEi THE I I WMA.T 1 1 I VES-WE UAVP T7 1 r J Tl FSsV 1 " T 1
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