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