Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, November 10, 1939, Image 10

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Medford mail tribune., November 10, 1939, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE TEN MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1939. Chapter One The Missing Man . ALTHOUGH the woman in black seemed as , l calm and composed J. JL as ever, she had cho sen the chair standing with Its back to the light. The Po lice .Commissioner eyed her thoughtfully u she spoke. "You have, then, no further news of my husband?" "None, 1 am sorry to say." The tall handsome young man with the sullen eyes threw his hat down on the table with an angry gesture. "Why did you send for us, then?" h demanded. Commissioner Davies looked up at him. "I wanted to discuss the mattei with you. Mr. Murchison." he replied. "All of you have im pressed upon me the fact that you do not want any publicity in con nection with tht Professor's with your brother's disappearance. Frankly, we have come to the end of our resources, and in my opinion it is time to make use of the press. I feel sure that a judiciously word ed account of the affair would bring results." Duncan Muchison scowled. His sister - in law tapped nervously with those shining long finger nails nn the arm of her chair. It was the third member of the group who answered. "We have explained our position In regard to the matter of pub licity many times. Commissioner Davies," he said gently. "Surely with an efflicent police force and matters as they are, it Is not neces larv." Mrs. Murchison leaned forward eagerly. "My cousin is right," she said quickly. The Commissioner turned to the missing man's brother. "Is that your feeling, too?" Murchison shrugged his shoul ders. "I don't see any sense in broadcasting it It seems to me if your men had reallv oeen on the job they would have found some trace of him by now." Professor Devoe glanced apolo- Setically at the Commissioner, his ark eyes full of regret "1 am sure Duncan does not mean to be so abrupt" he murmured. "This six weeks' mystery has been some thing of a strain for us all." . "I can understand that 1 am as anxious to end it as you are, but you must realize that you are handicapping me greatly by re fusing my request It seems to me that Prolessor Muchison would be most unreasonable under the cir cumstances, if he objected to our taking such a course. He had no rir.ht to go away as he did as per haps he did without giving vou, his closest relatives and his wife, an explanation. We need not con sider his feelings, and as for you, I think an account of his disap pearance, together with his pic ture, would bring his whereabouts almost certainly to light" He Bassed his hand slowly over his lin white hair. "If you will not allow me to do this, he went on Quietly, "I must warn you that we will drop the case." There was absolute silence In the room. Professor Devoe spoke Anally. His voice was worried. "We realize that by not report ing the case for nearly a week after my cousin's disappearance we han dicapped you from the start" he said. ''Indeed we all realize that you have done your part. But " his eyes went to the beautiful woman behind him. who looked away; to the tight angry mouth of the young man who stood staring from the window. He shook his head and turned back to the Com' missioner. "It is because the Pro lessor went away just so. a number or years ago, he went on. Davies waited. Any Valuables?' THE woman stirred a little in her chair. She drew n slow hrenth Devoe coughed and went on. "He came home then, quite safely. We are sure that he will do so again. He is quite probably absorbed in an intricate problem in some re mote laboratory and forgets every thing else. You will understand our reluctance to expose his absent mindedness and his thoughtless- by Francos Shelley Wees -!2!S7SSZiU. " t " i - V 1 . ' " ' , ' ' , ' fry.'-,-. s(Vi . ,.A,s-'WM'-1i.t:.. s& .-, .... J,. ;:: . V-V9JX4,S 7 y j "We have combed the city we can do no more." ness to the world. He holds a high position in our University." The Commissioner moved. "I see all that," he assented. "But I have no further choice In the matter. If you insist that we have no pub licity then the police are herewith through with the case." . The anger smoldering in Duncan Murchison burst forth. "I have al ways understood," he said savage ly, "that the Dolice were for the purpose of safeguarding the pub lic. I did not understand that they gave up a case so easily." "We have spent six weeks on this, Mr. Murchison. We have combed the city, searched the re sorts, questioned train crews, ga rages, and, following your ciue. every laboratory within several hundred miles, we can oo no more. Ol course the mat'jr is still cn the books, and if anything turns up we shall act on it, but all active search ing must cease. Other matters are piling up foi us." "I suppose there is nothing we can do but accept your ultima tum," Professor Devoe said regret fully. The Commissioner turned to Mrs. Murchison suddenly. "By the way, there is a matter I want to understand more fully. You said vour husband had very little money the night he disappeared. Can you tell me if he possessed any valuables upon which he might have realized?" She stared at him. "Nothing but his watch," she replied slowly. "You mean, on his person, We went into that thoroughly. 1 mean now, valuables stored away, bonds, something of that sort" She shook her head positively. "He had no bonds." she replied. "Nor anything else?" "It is certain he had nothing." She betrayed her Gallic origin by an expressive shrug of a slim shoulder. "Nothing of any value except the money in his bank ac count and the things at our house." Davies traced patterns on his desk blotter. "Neither of you men, you, Professor Devoe, or you. Mr. Murchison, neither of you are aware of anything of that sorl?" Devoe frowned thoughtfully. "1 am sure his wife is right, or she would not speak so decidedly." he replied. "I don't know anything about it" Murchison said, shortly. Davies rose. "Well, then." he said pleasantly, "the matter rests. If any information comes to you, you will let me know at once? Other wise I shall do nothing more." He watched them down t he cor ridor, the slight, chic Hgurc of the woman between the two men. Murchison hanging slightlv behind the others. Then, with sudden deci sion, Davies turned and went to ward the office of the District At torney. 'Cruel Experiments' JOHN FORRESTER was sitting J behind the big desk in his of fice, his lower lip between his linger and thumb, whistling "Ye Banks and Braes of Bonnie Boon" between his teeth. As the Commis sioner knocked on the open door he looked up absently, muttered "Come in," and went on with his whistling. "Is it." the Commissioner In quired gently, "graft in the home office or the state of the city golf course?" Forrester blinked, frowned and regarded his friend from beneath shaggy brows. "Ye're being frivo lous." he said sternly. Davies took the words as an in vitation and dropped into the chair in front of the desk. "1 merely wanted to know how busy you were," he explained. "I want to talk to you." The District Attorney pushed to one side a heap of papers and set tled himself comfortably with his hands locked over his middle. "I wasn't what you might call busy." he replied. "I was sitting thinking what a remarkable boy my son Michael is, and what a fine wife he's taken to himself." The Commissioner snorted. There was a twinkle in Forres ter's eye. "And what's on your mind this fine morning, then?" he asked. Davies rubbed his chin. "Well, . . . I was thinking what a smart bov your son Michael is," he said slyly. "Hutnpf." "It's true, much as I hate to ad mit it to you." His face was grave again. "I want to have a serious talk with you, John. Have vou time?" Forrester raised his brows. "There's nothing that won't wait What's this thats serious?" The Commissioner stared at the polished surface of the big desk as he spoke. "Did you happen to no tice a disappearance on the case book some six weeks ago a man named Murchison? A physiologist out at the University?" Forrester shook his head. "Didn't see it. That wouldn't be Edgar Murchison, would it. Dr. Edgar Murchison?" "Yes. Do you know him?" "No." Forrester frowned. "Can't you find him?" "No. He's walked off the map. Not a trace. And it strikes me that there's something damn funny about it." "What?" "Well what are you frowning about, John? You know something about him that's bothering you." The District Attorney consid ered. "Isn't he the chap that gol into trouble with the anti-vjvisec-tionists?" Davies stared at him. "Now thai you mention it, I believe he is." h said slowly. "Didn't they say that he was carrying out cruel experi ments at the University, or advo cating that such experiments be allowed, or something of the sort?" "Something like that Don't re member much about it They dropped it." "Well, that's the man. Edgar Murchison. He's been missing since the day the University closed, and by Jove, we've combed the coun try for him. He's vanished." "Lots of people vanish." Forres ter eyed the Commissioner sharp ly. "Yes. And their wives and rela tives go into hysterics and pester us to death, and rant and rave." "Doesn't Murchison's wife go into hysterics?" "You've hit it. She does not." "Start at the beginning, Davies." "There isn't much to tell. You know that oval of houses out back of the University? They call it the Horseshoe." Forrester nodded. "The Murchisons lived in the big house at the curve of the oval. On the last afternoon of the term. Murchi son walked home and shut himself in the study. His wife asked him to have tea with her in the living room, and he refused. Came out to dinner, preoccupied, went back to the study. At half past ten his wife went to the door and asked if he were going up to bed, and he was still busy. They have separate rooms, and she didn't know until morning that his bed hadn't been slept in. She hasn't seen him since thats tne story. "Humpf. What did she think when he shut himself into the study?" "Nothing in particular. She says it was common for him to do that when he was busy. Moody fellow. I think." "Did he talk at dinner?" "No." "What did he say when she asked him if he were going to bed?" "He said, 'Oh, leave me alone!' " "It seems to indicate a certain degree of preoccupation," the Dis trict Attorney said dryly. "What's the wife like?" Davies considered. "She's Frcn chy," he decided. "Small and pret ty and dark. Smart, too." "What does she think about it?" Davies snorted again. "I haven't trie least idea what she thinks. But she says he'll come back. They a' say it Over and over." (Continued Sunday morning.) LATE ARMISTICE T LIVES OF T Gen. White Reveals Need less Loss in World War Because News Delayed By Paul W. Harvey. Jr. Salem. Nov. 10 (TP) Twenty- one years ago tomorrow America laid down her arms after hav ing fought to end all wars but 3000 men. including some from Oregon, died needlessly after the fighting was supposed to have stopped at 11 a. m. on November 11, 1918. Maj. Gen. George A. White, commanding general of the 41st division of the National Guard, including troops in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, told today how the American second army fought bitterly until 2:30 p. m. that day because it hadn't heard the war had ended. Stopped Too Soon General White, who then was a lieutenant colonel attached to Pershing's headquarters, said most of the allied officers wanted to continue the war until their armies entered Berlin. "If we had signed the armis tice in Berlin after capturing the city, there wouldn't be any war in Europe today," the general said. He also told how thousands of troops left their trenches upon hearing of the false armistice of November 7. But they were or dered back immediately. A statement that might be con sidered prophetic in the light of today's events, was made at 2:0.i a. m. on Armistice Day by the! German delegate at the armistice i meeting in a railroad car in! Compiegne forest. The delegate, objecting' to the! severe terms which the allies j had forced Germany to accept, i said Germany "will preserve, in I spite of every kind of violence, I its liberty and unity. A nation of seventy millions suffers, but does not die." j Oregon Loss Heavy j Oregon contributed heavily to the world war, every one of her ' 36 counties having at least one soldier killed in action. Of the 44,166 Oregonians who enlisted, 1,768 served in battle, 1.100 were wounded. 367 were killed in ac tion and 663 died of other causes. Most of the Oregon troops didn't get to fight as a unit, as they were in the 41st division. This division, which was among the first to go overseas, was used as a replacement division, so the Oregon soldiers fought all over the front with other divisions. The European wat is having a favorable effect on the state owned flax industry. An Ontario firm asked the industry to sell it S.000 pounds of flax seed at good prices so it can grow the flax and ship the fibre to Ire land to be made into linen. The flax wouldn't compete with Oregon-grown flax. The purchase would be a measure to preserve Britain's wartime sup plies, but the industry doesn't know yet if it can spare that much seed. Officials of the state elections division think that defeat of the "ham and eggs" pension plan in California will mean the down fall of the movement in Oregon. They said sponsors of the plan in this state having hopes of get ting the proposal on the ballot next November, already are hav ing trouble getting signatures on their initiative petitionj. Capitol sidelights: .They are starting to repair the new capitol already. The pavement is broken in front of the building where the ground has settled. Serpentina Victim Albany, Ore., Nov. 10. (IP) Frances Dickson, Albany high school senior, suffered a badly cut leg last night when he was hurled from a terpentine through a plate glass store win dow during a football rally. YOU rnMlMIIE!...TI,alsal.wcnSk! THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPH I ANY ONE OF 1 I 5 LEADING BRANDS! 1 OF 4 YEAR OLD M E BOTTLED IN BOND i WHISKEY 1 THIS m IS AN ACTUAL PHOTOOSATM IIERE S WHAT YOU GET: 1 . This fine whiskey is 4 years old, bottled in bond. 2. Produced from wholesome, sturdy grain, it is a straight whiskey -all whiskey. It. It is 100 proof stronger. but you pay JL fill pinti At wrag pint pric in this Slatt of 5 hading Jour year old bottled-in-bond$. HERE'S WHAT YOU GET: 1. This fine whiskey is 4 years old, not bottled in bond. 2. Produced from wholesome, sturdy grain, it is a straight whiskey whiskey. JI. is 90 proofmilder. 100 you pay only M. mx msrt Tbit fine whiskey it identical with four near old bottted-in-bondt, except for proof. R. BOSTON Strniyht BOURROlV Wftfafte Alto Old Mr.Batlon Straight Rye Whiiker ' 90 Proof $1.00 Full Pint This whiskey is 4 years old, 90 proof Ben-Butk. Inc.. Boion, Miss. OF NEIGHBOR STATES CITED BY SECY. SNELL Eugene, Ore., Nov. 10. (IP) Secretary of Stnte Earl Snell told business men here Thurs day that they should feel privi leged to be doing business in this stnte. For comparison he offered KMEDSat.5:30p.m. You've Got a Date with Me Sat. Night! Bey, Oh Boy, will we have fun! You an' me, Ititrnin' to those 4 Oldatera and 4 Youugiteri on our "YOUTH vs AGE" Quit Show, tvtn' their pore I brains in knots! ' Get set to stage your own Contest alongside ours. See who has the right to crow in your family Maw and Paw or the kids! Don't forfiet tonight. The Oklahoma Funster KMED Sat. 5:30 p.m. the finnncial worries of neigh boring stales. One has an overdraft of more than five million dollars In its general fund. Oregon, on the other hand, hns a cash balnncc of five million dollars, the speaker declared. The only matter bothering Oregon right now, ho stated is the question of relief funds, al though the difference there ap pears to be a mutter of opinion. "The state is spending $77, 000.000 for this bienniuni," he said. "That amount brings for cibly before us the necessity of economy and efficiency in iov ernment." He added that of the amount. $17,000,000 is from di rect taxation, the remainder from Interest on taxes, fees, licenses and other incidentals. sv Blaili Wrick Plant Lodi. N. J., Nov. 10. i.Vi A series of six explosions followed by fire destroyed the l.odi chemi cal plant today, 1A minutes be fore its 10 employes were to re port for work. No one was hurt. The plant melts down old film to recover silver nitrate. Hail Veteran Dies. Tacoma. Wn.. Nov. 10. wV) Jim Smallry, 76, veteran North ern Pacific railroad employe who gac tip an executive posi tion because engineering passen ger trains fascinated him died suddenly at his home here late yesterday, Cli-5,1:, uni: :t l,tu t,ate tu Ci.it til; Aui ib i .30 m. LAST MAN'S CLUB 10 T The Last Man's club of Jack son county will hold its annual banquet this evening at 7 o'clock at Hotel Holland. The club is composed of ex-service men who meet onrc a year on Armistice eve to drink a toast to their departed comrades. A bot tle of cognac is dedicated to the "last man." When a member answers the last roll call his place is set at the table with Hie glass turned down, the sun-iving member or "last man" at the final banquet will call the roll and then open the bottle of cognac and drink a toast, to all the departed com nide:. This is the fourth annual banquet since organizing. Com rades Fred Ilutler and H. James have since answered the last roll call Miss ttuth Luy's Darning Academy will furnisn several specially acts during the ban quet. Girl Suicidti Portland. Ore., Nov. 10. t.'V) An 18 year-old expectant mother, who was found dying j Wednesday in her apartment, committed suicide by taking noion, Ucputy i oner Roy ' I ' Mi iv said I: i night. She 'was known only as "Itita." K. F. TAXI BUSINESS OUE FOR PROBING Portland. Nov. 10 VP) Fed eral Judge James A. Fee decided today he would "like to learn something about the taxi busi ness at Klamath Falls." He requested the probation of ficer to investigate conditions when he examined the cases of Nelson L. Smith and Hoyle L. Weir. Klamath taxi drivers who pleaded guilty to sale of liquor to Indians. The cases of John W. Perkins and Osenr Gray of Klamath Falls, who pleaded guilty to sim ilar charges, were also referred to the probation officer. "Chevrolet's tJSt Again r The Master SS Sport Sedan. S740 From front of grille to rear of body for length where length (ounts Chevrolet for '40 is the longest of all lowest-priced tarsi Clewing tlmt for Too lt to C ilty Ads It 1 :30 p m. TURKEY DINNER ARMISTICE DAY AMI SI MAY :75c And All Trimmings Served Family Styl We l ater to llanqiifM ami Purttr llelltlniK tMnnrr Ml Week. ROGUEDALE CAFE North end r jihady t'oe Bridge on Kogiie ltlrr "l mllr from Mnlfurd tut t'rnter Lake lllchujy. &je It Tui It- Bui It! In addition to being the streamlined beauty leader of "Automobile Row" in addition to beinft the ablest all-round per former In Its field Thls new Chevrolet for 1040 is also the longest of all lowest-priced cars bar none! It's a whopping 181 inches long from the front of Its fashionable grille to the rear of its beautifully curved body . . . which means it has length where length counts . , . which means It's the longest automobile in the lowest price field! All tests will tell you "Chevrolet's FIRST Aain," so eye it ... try it ... buy it today ! NOWHERE ELSE FEATURES LIKE THESE I NEW "ROY At CLIPPER" STYLING I BIGGER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE NEW FULL-VISION BODIES BY FISHER NEW EXCLUSIVE VACUUM-POWER SHIFT "THE RIDE ROYAL" Ch.vroUl'. P.ri.tl.d Kn-Allon Riding Sysltm SUPER-SIIENT VALVE-IN-HEAD ENGINE PERFECTEO HYDRAULIC BRAKES ALL SILENT SYNCRO-MESH TRANSMISSION LARGER TIPTOE-MATIC CLUTCH NEW SEALED BEAM HEADLIGHTS WITH SEPARATE PARKING LIGHTS IMPROVED SHOCKPROOP STEERING NEW CRYSTAL-CLEAR HI-TEST SAFETY PLATI GLASS NEW SAFE-T-LOCK HOOD Ovrof has 175 Important modern rotvri. On Special De Luxe and Matter De Luxe SeiHea. ROGUE RIVER CHEVROLET Servi ! Dept. 32 North Uive:iide Office and Salesroom Sparta Bldg. Used Car Lot 234 North Riverside. Foot of 4th St.