PAGE SIX
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 193:
cyMwuhx at
MOCKING HOUSE
.BY WALTER C. BROWN.
NYN0P8I8: Sergeant Uarpt.
fuet haa told PleiTe Dufreana ami
Ura. Dulreane that on or the othei
ta guilty of the murder ol two men
in the Dufreana houae two dove be
fore. And now ha it ahooked by the
act that Donaahv the Dufreane
chauffeur, haa been found dead with
a note beaide him aaying ha waa
committing autctde and had been
the murderer himaetf. lie telle
where a myaterioua piece of rope
and other articlea may be found.
Chapter it
METHOD OF ESCAPE -
HARPER went on digging out the
contents of '.he tire. Out came
a worn pair ot man's suede gloves,
a leather wallet with the gold In
ltlals "H. D." stamped Inside, a key
case holding three keys, a pocket
handkerchief with the Initial "D" In
one corner, a thin gold watch with a
link chain, a clgarottu lighter, and a
nan's signet ring with the same ln
ltlals Intertwined.
Dusting off his hands, he took
stock ot the collection. The use ot
that thin, tough rope with Itt ringed
ends cams readily to his mind. He
looked through the snow-trimmed
panes toward the big house. That
baffling escape from the scene ot the
crime had been a simple affair after
all, once one had a glimpse ot the
modus operandi. He put down the
rope and went over to the linger'
print man, "How does It stack up?1
he asked.
The man looked up. "They're
smeary," he replied, "and there's
not a perfect print on the gun, but
there's no doubt about then, check
ing. It that's what you n.ean."
Harper approached the police sur
geon. "Find anything, Doc?"
The Coroner's man shook his
head. "Not a thing. It's a good, clean
suicide," he concluded with callous
humor, "everything according to
Koylj."
Harper made a cursory examina
tion of the other rooms, then gath'
(red up the articles retrieved froir
mo ora tire, wrapped them in a
towel, beckoned to O'Connoll, and
left the garage.
Bending the policeman ahead
with the bundle, Harper made
complete circuit of the walls of the
main house, with occasional digres
sions over the snow-covered grounds.
When he had finished he understood
xactly the use which had been
made ot that brownish yellow rope
with Its ringed ends. He was just
about to re-enter the bouse when he
law Lafferty's spare figure hasten
ing In at the gate. The tall detective
was greatly excited over this latest
development and piled Harper with
questions as they proceeded to the
breakfast-room, where O'Connell
had put. the recovered evidence on
display.
Lafferty seized on the skein ot
rope at once. "Hello, what's this?"
be queried.
"You are holding In your hands
the answer to the great puzile how
did the murderer get away without
leaving any traces In the snow?
With five minutes' practice you or
I or any one could do It as well."
He pointed through the window.
"You know the small porch on this
side ot the house? Well, there's a
sturdy Iron hook driven Into the
wall right by the porch. And do you
see that tree, Just on the other side
of the boundary wall? Another hook
was driven Into that.
"The rings on each end of the
rope hooked on to those, leaving the
rope seven or eight feet above the
ground. This miraculous escape was
made by the murderer going along
that rope, hand over hand, with the
feet drawn up clear ot the snow."
The big detective plumped down
in a ohair. "Well, I'll be damned!"
he exclaimed.
"It certainly was a neat stunt,"
Harper resumed. "Not nearly aa
hard as It sounds, A man of Don
aghy's build and vigor would find
It child's play."
"T)UT wait a minute," Lafferty In
D terruptcd, "what happened to
.the rope afterward? It wasn't there
when we took charge. When was It
put up and who took It down?"
"The hooks could have been
driven In any time, but I think It
was all done recently. The rope was
strung across late that afternoon,
after dusk, before the snow was
heavy on the ground. After the mur
ders the killer swung over the porch
rail, wont hand over hand until he
reached the boundary wall, then
swung himself clear over the top and
dropped In the adjoining grounds."
"But how was the rope removed?"
Lafferty persisted.
"Oh, that was easy. The end
hooked to the tree waa taken down,
and by sharply twitching the line
upward and snaking It at the same
time tho end at the porch slid oft the
. en a quick jerk brought It
.- back over the wall, much like
. .icklng a long whip.
"However, the Jerk wasn't quite
quick enough, and the free end ot
the rope dropped Into the snow mo
mentarily. Do you remember that
odd gash we found in the snow when
we were checking up the footprints?
There was our clue, but we couldn't
make anything of It." ,
Lafferty became pensive. "That's
all right as far as It goes, but It
doesn't clear up everything. What
about Mr. Dufresne and Mrs. Du
fresne the ambush the crank let
tersthe phoney alibis?"
Harper put the articles back In
the bundle. "We'll clear all that up
later," he said. "There must be a
fantastlo kind of misunderstanding
between some of the persons In this
house. Bring Andrews and the Whit
mores In here, will you?"
In a few moments they all filed In,
and Harper Invited them to be seat
ed. They looked at Sergeant Harper
expectantly.
"You know what has happened,"
he began; "there's no need to go
Into that. Now, which one of you
was the last to see-Joseph Donaghy
alive?"
There was a rapid Interchange of
questioning glances, then Andrews
spoke up. "I believe that I was."
Harper looked at them. "We'll
consider It settled, then, that An
drews was the last to soe Joseph
Donaghy alive. He left the house
about six o'clock. Did any of you
see a light In his room during the
night?"
"TpHBRB was no answer. Harper
leaned back In his chair. "Toll
me about the discovery of the body."
Mrs. Whltmore took up the tale.
"We are the first up In the morning,"
she explained. "I came downstairs
a few minutes after seven this morn
ing and John soon after that. There
are a number of things that need
doing right away, regulating the
thermostat and things like that At
a quarter to eight I rang the garage
on the house 'phone."
"Was that usual?" Harper Inter
rupted. "Oh, yes. We always get Joseph
up that way. He has to get cut ot
bed to answer the 'phone, and I let
It ring till he answers."
"How long did you ring this morn
ing?" "Quite a while. Then I got angry
at him and hung up. When John
came up fron. the cellar I told him
to go across and get him up."
Placid John Whltmore nodded
sagely to this account The detec
tive turned to him. "Toll us your
part"
I went out to the garage," Whit-
more began, "never dreaming what
I was going to run Into "
Were there any footprint In the
snow when you went there?"
"No, sir."
"Was the door locked?" .
"Ot course. I had taken the key
from the rack In the kitchen. I went
upstairs and walked right Into Joe's
room. When I saw what was on the
bed I guess I Just stpod there dumb-
rounuea."
"Did you move the body? Or
touch anything in the room?"
Oh, no, sir," John answered hast
ily. "I felt queer all over, sort ot
faint I must have run down the
steps and back to the house." It
was Mrs. Whltmore's turn to nod
confirmation.
"I was there when Whltmore came
back, Sorgeant" O'Connell broke In.
"He looked like he'd just seen a
ghost As soon as I uuderstood
what had happened I ran out to the
garage. There were only two tracks
In the snow, Whltmore's going and
coming back. I looked around the
room, saw the letter In the type
writer and read It, then I came baok
here and called you up. That's the
whole story. Sergeant."
Harper exhibited the skein of
brownish rope with the motal rings
on the ends. "Can any of you Iden
tity this piece of rope? Do you have
any rope like this In the house?"
The three servants passed the coll
from hand to hand. Mrs. Whltmore
spoke for them. "We never had
rope like this In the house. We use
the ordinary wash-line kind. I never
saw rope like that before."
The detective addressed his next
question to the Whltmores. "Did
you see Donaghy up here the day ol
the murders? I have reason to be
lieve that he came bare thon, proba
bly lata In the afternoon."
Both John and Martha shook their
heads emphatically,
(Copyright, nil. by trailer O. Brown)
VACATION BIBLE CLASS
OF ZI EVANGELICAL
IS CLOSED WITH PICNIC
Dally Vacation Bible school ot Zlon
Evangelical Lutheran church closed
with a program of unusual merit,
demonstrating Ha work last Sunday
morning, and a picnic Monday after
noon In Llthla park, greatly enjoyed
by the many boys and girls, who had
attended the school and mothers and
teachers.
After a few happy hours In the
park, as about to spread out the pic
nic dinner, shortly before 5 p. m., a
rain storm came up, and all crowded
Into the cars and Mr. Simpson's truck
and returned to Zlon church, Med
ford, where another happy time was
had enjoying the picnic dinner, and
a special Ice cream treat from the
school.
All attending the service last Sun
day morning enjoyed the program
greatly, especially the dramatization
of Queen Esther presented by 20 mem.
bera of the school; the drama, as
given, having been written and di
rected by Miss Irene B re wold and
Martin O. Kabele, The primary grades
also gave an Interesting demonstra
tion, under the direction of Mrs. E.
Jaqua, how Bible stories are taught
by dramatizations by the children, by
having them present the story of the
finding of the child, Moses, by a
cast chosen at the time for presenta
tion of the drama In the service.
Cast for the dramatization of
"Queen Esther."
Queen Esther Verna Paulson.
The King Earl Plchtner.
Haman, the chief Counsellor Paul
N.chols.
Mordecal Leigh Campbell.
Princes Billy Frederick, Robert
Campbell, Richard Frederick, Chester
Cole, Johnny Shea.
Ladles Audrey Boussum, Lucille
Balrd, Dorothy Stubblefleld, Phyllis
eleven, Isabelle Qanfleld, Doris Bed
ford, Margaret Ash.
Chamberlains David Dawson, Ann
Persons, Thomas Kroschel, Howard
Renner.
Peasant women Phyllis eleven.
Dorothy Stubblefleld, Doris Bedford.
The Crier Howard Renner.
The four scenes:
1 Throne Room.
3, Castle Gate and Throne Room.
3. Castle Gate.
4. Throne Room.
PLANT PEST BATTLE
UNDER NEW BUREAU
WASHINGTON, June 87. (AP)
The bureaus of entomology and plant
quarantine In the department of ag
riculture will be merged July 1.
The new organization will take over
from the bureau of plant Industry
control and eradication work on
plant pests and diseases.
WJs TETRAETHVL
NEIGHBORS
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
(Qopyright, 1934, by Tb B.11 Syndicate. Ine.)
WAKES UP FROM NM AHD LIES
1HIWK1N& OF THIS AND frtKf
HEAR SWEKM. WHIMPEPS
ffom -The house Nfxf door
mat s "The jones baby ahp
HE'S A RlOt WHEN HE &E1S
60IK6. LlStENS SMEGtfcHftV
l&PISAPPOINfET WHEM WHIM
PERS DIE MAY, JONES BABY
HAVIN& GONE 0 SLEEP AGAIN
BuT HELLO, IUERE'5 "TviE SMI1H
BABY ACROSS 1HE STfcEEf
TUNING Ir!
0
ONE AF1TR ANOTHER, THE:
RESf OF THE BABIES IN 1HE
NEIGHBORHOOD ADD TrtEIRv
VOICES. QUifE A CHORUS!
I I 1 IIUl I
6RAUUALLV ','rtE WAI15 DIE
awaV, saV. those babied
have been picked up, or
THEY WOULDN'T fiUIE DOWN"
What lun& power that kid
HAS ! FAR AND AWAY Trig
BEST. YELLER ON 1HE BLOCK,
wells Time -fo e a
LVftlE ACfiOhl IN HIS OWtf
HOUSEHOLD
6-27
S 'MATTER POP
w
Payne
By Hal Forrest
By C. M.
5? ' " " ' "X J a t . r r VSM , ' All A1Ce.SeTTINl YpMOW is
V ' '
TAILSPIN TOMMY Let's Do It Over Again! ,
2r -rlt2 J ) A r Vi poomo.' ill ' sur.e dynamite for. dainsar ez jW' lMA:rG fVtl? aVS mStuiw' ?
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Dave Jones Goes Down
Z EVERYTHING'S SET ' gpPI f UtAPH! UMPM.' DAT I I ARE. VOL) ON THE I THE YOUNG EEL c, SO EXCITED N
nyC ( HUSH.BRIfiRSIE I A ( rMN SHO' AM DOIN' BOTTOM, DAVE ? HOWS j A. THAT HE EVEN FORGOT TO USE THE
'jX -i THAT'S DAVE-- jJife V 'SUMP'N AH'O NEVAH jl, THE AIR? OKAH ? SEE W J?? UNDERWATER CAMERA THIS TIME-
' T X2$M I DO. y, ANYTHING YET? fyC BUT BIDE VOURTlME,CAP'N IKE
VOU'LL MAKE INSU1:TS
THE NEBBS From the Long Ago
r DO VOL BEMEM66R SUOSt , X VES, 1 DID AMD SHE'S 7sWBW
' I 6. BAROMETER OP 1 DOWiT A COKJNJlG, THE KJICE LOOtfkT YREMaMBCft WeSt-) SICK AKJO I UJAKJT VOO TO ArWE REGULAR. A
VOUR FeEUM3,3 , ) DECE1TPUL. FACE f LADY THAT X WAS EKJSASGOl'T lT S MW6 A RESERVXXTIONJ AT STrATES- IP Vou'RE
' WORRIED I AROUSJD vaJITW ME. -to AMD GIVE MONJEV TOGO 7. SJJ, VOU HOTEL 'CAUSE SOlO ) (SOikjg, TO BE A I
X5i!lz!n' Vr auluays Lops V-ro -the citv amo buy Ah to semo her mojev to doki.t
C r'JIUJ y VpL)RKJTURE - WODWHO f ' - COME DOVJNJ HERE AMD' . wXSJT TO BE V
I t -TTVSShV' V toeveR come Bpmik ? ys- Gp set vjell. akid ip sou ct-Avnour PARxwecii.
T TYV TTlT y J T-IT MAKE A CHEAP rPa)CZ. OLTTTA. cCv y
ionijmri , iL ifc C n y r-j friekjdsuip tLor celatiom- I Mf IliTrnMiill
I O JYxLfff PjTsSS ! 1 jhiB j -flrti. TI'iw lswiP.ivwANT?vcxJTOMey&5r i MI
albany fire chief rsrr,,M 6 1 wof j(,4jnf jXl '
HURT WHILE FISHING 0u.,m S( AS, lT VfF"-1 WV ' '
zrl:rz -m-- - tii A ri $M Ufc .R 1
lvr Butt. Albsnjr (Ira chief. ws mlerslor of the (leneral council of u.ii I (' L aasaimsa- --5 V A I Vl Tt. n Jt s ru om I " U a.
msklng a rapid rcov.ry In a hopltal conur.tio,,,! . ,ntf christian 1 L-1 1 U 1 Ci r " ' 1 11 ' ' ' " 1 "
hre todaj from Injuries hi suffered ctlrch, and the Rev. Dr. Jay T.I BRINGING UP FATHER By Georee McMantti
when h. fell from a aj-foot cliff stocking of St. Louis was elected I 1 , ; . . . . ., . g8 mCmanU
overhannlng the Deschutes river near mx,cn(Vor. WELL-I'LL DO AS MAGGIE I MUST BE ON ME. DIGNITY I ' ' 1 -s GO,TELL n J v
Maupin. He was on a fUhlnit trip. , SAY-I'LL GIT UP CARfY WHEM Me SoM COMEi IN . ssaSEsill. MV ONI 1 ( enowv ,io Pu IT uc
H. received arm and rib Injur.. U,e M.I. Tribune want ads. 1 TJtprfJpEOMT3 NOW LET MEEEMFERGOT MOnMlN; TO OT UP J SSFOMfeSw ME
i . m I BETORE MEOM-BUT T 5 WHETHER THAT BOOK ON SIR- AN" COME J DIDN'T COME HOME '
i n n n nmnir rnmn n -W- f tsSarLv- Z etiquette &a-ts to keep U. , ' Sy.Ji2.-r lastnight-
By Edwin Alger
By Sol Real