Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, June 20, 1934, Image 10

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Medford mail tribune., June 20, 1934, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE TEN MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 193. QpTMOCKING HOUSE BY WALTER C. BROWN. HiXOPSlH: Heduced almuel lv dejjeraffon &i hie Inability to jolve myetery of the murderer who hot a policeman and a etranger in Pierre Dutreene'e house. Sergeant Harper euddenly tlnde the trail of Ellen Becker, the maid who left the Dulresnee about the time the eeriee ot mvetertoue evente began which preceded the tragedy. Harper and hie nentetant. LaOerty. are talking to F'l'ti'e aunt. Chapter 43 BECKER TALKS "IVE'RE from Police Headg.uar- tera," said Harper. "Are yon Mra. Button? Well, Mr. Sutton, we happen to know that Mlsa Becker la at home. It would be much wiser It the eaw ua. Much wlaer." To assist Mra. Sutton make the correct decision Lafferty casually put a sturdy foot across the sill, "Oh. all right, come In. She's upstalra. I thought you were bill collectors. There's some mistake, though, Ellen baa been home tor months, looking after me." "If there has been a mistake, we can soon put It straight Will you ask her to come down, please?" The detectives were ushered Into a dark, stuffy parlor that probably had Ha twilight atmosphere even on the brightest days. They heard the elderly woman's alow tread as she mounted the atalrs, "There's something In It," Laf- ferty whispered. "Did you notice her face when she found out who we were?"' Harper nodded. A lighter step was coming down the staircase. Then the curtains rustled and Miss Ellen Becker faced them. "Miss Becker?" : "Yes. What do you want, please?" "We are from Police Headquar ters. I am Sergeant Harper ot the Homicide Bureau. 1 am In charge of the murder case at Mr. Pierre Dufreane's house. You're heard about that?" 'Yea," echoed Miss Becker. "I read about It In the papers today." "We came to ask you some ques tions about your period of service there. Why did you leave Mr. Du fresne's employment last Novem ber?" "My aunt was very sick and need ed constant looking after, so I gave notice and came home. I haven't been near Mr. Dufreane's house since." Harper looked at her. "Still tak ing care of your aunt?" Ellen's face darkened. "She's well now, but Jobs are hard to get." "If you left Mr. Dutresne'a of your own accord, why don't you ap ply for your old Job? They haven't hired any one In your place." "I'd rather get a Job where t can live at home." "Miss Becker," Harper continued, "you deny, then, that you have been advised to go Into hiding tor a while?" The detective's chance shot, based on Harris' report of tha telephone meseagea, certainly struck home. "Why, er of course,", she stam mered, with apparent effort. "You were not, by any obance, packing to go away when we ar rived?" . . ' "Nol Where would I be going? I live here." But her voice was atlll unateady. "In that case, you won't mind If we Just take a quick look at your room. Jack, see to It I ' T AFFERTY waa off like a shot. In a moment there Issued loud voices from upstairs and Latferty came hurrying down again. "She was packed to go, all right," he accused. "When I rushed up the old lady was stuffing things back In the hureaua and closets aa fast as she could." "Hal" exclaimed Harper, "now the cat's out ot tha bag. I give you your choice of two things. You can talk to ua, or you can come along to Headquarters. There's a car waiting on the corner." Ellen broke down, quick, fright ened aoba shaking her body. "I didn't do anythlrf wrong," she walled. Harper answered stonily, "but you are holding back Information. Why did you leave the Dufresnea? Because some one found It worth while to get you out of the house?" Ellen Becker resigned herself to the Inevitable and nodded. Harper leaned forward, tense and eager. "Who haa been paying you the hush-money?" "Mrs. Dutresnel" Harper leaned back. "Tell us ex actly what happened." Ellen Becker clenched her An gers. "It was right after the house was opened last autumn," she be gan. "The family were at the apart ment while we got thlnga ready. 1 was cleaning the hearth In the breakfast-room. There wsa a brass urn standing by the fireplace, filled with white sand. butt a bit ot papui s.a'klng up and when 1 picked at It I saw that It was part of a cigarette stub. I pushed the sand around and found a lot of them burled there. I thought that was strange, because we'd only opened the bouse a few days before and hadn't used the breakfast-room at all. "I poked a little deeper In the sand and found a slip of paper, burled down one side. I read It." "Was the writing that ot a man or a woman?" Lafferty asked. "I couldn't tell. All the words were printed and there was no date and no signature. It said: 'Will ex pect you at the usual time.' That was all. I took It upstairs and showed It to Mrs. Dufresne. She turned white when she read It. She kept me there nearly an hour, while she walked up and down the room. Fi nally she suggested that If my aunt waa In need of nursing I could go home for a while and she would continue to send me my wages. I did, and she has," was Ellen Becker's terse conclusion. "Do you realize that waa prac tically blackmail?" T7LLEN shook her head, "It was - Mrs. Dufresne's Idea. I didn't ask her for anything. Why shouldn't I accept It? It waa the first time In my life I ever got aomethlng tor nothing. Nobody'a going to die and leave me a million," she said bit terly. Harper stirred himself. "I tblnk you'd better come along with us to Dufresne's house. We'll have to get to the bottom of this story." "No no please I I can't go back there!" "So there's more to the story? Out with It all of It this time!" Ellen's next statement came only after a visible struggle. "Two daya later," she continued, "I found an . other note In the same place. It was printed, Just like the other. It said: 'The same place, and you'd better come this time.' The last part waa underlined. While I was looking at this note, with the sand apread out on a paper, Mr. Dufresne walked In, "He wanted to know what I waa doing there and I bad to show him the note. He carried on worse than Mrs. Dufresne. He asked me all kinds of questions and talked so wild I was afraid of him. "I told him I was leaving to take care of my aunt. Then he calmed down all at once, but he made me swear to say nothing about the note to any one. He promised that I wouldn't lose by It." Harper leaped up. "Well, I'll be damned," he cried, "you've got the nerve to sit there and calmly admit you've been taking money from both ot them?" Ellen turned sullen before bis an ger. "But what could I do? Hand back his money and tell him I was already being paid to keep quiet? What good would that bave done? Besides, I was afraid of him. 1 was afraid to tell him anything." "Can't you see that you were spreading dynamite around In that house?" Harper burat out. "For a few paltry dollars you wore willing to see a whole household broken up. No wonder you're afraid to go back there and repeat your story. Who warned you to run away Mr. Du fresne or Mra. Dufresne?" I won't tell, I'm not going to say another word." Ellen's voice grew shrill. "I want to bee a lawyer." "Come on," said Lafferty, "let's trot her down to Headquarters. She'll talk there, whether she wants to or not. By that time she'll need a lawyer!" The sinister tono pried the girl loose from the last hold on her ret icence. "Neither one," she admit ted sullenly. "It waa Joe Donaghy who called me." Harper's eyes glittered with re newed Interest. "So Joe was In on this? He knows all about these 'deals?" "Only about Mrs. Dufresne," Ellen confessed. I guess you call yourselves sweet- hearts." Lafferty sneered. "A One pair ot lovers you are." i Never mind that now, Jack,"1 Harper Interrupted, then, turning to the girl, "What did he tell you over the 'phone?" He aald It looked like things might break wide open up there at the house, and that It they did, It would be a good idea for me to be missing." You're holding out on us again. You two hare been working this game together. We know Donaghy'a been bleeding these people, too, be cause he's sporting a big roll ot bills." (Copyright. 1111, by Walter 0. Brawn) But where, atke Harper tomor row, doeo ftllen'e ovldenoe lead. BABY IS BORN WITH FIFTY BROKEN BONES IDIANAPOLTS, tod. (UP) Cro lln Ruby Mercer, who wm born a month ago with fifty broken bonee. brenki. WASHINGTON, June 20. (AP) An advance of five -tenths of one per cent In wholesale commodity prices during May was reported today by the bureau of labor statistics. The bureau reported prices were 73.7 per cent of the 1026 average. The preseit Index Is at the level of March, 1034, the highest point reached since 1031 when the Index figure waa 74.8. The bureau's list showed 211 advances, 300 showing no change. Declines were reported on 183 Items. The largest Increase was recorded In metals and metal products, which advanced l'j per cent. In this group agricultural Implements were 7 per cent higher. Foodstuffs rose about l'i per cent, bringing the present level of the group to 67.1 per cent of the- 1026 average which Is an Increase of near ly 13 per cent over May of last year. can element which la seeking to re store the Republican party to pres tige and power In this state, OdUn Is embarking on his first campaign for public office, although he has been Identified with the state O. O. P. organization work for several years. the number, "When You Were a J LONGEST SONG TITLE GOING IN NEW MOVIE HOLLYWOOD. (UP) A wordy con test among movie song writers over the longest tune title ended abruptly today when Warners announced It would Include In a new production Smile on Your Mother's Lips and a Twinkle In Your Daddy's Eye." FISH WRESTLING NETS' THIRTY-FIVE LB. CARP .viND HELPING By GLUYAS WILLIAMS KASAS CITY, Kan. (UP) Fish i wrestling was inaugurated at Big j Eleven lake near here today. Bennle Hughes, lifeguard, saw a large fish near shore, Jumped In and applied ; a strangle hold. After a rough and ' tumble wrestling match Hughes trl-1 umphantly waded ashore. He had , a firm headlock on a 35-pound carp. LEGION LEADER SEEKS GOP SENATE BACKING OLYMPIA, June 20. (AP) Reno Odlln, 37-year-old Olympla banker, native Washlngtonlan and former state commander of the American Legion, formally announced his can didacy today for the Republican nomination for United States sena tor. ' Representing the younger Republl- I iSsNirfiSt a ' Mtfou KNOW mN Surprising how J i A A far you can do m 1 tfk on a tankful m i 5 K W . OP STANDARD fj ZL imV v(cJA30LINE WITH M HOSTSS UR6ES HIM TO HAVE AHOTHfR HELPING OF ICE cream. ACCEPTS RECFlVES H&PIH6. NOTICES JUNIOR STARIK6 AT HIM Wrfrl EXPRESSION OF MlN&LED WlSf FJLWKS AND HATE REALIZES NO ONE ELSE IS HAVW6 WJVMORE AND THAT HE TOOK THE LAST HELPIH6 TAKES A BrfE OR TWO, REALIZlHe UNEA5ILV THAT JUNIOR IS WAfcHINS EiERV MDUfHFJL. TAKES ANOTHER BtTE, AND SEES TEARS BE6INNW6 To WELL UP IN OUHIOR'S EVES THIS UNSETTLES HIM 50, HE ' SPILLS ON HtS NECkTlE REALIZES OTHERS HAVE ALL TRIES To INDICATE HE'5 THR0U6H. FiNlSHEP AND TRIES TO HURRY, BUT HOSTESS THINKS HE'S JUST SETTING A PAIN IN HIS TEMPLE REINS POLITE AND INSIM5 ON ' HA TlWlAHIWrt (Copyright, 1834, fry The Bell Syndicate, Inc.) Forces rest of ice cream DOWN, Y0WIN6 lb HIMSELF HE'LL NEVER TAKE A SECOND HELPIHS OF ANYTHING) 8 'MATTER POP By 0. M. Payna Uy Hal Forrest By Edwin AlgeB wm reported Monday night to bs! getting slong HI right. The baby suffered 48 broken bones before birth, st which time both thighs were fractured. She Is kept strapped I to a board to prevent additions! ' i I aa-kit J V ) ( M, soup as J WvVuV7y Ist lt,.- (L L- (Copyright, 1934, by The Bell gyndicste, TjC.) TAILSPIN TOMMY "Thumbs Down I" C'APi: BJPlOti), ORRY TO HAVE TOV S SSft?3oRRY--fIY EYE! 'U. BET 1 ftoELL.TOrWY, WE uWTtHAT'S GREAT, frTHeY'RC'vou-- U36 CUEOCED XeRR--- FINGER.- DO THIS, FOLKS"GUT SSkW&&v(,HS& SETTING A KICK OUT ABLE TO SET PERFECT 2? MR 8ARIO0- ENTIRELY NEU-A HAVEN'T HS FIRST C OA-NOT PfiWfXPtWt. IT'S 'ORDERS FROM S TjL:f rrSr HOLDING TUOSE FINGERPRINTS ON -riJ DID THEY DON'T MATCH MATCHED U5HAT I MEAKT r AT ALL-- ACTIN6 OA THE DS,TR.ICT J if)lIVii4'fe, GIRL&' HANOS- THE WINDOiO SILL -C MATCH UP- (0TH A WONE'S, J C THEM 031TH TO SAY"lOA5 - "60 THE TIP ATTORNE.Y--rfJ,rV IN HANGAR ffr WITH ANY IN. FINS6RSON C DOUGLAS' ? THAT I'Vfi S R.ISHT FROMTOMMV, fe J SllSJW D&AlJltSj A TMR.TE.EN--J fAYOUR ROGUES' THIS FIELD" fi -trTtlsk PRINTED L AHEAD- IS PUTTING Hra &ViKoiMVim T&stSV' &WKV( Wrfffn WL GALLERY? J OH" "THAT SJ fcfU EVERYONE'S EVERYONE ON pJ tT BEN WEBSTER'S OAEEER Alonzo'a Promise THERE'S CAP'N IKE-ISKEtS! . 7TMUSH,MSTAH BEN jSTVO' COME BACK TO T I DID YOU DEED SO AN' WE W RECKON HE HEARD ilMMH fir .xfWN I M IT'S JES ME DON' , DE KITCHEN WITH OLD 1 HEAR ? GWINE SHO'NLIFr If THE SHOTS, TOO MSsSW Mk LET DAT CAP'N R ALON20 HE GOT 1 THOSE fl INDUCTION DE lAYSTERV THE NEBBS Good Nows? S -LEMHW?. OH, HELLO NE GOT SOME J d S MO, HE'S MOT COMIhJ3 BACK - I WHAT? ITS ALL OFF ) i , 11 1 I SVAEUL. NEVWS... . . HE'S GOING TO STW UP THERE I BeTUJE-CKj VOU A.1 ID I ( (.EMMY'S COMISJ&BACK J I WITM MIS VJIFE. AkJD I'M SURPRISED iMIMVJIE.. AMD YOU'RE I I 1 V WE OlOM'T MAKE T S WmOT VOO, HIS FATHER, SHOULD R6JOCE ) . BACK? y uP VMITM MINJ KJIE . ' S SZZ. , AT THIS IDEA . VOU, WHO HAVE ' flCTr - yr EMOOVED MATRIMOWY TO J " i l ill ii ti -X . i ji , I n ii -I 11 (i r i r . BRING IN 0 UP FATHER By George McManuj By So Hess HUH! jO THAT'4 THE KIMCl OF PALI ME "bOM HAb? WHAT GOOD 1 A COLLEGE EDUCATION IF HE GOE. WITH Z OUYJ LllR THAI f -JC1; (w&mtul V LL TALK TO I rVl, MAGGIE ABOUT yArCZ- THIS SOMETHIN1 Lr-f WAb TO BE DONE WITH THAT BOY- -hf-T- ' AM' FER OUR SON TO GO WITH A AO LIKE. THAT GUV INJ THE OAR LOR V BEYOND ME- I'M GOIN' IM THERE THROW HIM u j 1 Li, l 1 THAT ft. y Lgj V . CI t . TJ AT Ctwl-ri rl. Aal . a PARUOR ISM'T CALLING OM OJR OM- WE l LORD HELOUS. IC-Xo