Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, June 23, 1937, Image 8

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Medford mail tribune., June 23, 1937, Page 8, Image 8

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE ETrtTTT dUDDGD DAY IN BED By r.nrvAS WILLIAMS STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For further proof address the author, lnclottng s stamped envelope for reply. Keg. TJ. 8. Pat. Off. OD THG DQ.UI7F amwmmm rtrn xoi'SM. Jude Utiranop, i mil fcme, is misterlousL shot 1 death. That starts our stormy weekend at Farrington Bluff, home e4 Michael's aunt. A scries o Strang attacks occurs. Then tue Snd the body of Michael's mad father beioto the bluff. Aunt Mar tha is shot in the shoulder, then nearly finished with sleeping powders. The Skipper, Mike's tall, tweedy younoer aunt, disappears ' and we lejreh for her frantically. Cook, Viliiam. the chauffeur, and Annie, the maid, suspect Higgint, . . the old butler. IVittfam tells me why. Chapter 42 We Lock Up HiggSni A SOUND from the stair ratlin! grated on our earl, spinning ui II about simultaneously. Higglns. fully dressed, stood on the landing, staring down at us. How long he had been there, we had no way of know Ing. It Is one thing to confront mur derous fiends In tabloid headlines, but it la quite another to stand face to face with one In the form of an old family' servant whom you have known for a good part of your life. My lips were dry as I slipped the key case into my pocket. "Hello, Higglns," 1 said. "Come on down. We were Just talking about you." The silence got under my skin. 1 waited for the man to answer, for Cook to explode, for Annie to scream. Nothing happened. For a space of fully 15 seconds we stood there while the old man studied our faces. "Were you, sir? 1 can't teem to sleep and 1 thought 1 would make myself a pot of coffee." He came down the stairs slowly, as deliberately as he had ever descena ed them In his life. Habit Is certainly a powerful factor. If ever I had want ed to collar a man, Higglns was that man. And yet I couldn't 1 said casually. "Sure. Make enough for the rest of us. I guess we can stand it.' No one spoke. We sat there and watched him measure out coffee, pour In water, and set the pot on the stove. He turned irom tne operation, smiling. "I'm glad it's nesrlj over, Mr. Jim mle. There will be a boat her by morning, see If there Isn't." 1 could do nothing but murmur. "Yes." He was guilty. 1 was sure of It. But sitting there looking at him I couldn't see myself telling him so. I cleared my throat "Hlggins," I said, "you've lied to me on every single question I've asked you haven't you?" For one fraction of ( second the eyes turned toward me were the alck, tired eyes of a very old man. In the next instant they were veiled and calculating. "What gives you that Impression, sir?' 1 stood up. "You were seen out of your room on the night when Miss Bllnshop waa killed. You were seen going Into your room fully dressed Just before Mr. Michael called you and reappearing as if you had been esleep a moment later. You own the only gun In the house. You were seen coming down the stairs Immediately before we discovered the Injured cat when you swore that you had been in the next room. You were on hand when Miss Farrlngton was wounded. You oven tried to get my fingerprints on the revolver. William and 1 are going to lock you in your room. You will be kept there until the police arrive." Those strange eyes never once left my face, not even after 1 had com pleted my distasteful task. Making A Mistake? " U. J1MMIE," he said very quiet i'l ly. "you've known me for a long time. Do you believe what you are saying?" "I'm sorry, Higglns. Yes." A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "1 see," he said. "Do you object to my having my coffee before you lock me up?" "Don't take no chances with htm," cautioned William. And so we sat there waiting for that coffee, waiting to be served by a man whom we Intended to deliver Into the hands of the law to lose his life. I was too busy with my own feel ings to notice particularly what'went on in that room. Once or twice the clumsy ahuffling of Cook'a feet pene trated my consciousness, but that was all. 1 doubt if any coffee on the face of the earth ever took as long to boll as that did. At last Higglns moved to the closet and set out five cups and saucers. Cook stood grimly over him while he poured, her mind running, 1 imagine, to all the varieties of poison that could be dropped Into those cups. My own mind was too full of all the other rups Higglns had handed me of all the decent little favora he had done me 1 choked trying to drink the stuff. Hlggins drank his calmly and set the tup down. "I'm quite ready, Mr. Wells," he said. But 1 wasn't Suddenly, strangely. . :nai 1 was .naicing a great una .,;. Where and how, 1 could not see I t ut 1 was sure that 1 was making one l hflH a mtrnna ennulrtlnn that It Mm. Cine were guilty, he would nevei have taken the accusation as be had if Higgins had done ill the things we had imagined his doing, Hlggins wai Insane, for he was without a concelv able motive. And an Insane man, con fronted with captivity, Is not ususlly ss placid as he was. At least 1 didn't think so. It waa a straw, but 1 gasped at it frantically. "Higglns." 1 said, "haven't you any thing to say to defend yourself?". "Not a thing, sir." William and 1 took him upstslrs. II was consistent with my general stu pidity that although 1 had many qualms about hia guilt i no sooner slipped the key of his locked door intc my pocket than J regarded the en. tire eplsod as closed. It was sU over And noW'-what? William stirred uneasily at my el bow. "I feel like a rat sir. He's an awful old man." 1 wanted to get away from William Without replying 1 made off down the corridor to the main hall. Light! still glared there, and 1 could hear the Intermittent murmur of voices In M. Farrlngton'a room. 1 knew that i should go In there end tell them what had happened. 1 knew that they were in all probability working themselves Into a fine frenzy waiting for me. But 1 was in no mood to face M. Farrlng tonor even Michael. The Case Against Higglns I WENT downstairs into the cold, 1 deserted library, where 1 made s fire, helped myself to a stiff drink and sat down to think. For the most pari 1 waa concerned wHh the where abouts of the Skipper. That Higglns In his right mind would In any way injure the Skipper seemed to me oul of the question. And 1 could not con vince myself that Higglns waa not in his right mind. 1 went over and over the qusetion 1 took another drink and then another. 1 threw myself down -t the desk and tried to write. The feel of a pen In my hand was comfortingly familiar. More to quiet my nerves than In hopes ol proving anything, 1 set to work. HIGGINS Knew of the presence o Norman forrinolon. Whereabouts at the time of the death of Jude ruspictou. asy to Imagine him in the confidence ol every single person molested to dati -Jude, Norman Farrlngton. M. Far rlngton, and the Skipper. Seen up stairs when the cat was killed and (hi room com up. Lied about it afterward Only person who might have re moved letters from William's room Witness for his alibi on the shootint of M. Farrington (Skipper) missing Obtained something frjm drug store Poison? Started to tell me something A confession? Tried to get my finger prints on the gun -ted on M. Farrlng ton. Carried keys to every room fr the house. Note: Standing at my own elbou uhin Cook was attacked. Locked in room with others when William and 1 were attacked. Has seemed alraia of something from the beginning Seems relieved fo be locked up. Mo tive inconceivable. Pausing for a cigarette. 1 surveye: my results. A pretty disorderly mess Welt It could o straightened out later. At least my nerves were steady ing down. WILLIAM Convicted of felony. Served lul term In spite of uiterea of Mr. Biin shop. Seems to indicate that no vindi. eating evidence has yet been found Knew the BUnshops. Only persor with conceivable motive revenge Only person to give evidence againsx Higgins. Substantiation of alt his evi dence comes from his wife and Cook who are clever enough to have foolec the household over a long period ol time. Knew of Higgins' gun and admlis to being a good shot Alibi covering kill ing of cat and Kraining of wife and Cook questionable. Proof ol where abouts during death f Jude again rests on those two. Found Jude's body Might have dealt with me in his room Might have planted and removed let ters to cast suspicion elsewhere. Sug geste the locking of upstairs rooms. Mai have had Hlggln.-.' keys at thi rime. May have seen Norman Farrlng ton when Afichael aau him. Servants' gossip from the Bllnshcps' might havs told him who Norman was. Might havs had Higgins suspecting him. Strong enough to have overpowered both the Skipper and her brother. Seems well versed in drugs. Admits going to drug store. Note: Was In. Jured when I was. ( Might have thrown himself down tne stairsj Did revive M. Farrlngton. Admits locking us in cellar. placed the ia-o lists side by side and considered 'hem with unabashed delight It seemed to me that the case against William overshadowed the case against Hlgglna. tCopvright ;ssr ffsra.fr Tvlerl Tomoriew, I chrrk the easel aralnst Mike, Gay, Ceok, Annie and M. Farrlngton. SEAL SALE PLANS , Plans for the 1937 Mil tale wrr dl-KUMfd TuoMlfty by 18 mpmtvrft of the Jackson County Health moc.a tton Christmas sral committee, meet ing with Mrs. Sal die Orr Dunbar, ex ecutive secretary of the State Tuber culosis awociatlon. Mr. Dunbar adrire-ued the group at luncheon yesterday at the Hotel Holland, discussing modern problems of tuberculosis control and cure, and work of the national and atate asso ciations. She pointed out that ami tuberculosis work In the future must tn concentrated In three fields: Young women, older men and Ne groes Mrs. Dunbar stated that the dagger age for contraction of '.he disease among men has moved Into tha forties and flftl-s In rrcfi.t tn:i Instead of the lower zmf tonmri; fflOM frequently attacked- This u particularly true among factory work era, she pointed out. The nsttonal antl-tuberculoeta as sociation expects to raise 40.000.000 this year. Mrs. Dunbar atated. Mrs. Robert Hart, chairman of the local committee, expressed the determina tion of the Jackson county associa tion to raise the quota assigned this district and anticipated increased co operation and efforts on the part of association members and the public. Out-of-town committee members present Included: Mrs. John Fuller, vice-president of the health associa tion; Mrs. Elvood Hcdberg and Mra. Prank Van Dyke. Ashland; Mrs. Guy Tex, Central Point; Mrs. R. V. Frame. Phoenix; Mrs. K. S Severance. Jack sonville; and Mrs. J. w. Lively. Gold Hill. Mra Dunbar arrived Monday morn tug from Portland on a general in spection of the county health unit. She spent Monday at the courthouse clinic and Inspected the new tuber culosis portable cottage now tinder construction at the high school. Phe also visited the prc-school clinic held it the Oak Orove school. She acompanled Dr. C. I. Drum- .n.tnd. county health officer, to Pros Tt yoterdsv afternoon. Phone M3. ".Veil hau! sxy your .lust. City sanitary Service " J eaibj fa&lish balloonist xopeji my IN THSAIR ) 8Z6- CUP THEIR HftlR hwT YatiTliiiT Is,kI Oe6KhtyiW-0trj GJOtr)e..rw. ft&ftflAJM a Cuban p(tmanwmo m in frte marathon wriH rtewv wrkok, fiNisnEP mm in ft pew or w StrNak fsitstMtlti. lrarJCW35S!S9i The Aerial lorseman. A' man with Imagination waa Charles Oreen, pioneer English aero naut. Were he living today, he'd probably be staging motion pictures on the order of "Plying Down to Rio?' Did you see It? Remember the beautiful chorus girls dancing on airplane wing tips to the accompani ment of a 40 or 50-plece .orchestra? It waa colossal, no less. In spite of the times In which he lived, Green managed to get pretty colossal too without the aid of double exposure. On one occasion he sent an entire band aloft In bal loons and had them play while he attempted to determine the distance sound would carry through the air. Remember this was somewhere around 1630. Other stunts arranged by Oreen Included dropping monkeys attached to little pnrnchutea from balloons. .-e II ssvk n r m.w w fireworks displays at high altitudes and balloon races. His crowning feat was the aerial horseback ride. Mount, ed on his favorite pony which was harnessed onto the underpart of a balloon. Green sailed off Into the sklea riding on the back of the animal one day In 1878. He repeated this stunt several times In later years. In 1840 he tried to promote a balloon race across the Atlantic, but failed to get enough financial back ing. Green't BOOth, and last, ascen sion was made In 1857 at the age of 72. He died at 88. Cuban Postman. After scraping up enough money to take him to St. Louis, Mo., for the 1904 Olymplcr. Felix Carvajal took leave : of his postman Job in Havana and headed for the states. A dice game In Nev Orleans emptied his pockets and he was forced to "bum" the rest of the way to St. Lculs. Without any track experience or tralnL.g hia uackground, Carvajal entered the marathon as an unof ficial representative of his country. He appeared for the race clad In long pants, a shirt ard heavy work shoes. Needless to say, he was a sen sation. An official -emedled the situation somewhat by cutting off the Cuban's sleeves ar1 trouser legs. The gun cracked and the 40 entrants Jogged off. Carvojal's tactics In the race were even more sensational than his wear ing apparel. Along the route he took time out for conversation wltn spectators and made frequent stops to pick apples which he nte while running. Strange as it seems, he came In fourth. ...Tomorrow: Jewelry from Elephants! Sen. Morris III. WASHINOTON. June 23 (Ar) Senator Norrls, Ind.-Neb.). 75-year-old leader among ir ? liberals, was stricken with an attack of Indiges tion today. Dr. George W. Calver, capltol physician, said the Illness waa not serious. Barrlrk Salem Director foALEM. June 23. (AP) The larg est number of persons ever to vote In a Salem school election chose Dr. Leon E. Bnrrlck for the lone school board vacancy yesterday. Dr. Barrlck, who eiso Is county coroner, received l 43! tf the 2.122 votes cast. The FEElS -flREO OUT" AMD KEEPS StfTlKS OP fO IS6VKS ft CI&Rfitf WV frtlHKS A DAY IK BED PURSUE FXUSlVE CRUMBS GEfS UP IMMEDI AlElV WHL 61VE HIM JOSY PROM Ht6 BREAKFAbf "fo LOW FOR Asl Ptbr fHE RESf HE KEEPS "fRPfV BE6IHS 10 6E BORED AHP SHOUT'S TOR SOMEOKE'TO BRlHS HM AW SfOSV. f Art MAKE ANV OME HEAR 60ES DOWH AND 611 if HIMSELf, BUT" HAS 1b READ M WERV DNCOMFORfABlE POSlfiON WCAlJSF or 1rlE U6fK kJl TIKD& HE HAS BEAD if BEFORE BHD THAI' BED ISSfiLlfUllOF CSUM85. 6E5 UP 0 BRUSH friEM LIES 8R00TIN"6 AHl Af LpSf DD2ES OFF IS WAKEWEP Bf VACUUM CLEANER IM YiW ROOM AND DECIDES HE'Ul BC WORN OUf IFHE&YAVSIN BED AMY I0N6ER. 6E1"S OP (Copyright, 1937, by The Bn g radicate. Inc.) S MATTER POF By C. M. aYNB total vote waa 196 more than tne 1 previous record, made in 1926. TOLEDO, June 23. (AP) Bids , will be oalled July 1 by Waldport j lor a new water reservoir to hold , 100.000 gallons. The estimated cost . la S3000. . ' V-v Mat SM ! W- 1 S tV J9 t-((5opyrlslit, 1937, fcy Th Ball Syndicate, Inc.) jf TAILSPIN TOMMY Is Roble Convinced ... Or Acting? lit JUSTIHA.SWEtT HfABT OF- TONY LACEV, SLAiri SPY PILOT, WHOM TOMMY IS IMPERSONATING in am tp-roRT to learn THE" IDtMTITY Of- THE LEADER Of- THE ESPIOMASE GANG, WAS CONVERSING AFFECTIONATELY WITH TOMMY, BETTY LOU AND SKE-ETS ENTERED THE- BLUE" LANTERN INN, BETTY CALLED TOMMY BY NAME:, BUT HE: PRETE-NDE-D HE- DID MOT K NOW HE; (3 . . . P57 0 ,W v. , r-IUL LVil lai TT (J-Ufl, SKE-eTE-R.' V HAVE- VDU BEEN VA-AHH y i iil crt ito, . -,..J k fVA ME HOME. 'S 'STEPPING OUT ( THC-R& Ji YOU AGaInT A m JUST.mT I -r .evT- TONY?) VQU AREf&tia I 1 AM SURE: BUT I By UAL FORREST Id I HAVE JUST RECEIVED AN IMPORTANT CAL FROM HEADQUARTERS ) THE" CHIEF WANTS A N SOOD PILOT BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER First Round 1 By EDWIN ALOER MR.V.a0CjtR.,UEB.t'e, A OOOO LUCK. ?R.t6EVn AVID ARk VifcOfatQ FttOU "OU Ll BE WTEB.te,TED IU THt OLD CVHUK LtflEWD; THAT dOli WTYArt-r f ufcv, ueA.,uEU to this: we6iu n'6 GROVVU U A Ct,TAU VAST OF CWHA AUD OVER. THERE THEY 6AV IF YOU CAT H kh A VitWLVVJtD, VOUU BE HAW Lowa l&Hi n-rTT f hoH.wu.vou ouo c 7 I u ewcerwc-vie.iNe ll ) s know I ALVJAVft W HAPPY- K ( n,U6AR- ) 5L riUX "IHI RIC6 RcoULak. AUO MAKE UW- IMC t.MMt?56 ARC I A DARU MACT VPOPLE. Yrti i wunuj THE NEBBS You Never Can Tell By SOL HESS tjMMil. IS VACATlOJt0 S &r mess's REQUEST SO THAT SHE MAY CEGAIKJ MER EQUILIBRIUM MECS 1 AM KCSTUY ALL. Tt-li?OUSH U-liTW MY VCU Asj'r SOtNj' O'CLOCK .WHAT AM I C-OM' PFz.T -rtS -Ts? 5 to do -rue rcst or yUE. DAY T LO Ac i ,sj ' rr tip l iOZEO LIKE A COG LUMESJ 1 IUAS VOUR AGE A0O I D'DsJT HAVE MO TROUBLE LEARvjikj LOA1 TO LIKE A DCG-l METVER SAvjU A DOG DO amy- HNJ' BUT EAT, SLEEP A0D BARK. AT NJOTMIM' AMD vOO MEVER SOT NJO VZ5 A WEE MEITHEI tt c s ru. I is that- n? rit? iSO EVPOVTUIIO1 IS voiE with vounu 'got Plemtvujwy domt1 YOU 5PEKJD SOME. OP IT f WJHO YOU 5AVI M IT PER? I'LL BE .GOME LOWS,. 'FORE GET THAT ikiftcm A-ni-.. H lAMNtiCDY THAT CAM 'WIDE COSWEO BEEP ,AVJD CAS3AGE. VOUNJG OSJIOOSAXJO IRAOISHES LiitF!voil DID LAST NIGHT IS LOKJG JRiP X