PXflE TEN
rEDFOHT) MATL TRTBTjyE. rEDFOKP, (TRT.GCK. SUNDAY. MAY 1(5. 1937
C3UQDGD
SELF-HELP
By CLUYAS WILLIAMS
STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX
For farther proof address tho suthor, Inclosing m stamped envelop for reply. Bf. V. 8. Pat. Off.
on THE D1UEFF
' SYHOPSlii: n on wild ana
ttormi nipht at Farrlnoton Bluff,
home of Michael' aunts, Jude
BHruhop. an old flame of mine, ij
shoe to death on the bluff: the
Skipper, Mike's tall and tweedy
. younger aunt, disappears, and
Michael dislocate! hie shoulder by
falling into the ihurnlng surf.
The Skipper returns to say she's
been in the stable with her sick
collie. Aunt Martha, stout and
prudish, has hysterics a couple of
times. Gay Palmer, Mike's red'
headed sweetheart, keeps a fairly
sane view. Next momtnp at
breakfast, everyone has jangled
nerves.
Chapter Nina
Searching The Grounds
IIGHTING cigarette, the Skip
per contributed. "Martha's break'
fasting upstairs. She'll be down
later." And silence descended upon
19ft dining room.
For the ipace of about Ave mln
utes we crunched bacon and con
sumed coffee without Incident Hlg
gins, looking rather seedy, appeared
with fresh toast opened his mouth
to ask about Michael, discreetly
closed It again, and took himself off.
The Skipper smoked furiously, and
the rest of us kept out eyes on our
plates. Then, monotonously and with
irritating force. Gay's fingers began
a steady tattoo on the tablecloth. At
least two sets of nerves promptly
began to act up again. Michael's cup
went down with a bang that bathed
the surrounding territory In coffee.
"Damn It Gay, quit that, can't
you?"
Gay flared, "Don't be so touchyl"
Before I could get In my two cents'
worth of sunshine, the Skipper In
terposed. "Easy, kldsl Let's talk this
over.
That being the one thing we all
had in mine', we lapsed into silence.
The Skipper smiled
"We might as well look It In the
face. These storms always last at
least three days, which means that
wa must stick together or go i.iad.
There's been a tragic accident which
' we must certainty explain to the sat
isfaction of everyone, if we're to keep
from each other's throats not to
mention Jude's family or the local
police."
Michael was breaming so fast and
so heavily that 1 could distinctly
hear him across the table. The Skip
per waited for someone to speak. No
one did. She sighed.
"Obviously there are two possibil
ities. Jude was killed either acciden
tally or Intentionally, and in either
case by some member of this house
hold. If It was accidental, we should
be able to establish that fact Imme
diately. If it wasn't"
Another pause, this time a breath
less one.
Then "we shall have to establish
that fact too," concluded the Skip
per. Michael's voice was hoarse. "But
what can wa do?"
1 answered him with more hope
in my voice than conviction. "For
one thing we can search the Brounds.
There must be a thug of some sort
out there. Its the only logical an
swer." Michael shot me a peculiar look
"Why not let It rest?" he demanded.
You know damn well that there's
no one out there, Jim. Wa can't help
Jude now. Old Foster would give us
a fake certificate if the Skipper asked
him, and we could say that she'd
fallen off the bluff In the storm and
and forget about It." .
I had known Michael slnoe we
were 17. but I had never heard him
make such a proposal. Neither had
Gay. She gasped in amazement Once
more the Skipper climbed Into the
breach.
"Michael, don't be ridiculous. Ac
cidents don't need hushing up. And
If It's not an accident Jude's parents
and we, her friends, have a right to
know It And no right to let a delib
erate murderer remain at large."
Grasping At A Straw
OUT of the numbness his speech
had produced In my head came an
Idea. Mike thought the Skipper was
guilty I Wild elephants could never
have dragged that suggestion from
him otherwise. And there she sat. In
sisting that we Investigate. 1 grasped
at a feeble straw.
"Mlkel The footprints! The foot
prints on the tennis court. There
imust be someone out there. Wo'd
lhave noticed the clay on snyone's feet
In the house."
Michael's eyes were far away.
"Drop It I say. For God's sake. Jim.
what good will It do? I tell you there's
no one there. It lust keeps things boil
ing to pretend there is."
"There must be!" Gay was on her
feet. "Mike, don't be a sap. These
grounds must be searched, and if you
won't go with Jimmle, I will and so
will William."
"And so ivlll I." said the Skipper,
"and so will Michael!"
Michael looked at her, a long look
that to save my neck I could not de
cipher. "All right Skipper," he said
at last
W took all sorts of precautions.
Heavy jackets, oilskins, boots, plenty
of brandy, and Higglns revolver.
With the exception of Cook and An
nie, we all assembled In the library
and none of us looked cheerful.
My own state of mind was a bad
Jumble. My thoughts were whirling
from juoe and the past to the ghast
ly reality of the present spurred on
by a certain Insistent suspicion that
made my blood run cold. -Action of
any sort was a godsend. The proba
bility of accomplishing anything was
another matter. 1 should have pre
ferred leaving both Gay and the
Skipper in the house, but there was a
glint In the former's eyes that In
vited no Interference and 1 had never
given the Skipper an order In my
life. Furthermore. 1 wssn't counting
on Michael (or anything. M. Farrlng
ton voiced my feeling to the letter
"It strikes me. Barbara, that you
and Grace will be more in the way
than anything else. Am, Michael has
no business out or bed. I should think
that James and William would gel
along much better alone."
Gay's chin ;ime up with a jerk and
1 braced myself for the deluge, but
the Skipper spoke t-efor it could
get started.
'Two people can't search these
grounds, Martha. Gay and 1 can take
care of ourselves, and 1 think Ml
chael'a mind will be easier If he goes
He's well wrapped up. Dcn't fuss."
"Barbara. 1 will not allow It" Her
voice was rising. Unless I missed my
guess, she was warming for a scene
and It was going to be a corker. "1
absolutely Insist"
But Michael's patience snapped. He
whirled on M. Farrlngton.
"Rot Aunt Martha! All the ser.
vants are here but William, and the
doors and windows are locked."
His words were rude, and his man
ner ruder. But M. Farrlngton amazed
us. The explosion for which we
breathlessly waited never came.
"Very well, my dear." she said
quietly. 1 could have knocked Mike
down with pleasure.
Footprints Still There
I 7T went out the west door from
' the game-room, a wet. cold wind
howling up to meet us. Since 1 had
suggested the expedition. It was more
or less up to ,ne to eneineer It Ac.
cordlngly, 1 stationed William half-
way between the edge of the blurt
and the house, with Michael and Gay
at Intervals along the drive. That
left the grounds divided into four
sections. I took the Skipper with me
Beginning at the edge of the bluff to
the west we went down toward the
boathouse. In one way and one only
were we better off tha.i on the pre.
vious night At least It was now pos
sible to see more than 10 feet ahead
of you.
Water still lapped the former side
of the boathouse steps. A large sec
tion ot tne pier had washed awav
and the boathouse was completely
noooeu. we went up a:ong the path
to the courts, which we scrutinized
thoroughly.
The footprints were still there.
They ran clear across the courts to
tne drive, seeming to start from the
rocKS lust above us. It was mnns.
sible to tell how large had been the
foot that had left those prints or in
what direction they had been head
ing, incy were Just shallow impres
sions In soft clay, rather like the
marks left by walking across a melt
ing sheet of Ice.
The wind was still at our backs. Up
the steep and slippery rocks wc
scrambled, the Skipper disdaining my
help. The beaches below us were
completely covered with thrashing
water that boiled up Into our faces.
Silently 1 pointed to the scene ol
Michael's disaster and the Skipper
nodded. Wa went down cautiously,
separated at tho foot of the rocks.
and compassed the remaining section
of the lawn between us. Nothing. A
snort distance up the drive stood Gay.
looking like a drowned rat She
waved, but only half-heartedly.
We went up the drive toward thr
stable, the wind In our faces and Ihc
rain cutting like lashes of a whip
With every step the haunting
thought that Jude might have lain
for a long time wounded and still
conscious In that tlcndlsh whirlwind
followed me. It was slow progress.
The east beach was comnletelv
flooded. By following the drive, we
got a clear view both of the section
of lawn between us and the house
and of the section between us and
the beach. I stationed the Skipper al
the corner of the garage and wenl
laboriously around both It and Uie
stable, slipping and sliding along on
my hands and knees most of the way.
Mounding tho cornel of the stable in
safety. 1 could see the solid figure ol
William far down the bluff where I
had stationed him. And between us
nothing.
In front of the stable the Skinner
Joined me. Both It and the garage
were securely padlocked. It seemed
to me that to search either of those
buildings would be a tacit admission
of disbelief in her alibi. I hesitated.
but not so the Skipper. Producing a
key, she unlocked the stable. With
out a word 1 followei her Inside.
(Copyright, f!J7, Flther Tyltrf
We And someone tut slrpt tn Hie
room over the saragf, tomorrow.
TEXAS LEGISLATOR
CITED AS SLAYER
AUSTIN. TMt. Mat 19. f API
Bprwntaiive B. K. Qutnn. of Beau
mont, grey-hatrwi veteran of t!ie
Tex legislature . wrnj chargfy) .vltli
the hotel tit yl rig of HTinnn Htokft.
Houston civil nstnwr. hort1y M'tir
dawn today. In eotnplnlnt filed with
a Juntlce of the peace
Qui n n -a Immediately ' relenned
under 91.000 bond.
He went to the Mate cupitol. whert
I he legUUiur it In senMon. and reg
'atered when the hoime convened.
Hick. Qulnn Mid, wna one of two
men who rapped on hla tiarl room
door. He told the Aoclated Preae
ne fired in aelf defc-nae when the pair
threatened to kill htm.
The repreaentatlre aatd he com
plained to the room clerk that noma
"(rolng on all night" In another room
would not allow him to iieep and
that about daybreak two men bean
beat injt on hi door.
When he opened tha door there wa I
a acuffle, he aald. He wa struck e?
erl tlinea and a small caliber pmtol
l; hod wna discharged. Qulnn Aald
he never had aecn either man and
did not know who thev were,
Lumber Froduction
Slumps During Week
PEATT1JC, May M i AIM Produc
tion of 171 down aikI operating mllla
In Waaiilnnton and Oreson Inat week
lotled 1I3.IHR.A16 board feet, down
8,000 .000 feet rrt.m the previous wrek
and 71 per cent of the 1P2ft-.lt) av
ernno weekly out.' the Vet Coaat
Lumbcrmrn'a anecvlatlon reported t.
day.
The aiworiaton attrthutM the de
vilne to closure of 1 Cohimhu rler
.ocelli operations by strike or by
employers.
Shipments dropped from UV400,
311 to U0.8ttl.aiO fevt, while rfw
bu.Mi.ru ., from 133.747.704 to 118.
478.47S feM.
Heady fur trllp
WASHINGTON. MdV IV (APl
The National Oeographtc sorlety re
etved word 1xUv that the aenpiane
tender A voce t nad reached Knderbury
(aland, in Me Pacific, with the ;eo
.'raphii' society-nary solar ecllpe e
pewition The par'y wilt nwrvr the
total eclipse ol tiie aune June $.
1 i
yr
&V "WE ROASTS
IT MACf &7-HOUR ,
NMtGMlHG f
mr-MiLs cum
. 4Zr I fHRE KEPT IN
iNPlVlPUhUTiHie-MCAUSE
miR aecTRicw. wwmv
KlUU thClr. oTHWmi
PHlUPPft,
. Fdwarid ml.
MP To WftlT 3 yefsRS Bf FORE HER
Husew Wry? &ei.eTo raise eNoi&H MoKey
TO HWE HER CKOWNEP GueeN Of 6N6I.AW
rtWei. WlfirtTMAN WAS
CHAMPION fOR A PfcftlOD W
XKZ1CWQ 0V6R aJJJ
ANPVJOMKRTiONAl.
KoulKiut of (lie Air
Only one yenr has passed alnco
Jean Francois Pilatro de Rozlor had
ascended In a captive fire balloon
as the first human balloonist when
the Roberta brothers of Prance aent
Up their "air galley" in the first
powered aacenslon. Tho balloon was
melon-shaped bag of allk, inflat
ed with pure oxygen, from which
hung a long car constructed of
whit wood. Tho ship was rowed
through tho 'air with silken onrs
by a crew of six men. In the only
recorded cm I no of the "rowboat ol ,
the air." It remained aloft for seven
hour, navigating a curve about
one-half mile In radius.
Tennis Chump I
Th starring list of champion
ships complied by Mrs. Hazel Wight
man Is nil the more amazing in
the light of the periods which they
covered. When she won the United
States women's singles In 1009. ten
nis had only started coming out of
It "pat ball" stage. When she won
the woman's doubles Indoor champ
ionship 34 years later, tn 1033 It
was with the sizzling drives, smash
ing overheads and speedy footwork
thnt modern, top flight tennis de
mands. Other championships which Mrs.
Wight man annexed In her career
were the women's singles of 1910.
1911, and 1910; woman's doubles on;
1009, 1010. 1911, 1019. 1924 and 1028,
mixed doubles in 1910, 1911, 1015.
10IB and 1920; Indoor slneles tn
1010 and 1027; Indoor doubles In
1019, 1921, 1923, 192ft, 1927, 1928.
1929, 1930 and 1931; and Indoor
mixed doubles In 1023. 1924. 1926
1927 and 1028.
Postponed Coronation
Engaged In almost continuous
warfare throughout his reign, Ed
ward III was sadly lacking In ready
funds when he married his cousin,
Phlllppa of Hninaut, by special dis
pensation of the pope. In 1337. So
bad were the king's rinnnces, in fact
that for three years after hie mar
riage he could not afford to pay
for his queen's coronation ceremony.
Phlllppa was finally crowned at
Westminster In 1330.
New Pine Business
Tops Previous Week
PORTLAND, May. 15. (AP) Re
ports from 114 mills showed last
week's new business of 76.771,000
board feet of lumber was 8 per cent
above the previous week's mark, the
Western Pino assoclotlon said today.
Production totaled 81.324.000 leet
and shipments reached 72.It28.000
The same mllla showed orders 69,
648.000 feet and production 62,076.
000 feet for the corresponding week
a year ago.
Today, orders were reported 22 per
cent above last year.
LONDON, May H. ( AP) Thomas
Jame Wise, 77, noted book collector
and blbllogrnpher, died Thursday at
hi home at HamnsteRd.
NOEL BENSON TO JOIN
ADVERTISING HONORARY
EUGENE. Mny 15 (API Alpha.
Delta Sigma, honorary advertising
fraternity at the University ot Ore
gon. Initiated Noel Benson of Med
ford at the annual banquet this evening.
Use Malt Tribune want ads.
OK ACCOUHf Of RFttrtf
HOUSf IEANIK6, CAWf
Find me bru.
IMrfK rf AUAS-fOrl
CLOSEf SHELF, WHERE
Mt"fR,lrJ A 6RAND
OEArlUP.HAS NEAftf
SfoCKED All'HIS "foVS
OF fWlM6 "CO REACH
SMELT
f(Wf5 0FffO6Ei'
MOTHER'S HELP
DECIDES 1b 8E SELF
RELIANT AMD NOf fO
BOTHER. DRAG.
CHAIR OVER
5-fO
IS S1HL A FEW IrVCHES
SHOR-f Of BAIL. 1"U66
A-f ONE OF THE BOXES
To 6E1' BALI NEARER.
-f065B0-foOfAR.i
ENTIRE STACK Of 0YS
CASCADING Wrfrt If
0HE FLOOR.
PICKS UP BAD. ANP66B
001, VERV PROUD TH AT
HEDIONK HAVE1&
BOTHER. MOfrlERj
(Oopyrlfhti 1937, by The Bell JttkBosu, Im.)
S MATTER POP
By C. M. PAYNE
I S i-irfe. t4is- J
( VES-
to
mm
I a ShS4t-t ) j lr"
MOVE.
A Little. nAvj
TO ONE- I'M
1 ' T
? ii n i ; in
L T5TS OTtEt. "
Oepyrlitit, 137, ty Th U gymllMte. Inc.) Tjj
TAILSPIN TOMMY Circumstantial Evidence . . . Against Tommy!
By HAL FORRES
jRcmouGw it
WAS QUITE- LATC
AT MIGHT WHtft
tommy's r-TYsrtrjv
PLAMt, WHICH
HAD Brt-Ti STOLCM
FRCM rTS HAMSARj
CRASHtDj A SMALL.
CCOWD, ATTCACTrrD
BY THE- IMPACT
AMD SUBStCXItNT
f-lRf, SAW A
F-IGURC- C-Mt-RGC-r-ROM
THE" WRCCK,
AhD LIMP AWAY
THROUGH SOMC
BUSHrS... INTO
THE- DARKMfSS..
WHAve" AP1Y W"OPt.' oriLVOL' s2xI
rrWfl Llvt-STOCK MPRUDY HE-RC-.. BUT vL, &?
J K"1, ( 'M TH BASn- J DAD BUR MIT I HAD Vl
DID AMYOME-
SC-C- AH AT
THE- P LAMP-
LOOK ErD LIKE-1
Brr-oat- IT.
V MY DAD'm
S SAW (
t-R .. SHE-
WAS YAUE-R
WITH A
DC-SISM THAT
SPLL0
THRCT-PariT
AM
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER The Big Idea!
A.
MAMwlL.,
TOMMY.:..
HOW o i n
IT HAPPE-M?
I WAS MAKINS
A SHOUT- CUT
.TO Ge-T GAS
T-OR MY CAR..
AMD r-E-LL OCMTI
A RAILROAD
CnBAnK-
By EDWIN ALOE
BRARC,IE , IT A THOU'SAMOlll
Q OUC ChAMCE, BUT WEr'Vt
OUR. MEAUTHCiT CUSTOMER. -
f PEM WEVJT OUT o' WtR.E , f
U'C A 'elKCAK. U UUH1MIM .' I - 111
rSRUR.,T00.' BUT OOCOME-oS J
U6EE,fvJt AUaAOST GOT W
COLD FEET, BUT IT'S, EITHER
TUIS OR THE STORE SWILL r
60 TO POT I'LL DO IT r
WILLIAM D.
HASSETT
' INVESTMEHTS
. L 3 1 - - r f i -
AAORUIUS,MR.HA'a&cTT-
l'A bcm VJcoSTcR. ,
AAAMAGER Of- HI661M5
bTORE
WELL.SMHATlc,
IT.V0UU6 MAM?
COAAE TO TH
POWT CAVJ'T
Rl ICV ?
Ji. akju-v SOU sEE
5rf V
C rim
w a m ii -j
THE NEBBS-Making Up
By SOL HE8H
'"say LISTEN! CMLieeV -r S J,. ff "V- ' VWHY COMT SOU ANOD MEi1- BeMT' a1lt LLT NET li-)TUcR- CK THE. 'V 1 WSM VOO
VOWV .tV MAD AT ME a J - I MAKE A DATE FO8 DV).e . &UT 1 AiNjT SlVfcbr AJOO UJTTM MIS HOOEY TALK CCOLO GETSOlE
VOE rOTM C4MT HAVE U "- TWlS ENEKJiS AV'O DES1TSOY jPC&VErJ YDO i HE ACSUED ME IMTD A STEAX JeODV TO TAKE M
A5v VVM e&VJ& O W SJ"5 MUCM A V A COUPLE CP MCESTEAXS.AaOeTVEiy g'o'PT-WUi V,M 50 )OOT wnVj SOU .
A