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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1937)
PAGTC ETOHT fEDFORD MATT; TKTBTTyE, ArEDFORD. OREfiON". STN'DAT. MAY 2?,. 1937 ttUDDGD on nn DiLUiir ;;r.,v. SYNOPSIS: It's a vnta, siormy ntffht at Farrington Bluff, home 0 Mlchait'i aunM, when atlrac tiue Jude BMnshop It l Hot to death on the bluff. Hike ditto catet a thoulder hunting or the mining Skipper, hie tall and tweedy younger aunt who turne tip with an alibi. Cav Palmer, Mike's red -headed iiseetheart, worries about him. Next day, stout and prudish Aunt Martha proposes that lead our group in vestigation of the murder, or toe are marooned on this island. Part 0 my job is to find who bashed Cook's head tsith a lower pot and bound up Annie the maid. Chapter IS . I Quii The Aunts SUDDENLY I rejected my orijlnal plan of allowing William to search the first floor while I searched the second. I was Just embarking on the most trying experience of that week' end the experience of suspecting ev ery person in the house. If there was an Intruder Inside, I reasoned, our search would be reduced to a simple game of hide-and-seek with the odds decidedly in favor of the hider. And If William could not be counted on For a moment I considered or ganizing the entire household into a searching party, but only for a mo ment. M. Farrington, Cook, Annie and Michael were in no condition to be r8lled upon. Mike should have been Jn bed, and the other three showed signs of becoming problem cases on the least provocation. That left Wil liam, Higglns, the Skipper, Gay and . myself. Five of us. Two of them wo men and one an old man. If we were to go together, we were possibly turning the murderer loose to roam the house at will with the in valids unprotected. If we divided into parties of two and three, it was Just possible that the murderer was being sent off into the empty house alone with another unsuspecting victim. The risk was unthinkable. I am not defending my action. I am merely ex plaining how it seemed to me at the moment logical. I stuffed the rope and Michael's handkerchief Into my pocket "William, I've changed my mind. I think I'U have a little talk with the rest before we go on with this." "Hell, sir, you can't do that! We can't go sitting around talking while some bloody devil" My grip on myself wasn't very good, and It was slipping with every un certain minute. "I can do whatever I see fit," I said curtly. "Come onl' "All right, but I ain't In favor of Itl" "So what?" I growled. But I did glance into every room as we went . down the hall the game room, the living room, the dining room and even the conservatory. They were all empty. If they hadn't been, perhaps I might have realized my mistake, but I was appallingly sure that the person I sought was at that moment convers ing glibly in the library. They all turned at the opening of the door all except Michael who had been saying something. His doubled flat still rested on the desk and his face was very red. The atmosnhere of the room as reflected on their faces was tense, "You were saying, Mike?" I said. For half a second he held the pose. Then, "You're damned right I was saying that we'd better let bad enough alone." "Michael," said the Skipper, "sit down and shut up. Now!" 1 doubt If her words would have had any effect, but she accompanied them with a forceful shove. Michael at I motioned to William to park himself somewhere. "Have you found anything, James?" quavered M. Farrington. "Yes," I said to William's evident astonishment "I've found all I was looking for. I'm going to ask ques tions, and If you aren't particularly enjoying this, I'd advise you to an swer them as carefully as possible. Gay, get a pencil and paper and write down every word of It" There was a pause. After a moment Gay walked to the desk and picked up a pencil. Aunt Martha Holds Out A UNT MARTHA, I will begin with you. Your Inviting us here at this time of year was unusual. This party was your Idea?" "It was." "Will you tell us why?" I was being callous and I loieW It without looking at Michael's black face. "Certainly. Barbara seemed unwell and depressed. As I wrote you, I thought she would be better for a lit tle company. And I hoped that that aha might bring herself to conflde in you or Michael more readily than my self." M. Farrlngton'e Hps were a thin, etrslght line. In her eyes at that mo menl gleamed the light which usually presnged a laying low of the nearest available victim. But I went on. REDISCOUNT RATE HELD AT TWO PC. 8AN TRANCTBCO, May 33 (AP) Tlie PWteral Reserve bank of n Francisco Announced continuance of the two percent rediscount rat to day on borrowings by banks of live even far western atatea against commercial paper collateral. This rate has been In effect more than three years. Discount bitsineM of the rewrve bunk, while at a low level, has been somewhat higher this year than for some time, but chiefly for short term loans. The total discounts at the reserve Nink Mny 19 were 1.144.000, a drop from f.69,000 In the last week, but virtually triple the amount or a year ago aiaa.OOO. Laftrnnde Pioneer Dies LA OKANDB. Ore, May 23 )AP, Mrs. Clara Condit 71. wife of City Commissioner William Condit of La Orande and a Orande Ronde valley pioneer, died here last nitht. Fun eral service will be held here Sundav afternoon. Mrs. Com! if came to La Orande In 1873 from Wyoming and we one of the first women clnka in this city. "Had you any reason for thinking so?" "I had not." The eery voice of the storm seemed to mock both of us. "Had you any particular purpose la Inviting Judith here?" She stiffened, but she had the grace to blush. "I thought she might make pleasant company for you and Michael." In spite of the tension, a general smile greeted that "Naturally," I said, the thought of the stiu figure upstairs wiping the smile from my lips with a vengeance. "Now, about last night At what time did you go upstairs? Directly after you left us. I dldnt notice the exact hour. I went straight to bed, if that Is what interests you." "Did you sleep Immediately?" M. Farrington drew herself up. "The next thing I was aware of," she stated deliberately, "was Michael standing beside me with the Informa tion that Judith and Barbara were not In the house." I felt as If cold water had unexpect edly been splashed in my face. And then the realization of my own colos sal stupidity struck me. Never repeat what I am going to tell you to anvonet And there I stood before the Skinner expecting to hear it voluntarily re pealed, my lace burned furiously. Did anytnlng unusual haoDen while we were out in the grounds either last night or this morning?" noinuig. "You heard no footsteps In the hall upstairs this afternoon?" I did not." The Skipper's Stable Trip THANKED her and met the Skip per's Inscrutable eyes nxed on my face. I took a long breath. Skipper," I said, "you asked me to do this. What had been troubling you?" She reached for a cigarette and lighted it with a steady hand. "I'm 92. Jimmle. When you reach that age it's not so easy to be consistently cheer ful. That's all there is to it" You didn't go upstairs with Aunt Martha last night?" Stupid question. had seen her go UDstalrs. She laughed softly. "My dear boy, after you left us I smoked a cigarette, bored myself stiff, and went to bed. I think you were the last person I saw en route. Martha was asleep. So I didn't wake her. I lay awake till the thought of that dog got me. Then I dressed and went out to her. That's all there is, Jim except that I heard nothing In the hall." I e'eared my throat "Why didn't you tell Aunt Martha where you were going?" "It would have worried her." "You went directly to the stable?" "I did and I came directly back. I didn't hear anything but wind." I braced myself and let the next question fly. "What did you mean last night when you told me to keep Jude away from Michael?" The Skipper flicked ash from her cigarette coolly. "I meant that If Mike wants to marry Gay, I see no reason why he ahouldn't have a clear field." Gay's pencil snapped. Should I or should I not ask hr point-blank what she and Jude had been talking about when M. Farrlng ton heard them? I decided not to. To all intents and purposes that Inter view had already been denied. I should be giving away my knowledge and gaining nothing. I turned to Mi chael. "What did Jude talk to you about In the game room?" His shoulders were hunched. That he said, "is nonn nf vn damned business." I know now that In that nn. mn. ment I lost the opportunity of saving us all from what followed. My anger prevented me from seeing the effect that question and its answer had on anyone in that room. Mike's attitude through that entire dav had hn ting Increasingly in my hair. At the demand of the entire party I had ac cepted a responsibility as distasteful to m as I was Inadequate for It And it was becoming increasingly evident that my Inadequacy might prove dis astrous. I tried to keep my temper. "What did Jude tell you. Mike?" Michael looked at me lnn lnir and a strange one. His face was set and I knew before he opened his mouth that he was lying. Well, they had all lied. "She told me that she thonsht th. chimneys were in bad shane nnH thu storm might make them dangerous. She didn't want to alarm anyone else." It was a feeble attempt, but I knew that a second question would be Just so much wasted breath. That much was evident from the set of his chin. Behind me, Gay snorted Indignantly. "All right" I said wearily. "How long did it take her to tell you that?" He was eyeing me cautiously trying to anticipate my thoughts. "About five minutes." fCopyrloM, JJ7, fiilh.r Tyler) Putting all my cards on the table, I ereate a sensation, tomorrow. NEW YOHK. May 33 APJ Un ion Pacific Railroad company an nounced todny detail of a freight car building promm Involving H, 000.000. At its Omaha, Neb., and Portland, Ore., shops trie company will build 3.08 box cara and at th Orand Island, Neb., shops 700 automobile rs will be constructed American Car V Foundry company will build for the rond 1.000 ballast and coal cars, and J00 tank cars will be turned out by the General Amer ica Transportation coiporntion, All of the enra are scheduled for completion as rapidly as ponnlhle dur ing 1P37, the compttny stated. In order to tke care of expanding transcontinental freight traffic. tMr Mitniir for Job SALEM. May 33 : API - The state board of control today approved the action of the cnpltol reconstruct. on commission In formally requesting Attorney General I H. Van W'nkle to as'in Ralph K M.ody to the full lime tnak of ley.il adviser to the commission as an assistant attorney general. STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For further proof address the author, Inclosing a stamped envelope for reply. Reg. U. S. Pat Off. MW& fORlte Woffltfs 1K5SUV fliuAKp Title, SiXV'v AW ---' HrV5 MORB CONTROL , OVSRUFSTHM . fUf? 6feKM3 mH I It CAN INCREASE . jl ''M "M of -Trie j&b. rmd -M MFt-WN Of ohH 5 iNTrisiR xir TAtrcS owm ' ;A eTTuovi W&tf Iiefeated Ity a Hy Louis Pox was In the lead at Washington hall, Rochester, New York. His greatest ambition was within his grasp the winning of the undisputed world's billiard champ ionship. John Deery, co-holder with Pox of the title from the year before, eyed his opponent disconsolately as he' noted the somewhat pardonable smirk on Pox' face. Pox stepped up to the table, sight-, ed down his cue and was about to shoot. A fly lit on the cue ball. Laughingly, Pox shooed It away. Again he prepared to shoot. The fly circled past the billiard player s eyes and again landed on the cue boll. Unsmiling, Fox shooed It away. An noyedly. he returned his attention to TRADE HOLDS UP NEW YORK, May 33. (AP) In clement weather took its toll In re- TA1XSPIN TOMMY Tho Hearing! Tommy's appc-al TO RtGAiri HIS Lict-rtse- is mow Btiri HtAR D . . THE NEBBS-Jst Easy Money cart wiiOoxiiK b UAKJSEK some Surprise! ' RfcCKOU WA. AUDI'D BETTER RECKoij I f GOOD MORBUS, ' ' l f V0V ROHT THERE VOUWJCj MAU IfW rout nnuM uOB ' --asl J ? ' TTPW?W V HEQl& tT$ VJEEP THE C.AME WWO 0' TEAR f W lUTEREfcT- V "f j " WELLO, SUJEETIE PiE OU WOM'T SeE K :.J GET" I NJFORMATI OKJ Ri&i-rr PROM W WILL VOO ECT THIS OKJE WILL. "x" I. I UTTLE LLTVE PEDOLlfCo HNJ FRUIT ) ' jut TCAC - 1. AlUT WAD A LOSlloS TloO FOR ME ejT )& INJ TME EAMjY ET'?' A MDCM LONJGE.R GOr AM E.AS1ER J j DAV VET LST WEEK KWOCKEO DONJT LOSE IT I'M J EAT! MG OAT5 l.V.S'i, J 'tVwWOF MAKISJS A UVINJG-I'M V-s - OnjE OVER. AMD GOT lo4 BUCS FO .SAVINJO UP FOR. BEFORE TWE ,T?',5Urj VPlAVnjG TUB f-p-l--- A-UDO AMD 1 (OT OWE THAT5 yT' K?ME SA REST BWiSH TLJL- ' v his shot. A buzz and lac fly was back. Pox Jabbed at It with t;:e end of his cue. hit the boll on which the fly was sitting and saw It roll away as the fly took eff and van ished into the blue haze of tobacco smoke which overhung the room. The poke which Fox had taken at the ball constituted a miscuc. Deery stepped up to the table, carefully run out the string end won the championship. Fcx dashed from the hall, ran to a river and Jumped In. He was drowned. Life Control While science has succeeded In In creasing the average human's life expectantcy, It has failed, ns yet, to Increase the span of life. Though more men live- to ripe old age todny tall sales this week although the un-. dercurrent of a swelling demand came closer to the surface, Dun & Bradstreet said today In their weekly trade review. Pending strikes caused abandon ment of planned schedule extension In Industrial divisions, the agency said, but production totals were lit tle disturbed. "Buylng In wholesale markets lwt , I, ,, ,, . 'I i -J-LUfKx low wines 1 . ( COMe- sAwav.... r3M fSf yes' hc-stop- Ms Nauf hi lradrU. tsv than was common In past centuries, the life limit remains the same with but few persons passing the 100-year mark before old age takes their body graveward. Honeybees, on the other hand, are capable of Increasing the life span of their fellows from the average six weeks which the worker bee lives to the two, three or more years which constitutes the life span of the queen bee. A bee colony has the power to choose its own queen by selecting an egg or a newly-hatched larva and feeding It a special diet of "royal Jelly." This devolops the larva Into a queen bse, thus Increasing Its life possibilities about 18 times that of an. ordinary bee. Mondoy: Human Horses! little of Its vigor for summer and fall merchandise: re-orders, however, were smaller In volume," the report stated. Leading regions were ahead of last year's showing and retail sales for tho country as a whole were 8 to 30 percent over last year's figure. Gains shown In major areas ln- cl tided Pacific coast. 13 to 18 percent. SUNDAY MORNING CREEPS "TO PfcRErrtS' DOOR UERV EAW.V OH SUHDrrr1 M0RNIH6 AMD ASMS ARE -frlEV AWAKE AMD ISIftiMEfofcEfUP? SUBSIDES TOR A WHI1.E, fUEN REPORTS Af DOOR he -Chinks he hears 1uTrY WH)Hlrt6,SHAU HE 65 DOWN MD LEf HIM OOf S 'MATTER POF aPI y WfOLD fritV WERE Nof AWAKE AMD "fHEV WAKf fO SLEEP AND 1b 60 BACK 10 BED A0HCE AMUSES HIMSELF ODUHC IM6 UPAlJPDOWtf, M iL HE HEARS A KNOCK OK 1HE WAtf. SI6H5, AND S1R-fe CPRRYlNS HIS BOX Of BXDCKS-fo HIS BED RffURNS To PAREnKS1 DOOHfO&AVHE'SSOWiy ABOlXlttAf CRSH; HE DROPPEP HIS BJL0CK6 (Copyright, 1987, by The BD ByadlcaU, By GLUYAS WILLIAMS 5-7 CAU& HOPETUUy JSfHW frit 5I6HAL1'0 6EUPI Bl)f if WAS-fHE Sl6NALOkEEPa0lE CUMBS BACK lNfo BED AHD 51H6S 1b MM$LT PAREKf? Wlfri 5I6HS DE CIDING TriEV M-SBf AS wai 6E UP Inc.) PAYNE By HAL F0RRE8T By EDWIN ALOEB By SOL HESS Bv C. M.
