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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1937)
PAGE ETOHT M"EDFOT?T "NfATL TRTBTTNT!. "M"EDFOTCr. Oft-EGOy. TUESDAY. MAT 18. 1037. LATE PARTY ' By GLUYAS WILLIAMS STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For farther proof addreee the author. Inclosing a stamped envelope for reply. ' Reg. V. 8. Pat Off. iSiiucrt r itormy right at Farrinoton Bluff, home of Michael'i aunts, beauti ful Jude Blim top it ihot to death on the bluff. th Skipper. Mike's tall and tueedr iounoer aunt, dls appeare, and Mike dislocates hie houlder in a falL The Skipper turns up; she'i been in the stable with a sick collie. Aunt Martha, stout and prudish, has a feu gen teel tantrums, but Gay Palmer, Mike's red-headed sweetheart, keeps airly calm. Next morning tee search the ground tor an in truder and find that someone has slept in the room over the garagt. Chapter 11 I Become Head Sleuth JN my room, Michael was sprawled on the bed, waiting. He had man aged to get out of the oilskins, but the feet stretched In front of mm were still encased in hip boot. -Well?" he said Jerkily. "Nothing," after moment's hesi tation. He straightened up to study my face. Whatever he saw there appeared to satisfy lilm. He stretched out gin' gorly on the bed. "1 told you so," his voice was tired. "Cst me out of this stuff, will you? : Only once did 1 speak to him during the long, tedioua process of getting the two of us ready for M. Farring- ton's lunch table. 1 coufdn t stand the tight lines around his mouth. "Mike," I said, "the Skipper Is square. You know It." He turned away, picking up comb. When his voice came it was perfectly steady. "1 know it" 1 didn't try again. With fiendish In tensity, 1 concentrated on soap, tow els, collar buttona any thing. The lunch bell rang while 1 was struggling with Mlchael'a tie. M. Farrlngton was worth her weight In gold at that lunch table. Right there aha made amends for every Farrlngton state dinner I have ever endured. "We'll eat first and discuss this afterward," aha stated. No one argued. Gay was white and shaken, the Skipper abstracted, Mi chael silent and moroit. But M, Far rlngton and 1 talked. We talked about the deplorable condition of the drama, if 1 remember correctly. And when 1 gave out. Gay took it up. Not until Hlggina withdrew at the end of (he meal, waa there silence. M. Farrlngton took deep breath and plunged In. "I aurmise," aha said, "that you are (11 aatlsfled that no one Is lurking in the grounds?" No answer. ' "Then 1 think that all the steps we may take, can be taken right here with -a little thought and a little co operation from each one of us." More silence. Mlchael'a lighter flared. "1 fall to tee," ha observed, "any necessity for taking steps. There haa been an accident. Very well. Aa soon as we get In touch with the mainland. the police can do everything that la necessary. M. Farrington's Proposition .' WE all stared at him. There waa that alternative of course. Any sort of story might be bluffed through. ' William and Hlggina were to be counted on. And the police would have no reason to question It Gay made up her mind first, "I don't like that Mike." "Why not? We might as well face It The chances are that the person who shot Jude Is sitting at this table. Do you think anyone here would ahoot her Intentionally?" M. Farrlngton spoke briskly. "Mi chael, If you are right we can end thla situation here and now. We are all friends. It one of us waa so un fortunate as to cause this accident that peraon ahould speak out now for the sake of all of us." We waited for at. Interval that seemed like several centuries. The Skipper sat motionless, her eyes on the table, and her right hand clenched in front of her. M. Farrlngton, i. trine pale, waa studying Mlchael'a face. It waa absolutely expressionless, but the hand that held his cigarette ahook slightly. Gay'a frightened eyea caught and held mine. There waa a question In them that puzzled me. M. Farrington's hard, dry voice cut through the silence, "Very well. The police will be here by tomorrow or the next day at the latest If we wait tor that things will be very unpleasant 1 am of the opin ion that an organized Investigation will be much happier than an Indi vidual and furtlva one." It was only common sense. We all realized that, but to one encouraged the Idea. M. Farrlngton smiled grimly. "At all events. It would be more success ful and It might spare us the ordeal of a public police Investigation." Police! At Farrlngton Bluffl But of course there would have to be po lice, tor ine nrst .ime the matter ceased to be personal Gay'a hand gripped my knee convulsively. "Oh. surely" she began. "Very surely," salt: M. Farrlngton. "Someone must tak charge. 1 ahould prefer It to be neither a woman nor a servant Since Michael has seen lit IN LIONS FOR LIVELIHOOD EAOI.E PASS, Tex. ((T) A alight young woman, mother of a 7-year-old daughter, haa become the leading southwest trapper of her aex. She la Mrs. Bessie Davlra Kennedy, and tier husband. Robert, la a state pald trapper of mountain lions, wolv es, coyotes and bobcats. Robert Ken nedy la recognized aa the beat In hli profession and hla catch of 168 coy otes In a single month still la the rec ord. Mrs. Kennedy, however, la the more amazing of the two. She surprised res idents of this borderlsnd town early laat March by hauling In a hut" mountain lion on the running board of her dust-covered car. Less than two weeks later, she came In with an other a feat that few men have equalled. The flrat mountain lion waa a tawny, scarred veteran of many a battle over the prey In ralda on sheep herds. It weighed 180 pounds and waa 7 feet, ft tnchee long. The second waa smaller, weighing lS pounds and measuring I feet, a Inches. Both strug gled In their traps afM snarled at Mrs. Kennedy before a bullet from her rifle ended their Uvea. The sinewy lions dwarfed their cap tor. She weighs loo pounds and la t feet 7 Inches tall. She Is 33. pretty and blue-eyed, with her akin bronzed by daya outdoors and a sprinkling of freckles of which she Is very proud The Kennedys live In Maverick county and trap In the "Indlo" coun trya loo-mile square are notorious for Its wild animals and Its lack of tralli. Most of the area la owned by the Indlo ranch and few Improve ment have been made since the Spanish conquistadors established the ranch'a boundary three centuries ago. HShlNO TACKLE and Picnic Sup plies at Huaun'a Confectionery. Open evenings and Sundays. to go bathing In February, obviously i not Michset James, I am afraid you will be obliged to offer your services." Without warning, laughter engulfed me, shrill, meaningless gusts of It "Well," ssid M. Farrington's sar donic voice, "is that an acceptance or otherwise?" Michael answered for me, eyes nar rowed, a peculiar expression on his face. "Jim's your sleuth, Aunt Martha He'll love it An authority on the sub ject, In fact" There was something In that re mark that I didn't like, and a great deal about the whole proposition that X liked even less. I glared at him, "Weill" Impatiently from M. Far rlngton, "All right" 1 said stiffly. I wss to trap Jude's murderer. II And it It should turn out to be 1 didn't dare finish the thought 'Thank you, pursued M. Farrlng ton dryly. "ames, there Is, of course, the possibility that you are conduct ing an Investigation against yourself. But we shall have to run that risk. It Is understood thst we are all pledged to help you In every way. Proceed, If you please." L the creator of Bllllngton Tralth- swalte, sleuth extraordinary, sur veyed the members of tha' party. No blase quip rose to my lips. Neither did my steel-gray eyes glint menac ingly. Rather 1 gaped foolishly for a full minute belore 1 could so much as blurt "I II have to think. You I wish you'd all go to your rooms and stay there. Michael snorted at the feeble at tempt 1 heard M. Farrington's "Come, Barbara, felt the reassuring pressure of Gay's hand, and suddenly found myself alone in the room with the Skipper. "I m sorry about all this. Jim. sorry that It had to happen at all and par ticularly sorry that you were dragged Into it But believe me. Martha li right It's better this way than In the hands of the police. Don't blink anything. We leave It to you." 'Watch The Servants' THEN 1 was alone in the dinlnt room. They were both right, ol course. And yet 1 poured myself stiff drink sod gulped it down. I rant tor Higgins. The man looked sick. "Higglns," 1 said, "at Miss Farring ton's request I am taking charge hers until we can get In touch with shore 1 wish you would so inform the ser vants." 'Very good, sir." 'I have asked everyone to go to hit or. her room tor a short time and remain there. 1 should be greatly obliged if you would keep a careful check n all the servants. And if you should see any of them outside of the quarters between now and the time I call you, notify me Immediately." tie blinked, rue man was. 1 thought on the verge of saying something, bul ensnged nis mind. He bowed auto matically srfd withdrew. 1 took myself Into the livlna room The Impossibility of the situation nc longer interested me. I was beglnnlni to appreciate to the full the shortcom ings of my awn attempts at fiction The thought of my remarkable Bll llngton Infuriated me. I Anally sst down st a desk ant lo cated pencil and paper. 1 decided tc go carefully over the whole confound ed visit and Jot down every peculiar Incident It was no essy task. At the end of an hour I iad a list that read like this: I. Something is tsrons with the Skipper something ihat prompted At. rarrtngion to ssnd for us in the middle of winter, diverted her from trying to marry off Mike, and has even upset ff logins tr some way. He was certainly off his feed last night l. Why is the Skipper so averse to seeing a doctor? J. Die she want to keen Mike awau from Jude for the obvious reason? Shs put it a little strongly for that. 4. What did Jude tell Mike ana when did they separate? 3. What did Mike expect to find in the boathouse that prompted him to Jump over the cliff? 0. Did Jude u-clk or was she carried to the spot where we found her? if she wilkcd, for whom or what was .the looking? Obviously she went in a great hurry. fVo hat or coat T. Where was Mlks until he called us? Outdoors, apparently. He was soaking wst, Hs said he Jw the bridge down at 10 o clock. Just the time I went to bed. What was he doing out there? Why did he later head so de terminedly for the boathouse? I. Where was the Skipper? The puppies are there all right, but did they come last night or before that? Would even the Skipper spsnd such a night in a stable with a sick dog? Why didn't shs tell M. Farrlngton where she was going? Why did shs object to Jude? What wet c she and Jude talk ing about when M. Farrlngton heard them? Where did they go? Was the Skipper the last person too see Jude alive? f. Why doesn't Mike want a search or Investigation of any kind? 10. Whose footprints ars on the ten nis courts and in the parage? Who slept In the garage last night? Who tried to leave the Bluff in the Skip per's car? fCopyrtgnl. if ST. Iitjler Tyhr) A scream makea ua rush te tai kllehsn, temerrew. m w jar M0lDNJTrAM W HoTcotte fROrA ?6RU ... If & fOunv DNW IN Central hmericj tfiMfiTeLPtfOrt.- 1W0 CftK cotm&z. . . m - a few afri4as. a . 1 . .at. . I a . a i 0 .if?SlMli Mt i Vrwn nr I'inv WON Pi RftCfe Ohoit linn (Heap Taking the inside position aa the field rounded Into the home stretch on the Pomona track one day In Sep tember, 1939. Virginia Mac pulled up with the leaders, passed them, and flashed, across the finish line In first place. Everything about the race seemed quite In order until the owners went to collect the purse on their winning entry. They were told Virginia Mac had been disqualified. Why? Because a search through the Jockey Club rec ords had disclosed the fact that the horse wss officially dead. A ghost had won the racel At the beginning of her racing ca reer, Virginia Mac had failed to show much promise, was sold, and became a polo pony, purchased by three Hol lywood screen writers. Robert Ives, Howard Green and Claude Blnyon. she waa brought back to the racing game. Not knowing that her Jockey Club registration had expired and made Virginia Mac officially dead, her owners entered the mare In the Pomona meet. It Is believed that thev have since taken enre of her "resur rection" In the Jockey Club files so she can never be disqualified again on the grounds that she's a ghost. Silent .Statesman Famous as the author of the "De cline and Fall of the Roman Em pire." Edward Gibbon was elected to Parliament In 1774, left In 1780, re turned In 1781 and retired In 1782. In his eight years as a member ot Parliament he did not make a single speech. nalsnm of Peru A widely used healing drug, per fume base and vanilla substitute, Balsam of Peru received Its curious misnomer many years ago from the Spanish and has retained It ever since. Though It la generally believed that balsam was misnamed entirely by mlstri:e due to vague geographical knowledge of the time, It haa been said that It was misnamed on pur pose so that nations other than Spain would look for the valuable tree in Peru Instead of Salvador. The tree from which the balsam comes Is the Myroxylon perelrae unknown out side Central America. Tomorrow: The Most Prolific Pen. SANTA FE STREAMLINER SPEEDS TO NEW RECORD CHICAOO, Mi; 18. (JP) The Santa re railroad claimed a new rail speed record for the Los Angeles-Chicago run Monday when Its "Super Chief," new dlesel-powered streamliner, ar rived after an elapsed time of 36 houra and 40 minutes. The train averaged 80.8 miles an hour on elapsed time for the 3.328 mile run, but actual running time boosted the apeed to 63.8 miles n hour. . It made 17 stops. ' K. F. Couple To Wed RENO, Nev., May 17. (API Mar riage ' licenses issued here today In cluded. Jess Copcland, 26. and Elva Tlce, 24, both Chlloquln. Ore. Ose Mall Tribune want ads. NEW YORK TO PARIS AIR DERBY BLOCKED WASHINGTON. May 18. (AP) The state department formally noti fied the French embassy today that the United States government could not permit a proposed New York-to-ParlB air derby this summer be cause of the "risk of needless loss of life." WAXES UP IN Hl&rrf, REAU21M6 soMEftirit oaf or -we ordi KARV IS 601X6 Oti HEARS MUSIC ft HO NOISE POWrj STAIRS. PAREtftS WSf BE HAYIH6 A PAfflV SOlfKOS Of CHATTER AND WBtB-f "TER BtfilrtTOMAKl" HIM rea WrJELY AD IXFf OUfOflf DECIDES fb ftffRACf 50ME Af fkHtlOr 1b HJMSELF AW ( fERS A LOOP WAtt. POESNf 6Ef ANV ACfiON AND REAU2ES -THEY'RE MAKIW& .-TOO MUCH NOISE IrlEMSB-VES tb HEAR HIM SfrfrlERS HIS FORCE RJR0XE Of HIS FmsteLASS CWE5, which Ev'tWimaY flLWAVd; BRiHfr RES0W5 CAN KEEP HIS MlKO ON if. Trl006r, BECAUSE HE FlrtD DECIDES, WITH KO ONE C0H1K6 IN -Co Stop HIM, HE CAW HAVE HE KEAU.Y UkES frlE MUSIC A MICNI&rrf FR0UC OF HIS 0WM (Oeprrlfht. 1W7, by The Bell Syndicate, Ine.) DROWSES OFF, WHICH IF HE ONLY KNEW It, IS WHAt MOST OF WE 6R0WN-UPS DOWKStAlRS, WoylD LIKE 1b BE t0fte S 'MATTER P0F By C. M. PAYNB ( tT3eVS AT J f fiooW ) J T4e office wills. at y sV-J ly &f jl Eflt, 1837, by'lTi. Bell Syndlcats, Ine.) TAILSPIN TOMMY Tommy Is " Grounded !" TA&R1VIMG at TMRrt--POIMTJ HIS ARM in A SLIMS, HIS r-ACt COtRfD WITH CUTS.MID LIMPins BADLY A3 THt-RC-SULT or- HIS FALL DOWn THE" rMSAhKMC-MT, TOMMY IS STUhriH) WHCtl THf AIR DttT. INSPECTOR DC-MAttDrD HIS UCCt1SC-..STATir'1G Hf HAD CRASHED INTO A BARM... By HAL FORREST usTt-n, inspccTOR, to Donr mc-am TO iriTIMATE- THAT I DID ALL THIS? SIX Pf-RSCMS IDEMTIF-ICD VOUf? SHIP Bof? it , CRASHf-D .' T 4 ( J shTp'? YfS..AriD Ar-TCR IT CRASHH) YOU VVMf SC-C-M TO LIMP AWAY HJOM AMD DlSAPPfAR TO IT, , J BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER The Proposition -1 ' M - ' 11 ... 1 sss,- sMiiunnmiinin m, - a YOU MUST HAVf HAD A BAD DR.tAM .. I'LL r ITS STILL IM THC- kHATlGAft ORYMILSPin .... V BUT I'M AfR AID THIS C A WASHtS YOU UP... I YOU MAY APPfAL I TO THC- DE-PARTMtrfT, i s j By E1DWIN ALGER ALL WGMT, HtR.t'5 MY PR.0?0SniOU-T TOU PAY MC FIVE HUMUiLcD DOLLARS IW ADVAUCE FOR MER.CHAK10,E YOU AVJD MR UAETT WILL BUY M THE 4J UEY.T FEW AA0UTH6 (i m VAWOM WCsQm STORE. -M SOU, WHO 00 YOU THUX. 1 AM ? 00 LOOK. Uttt 1 -7 CjALYTA CLAUS ? VJArt A MiUUTE, MB.. HA59ETT -I AA -WOT THROUGH YtT-VOU A0 MOUEY's WORTH WHAT MOUEY EARVJS AMD FOR h that five humored dollars you're eo 1KIO u owe wc WOHl KIOWJ YOU'LL 1 ". vy 1 f-&E PP.W1LESE0 TO BUV $SSO WORTH OF MERCHAM014E-WE'LL MAKE THAT DEAL TO YOU, AVJD YOU ouly, ou A three-mouths basis how about it f THE NEBBS The Fresh Guy k By SOL HESS WJHAT T AKH. VOU A5KlkJ3 ME FOR. PAVORS r V CAJO' VOU-VOO GOT TO IMPROVE NOURSELFl r : r-i - P?SV 5A.Y,USTEM,VOO! THERE'S A N, W ,uAr ior V W f TIME. VUWENJ THE MOST PEACEFUL trivi' -rr-i no watr LJrUA-SOUU BREAKS COT IM ANJGER- hVX a MONKEY OUTTA 7 L-wyslOU COME 110TD MY PLACE UJlTM SsJV ME f s ' lS.tl-'lrAi,. KtE" VCHJR WSEX .EACtellU N . -- X j i rr HELpiP-L( '"Oi couldnj't use. 50Me pi p'. mice fresh. sees COULD JLL JL "YOU ? THEVRE SO crcllJ ) I
