PAGE EIGHT
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFOKD. OREGON. MONDAY. DECEMBER 31, 1934,
By VICTOR BRIDGES J
SYNOPSIS: A valuable formula
which has been stolen trom Holly
O'Brien is being sought by various
sinister interest. Siholas Trenoh
and Jetrv siordaunt art aiding
SloU-- in her attempt to reoover it;
suddenly Molly axsappeare trom
her hotel. It was said that she was
taken ill, and had to bt removed to
a hotpital. Out Jimmy Fox vaot
boy whom Siek hat befriended,
ollous and tells Sick that Hotly
actually has been hidden in a Hum.
Then leave a taxi at the end ot the
ttreet and start to And Holly.
Chapter 20
BATTLE FOR MOLL ,.
RELIEVED t? the knowledge that
we had at least aecured our re
treat, I aet oS with Jimmy along
the empty terracb.
It was a depressing thoroughfare,
consisting ot shabby-looking tnre
atory houses, most of which wore
doubtless let out tn lodgings. None
of them had apparently been paint
ed or done up for years, and In many
cases the stucco was peeling off
their fronts.
A tbln driving rain added to the
general air of sordid dlscomforL
We trudged on in silence until,
s little way ahead of us, the road'
way began to slope upwards. At the
top of the rise It narrowed Into what
was evidently a bridge a short
stretch of about twenty yards wltb
high Iron railings on either side of It
. "Is this the canal?" 1 inquired.
Jimmy nodded. "That's right, sir.
Runs along at the back ot the
t'ouse."
' He volunteered no further Infor
mation until we had reached the on-
;?:!tn end, when he pulled up
abruptly under the light of a street
lamp.
"You can see for yourself now,
sir. That's the place we want the
second one past the yard.'
1 stared down Into an untidy lit
tor of timber and old barrels. Be
yond this 1 could make out the black
shape of two buildings, each
which seemed to possess a narrow
strip or ground monlng down to the
canal bank. Both of them were In
complete darkness.
"Better have a look at the front
first," I observed. "If there's noth
ing doing there we can come back
and try this sld
We continued our way down the
farther slope, and In a few steps ar
rived at the entrance to Wbarf
Lane. It was a gloomy cul-de-sac
wltb a blank wall on the left, termi
nating, as Jimmy bad said. In
rough piece of waste ground, railed
In from the road. Facing this were
a couple of gaunt houses, wlth,JilRh
steps leading up to their front dcJors
Treading as softly aa we could we
moved on past the gate In the yard
and pulted up outside our destina
tion. Like Its next door neighbor tb
place looked as though It were de
serted. Not a ray of light appeared
anywhere, and the only sound tbat
broke the stillness was the faint
patteilng of the rain amongst the
bushes opposite.
I peered through the half-open
sate which led down Into the area.
Dark as It was I could see tbat the
kitchen windows were heavily
barred, the stout Iron stanchions
reaching np to within a few Inches
lot the top arch.
un the left, however. Just above
Hbe dim outline of the dustbin, there
was soinatblng else. It was a small
pane of partly broken glass about
two feet square, and at the sight of
It a sudden Inspiration flashed
ai ruse my mind.
"Come on, Jimmy," I whispered,
lr: go down and do a bit of
senium."
CI-KN7LY as cats we descended
u lie steps, and creeping forword
ha side of the dustbin, 1 pulled
a pocket electrlo torch which I
bi. brought with me from the flat
Tli. broken pane was about six feet
fro i the ground. I raised myself on
m toes, so that I could lust see
ovu the lower ledge, and Inserting
my lurch through a hole In the glass.
pi- -a ied down tbe switch.
was looking Into what waa evl-
di :ii:y a disused coal cellar. There
w:i nothing In It except a few dirty
so, i and the door, which was only
hell closed, led out Into a passage.
urned off the Hint and pushed
cnui oiuly on the wooden frame
work At the second attempt It yield
ed to my efforts, swinging open with
a noisy creak. I stepped back, and
bending down, placed my Hps to
(Jimmy's ear.
"It'e not bis; enough lor me," I
(whispered. "Are you game to-climb
through end unlock tbe back door?"
Not 'alf, sir."
"Shove this lamp In your pocket
.hn. and get on my shoulder."
Sii'idylng him by the knees. I
ta:ri myself slowly to my full
el; ht. "Legs first," I muttered, a-
with a quick WTlggl t felt him twist
himself around. There was a shower
ot dust and grit, a brief straining
scramble; tbe weight on my arms
suddenly relaxed, and a muffled
bump frorn Inside told me tbat be
bad landed safely.
Wltb tbe rain trickling down my
neck I stood there In the darkness
scarcely daring to breathe. Ten
twenty thirty seconds passed.
Trom somewhere close by a church
clock chimed out the halt-hour, and
then, breaking In on the stroke,
came the harsh grate of a key. Al
most simultaneously the back door
swung open and Jimmy stepped out
Into the area.
"We're all right, sir." he whis
pered cheerfully. "There's no one
about, leastways sot down "ere."
- I took back tbe torch which be
held out to me. "You wait wbere
you are, Jimmy," 1 said. "I'm go
ing In to search the house. If you
bear a row and 1 don't come down
again or give you a shout, clear out
quick while you've got tbe chance.
Get bold ot the first policeman you
can And and tell him tbat there's a
young lady here who has been kid
napped and locked up. Do you un
derstand?" He nodded silently.
Flicking on my lamp I moved past
him Into tbe corridor. It was a short,
narrow passage '."lib doors on either
side of IL At tbe farther end It
opened out Into a kind ot stone
Bagged basement, and tiptoeing
stealthily forward 1 found myself
confronted by a flight of wooden
stairs. From under the door at tbe
top came a faint glimmer ot light.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
'N ORE
FOR
II,
OR several seconds 1 stood still
stenlng. Tbere was not a sound
to be heard, and taking hold of tbe
rickety banisters 1 mounted up a
step at a time until my Angers
closed silently on the door handle.
;t turned with a taint click. I
dropped back tbe torch Into my
pocket, and giving a gentle push,
stepped out softly Into sn empty
and dimly lit ball.
Tbe light, such as It was. came
from an old-fasbloned gas Jet, which
bad been turned down almost to its
lowest point. It gave Just sufficient
Illumination to reveal tbe tact that
there were four rooms two on
eltber side of me, and that In the
centre another staircase led up to
tbe flrst landing.
1 was on the point of moving tor-
ward when my heart gave a violent
Jump. Without the slightest warn
ing one of the doors on my right
was suddenly Jerked open, and out
of tbe darkness merged the figure
of a man.
He waa dressed In trousers and a
dirty shirt, and hla huge tattooed
arms were bare to the shoulder.
Through the mop of tousled balr
which bung down over bis forehead
he stood glaring and blinking at me
like some monstrous ape.
"Cbove J la sllayty."
Tbe words, whatever tbey meant,
came out In a hoarse growl, and
somehow or other tbe sound ot the
brute's voice steadied me Instantly.
You filthy swine!" I said.
"Where's Miss O'Brien?"
I took a atep towards him, and at
the same moment he sprang at me
like a wild beast. One clawing band
gripped me by the shoulder, and I
felt the blood spurt beneath my
knckles as my loft fist crashed
home full In bis face.
Back went his bead and up came
bis chin. Swift aa a flash, and with
tbe full weight of my body behind
It. 1 slung In my right. It landed
square on the point ot bis Jaw, and
lurching back against the wall, he
to; pled to tbe t.r with a thud tbat
shook the bouse.
A trifle dazed by tbe suddenness
ot It all, I stood staring stupidly st
tbe sprawling bulk In front of me.
He lay flat on bis back one arm
ung out at full length, and the
other doubted under him.
His mouth and chin were covered
with blood and 1 noticed fur the trst
time that he had silver rings In
both ears.
There was a shuffle of footsteps
In the passage below. In another mo
mont Jimmy cams scrambling up
the stairs.
"Crikey!" he ejaculated. "That
was some punch, that was!" He In
spected my handiwork with a kind
of awed Interest. "I wish I'd seen It,'
be added regretfully.
"I want you to keep an eye on this
chap." 1 said, "while I go and find
Miss O'Brien. You're not afraid, arc
you?"
"Not me." was the cheerful re
uponse. 'If 'e moves 1 11 kick 'Ira ou
:'.e 'ead."
(Copyright, Pnn PaMOalne Co
Jimmy and Nick Put a Quick
" id to a Disturbing Situation,
torrow.
10
With represent fctlTta In Attendance
from all nrtt of tha country, the
thirty. firt annual convention of the
Wtutem Fruit Jobber aaaoclatton of
America will be held In San Prancla
co January 32 to 36, It waa announc
ed here today.
Of particular Interest to jrowera
and ahlppera of frulta and vegetable
In tha pactflo coaat area, the Ban
Francisco meeting la expected to at
tract a record cumber of delegates,
Including many persona frorn this
atate.
8. M. Cohodaa of Ishpemlng. Michi
gan, president of tha association, will
pjcaido at tpa convention, tn4 u&dox
.!ft!
SALEM. Ore. (UPi Growth of
oubllc education In Oregon In the
last 60 yenrs has been tremendous,
ntcordlng to Charles A. Howard, state
u perl n ten dent of public Instruction.
Between 1884 and !934, the num
ber of pupils attending achools has
Increased five-fold, the length of the
school term has nearly doubled and
, the number of school districts grown
j more than BO per cent, figures from
Superintendent Howard's bl-ennlal
I report show.
Fifty years ago there only 80,018
boys and girls between the ages of 4
' and 10 Included In the school cen
! sua, Only 4(', 107 attended school, a
j percentage of S7.6. The average, dally
i attendance was only 31.005 pupils.
' and the term was 95 days long In
1336 school districts.
In 1933-34, the school census show
ei 368,000 children eligible to attend
school, and a total enrollment of
201,654 for a percentage of 77 8. The
average dally attendance was 169.277,
i for a term of 166 days In 3123 school
districts.
j When there were no Jobs In 1932-
1933 for those of high school age.
achools had their highest percentage
of enrollment, 78 9 per cent, with
262.498 between the eges of kinder
garten and high school were counted.
The average dally attendance wai
a!so highest then the figure reach
Ing 207,225.
The longest school term ever
taught In the state was In 1927-23
when classrooms were open 174 3 days.
Before the advent of the county unit
system and consolidation, a record
rnmber of 2948 school dtstrteta was
reached In 1921-23, the report show
TASTE
SALEM, Ore. (UP) The tables
were turned when Oregon' achool
marma were given a, spelling test In
recent examinations Teachera chew
ed their pencll-enda over tha fol
lowing list of words:
Apparatus, violinist, equipped,
hurrying, guarantee, creative, clip
ping, cordial, parmenont. perform
ance, allowance. Incidentally, Infor
mal, contemplate, worrying, descend
ant, comply, soliciting, pennant,
Identify, gracious, artificially, mar
veled, ftcarnd, breadth, pertaining,
hoeing, removal, leisure, analysis, ac
cepted, luxury, plateau, comedy, re
sponse, sovereign, wedged, conqueror.
Inaccurate and descend.
STORMY WEATHER
By GLUYAS WILUAM3
NU1ER4,644
SALEM, Ore. (UP) Oregon has an j
Indian population of 4644. according
to the annual report of Secretary of ,
the Interior Harold Icites. i
At total o.' 2294 males and 2378
femalea were counted by the censos !
takers. Three-fourths of the num- '
ber live on reservations.
Klamath agency and reaervatlon.
with 1384 Indiana, la the largest In
the atate. The Jurisdiction of tne
Chemawa eehool here extends over
1148 Indians. A total of 1140 live
on the Umatilla agency and reserva
tion and 992 at Warm Springs.
The Indian population of the
United States .i nearly all In 22
states. Oklahoma, with 94,980, has ;
far more Indiana than any other
state. On th Pacific coast, Call- !
fornia ha ? 09 and Washlrgton
13.418. . I
Copyright, 1834, by Tha BeU Sysdicftte, ino.)
n-3i
W!LDRH SYftRlfcP C01ORIW6
piefuRES ik old ma6MjH$
roESHf thiw Too much sr tf
A6'A Prr5ir1. W0HPEJS ARf
ERE BEfYER Tii)RB IK
MI5 BROILER'S WA6ftIN
BROTHER REr05l6TtlHf-BlAHK.
IN
-Tries 6Uile. -torus pa6Es f
H1& MA6fiZ)NE, EClAIMINg
WWrf WONDERFUL PlOTilRES
TO
6UILE FA1LIK6, StfEAKS OP
AHD SNMtHES BROTHER'S
B-RMUER'S SHRIEKS 8RIK6
MOl'MER 16 friE SCZHC WHO
RRCE5 HIM 1b RE0RK friE
r
IS SURPRISED AND SUSPICIOUS
WHEN BROfUcR CHM6ES HIS
MIND AND SflVs HE'iL TRADE
fikds 1hepe was a hriluk6
Pirate pic-tore he overlooked
akd demands his wa6a2ine
BACK, BROKER REfl55lH& rt"
Un 56 WAR IS DK1ARED, Bl)f
rORfUNATELH' ATfUIS POlMf friE
SON fl&MES CM SOTHAtYhFY
Cfltf 60 OOf-OF-pDOR?) TO TW
S'MATTER POP-
Bv C M. Pavn
hla direction m,mbrs of tha organi
zation will conalder all phara of the
frutt and vpgthbl Industry ona ot
tha moat Important In tha Ufa of
America. Prat-tlrea and policies of the
asAociatlon will be formulated for the
coming year.
Every large terminal market In the j
United Btatea will ha represented at
tha meeting, according to word re-1
celved here, and In addition to the
worn of the convention, visitor, from
the east, middle west and south plan
to Inspect many of the vaet agricul
tural enlerprlaea of the west before
returning to their homes.
Several special tralna have been en
gaged to carry delegatea to Ban Fran
cisco, President Cohodaa and a large
group of delegatea will travel from j
Detroit on the ao-called "PreMdeni',
Bpeol-.l." Another special train will ,
move from New Orleana. picking up i
delegatea eo route, It waa stated. !
When It Comes toRailloe Rememhrr
"Prultt a Can Do If Phone 12.
fL AN-M&WAt-tre-DySI loW -rUv fk Do E6 1oww! J WM J f Voo JlslsA y
TAILSuH'L.. Tommy Explains By Hal Forrest
ACCOBdNS TO MB. CURTIS' I SOLLV--I CAN TKl l I(aX'R TO MEEr Hin TC-vAN' WAICHIN7" r1 I HEY.YOUSAWKV yuH-SLIRe! I MP, 3KEXS.'--r'OeO ) V
CA3LE6RAn, IT WOULD OUST PICTURE J 3 i AT THE CAPITAL CITYJ S DOIN' TH' RUMS A BOMEO) CAN'T VOU T YOU , eUinTe' CAB V,
TAkt TO WKS 4te THEM DARK- SW- DELSE6UNDO-- 1S S O WHATEVER. KeEP YOUR MIND X SAYIN' 80.THIN ME OOnr &L1.0 )
A 6'ROUNH .SURVEY OF 'T EYED. .SLIM s4: . , C k!MDA DANCE S OFF OF GIRLS FOR TABOUT US - IT- WE VEttiY f-, J&-ZZ
THE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY J J6MOR1TAS-- T JZjC37?M.&r-z THEY OG IN ) r. A M016NT UNTILd?8UILDIN' A 1 DeTSSV Ti-FXOHLS
TO PICK THE CEST ROUTE -. - . 1 .feN AZ - '- I FINISH ? Tir-6 ROAO" THE . J .fj?
FOR A RCAO FROM MIS OIL 'Zr--T LJS , tiTH ''.A .r -; gasVii, 3 -r$k J
W
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Codfish Charley's Idea
Bv ?.DWIN A T '
NHfiT'5 CHIRP VOYiG?
AND WHERE DIP VOL)
bump imto the woooekj
LEGGED, .WOODEN-HefiDED
WNP 0fl(5 ?
7
i J I I ' ' x 1 i
ran
- "cr: f
' BUT THAT flIMT THE
HALF, OF IT, CHe5
CHIRPS GOT F SHOW&0nT
PNP HE'5 GOT P Y0UN6
ONION AflflNRGIN" TUB
HOW THAT l'Wl GOIN'TO
C.ALT POWN IF IT TflKES WE
the rest o 'Any lifc
-rwev vb rviT a nos
ACT TMAT'3 A HONEV,
CHE4-TH6 HOUNDS SING
NO KlOCHN' IFVME HflO
THEM TWO POOCHES,
CWES, IT'P WICRN LOTSfl
ORflVY-
-srf CHIRP 0PN'tWnOLLIE9 CLEflpl
r ' , --: I HAVE WILLIE, W VAfVlOOSEP-JU9T fl
' lilliFll I IKw P'D HE ? J CHIRP AND THE MO- I
I I I ! 'ilTnSmMTVwfflrfl ,T D 86 R pushover
J 71 I II I ' WW9 X CHE5 JJ
S III I I ! iii 1 I v -U --rrl
THE NEBBS T'wns Ever Thus
TM13 MeE.LO VEARS CtaEBeATlOM
stlfp is the malahw to me:J
I'D LlkfE TO SO TO PEO SOME
WEUJ YEARS EVE AT IO O'CLOCK
amO wake up 7215. iE-t
vea,ri.- AMD MCAMUrf
TM13 uesuJ sear's ctaeeeATiOM A ,tbi i-vc- VIR."'"-V if ajytmikj& gets me it's 3 ll' i vwOKJDeR. if ujuetsj l r, - ......
STLFF is THE MAUHV to Mer-Vftors Iuat S. -A tun stim--, , .O A.I i kit mirr 1 h7 SET OLD IF 1 CAM SIETOLD. "Z. . . .Wi
I) V- r- .,1.,,-, OUST HOal OLD I'VE GOT TO T vj
T NJO N -y 1 1 VEAR. V-ID EkJTER VOU.SJOUJa
BRINOINO OP FATHER
NOW-YOU LlSTEM TO ME-1 HAVE MY
mimd on Olif? Daughter to
marry a nobleman instead of
going with the common men
sne likes-go right in and tell
HER YOU AGREE WITH ME-
Phone bil. We'll haul sway )oui
itlUM. Clljr Baultsry Bancs.
f
i'VV-
f ' ..I
DARLIN'. ftt'V
N
i m
1
. ' V' w:.' i a
WH Ki lot. S. ..,'- i.f. jttm
DADDYI I OONT CASJE
WHAT MOTHER SAYS
I'M GOING TO MARRY
A riNE,TROE-BLVJE.
AM t RlC AM BOT-W1LL
YOU LOOK IN THE
LIBRARY AND 5EE if
Mf) SAMiOM lJ IN
YOU RE RIGHT
DAUGHTER. I
AGREE With
you, BUT DONT
TEL.U YOUR
MOTHER I 6AIO
SO- I'M GLAD TO
HEAR YOU TALK
THAT WAY-
' n
'
illMl!!!: I'LL, just take) I I ( i
w tr (o-w-j m