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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1934)
PAGE EIGHT MEDFORD HAIL TRIBUTE, MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1934. D)1Fmocking house C BY WALTER C. BROWN Chapter 61 COLLAPSE "co THIS man bounded you?" 1 asked Harper. "Followed you back to the city and forced you to continue the affair? He made you meet him In this empty house In this room? Then he la tbe one who put the notes in that sand urn on tbe hearth?" "Yos. How did you know that?" he asked, surprised. "You'd be surprised how many persons In this house knew about those secret notes. But why did this man buy a disguise so that he would look like Mr. Dutresne? We hare traced that purchase, back In Oc tober." Allne Croyden shuddered. "He turned Into a beast, a maniac, once he had me In his clutches. I think at first he got the disguise to avoid detection should he be seen here, but later It pleased blm to strut up and down dressed In Pierre' clothes, sneering and cursing at our money and social position. I saw that bis madness would bring ruin and disgrace anyway once tbla house was occupied agali." She squared her shoulders. "I was desperate. It .was too much to pay for my folly. I saw plainly that It iras simply a question of his death or my ruin " the words trailed off Into significant silence. "Was he blackmailing you?" "Oh, If It had only been a ques tion of money but he'd only laugh at me when I tried to buy blm off. I began to plan. It bad to be carried out here In tbls house. He would meet me nowhere else. He made me (Ire blm & key for tbe side door. "He kept his address a secret. He would call me up from pay stations and tell me to look for the note In tbe urn. I built up my plan, tested every detail, went through every motion a thousand times. Tbe Drat time there is snow on the ground, I wore to myself, he should die." "Old this H.D. write those threat ening letters to Mr. Dutresne?" Ham per Interrupted. "I don't know. I hadn't beard about them until after It would have been like him, bis Idea of a Joke. I put off tbe next meeting until the sight of my husband'a concert. I knew It would be easy to slip away then." "Weren't you nervous, afraid, when tbe time came?" Mrs. Croyden shook ber bead. "Ev erything was arranged, rehearsed. I had no need to think, Just act. When ii zt dark enough I slipped out of our house and came over here to put up the rope. Then I went down town wltb my husband. "It was nearly eight o'clock when I drove back. I left my car two blocks away. I tested the rope by reaching the house that way. It worked perfectly." "Ob, so you came by way of the rope? I hadn't thought of that" A LINE CROYDEN nodded. "He was waiting In this room. We quarreled again. I think be enjoyed those ace-ies. It was then that I pounded angrily on the table, stand ing opposite him down the length of IL He went - on calling me ugly names, so I raised my gun and abot blm. I was amazed at how easy It bad been. "First I wanted to be sure no one heard the shot. I looked and tbere waa a policeman Just turning In at the gatel The neit thing 1 knew, 1 was atandlng with the front door open, telling tbe policeman that I had shot a burglar. He seemed to recognise me and came In without the least sign of suspicion." "What brought him to the house?" Harper questioned. "He said ha had seen sparks com ing from tbe chimney, and, knowing that the family was away, came to Investigate. He had not beard the shot I had been stirring up the logs In the fireplace to make a better light In the room." The detective felt a pardonable pride In tbe accuracy of his previous deductions about Officer Hamlll'a movements and motives on that tatal night. "It wasn't until the policeman waa actually standing here looking at tbe body that I realised what an error I bad made that 1 couldn't possibly explain any of the details, my own presence, tin seated body, the disguise, the two liquor glssses. anything. All this time I had been holding the gun. "Ha made a step toward me and I Hred twice. That Is tbe horror of It," she burst out. Harper nodded understanding. "That la true of every erl ne. The victim rldea you harder In death than be did In life. What did you do then?" "I sat down and forced myself to be calm. It seemed hours, but I sup pose It was really only for a few minutes. Then I began to consider how to make it look as though the two men bad killed eacb other. Their position, one at each end of tbe table, gave me the Idea. "I didn't see how any on: would be able to contradict the evidence or even suspect their separate deaths. I thought I had covered up every trace of my presence. Then cornea a tiny thing like the marks of my ring to spoil It all." "When the police got here, tbe front door was banging," Harper prompted. "Did you leare It that way?" "Yes, when I was ready to go I opened It and dropped the bolt I thought tbe bodies would be discov ered quickly and my alibi would bold good." "You got away safely by going back over the rope, carrylag this man'a things with you? You went back to Orpheus Hall to listen to your husband's concert? Is that cor rect?" "Yes. I was late and I stayed In the ladles' lounge until the first number was over, then I went to my seat. There were lots of late comers, so no one paid any atten tion to me." "AT what point did Joseph Don aghy enter Into the picture?" The lines nbout Mrs. Croyden's mouth deepened. "Extortion and blackmail," she stated crisply. "He had become suspicious that some thing secret waa going on In this bouse. He watched and waited until he Anally caught .a glimpse of us. Tbe disguise misled blm Into think ing that I was meeting Mr. Du tresne." "You had to buy his silence then?" "Yesterday he came to mo and bmanded money. 1 gave him all I had In my purse. He was Insolent and demanded that I get more and bring It to blm last night In des peration I promised and I kept my promise!" she concluded grimly. For a few moments there was dead silence, then a racking aob, and the woman, overcome by the flood of memory, stood swaying, With a dull thud tbe hidden gun slid down Inside tbe coat, bounced as It struck, then lay flat and atlll on the rug. Mrs. Croyden caught her breath wltb an audible gasp, but tbe deteo tire made no move to spring for ths weapon; Instead, he looked somber ly at the woman. "Now I under stand," he announced, rising slowly, "You never meant to run away." Aa Mrs. Croyden made a quick, but belated, movemont toward the gun be kicked It across the floor. "Don't touch that," he warned. He backed toward the wall and pressed the ser vice button. . "Whst are you doing?" Aline Croyden cried, and he noted the tenseness, tbe tightly colled physi cal mecbanlsm of ber body. Harper came over and atood fac ing ber. "That was an Interesting recital, Mrs. Croyden, but you haven't tooled me one bit. You had no Intention of fleeing, In spite of your words and your gun. You wanted to confess. You wanted to be arrested tor these murders!" "What do you mean?" she stam mered, wide-eyed. "That waa a One story you told, but It waa not tbe truth I" She stared at him, atrlcken numb. Tbere was a discreet rap at the door. Keeping one eye on that statue-like figure of despair, Harper; turned the key In the lock and opened the door part way. "Andrews, get Detective Latferty at the garage and tell blm to come here as quickly aa he can." Tbe detective closed the door again. Mra. Croyden held her place. Only ber eyes moved, following bis movements. "1 did It," sbe repeated, "I'll awear to It. You can't prove that I didn't do It!" Harper looked at her steadily. "That's quite true. Mrs. Croyden. It you swear to It I'll bar trouble proving otherwise. But I know yon didn't do the actual killing. Those marka on the table were not made on the night of the murder, becaust that ring waa not In tbls room then, nor the wearer of tbe ring. I've bad a suspicion that some one was com ing Into this room In my absence and looking over the evidence aa It accumulated. When you Included those ring marks in your story, I knew you were not the actual mur derer." CCopyrtpM. IJ1. ey traitor C. Bravm) "Tomorrow, the eaa takee an other dramatlo turn. NEEDED JULY 1ST SALEM, June SO.- ( Bf teolve July 1, it will be necessary for all esmpers who Intend to build fires at other than designated camp jroundj to secure camptlr permits Before entering any national forest In he state, with the exception of the ;ualsw, It was announced today by proclamation of Governor Julius L. tleler. Campers must retrain from smok ing except on surfsced highways and carry tools suitable for tire ftghtln. consisting of sahovel, axe and buck et, the proclamation stated. Area coming under the same regu lation but outside tbe National for- FORD TRAVELING AT GATES GARAGE A modern adaptation of the 'little red school hou Be "th 1 time In the form of a, traveling school for motor car mechanics rolled into Med ford Thursday. It was housed In a trim Ford V-8 sedan delivery truck, equip ped for mechanical demonstrations of the proper methods of servicing Ford cars of all types. Ford dealers and mechanics from all southern Oregon points were in Med ford, last week attending this novel Ford school which was con ducted in the showroom and shop of the C. E. Gates Auto company here. The "school on wheel," which is under the direction of the Richmond branch of the Ford Motor company. Is similar in theory to many new traveling schools which "carry the school to the student." The school truck Is equipped with tools of every description to illustrate the most modern methods of motor car serv icing employed by Ford dealers. Thirty-two such traveling schools, one In each Ford branch territory in the United States, have been In augurated by the Ford Motor com pany for the benefit of Ford owners. Classes which are being conducted daily in all parts of the country are under the direction of a fac tory representative charged with the task of visiting Ford dealers for the purpose of Instructing their mechan ics in latest approved methods . of servicing and maintenance. Through the classes mechanics are given the benefit of thorough train ing in every phase of Ford service not only the more Important major repair operations but also in meth ods of facilitating properly mainten ance and adjustment operations and minor repairs. In the course of, the classes, les sons were given In Ford engine con struction. A thorough discussion was held of the theory and practice of motor tune-up. Special emphasis was given to the new Ford cylinder as sembly exchange policy, under which the old practice of engine overhaul is replaced by purchase and instal lation of engines reconditioned at the factory. Instruction was given In the serv icing and repair of the Ford car buretor, distributor and fuel pump, as well as other units of the elec trical system, and the cooling sys 1 5 YEAPS IN PEN FOR PORTLAND, June 30. (AP) Floyd Cochrane, 26. & baker, was today sen tenced to 15 years in prison on his plea of guilty to a charge of crim inal attack on a 19-year old girl on April 12. Cochrane met the young woman at a dance hall. He promised to take her home but instead drove her to a beer parlor and then to the country where the alleged attack occurred. WASHINGTON, June 30. (AP) President Roosevelt has appointed L. Wilson, of Montana, to be assist ant secretary of agriculture. ' E NEW VORK, June 30. ;p) The Dun 4b Br ad a tree t weekly trade re view said today that while the "trade tide undoubtedly Is ebbing from the standpoint of sales and earnings," i gradual but Irregular uptrend Is no ticeable in practically all major llnei. "It cannot be denied." asserted the review, "that crucial polnte lie in the path which business must follow during the next six months, but with the reassurance given by the presi dent that nothing is to be allowed to Interrupt the recovery movement, the overcoming of timidity and the ques tioning of the present excessive cau tion may result in a sudden forging ahead in the next few weeks. ALLOT $695,000 OREGON'S RELIEF WASHINGTON. June 30. (API State allotments for July announced today by the relief administration in cluded : Oregon: Relief, 1 600,000; drought, 875.000; transient. 619,000; research, 81,700; total. 8695,700. Idaho : Relief, 825,000; drought. 8250.000; transient, 86,000; total, 8506.000. Washington: Relief. $1,250,000; transient, 637,000; research, 83.725; miscellaneous, 6100,000; total, 6 1.-390.725. THE UMPIRE By GLUVAS WILLIAMS is rather flattered tt BE ASKED TO UMPIRE KIDS' BftLl SAME 6tfSAl0ri&PRE1'rVWHU. until -Third ihHjK6 wheK acauedstrikeisvio- UtHW PROTj&fED BY BfrfftR AMD HIS TEAM STANDS H6 6R00ND, EN' C6URA6ED BY" PITCHER WHO ASSURES HIM HVi A SWELL UMPIRE TRIES 1b SHOW HIS FAlR-i NESS BY CALLM6 NtM OKE A BAIL. Pitcher and iMField START FOR HIM WlTri eie&D in Their ees WAHTiNG To MOW CANT 6E15 EvERYBDDt1 CAIMED D0WM AT LAST BUT UM" roRTUNATaV HAS F0R6OT- "1EN HOW MANY" BALIS HE SEE STRAIGHT OR WHAT AND STRIKED "THERE "This starts another argument durin6 which runner steals "third, re- SULTlNS IN CLOSE Fifty HE DOESN'T SEE AT ALL. (Copyright, 1934, by The Bell 8yndlciU. Inc ) DUR1N6 ENSUING ?Arl' DEM0NIUM, 6RABS 0AT AND LEAVES QUIETLY" FOR HOME ,6UJYI 43o Unmans S MATTER POP- By 0. M. PajrM uoTA1?M J &&T I OP A TAW 1i6ISE. J CTSk 126A-) " (Copyright, 1034, by Ths Bell Syndicate, Ine.) vwi BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER -Not Entirely Mistaken By Edwin Alget V. FINDING A FEW MILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD ! APT TO MAKE ANYONE'S NERVES JUrAPY- y YOU'RE TALK IN' 1MSE NOW. DAVIE JONES- COME ON.CAP'N IKE. YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH THERE'LL BE NO ECRETS KEPT FROM YOU ABOARD THIS 5H1P- AND.KNOWIN' WHAT YOU KNOW. IT'S TIME YOU GOT BUSY ests Include ill prlvttoly mm tim ber Isnd idjawnt to the Oohoco, De schutes snd Malheur National foreaU, and In southern Oregon spplles to tne land lying north or Butte am Trail creexa northeast or Mfdlord. the sits, south of Kerby snd southwest or Ashlsnd. The watershed ot the north (or of the asntlsm, tbe sres extending tram the north fork of tbe Molilts, river to ths little north fork of the Santlam, the Mud creek sres of the Mt. Hood National forest snd some smsllcr eresa jn Lne snd Deschutes counties have been closed to all forms of entry except under permits. Relative to the closures 8tste For ester Lynn Cronemlller ststed that al though June rains had relieved the fire hasard somewhat, the precipita tion had been less than uausl, snd s day or two of war.a weather would make the haurd scute. During the past few weeks some 25 fires have been reported. AU kinds of legs, blanks tor sale tor rent, no hunting, no trespassing and other cards for sale st Commercial Pristine Dept. ot Mail Tribune, I (oerwnvj xie $SSI&&85!. . K, "1 " W ! 9 -rrn-n.- "(-, OKIMK ,TUL) Kt U MAYbc, BECAUSE. BETTER TURNFwHAT-S MAYBE. WRONG THIS WEVE AT LA3T L N IF J THE V SOMEONE'S TIME, OLD jf FOUND THE TREASURE fMmmml MArrER- sneakwan . pooch M ohr our nerves KSI:lBRARSlE?iEARFUL ON :h2c-?3S!Ml ARE GETTING JUMPY, KtiJ:.Kytfii FtlttTf u3 1 I I f sr vi ' - - , nam r . ' l Kvl iSaai i Ima flempBawawBwesHaa-' THE NEBBWhjow? BySoT Hesl f sOMDSg u;mm-s gn nE's sottobs.R here's a letter from co0Kji&..ljiy l SUOKJDER ,P - MfwIK.. t-, JTM BOSSi. KE SAID) KEEP UP UJITM Tl-!fc.T IH 1 RECEIVE-O VOUB MOUV ORDER 1 prTr: 7,. fijS. f7R 1 1 I i "cooo mopioikis" A suit, v donjt kmovv V Is "vou'iie the kindest mw iio the MFt? I'lJurO o. - .Jry lU" LO 1 !' A TO ME TMIS VvvIWO TVIE oUY WOO ,NJ ll VJO-D I CAUT COME DOWM OUST P ' rH-Li" XJ m?. f9,OR1rV-- 5WES GOTES MORNJ1NJG 53 VMIKJD MV4EKJ UEMfiOE IT VET 1 A.M TOO SICK TO TRAVEL . ( AT 5 5 ,15 5!5j. "1 1 KISSEO J V-- , ysL BuT I KIOOLU T WASiOrr I vwiuL. COMS OUST AS SOON AS ) k rT, XT,Vr SMACKER s S TVIE PRESIDENT J) I CAJvl ASJD UKJT1U THEM, LOTS OUT JUST A LITTLE PECK OIO ,-gfe? e F' A BAM j BIUNOiijuPFATHER By George McMqnut RATSVTHATSOMOFMIME I'VE GOT A SACK OF WW I TOOK EVERY CIGAR I TOBACCO- BOT MAGGIE. W CHILDREN ARE A HAD- CAN'T KEEP A THREW ALL. ME PIPE "o YYt GREAT COMFORT J T,iJ,5,i9LWPJrJSI: AWAY- NOW- HOW KlKl 1 . s. AROUND THE jfi PM DYIM FEH A SMOKE- I GlTA J I AH' A UTTLeI HOUSE- J ft' Tin, c Siii, : -vjiijii stove- v r
