PAOTC TF"
MEDFOTiD MATT TTfrBUN"E. MEDFOTiD. OTRFOOy. TFFSDAY, "DECFiMBET? 20. 1938.
THE ARMY POST MURDERS
By Virginia Hanson
The Characters
Katherlne Cornish, mtss!, vis
iting Elizabeth on a mid-western
Army post.
Elisabeth, Colonel Wright's
daughter.
Adam Drew, acting command
ing officer.
Yesterday: The murderer locks
me in an empty room, then throws
the key over the transom.
Chapter 18
Stabbed!
"I'LL see you women down the
stairs," Adam said heavily.
"You're to wait in the library to
gether." They went with him docilely
enough, but Mrs. Orpington turned
back once to eye me coldly.
"You're staying?" she asked in
nocently. I made no answer, and she
seemed to expect none.
Adam joined mt again at the
head of the stairs.
"I want your story, but not yet."
He reached the door of her room
and barred my way. "You stay
here," he said gently. 'There's no
need ..."
He was in the girl's room a long
time. As the minutes dragged by
my last lingering hope died. I
leaned against the wall and wished
he would never come out.
When he did his mouth was
grim, his eyes compassionate. He
spoKe one word.
"Stabbed."
My eyes clung to his and he
started going farther and farther
away.
"I failed you," I whispered. "I
Kiiiea ner. , . .
The wall opposite began to lean
toward me. Then the flashlight
struck the floor and rolled over
and over, making a crazy pattern
of moving shadows.
Adam's Arm hands had me by
the shoulders.
"Sit down now put your head
between your knees. All right?
Then sit still and listen to me.
What do you think you could have
done? Screamed? You wouldn't
have lived long enough. Heaven
knows where my mind was when I
left you up here alone with her.
Somebody had to kill that girl. I'm
glad you let yourself be tolled
away. I'm glad you were not in
that rooml
"And now let me tell you some
thing else. I saw her. Her eyes were
open. I think she was awake I
think the knew what was going
to happen. And she made no out
cry "
"She was willing," I said pain
fully. "The poor thing something
she saw made her willing. Is that
what you think?"
"That's what I- think," said
Adam. "Now tell me your story
and try not to leave anything out.
The effort of remembering
iteadied me. I began with my
recognition of the type of that piti
less note and related, as well as I
could remember, everything I had
done until the moment Adam
found me on the dark balcony.
When I had finished we went
back together to that empty guest
room and went over it inch by inch
for some betraying trace.
The evening wrap lay where I
had flung it. Black velvet volu
minous, ankle length. I held it up
and recognized it.
"Mrs. Flower's! I noticed it this
evening. It's Just like her see
these long scarf ends that reach
to the hem? It's one of those lush
things. Made to order for the mur
derer the scarf went round and
round "
There was no bulb in the light
socket, a fact which explained why
this room had been without light
so long before the rest of the house.
The missing bulb was across the
room on the bed.
'Man Or Woman?
ADAM said, "Here's your pros
trate body," and chuckled
grimly. "An army blanket rolled
up and just not hidden by the bed.
Quite a resourceful person, your
murderer. . . . You're sure you
can't tell whether it was a man or
a woman?"
"How could I? I didn't even get
my hands on the crcatuie."
'Think hard. Was there any per-fume-Mobacco,
halitosis? Where
were your olfactory nerves?"
"Violet." I murmured, remem
bering. "The wrap recks of it
here, smelll So does Mrs. Flower."
"That doesn't help any. She has
n unshakable alibi for this one:
she was with me."
"Where's her husband?"
"I I don't know. Haven't seen
him for hours. He's O.D. went
off to inspect, didn't come back.
But he's harmless just the type
of man you mislay. ... All right,
now lets see. where were we?
You saw nothing, felt nothing,
melled nothing. What's left?"
"Hearing. There was the heavy
L1
I UP
REPhNSR. Dm. 30. ( AP) J. I,.
CHiult, receiver of the Farmers ani
StocksTowsrs National bank, proved
t, Santa Clans to stockholders who
contributed upon their Assessments
under the double liability or the na
tional banking art. They are- betnz
reimbursed for all the money paid
the twelvers, plus Interest during the
time funds were In his poavsalnn
In addition a small return Is being
made upon the original rapltal stock
of SO.ooooo.
This la the concluding chspter of
the bank and constitutes one of the
most Interesting liquidations of ant
closed national bank In the United
States. After securing clearances of
sit liability for Income tax durt'jg
the receivership period. Receiver
Oault recommended to the comp
troller of the currency tlwt all stock
holders who had paid their awss
ments In whole or In part be reim
bursed In full with Interest at fl per
cent, believing that as the depositors
had been reimbured with dividends
toMMng 107.59 percent, th contrib
uting stockholders should be treated
In the same manner,
breathing outside the door. It
sounded like a man, but it might
have been a woman under great
stress."
"And the stifled moan?"
I had forgotten that.
"I thought it was a woman. I re
member that distinctly. The the
murderer rather specializes in
women victims which may or
may not mean anything. . . . Adam,
that Orpington woman frightens
me."
"By the way," said Adam.
"Where did you leave your man
darin coat?"
"It's not mine, its Elizabeth's,"
I was beginning, when it regis
tered that the question had been a
shade too careless. "In in her
room the sick girl's. Why, Adam,
why?"
I clutched his arm, obsessed by
another of those premonitions of
disaster.
,"Wny?" Adam hesitated. "I sup-
fiosc you may as well know now as
ater. You see, the murderer wore
it."
I couldn't seem to get any sense
out of it.
'The murderer wore it?" I re
peated stupidly. "How can you
Know that?''
"It was obvious. The thing was
lying on the floor where it had
been dropped and there was evi
dence she had been stabbed, you
see.
"You mean blood?"
Adam norlded and watched me
narrowly. I suppose he had begun
to think of me as a fainting female.
"How how horrible! . That
beautiful coat! I should never have
worn it. What will I say to Eliza
beth " I stopped, got hold of
myself. "Sorry. Of course Eliza
beth won't think the coat impor
tant. But but why was it worn?"
"Presumably to protect the kill
er's clothing."
There was silence while we
thought about that. Then Adam
went on steadily.
We'll Never Know'
"IVTRS. FLOWER'S wrap was
probably first chosen for
that purpose, as well as conceal
ment and disguise. It's black and
capacious. Isn't that a cap thing
attached at the neck?"
"A cowl it could be drawn well
down over the face."
He nodded. "Good protection In
case anyone glanced up from be
low. The chances are the killer did
not know the girl's presence had
been discovered
"Then you think the same per
son wrote the letter knew she
was here?"
He hesitated. "Seems likely,
doesn't it? But we must beware of
jumping to conclusions. Her pres
ence may be pure coincidence.
Suppose she stole out to watch the
dancers, saw something incrimin
ating, made some startled move
ment that drew the killer's eyes
upward , . ."
"Then why didn't she give the
alarm at once?"
Adam pondered. "Perhaps she
couldn't. Perhaps the convulsion
you saw was not the first. We'll
never know. But we have the pic
ture of some one swaddled in this
wrap, stealing up the stairs from
the dressing room someone who
knew this girl war here, someone
who Intended to kill her. Whether
or not the murderer knew you
were on guard is immaterial. Once
on the balcony, you were in plain
sight. A plan was conceived, the
wrap put to eliective use. And the
killer was lucky the mandarin
coat was waitin" in the room."
Someone was shouting from
downstairs.
"Adam Adam!"
"Is that you, Shaw?"
"Yes. The trouble's not In the
fuse box. Barney and I have tried
every circuit. Shall I call up the
electrician?"
Wait a minute. I Interrunted
hastily. "The lights went off a mat
ter of seconds before I heard the
killer out there on the balcony. If
it wasn't coincidence and that's
unlikely then it was managed
from up here, probably in that
other room. Can't you short-circuit
with a coin or something? I've
read about it In books "
Thev were shouting aealn from
downstairs. Adam called. "Never
mind come up here. Maybe we
can find the short." He turned to
me. "Do you want to go down with
the women?"
Remembering Mrs. Orpington, I
shook my hend.
"Not yet. 1 11 wait for you.
The two men came bounding up
the stairs, preceded by the light
from their flash. Barney looked
healthier, as if he had succeeded in
losing himself for the moment in
the small crisis.
I lurked In the shadows, listen
ing, while Adam told them briefly
of whnt had happened in that
closed, silent room.
tCovvright. 193S. Virginia Hanson)
Tomorrow: Adam finds the gun.
BULLETINS DWELL
ON PEST CONTROL
CORVAIXIS (Spl Orftton vr.
Uhlf Rtir1pnrnt and Rtrnwlvrry Rrow
r In to rent. In protecting their
pluntliiR from insect damnRft will
have thn aid of two new bulletin!
Jut iMited by the OSC experiment
station i.n(. extension nm'lc.
One Is brief folder, extension bul
letin 633, entitled, "Vegetable Garden
Injwt Pest Control" by Don C. Mot,
and B. O. Thompson, entomologists.
It contains a tabulated list of veet
ai!e crops and principal in.wt enem
Ira and recommendation on control.
The second la station bulletin No.
3ft7, entitled "Insect Peat and Vl
eaea of the Strawberry In Oregon"
This la a considerably revised and
modernlred edition of a previous bul
letin on the same subject and con
tains a great deal of new material.
Written by V. D. Edwards, entomo.o
RUt. and fl. M. Zeller, plant pathoto
Klst, the bulletin features spittle Dug
and strawberry root weevil control
among the inserts and virtu disease
control In the disease section.
Other Insect prMa diacnsml In the
bulletin are the omnlveroua leaf tier,
stra berry lenf roller, the cyclamen
mite, atrawberry crown moth, straw-
STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX
For farther proof address the author, Inclosing- a stamped envelope for reply. ResO TJ. 8. Pat Oft.
1
' W ICECftNBE
upER-rtfcTD To w-mnt& f."
Go HoTfTMLL BURN iouR HMD
WITHOUT McLTtNu
IN 9 PftYS--
Jot 6L1RY 'sTrSN 0, York, f
flV STEERS WERSUSBD
rtoNDrTD$tf Arte
MOMUpAtNT W?7
BY HUNTERS K
Hot Ice
Ice so hot It will bum yout band
Is the newest freak of science pro
duced by Professor P. W. Brldgman of
Harvard, ho for some years has
studied tha peculiar action of matter
under htg pressures.
Ordinarily, the melting tempera
ture of Ice drops with an Increase of
pressure until a pressure of about
2200 times that of the atmosphere at
sea level Is reached, where ltc melt
ing temperature falls to -22 degrees,
Centigrade,
After this point Professor, Brldgman
4KI crtfWioN AT 7
Horwegisn Ojmpc $Ki champion,
wdm his First TtTLE AT 7
ANP HhS PI-fcCED IN
lOO MEET'S-"
WlMNlNQ 110
1 X
found a strange thing: happened. By
applying a still greater pressure to
the Ice at a temperature lower than
-22 degrees. Centigrade, the Ice sud
denly collapsed, losing some 20 per
cent of Its volume, and took on an
entirely new crystalline arrangement
of Its molecules.
The scientist also found that there
are actually -seven different kinds of
ice that can be produced under high
pressure. The last and most recent
ly discovered variety melts, under a
pressure of 40,000 atmospheres, only
at a temperature of 100 degrees, Cen
tigrade (374 degrees P.) higher than
the temperature of melting solder.
If you have ever dropped molten
solder on your hand, you will have a
rough Idea of the amazing properties
of this' high-pressure lc so hot you
cannot touch It, and so heavy it will
readily sink In water.
Cubes of the new Ice might serve In
place of coal for your winter stove,
except that It would break down as
soon as the tremendous pressure were
released.
Tomorrow: The boxer who boxed
with a club!
berry crown miner, aphtds and sev
eral minor pests.
Gorrie Made Chief
Seattle A. P. Bureau
SEATTLE, Dec. 20. (AP) The As
sociated Press today announced ap
pointment of Frank O. Oorrle as
chief of Its Seattle bureau effective
January 1.
He succeeds Harold Tumbled, who
&oes to San Francisco ut western di
vision news editor In charge of news
operations In Arizona, Nevada, Ore
gon, Washington, Utah,. Idaho and
Alaska.
Gorrie, Pacific northwest sports
editor for the "AP" the past d
years, "came up from the ranks,"
having Joined the press association
as a 15-year old "check boy" here
more then 20 years ego.
Cosily Switches
On Dam Circuits
PORTLAND. Ore., Dec. 20. (AP)
Although a flip of a fifty-cent
switch will turn on the lights In the
average home, circuit-breaker Instal
lations costing up to $150,00 will be
required to Interrupt the flow of
electricity on the Bonneville dam
powor transmission network.
Four companies bid today on
switching apparatus for sub-stations
to be located in Portland. Vancouver,
Kelso, Salem. Eugene, Hood River
and Raymond. Installation costs will
range fr:m $18,000 to nearly $150.
000. The entire order for the seven
sub-stations will exceed $300,000.
Closing time for Too Late to Clas
sify Ads is 1:30 p. m.
SURPRISE PRESENT
By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
Wowders Wiu McrfHW like -The
6REXH JESK PEUf IL HE BC06Hf ftR
HER fOR CHRIS1WAC
CWTSDiND-fHI SUSPErlSE. SEEKS
HEKWTAKD ASKS HER WHrf SHE
WAItfS R8 CHRiS-fWAS
IS CRESffAUEH WHEH SHER1$1&
HSf ADESK PEKCIl AM0K6 HER DE
SIRES. ASKS HofOTLLY ISlWfHERE
MWftmfe' E1SE 5H WArKS ?
4r- 1
S&JIRHS UNEASILY WHILE MCTfrlER.
GROPES FWfHE PROPER MSWEP,
-THEN AWs SHE WOUlDN'Alk'E A
6REEH DESK PENCIL WITH LEADS IN If
WD AtJ ERASER lH YrtE END, WOULD SHE 'i
BREMS INTO WW SMILE WHEN
MOfrlER.-fAKlrlS HER CUE, SBVS
frlftflS 1itE OhJE 1HIW6 SHE
WANTS MOST
(US BACK AND SURVEY PENCIL HAJ
PHV, -WINK1W6 HOW AMAZED
MOTHER WILL BE WHErl SHE6ETS If
(Copyright. 1838, by Ths Bsll gyndicats, Inc.) Il-iq
3 MATTER POl
Ei 0 M PAYNP
pon3Tjp K-.-nc, V ) IFTSix laeoa rP -Hide t-HenA
?cL " " '
VA NEVE.1? U- THAT I CM l-V AM E. "pA1?T
(COULBTIN-D y MEANS TUY . V. "He. MAKINGS-
-tIem! v rCiw -Have. owi-V vv We-s.
i oNLv.-rMev wont a. I'-Malt a wlTrirjT"
V-Havb akw pizesenta) V qpuw cKi&tmasJV a 1 (ft
lief Ihili L fefei
TAILSPIN TOMMY Tommy Decides to Investigate?
By HAL FORREP"
Escaping, bv meams
ofatviick curt aim
op fog, from the
Black, piratb PLAne,
TOMMY W1MGS SOUTH -WEST
IM AM ATTEMPT
TO PIMD THE LEGENDARY
ISLe OF SKELETON KEY.
WHICH HE BELIEVES TO
SB THE RENDEZVOUS
OP THE SKY BUCCANEERS.
kTHEBE MUST BE
SOMEONE. On J
THAT ISLAND! J
. . . ACT ,
FHieHTEMEP; J
w
'ING1NG IDWOVEft A
LONELY ARCHIPELAGO,
HE NOTES A FLOCK OF
FLAMINGOES, STIRRED
INTO SUDDEN FLIGHT!
V S J lAmn imcxcl III .WBlA'-IJISffl ILrrs IW"n k' YJ v- I
BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER A Trial at Least
Rv EDWTN ALGF
THERE'S THE WORST ONE. B0YS
SHE LOOKS MIGHTV GOOD AN1
SHE GRAZES ON THE BEST PASTURE
LAND I GOT SHE OUGHTA BE
HAPPV AN1 GIVE PLENTY O MILK,
BUT SHE AINT AN SHE DON'T!
nwAv cr-sir udi i I
-tx tstr. i t 1 i i i
AND IF SHE
SHOWS A BIG
INCREASE IN
MILK PRODUCTION,
HOW ABOUT IT,
6ENE? DO WE
1-7 GET OOBf
JOBS? NOT
JOBS, BOVS.1
YOU'LL GIT
INTERESTS
EMPLOYMENT
AT HIGH ,
WAGES'
IF THESE SUNSHINE
PELLETS WORK. ,
BEN, WE'RE IN!
1
) THEY SURE A ii j. ju
enough xtrmM.
) WORKED ON -V3
u CHICKENS, Wiaesp
RUSTY, BUT Jasp
' A I DON'T ilsrV NlV
KNOW ABOUT &Str .
1 ft fl srrmnN Air.n 1, rVflD
THE NEBBS And Thon What?
Bv SOI HESS
hi1 . muj'..m
rWELL, FAMMV, VOUVH W YES, ME 15. WE
GOT TO GIVE MV PXMILV fwOtsTT OUARRE
(.KtUlI HJK HOVINO tt.1 CJVtRTWAT.l, AT
LEAST OWE GREAT GUV LEAST FOUWD OME
l IM IT-. -MY OKU I HtViV NtDO WHUV.LULU
"S1 SAMJ.i..
H S OUtoWT TO Dfc tjrsje. WSf
OP THE BEST G4RISTMASES
" 1.1
; vvimu I I l UtLJ I UTN
,THIS HOTEL.. GAVE US
A PLOCK OF DOUGH
AMD BOTH A MICE
DlAMOSJD
1.
1 DOKfT KXJOW VJHAT
COULD HAPPEM TO SPOIL
THIS CHRISTMAS ID ENJJOV'
IT IF I HAD THE ITCH AMD
TWO DROXEKi ARMS
A A
jnuedr