Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, October 13, 1938, Image 10

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Medford mail tribune., October 13, 1938, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE TEN" WDFOTCD WATT; TTTRTTNTE. ArFPFOTtn.. OREGON. THURSDAY. OCTOBER '13. 1938. cm m ia xlit t ir I By MAX SALIMARS The Character Archl Lnmsden, mvielf. tHj ttor to tht French Riviera. - - OUUIe Willi, beoutlul Amert- ' ' can heirut. Mmt Oelss, head of a murder eonrpiracy. VMterdayt Ottllle and 1 are cauoht In GeUf'e house between Cein and Henrietta Ida mi on ' the one hand, and crazy Noah ' More on the other. Chapter 38 Night Of Horror THERE wu one chance only and that a thin one. I gripped Ottllie'i wrist and drew her after me round the angle of the stairs to the studio door. As I did so, finding it mercifully ajar, I heard Geiss's step on the marble flags. I thrust her inside, slipped after her myself. The footsteps passed our door and proceeded down the B usage to the secret room; I heard le sound of a key turninc and next minute the click of a closing IOCK. ' Escape by the front door was Impossible, and I looked round desperately for some corner where we could hide ourselves until the inmate of the house had gone . their dark and devious ways. Even as I hesitated. I heard a shuffling tread in the hall. There was a second door on my left, which must lead to the secret room, and now I realized that it- also, stood alar. for a murmur of voices came faint ly through the crack. I drew her towards it, and as I did so, turned my head and saw the door we had entered slowly move inward. There was onlv one thins for It. ( caught her by the shoulders and gently thrust her into the second room, so that she stood flat against the wall behind the heavy curtain, and as I followed her and softly closed the door behind us, ft seemed to me that the situation had reached its pinnacle of fan tastic horror. I moved stealthily a fraction to ana side, where the division of the curtains showed a thin line of light, and found that, by putting my eye to the crack, I could get a very fair view of the upper end of the room. The housekeeper stood, watchful and defiant looking up to me aais, wnere, Denina tne monstrous statue of the goat Geiss was doing something that I could not see. "Come then, Henrietta!" he ' called mockingly. "Do you not wish to see where I have my secret hiding-place, now that it is too lat? 10 oe or use to your The women walked slowlv for. ward, rounding the long, black table that stood before the dais, and stood between It and the statue, and it seemed to me that now her watchfulness was re doubled, for her angular figure was poised and tense. "I'm not coming any .nearer," he said. "And I think I'd better tell you, Rene Geiss, that there's a revolver under this coat of mine. If you try anything. I know how to use It11 "A gunl" he exclaimed. "You are a resourceful -voman, Hen rietta, but I promise you that you win nave no occasion 10 use 11 -I, Rene Geiss, promise you that!" And as he spoke, he stooped swift ly, disappearing behind the statue. There was a moment's silence and then, to my horror. I saw the white, monstrous shape suddenly tilt forward Tho woman beneath creamed, once, horribly, and tried to spring backward; but the long, black-draped, stone table was elose behind her, shutting her In. She swung round, trying madly to cramDie over u, ana as sne aid so, the thing toppled forward and fell traight down on her, with a thun derous crash that almost drowned the second dreadful scream that rang out Locked In I CLAPPED my hand over Ot tllle't mouth, and slid mv other arm round her waist, feeling her snaxing as ir with a palsy. "You see. Henrietta." said Geiss's voice gently, "vou did not nee ' the gun." The moans ceased and I Knew that the woman was dead. He stood there for a moment, while 1 held my breath, and then moved swiftly his pebble-eyes turning, animal-like, to right and left, over to the curtain that shrouded the farther wall. A moment he Tum bled behind it, then turned back, thrustino what appeared to bo a wad of notes into his pocket, and crossed to the table. He picked up something that looked like a pack of cards, flicked them over with practiced fingers, and dropped five cards, one by one, on the velvet cushion, then stood staring at them, with a face suddenly drawn and contorted by fear. Suddenly he clapped his hands over his eyes. "I do not be lieve ltl" he shrieked, in a voice so hoarse that I hardly knew it, and 'urning on his heel, dashed from the room. The next minute I heard a confused uproar in the studio at my bock. "You!" came Geiss's voice in a frenzied scream. "You would dare to spy on me, you drug-sodden half-wit! If I did not need vou to morrow I would kill you now! As it is. go go at once, before I change my mind!" There was scuffle, holl strangled groan close to the other side of the door, and then silence, broken only by a small sound inat seemed to drain the blood from my veins, leaving me cold and shivering, for it was the sound ol a key turning in a lock. The door behind us was locked, and it was odds that the other door, through which Geiss had fled, was also fastened. Only too well did I know how impossible it was to break down either of those two doors, and yet the alternative, the long hours that must be spent in that dreadful room, shut in with that gruesome, broken body, wait ing until Hugo or Dunning or the police should come to free us, was a prospect almost too awful to con template. I stood there listening for an other Ave minutes, for 11 the madman who roamed the house learned of our presence, 1 dared not imagine wnat would happen. At last I moved. "I think we can shift ourselves now," I whispered. "Our host wouldn't wait longer than he could help.-after that last effort." "But, Archie," Ottllle said, very low, "what happened? What wai that awful cry, and the crash?" "That." I answered slowly, "waj when Geiss killed Henrietta Adams. She's out there now. Ot tilie but there's worse than that to fece." "I can guess," she said. 1 felt her tremble against my arm, but her voice was amnzinglv steady. "We're locked in." "You've said it," 1 agreed with a groan. "Stay here for a minute, like a good girl, and don't look until I tell you." Swiftly, I dragged down the hea'-y wall curtain and covered the body. "You can come out now, Ottilie. But you've got to face the fact that we re stuck in this room until Dunning or Hugo or the fiolice, even think to come and ook for us here." The Idol THEN I caught sight of the playing-cards Geiss had used. They were like no cards I had ever seen before. Queer little pictures they were, crudely drawn, vet start lingly vivid. The girl was standing at my el bow. "The tarocl" she said. "Don't tell me he took time to consult them before he left! I wonder what they told him?" "Whatever it was, he didn't like it." I answered, with a vivid re collection of that frenzied cry; "I do not believe it!" But Ottilie was bending over the cards, fingering them Intently. "I don't wonder he didn't like it!" she said under her breath. "Her's the reading of his fortune. Failure, madness, death, and eter nal damnation, all caused by a dark woman. "Strange," said 1. "He was al ways scared of dark women. He said one would cause his death in the long run. She stared at me. "Melanle was dark." she said slowly. "Her name means 'the dork girl,' and if we ever get the better of Geiss, it'll be through what she managed to discover. It was true enough, and a aueer thought at that, but as she snoke her sister's name. I saw her lio quiver, and I swung round search ing for something to divert her thoughts. An idol gloomed at us from a niche on the wall, and as my eye lighted on It. something suddenly clicked in my brain. "Ottilie." I said, "there's a con nection here. Geiss was busy be hind that curtain before he cleared out, and he come away with money in his hand." Archie, there's somethine fun ny about that stotue." You bet there is! sold I. and in a couple of strides I was across the room. The Image stood there starins sardonically at us with its twin faces. It was carved, as far as one could judge, from a solid block of smooth black stone, and when 1 struck a match to examine it more closely, there seemed no crack or joint that could conceal an open- lit Ottilie reached over mv shoulder and gripped something that looked like a simplified Tudor rose, turning it with all her strength ana as 1 looked, 1 saw the Image slowly swing to one side, disclosing a deepish hollow In the center of the plinth. mere was something lying at the bottom, something lonn and gray-black and sinister, and as I recognised It for what it was, 1 drew a long breath of relief, for It seemed to me that we had rounded the lost bend of the rood. My! sold she. with a sort of triumphant gasp. "What wouldn't 1 give to have Mr. Huge Stern here this minute!" And as she snoke she reached her hand down Into the opening, but I grinned her by the wrist. "Don't touch It." 1 told her. "It's a gun all right, and I'll take a bet it s the one we re lookinp for. but i so me nngerpnnts on It re precious to us; we're not Boinu to disturb them. And furthermore." I added, as she jerked her head impatiently, "we're lea.'ing it ex actly where It is for the police to discover." fCopvrtoht tfitl, Una UnUmarnht Tomorrow: Ottllle dlupAsrs acaln. L PUNT, Mich.. Oct IS (Vn Two division of OrnuiHl Motors corrorn tlon today announced the recall to Jobs within the nt 13 oy of 4.300 workmen. The chevrolft division, which u already employing fi.000 mm, hiw ordered :f.ooo nutntnobilr workm to report at the rate of 300 a dy. The Bulc dlvlilon summoned 1.300 men birn to work at the rate of 100 a day. Bulrk'a payroll on No vember 1 will lut 13.000 men. Ml U the time to trt that wur aielnst rats, when the first frosts drive them out of fields Into homes and eellars. STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX Tor further proof addroaa the author, Inclosing a stamped envelops tor reply. Res. XT. 8. Pat 68. 1 TOLD WAR HEARS MOSCOW, Oct. 13 (API PlonM-r Mo.ww, the 5oviel Rummat, children' npwsjmprr. warned Its mdcra tdiiy "ft bloody and cruel world wur la nrjir nrnrer than Chamberlain Brit ish pilm mlnlMer) thinks." Tlif newapnrvr Mid Germany would not he untlsfled with the CrechoMo. vak urtTlement and probably would want tnate of French meat nett. The article went on to y the Soviet Union alone la a Iron agalnftt the 'fM:at n.-nace' and it lo to the Soviet Union that amill countries look with hore 'Developments In Spain and China show that only the Soviet Union can give a helping hand in the dlfticult i fight againit uaurpert and faaclnt.H 1 111 i kA kif!Kittili' KS. 35 INCHES fKOrATlPTOllP 8ffrJ tMiblkd a f Columbia Jenn.) ft 1 aBv.rtrrrT!f?,rt . rxQ ffAT SicVcte BUILT For Tom Owed by a famitj in Pan's, France, -Trie VEHICLE Hhs Ps IftMLSR For TrltR CHILD... tO WftRP 6ARBtSCH Amtl caoiairt. m Mother in-fatiM HIS KICKING 5MC-- THSH PeremtDNMY 12-0 BV KICKING U. iMMOrttriLAWlceaVEh pV YPKhCt GREELcY, American jouenalisl; WHICH, SORTED frttfiREftf , 60LP RUSH, ENTHDSIbSrA om ft Ofeelej'i Deception A man of high Ideal, personal courage, and Intellectual force was Horace Oreeley, editor and founder of the New York Tribune. When In 1869 stories of huge gold finds In Colorado drifted east, Oreeley confronted the situation with the aame defiance that he challenged political and social problems tit home. The St. Loula Chamber of Com merce demanded of the federal gov ernment a branch mint to handle the "flood of gold" coming from tho KanaaJi territory. Greeley packed his bags and went west to see for him self what there was to It. At Denver Greeley was treated roy ally; he was to be shown "the big gest gold strike in Colorado" at Greg ory gulch. Gold was there, but the wise miners knew there was not enough to Impress the easterner. So before the gentleman of the press arrived, quantities of rich dirt were "salted" In the Gregory gulch mine. Oreeley was cold to the demonstra tive oration given by the mine's head engineer; he wanted to test the dirt himself. He was given a shovel and a pan and was shown to the salted hole. Oreeley was amazed as the glitter ing nuggets appeared before his eyes. He tried another shovelful. He was "sold" on Gregory gulch. Back in New York he proclaimed to the world that Colorado was rich. His enthus iastic advice was: "Go west, young man, go west!" Strange as It seems, the Influence of his editorials started the great "Pike's peak or bust" rust which sent thousands of gold-seekers Into Colo rado to find a salted mlnel Tomorrow: what was the longest fight In the history of boxing? Claim Shot at -Ml Med TRUCKEE, Calif., Oct. 13. (AP) C. U (Ited) Adams, president of tho Boca Tunnel and Construction Workers' CIO union at Boca, Calif., who figured prominently In a dis pute with Nevada officials over at tempted CIO picketing of a highway project, said today he had been fired at from ambush while driving his car near Boca last night. 4 Strike ( loses Plant EVANSVILLE, Ind.. Oct. 13. (AP) The Plymouth automobile assembly and the Indiana Brlggs Corporation plants here were closed today because of a strike called late yesterday at the Plymouth plant. About 2,300 are employed In both plants, ' Columhla Hlgliwny Open PORTLAND. Oct. 13. ( AP ) Motor traffic moved without delay today despite a landslide on the Columbia River highway three miles west of Bonneville dam near McCord creek Rnln caused the slide yesterday and for a time restricted the section to one-way traffic. Sight Plane Wreckage. BERNE, Switzerland. Oct. 13. (P) Wreckage of a uurman airliner miss ing since October 1 with ten passen gers and a crew of three, was sighted today high on a glacier near the Italian-Swiss border. 4- Pugilist Sails. SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 13. Max Bear sailed lor Hawaii aboard the liner Lurllne today to ftght Hank Hanklnson of San Diego at Hono lulu. With Baer were his wife, brot'.i Buddy and Manager Ancll Hoffman. SQUEAKY DOOR By GUJYAS WILLIAMS f 668 UPSTAIRS WtTtt OIL CflNlbmBfiTrtROOM DOOR WHICH WlFf FOR. WrfVtlN tH W SHr5 SOME D'VS HAS BHH COM "TAWIN6 A btfti PWlNlK6AB0lH'$aUEAKlKC SrfoRtS f0 OPDJ DOORj VAtTS AROOND UP5TWR5 MUDJTEP EMER&ES AT J-II13REP CALIIH6 FROM "frtlWKJNG ABOUT AU. lASf. SWIW6S DOOR 1& Wf TIME HE'S WA5TINM 1ES1 fl rur SttUtH , DOOR SWIW61W6 SILErlH LY AND SMOCrfUlY 5 ' F rms if woHf hum-to AT-rwrf momeM wiu- FVf SOME OIL OH THE FRED IfclES lb 6Ef IH - HIKSES MVWAY lb BWHROOM, Utrf KN0WIN6 HE'S BEHIND ftEDOOR FlrHSHKJ0B,1E$f5 HALFWAY DOWNSTAIRS, DOOR, WIPES OIL OFF HEARS WlFFEP 60 IN, ' HANDS AND CAU$ "ft RttfHROOM DDOR WIIFR5D rf!5 fta RI&Hl EMlfYlMS A LOUD AND 1b 60 IN NOW HIDEOUS SQUEAK iQ-ia. (Copyright, 18M, by Th BtU Bynitlcst. Inc.) 3 MATTER POt Bv C M PAYNB jil Y EYE Am' I Cant-) v ( EES VeT SlipTri " " -ji TAILSPIN TOMMY Courage Bom of Grief and Fury 1 By HAL FORRESI Si i when ben snoot, villainous racing pilot, hired gans men to kill tommy, he did not specify just wow the thugs should slay him. and that mistake cost him his life, pob the killers had picked out an old house neab. the airport. training A HI6H-POWERE0 RlPLE, EQUIPPED WITH TELESCOPIC SIGHT, ON THE ANNOUNCER'S STAND TO WHICH TOMMY WAS ASCENDING, WHEN SNOOT PUSHED TOMMY AS IDE . . AND WALKED INTO THE BULLET BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER AH the Information I II 1 1 V BEN WEBSTER, I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR DECISION TO TALK I BUT I SHOULD ADD THAT THE GOVERNMENT DEALS RATHER RIGOROUSLY WITH PERSONS WHO WON'T! - I l X jP- ' ' THEY uiol Hi SVJ ' JTJ-A GolrHG, j I tW I ON DOWN I. BUT. . WHAT MY PAL WjBw0&fflS iS iKiii S i ' SSg' HE I! f2 ft AND NOW TO TT WE FED THEM 1 If FACT IS. THAT W INDEED? WELL. IS Psf JUST ONE MORE WvES. SlB-HF tlKwi'J 'tb, n a BUSiNtas-wmai i viinn kills B I duiilco run. iu uwai wwc n ni inino.mT buy- Livtb in I sVswitfe SIR- I I WSSE VOURMETHODSl OR SUNSHINE I I I OF DR. KILEV'S THOSE AL0NS U 11 WHERE DOES WHIPP00RWILL LAA ky I IN RAISING GIANT I RELLETS AS WE I ILT PILLS- vJT WITH ME- J R DR. KILEV LIVE? R HOLLOW. I Jf I CHICKENS, ES65 i CALL THEM. I 1 1 1C 1 I "eK HtKtS ) PKUh ADIT ) WvATr J'J. r? ND TURKEYS? A PREPARED TOR Ml V ""mV i tl TV -VTf ....au,. By EDWIN ALGEB THE NEBB8 The Man from London Bv 801, HBSS BUDV, WWO IS THATAjE REGISTERED UWDeRlWO DiO,,r-Vj 'A J HFl DOMT KMOW vf 1 SHOULD TMifsi "Hi MvSTEWOUS PERSOM ItmE WAME OP , TwATGUV u a PRiMrpA T ! ' i .. w'AO IS BUT" WEISE A FIRST-CLASS HOTEL I ASJO wneue DO J( LOMDOJ . ME MAS LIVE F'UD MSW4V vPLIMfi ; 1 "j ' WATCWIM& HIMllNJTME WOULOM'T ISJ VMECOMEtROM ? y V INJ LOMDOisJ MOW BUT CXXWNI HERE ? - yS.7nnvfr- ) ' J MEAN4TIME, VOOD BETTER HVERVBODV WHO CAMS - l-TAS BEEKJ Iu- weSAlj 5 T) VOUR OEVUELS IM OMS NCU'D BETTER - "j" jj serLur