PAGE EIGHT
MEDFORD MAIL TMBUNTE, MEDFORD, OREGON. SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1934
GVLwuLia. cud
MOCKING HOUSE
BY WALTER C. BROWN
gy.VO'.i. ..: Harper't
inveattgation vt ...j two murdere
in Pierre Dureane'e houae, haa
involved lire. Vufreane, her hue
band, a maid and a chauffeur in
a aerioua tangle, for it haa devel
oped that myeterioue notea con
earning eoually myaterioua render'
wua have been found by the maid,
and that both Dufreenee have void
her to keen silent. Harper Juat haa
tailed to pereuade lire. Dufreene
to talk, and haa left her under atrict
aurveillance in her room.
Chapter 45
CROYDEN'S PLEA
THE bouse seemed as deserted as
before, but as Harper came
down tbe stairs be realized tbat tbe
dinner must be over, for be heard
music from tbe drawing-room, In
dicating Richard Croyden at tbe
piano.
Harper was passing tbe doorway
when the playing stopped, and Croy
don, looking over his shoulder,
balled tbe detective. "Come In," be
called, "If you can spare a minute,
1're been watching for you."
Harper was somewhat surprised
by this Invitation. He eyed the
pianist sharply as he crossed tbe
floor. "Have a cigarette?" Tbe de
tective declined tbe offer, while
Croyden turned back to the piano,
his fingers moving softly over the
keys. "There are some passages
In this I need to brush up," he ex-
plained. "Recognize It? Chopin.
Polonaise In B Flat Minor."
The detective sat down In tbe
chair by tbe piano bencb. Croyden's
whole manner was feverish and ex
cited and though bis fingers con
tinued through rippling passages
his mental abstraction showed that
he was casting about for an opening
for whatever be had on bis mind.
Then, preceded by a nervous ex
halation oi cigarette smoke, be
struck out boldly. "Harper, can't
yon call off the dogs? Must this
thing go on, boring deeper and
deeper Into the private lite of this
house? Ton can't ease the dead by
in autopsy on tbe living."
"Jl detective on a murder case haa
no friends, Mr. Croyden. We cannot
call this case closed until we have
found tbe killer who Is biding
among you.
The Angers slipped Into a Jangling
discord and stopped. The pianist
turned to face the detective. - "I
think you exaggerate when you call
It a 'case,' " he challenged. "I really
don't see It, Harper. You've built
op a scarecrow of shreds and
patches. When yon tear It apart you
won't find your murderer, but you
will expose all the poor bare bones
of our family skeleton to the pub
lic gaze. The publlo Is always
roaring for tbat sort of stuff, but
I felt that you were above that kind
of show, Harper."
He drew a long breath. "Don't
think I'm talking wildly, or trying
to hide some deep, dark secret. Dig
below the surface anywhere In so
called Society and you'll And deceit,
treachery, disillusionment . And,
God knows, It you're going to take
those things for clues' to motive,
you'll finish by putting all of us
In the dock. Does this make sense
to you or do you think I'm being
merely rhetorical?"
Through a haze of smoke the de
tective looked straight Into the
glittering, excited eyes. There was
no mistaking the genuine fervor of
that plea. "I think I understand,
Mr. Croyden," Harper responded
gravely. "Yesterday, perhaps I
sbonld not have, but today a great
many things have become clear to
CROYDEN turned again to tbe
keyboard, softly fingering the
treble keys with muted sound. "Are
you a married man, Harper?" be
asked, suddenly, without turning
his bead.
No."
"Then take my advice and think
well firstl" he counselled. "It can
do things .0 you, bring about condi
tions that no lover can survive. One's
birthright of spirit can be sold ont
for a compromise," he added darkly.
"Today, we seem to cling only to
the Thirteenth Commandment
'thou shalt not be found out.' Many
things can be borne In silence. Indig
nities to tbe spirit as well as acts of
the flesh, so long as these are kept
discreetly hidden from our neigh
bors' eyes. But flaunt them across
tbe horizon and then comes the end.
Tbat Is why I ask you to take no fur
ther steps In that direction."
He stopped to snub out the cig
arette end. "1 suppose you'v hesrd
about Mr. Dufresne and Joyce Roo
mer, to give tbe lady her more fa
miliar name? And, possibly other de
tails of the sort?"
Harper shrugged. "Servants will
talk, tabloids thrive on scandal," be
remarked, "and there's precious lit
tle escapes them. As I understand It.
there have been dissensions and sus
picions on both sides of the fence.
I'm not at all Interested in private
scandal unless It touches on the case
itself."
"Ah, that's what you think. Har
per, but you make tbe other poor
beggars conscious of their tatters.
That public loss of dignity can
never be repaired. Affairs In thla
social world move In a complicated
rhythm on their own The unfortu
nate death of two strangers In this
house threatens to visit injustices
on those who had nothing to do with
the case."
"It's not so easy to say Just who
those may be," was Harper's dry
comment.
"Don't let gossip run away with
your good Judgment," Croyden re
plied quickly. "It you take tbat line,
you'll find us all In your net, accus
ing and accused. No doubt you've
heard that Dufresne and I were
rivals once and not very friendly
ones, either. You could make soma
Interesting deductlona from that."
Harper was silent, puzzled by
some repressed force underlying tbe
words. Croyden paused to light a
fresh cigarette. "That's the root of
plenty ot trouble, Harper, when
women can take over the dominat
ing role. Take my wife, for example.
I love her dearly, but she has al
ways bad mora mone than 1 can
ever hope to earn. Besides, what
chance has the masculine ego with
a girl who can outdistance you at
any sport you name swimming,
golf, riding, bridge? There la only
one field left In which I can exercise
my masculine conceit and that la
this" resting his fingers on the
keyboard.
The detective was at a loss to ac
count for this deliberate exposure
of Richard Croyden's.
"TTARPER," Croyden remarked
J-1 after a short silence, "would It
ease your mind It yon knew that
Officer HamlU's family would be
provided for? Don't misunderstand
me," he added quickly, seeing the le
tectlve's look, "this la not In any
sense a bribe. The fact Is the man
was killed In this house, presumably
In defense ot the property and It I
offer aid to the family, my motives
will be less open to misinterpreta
tion." "Mr. Dufresne has already made
such an offer," the detective replied.
"I understand your motive, Mr.
Croyden. I'm sorry I can't separate
tbe wheat from the chaff. I'll make
no secret ot tbe fact that certain
recent developments have touched
Mrs. Dufresne. By refusing to de
fend herself against very damaging
evidence, sbe has forced me to place
her under virtual arrest.
'And now I have some equally
serious matters to put before an
other membnr jt tbls household. It
the same attitude Is adopted, the
consequences will be unfortunate."
Richard Croyden leaped from the
bencb. "Sylvia?" ue cried, aghast.
Good Qodl No! Harper, nol You've
got It all wrong. Let me talk to berl"
"Sorry, but I'll have to ask you to
deter that until later. The nurse
has orders to admit no one."
Croyden sat down again, shaken.
Tbe hand tbat held bis cigarette
trembled. His face waa tbe prey of
conflicting emotions that choked his
tongue and In the stunned silence
Harper left the room.
The detective returned the slip
pers to the breakfastroom and rang
tor Andrews. When tbe butler came
be Inquired as to the whereabouts
of tbe master of the house.
"Mr. Dufresne Is having his coffee
In tbe library, upstairs, sir."
"Thank you. Andrews."
Once more the detective locked
tbe room and went up tbe stairs.
Dufresne's voice bade him enter and
It be was surprised to see Sergeant
Harper he gave no sign of lu
Ob, It's you, Harper. Make your
self comfortable. You're too late for
coffee, but 1 can offer you a spot of
this." He reached down to the lower
shelf of tbe serving table and
brought up a square black decanter
and two small glasses. The deteo-
tlve saw a similar glass with the cof
fee service.
"What Is It brandy?" he In
quired.
Dufresne cocked a Jocular eye at
him. "Never ask that question, Har
per, It's damned bad manners."
He splashed a white liqueur Into
the glasses to the very brim. "Coin
treau," be explained solemnly.
Cointreau, my boy, Is like the flaw
less blue-white diamond Nature
can do no more." He 11 "id the glass.
Your healthl"
The pontifical tone, the gleaming
eye, the dull flush, were not over
looked by the detective. Dufresne
had been drinking agatt Harper re
membered his steady application to
the brandy bottle the night before.
(Copyright. 151, by Walter 0. Broum)
Tomorrow,' Harper Jolts Pierre
Dufromo out of his calm.
Torture Tested .
Car Coming to
Med ford Monday
Torture tested car which has msle
history for the Oeneral Petroleum
corporation on the coast end the So
cony Vacuum compeny In the East
will make Ite appearance In Medford
Monday.
The well-known car will be driven
on the principal streets ot this city
during the day and will be displayed
by Independent Qeneral dealers here
as well as et company-owned sta
tions, according to an announcement
made by Bob Frame, manager In
Medford for the Oenerel Petroleum
corporation.
T. M. Hlgglns, southern Oregon
district manager for the Qeneral Pe
troleum corporation, will leave Meu
tord today for Grants Peas, where be
will meet the Torture car and escort
H to this elt.
Ko development In food cests dur
ing the past few years haa brought
such Immediate benefits to the con
sumer aa the recently announced and
sensational reduction In the price of
mayonnaise.
Here In the far west, where nature
Is at her moat bountiful In supplying
fruits and vegetables, the principal
of eating salads dally haa long been
generally accepted. Now, under the
new price schedules made pceslble In
the retail market by drastic reduc-
tlona upon the part of manufacturers,
Mrs. Housewife can serve the tastiest
and moot nutritious of salads at a
cost which In the past would have
seemed quite lmpoeslble.
This news come at a particularly
advantageous time, too, because of
the plentiful supply and the existing
low prices of practically all fruits
and vegetablea that go into salad
making.
We are now at the height of the
season, or approaching the best seas
on, for such salad vegetables aa let
tuce, tomatoes, Irish potatoes, car
rots, and celery, such fruits as ap
ples, oranges, peaches, pears, cantal
oupes and many of the most dellcr
loua berries, including strawberries,
raspberries, logan berries. In addition
there are the usual choices of fine
canned vegetablea and canned fish
aultable for salad making.
The consumer's cost of real may
onnaise, under the recent major re
ductions, amounts to approximately
one-third less than formerly.
Mr. L. A. Plercy, local distributor
for The Best Foods, Inc., In com
menting on these sensational price
reductions, said:
"Never In the history of the may
onnaise Industry has the public been
able to buy first quality mayonnaise
at any price comparable to the very
low price we have Just put Into ef
fect. We believe that this low price
will materially Increase the eating of
healthful salads, and will prove a
real benefit to the consuming public."
Society
and-Clubs
Spend Week-End
At Diamond Lajte
Miss Mildred Beeson, Miss Delphlne
HI nek and Miss Justin Miller ot
Medford are spending the week-end
at Diamond Lake. They were Joined
there- by Ml&s Margery Smith and
Miss Fay Buchanan and three other
young ladles of Klamath Falls.
Building; Bridge Club
To Meet on Thursday
The building Bridge club Is to meet
Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock,
dessert bridge, at the home of Miss
Anne Kellohor, 1019 South Oakdale
avenue.
Visit VPoodfords
While In City
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bulman and
daughter Marian of San Francisco,
en route to Portland on a pleasure
trip, apent several days laet week In
Medford a the guests of Mr. and
Mrs. Ralph Woodford.
fi
nancing Party
At Colonial Club.
Many reservations for dinner and
dancing were made for last evening
at the Colonial club. Including several .
no-host affairs. - '
MUs McGrew Given
Surprise Ptrty
Honoring the ninth birthday of
Miss Barbara Jean McGrew, a group
of her friends entertained 3a turd ay
afternoon with a surprise party at
her home, M8 Beatty street.
Those present were Jerry Morris,
Jackie Morris, Kay Grantham, David
Lee Wade, Melva Anderson, Joan
Anderson, Shirley McCultoch, Byrna-
dine McCulloch, La Verne McCullocb
and Jean Grantham.
Barrs To Spend
Several Weeks Here
Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Ban and sons
Billy and Roger, of Oakland, are
spending several weeks 1 Medford,
visiting Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wood
ford. Mr. Barr is assistant superin
tendent of mails at Oakland.
Regular Meeting
or Eastern Star
The regular meeting of the Eastern
Star will be held Wednesday evening
with a report of the worthy matron
from grand chapter to be given.
Visiting members are Invited.
Lady Elks Meet at
Temple This Week
Lady Elks will meet at the Elks
temple on Tuesday afternoon, for
cards, pool and bowling. The meet
ing this week la the last until fell, It
was announced yesterday.
Pythian Club '
Meeting Tuesday
The Pythian club will meet at the
home of Mrs, W. L. Walden Tuesday,
June 26. All members are asked to
bring a covered dish.
SLEEPY
Salem, June 23. (AP) Condi
tional pardons were Issued by Gov
ernor Julius L. Meier today to normal
B. Newell and Jack Berry, serving
terms of one year each in the Mult
nomah county Jail for aasault. Both
men were committed on November 15.
1933.
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
6ES GOOD SEATS WITH HUS
BAND A5TEMDRE FH-MSTftlffe
REALIZES PRESENlW TrIAT HE
HAS DROPPED OFF TO SLEEP-HIM
HUSBAND OPENS EVES, BLINKS
AND DENIES 1WAT HE WEHf TO
SLEEP AT ML,- HE WfiS JOSf
RESTIK6 HIS EtfcS A S&TONP
BECOMES AWARE Tuftf HE'S
NffDDlKG A6HIK, BUT PKlDES
lb LET HIM SLEEP
WHICH BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE
WHEN HE 5UDDEMY SA6S
AVER ON HER
WAKES HIM AND TELLS HIM
WHAT HAS HAPPENED Irl PIC
TURE SO HE CAN FOLLOW Th
STORY
HUSBAND SAVS HE CM STiAV
AWAKE NOW AND SCOWLS,
TRVlWb fo KEEP EVtS OPEN
SUDDENLY BECOMES AWARE OF
A RrAYHMIC SNORE ON HER LEFT
6ETTIN& LOUDER
decides she wont 5ef much
of picture herself at This
ROTE AND TAKES HIM HOMf.
(Copyright, 1934, by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
S 'MATTER POP
By 0. M. Payn
By Hal Forrest
y f .vs, 7ust? ".4ow come, rrlF ;
I THfoaa. ' y f I OVE18COAT w it Isf If f "v 'V
TAILSPIN TOMMY The Picture Must Go On I
S- f"010 S "MID-" TV(Olii, PAUL.-- llnij 1 1 VOU TtUNK A&OUTI JURV TO DeClDE. .li
NKKT mTBOL AJWEVE SOT THE A. JaL IT ON THIS PICTUEE . 'S r.Jf Hi 18 J ll DOUG'S CHANCES? 2W PAUL- OOE. CAN'T lla
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Always Ready With One!
I'M MINUS A 6A1LOR,
THAT'S WHV-OH. NOTHIN'
SERIOUS -SAM SCUPPS
HAD TO GO AN' LET A
CRATE FALL ON HIM-
By Edwin Alger
-IT TORE A GASH IN HIS LEG BUT
T BANDAGED HIM UP AN PUT HIM IN
SICK BAY-NOW, LAD, DONT LOOK SO
TUNNED CAP'N IKE WILL HAVE OLD
SAM AS GOOD AS NEW IN NO TIME
The Oeneral Petroleum Torture
car made the trsnsrontlnental trip '
from New York to the Paclflo cont'
without s, radiator's cooling sails- j
Unce, demonstrating the perform
snce of Moblloll end Mobllga under
extreme heat conditions.
( SAY, ARE YOU VAfW-' MORNIN' LADX Tl7
f GOIN' TO SLEEP ' HONEST? V WE'LL SOON BE WHY
I ALL DAY? jg. y, Jj OFF DEAD DOG I SO? j (
WE'RE MOVIN7 gjlllll REEF, BUT NOT SO ) VL-V (
TrervmS d cap-n; 7 VRate fall on him- j
THE NEBBS Discord
rt WrE) AKJO THESES MO SCMCG CAM RR?sJ& ST,CMRS AMD TeU- ME UJWAT A HARD J
V' U VUAKEUP? WHO VREASOKJ TO SK1EAK OUT WOD I MM )T BE ThI SMACJTEStA V )OB OIe GOT IP V WAS AM
ft li'lVA AM 1 AROUMO OL SLUMBER.! COULD BWlllEM mVm 1 W WOWAr V ROSAT, 1. COULD DO VOUPi ;
"j '"js iillli j A
By Sol Hesi
BRINGING UP FATHER
PRESBYTERIAN MERGER
PROPOSAL IS REJECTED
OXFORD. Ohio, June as. (API
The nenersl assembly of the United
Preebyterlsn church In North Amer
ica today decisively rejected e pro
posal of merger with the Preabyte-
rlan church In the U. 8. A. !
The vote was 113 to lis. A two-'
thirds majority was required tor ap. 1
prorml.
WINDOW GLASS sell window
glass and will replsoe your broken
windows reasonably Trowbridge Ceo
met Works.
NOW L STEM
MV SON I I
WANT TO
TALK TO YOU -
THATS BETTER
TWAM WAVlMC
TO HEAR
MOTHER blNQ
On Kail Tribune went edt.
AN' REMEMBER-
TE.LA-IM- YOU
FTHW5 NOVICE-
5.TC- ETC
AN' INI COMCLAJSllON
LET ME SAY-THAT IF
YOU AVOiO ALL THE
TEMPTATION I'VE JUT
TOLD YOU ASOUT
YOU'LL. BEA FINE
MAM
By George McMantu
BUT, D AO! HOW DID
YOU FIND OUT
ABOUT TME5E
THiNCS THAT YOU
TELL ME NOT
TO DO?
V