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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1939)
V PAGE TEN MEDFORD MATT TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1939. by Frances Shelley Wees YtSTLRDAY . Michael decidsi to talc Murchiion'l assistant, McBain. into hii confidence and perhapt cam information. He learnt that Murchison and hi toi toers not happv. a Murchison oot Deuot his port. Chapter 24 Ridiculous Question " TISS LISSEY Is your anony i' 1 mous letter writer," laid Mc Bain. Michael rubbed his ear. "1 don't think so." he said slowly. "I asked her. pointblank. today. She knew what I was doing here, having guessed some and ferreted out the rest." "You asked her?" "Yes. And no one could have been quite so guileless if she'd had guilty knowledfie. wo, 1 ininn we're off the track there." McBain shook his head heavily. "It's a damned puzzle to me. from beginning to end." he said. "And those love letters that's a greater puzzle. I told vou what I thought of such a rotten idea once before." Ho dropped into his chair and sat thinking, while Michael watched his expression. "Did it ever occur to you," McBain said suddenly, "that those mightn't be love let ters at all'" "What do you mean, sir?" "Why they were with the dia monds. Surely, if Murchison had f;one with a woman he would have akcn his valuables with him, of that nature. It appears that he didn't. Is it possible that the dia monds have some strange and se cret history and the letters aren't what they seem to be but some thing else, in code, relating to the diamonds? Do I make myself clear?" "By the Lord Harry," said Mi chael softly. "I wonder If you've truck something? You're suggest ing ... let me think now . . . sup posing the diamonds were stolen." He went on, disregarding Mc Bain's hand. "Stolen. Not neces sarily by your friend but still quite possibly by him. Supposing, as you say. these letters are code letters, from someone familiar with' the circumstances. Someone who is warning him . . . rather!" Michael smiled sweetly. "We'll get a code on them tomorrowl" "That would fit in with your letter from Chicago," McBain said abruptly. "It would," Michael replied hap- Eily. "Murchison's afraid to give is address or any hint of his whereabouts to his wife. In that ease, she may or may not have a hint of the real truth . . . and Is acting accordingly. You can inter- firet her actions differently accord ng to the light you see them in. But the thing that gets me, Is . . . why haven't we hoard about the theft or loss or misappropriation . . . whatever you like ... of fifty thousand dollars worth of dia monds?" "They may have come from some other city," McBain said. "I don't believe for one instant that Murchison stole them, Forrester. I think you're barking up the wrong tree there. But certainly there's something strange about them . . . and it may be he's keep ing them to protect someone else ... I don't know. I'm no 1ewel thief. But as for thinking of Murchison in that light ... it would mean a sort of double identity . . . it's preposterous." "You've got to come back to that lettor warning the CommiS' sioner. thouuh," Michael said after a moment. "Somebody sent it. As for Alix Lissey . . . I'm convinced she thinks she knows something I found hor today nut on the river bank, inspecting the rocks with a species of microscope. Can vou tell me what might have been in her pretty little bond? Whose Hat?' f. fcBAIN laid his pipe down on 1 the arm of his chair. Inspect' Ing the rocks with a microscope?' "Something of the sort." "Where?" "All along the bank between the University path and the first big ravine. I don't think she found what she was after, but she was certainly searching. " MrBain laughed shortly. "Per sonally. I shouldn't like to venture an opinion She s a bit off, I ve al ways thought. "Anv soecial reason why she might want to cause trouble for the Murchisnns? McBain smiled suddenly. "Per hans the fact that she once expect ed to marrv Jarcd Dcvoe might have sirnrthing to do with It," he replied ''What?" "It's incredible, but true. She's been a chanced woman ever since. t was the summer he came ... he taught first at summer school here Mrs. Murchison was away at the coast Miss Lissev was here, and she did her best to make Devoe feel at home. She took ium every where, bnufiht hosts of new gar' ments and blossomed like the rose My wife savs she even went so far as to hint at an enqauement. Then Mrs. Mun'hisnn came home, saw the situation, and rescued Devoe from the toils. Miss Lissey has been bitter ever since. It was vprv plnsp rail for llcvne " "1 can sec that that might well explain her attitude. McBaln'f mouth tightened : "Surely, Forrester, there is a more I direct way than this of going about this business?" "I'm afraid not. It's a case of pa tient untying of knots until we find the straight thread. It looks pretty hopeless right now. By the way . . ." he paused. 'There's an other knot I want to untie. It's a very small one. Do you happen to have a hat around here that doesn't belong to you?" Michael's smile was very engaging. "A what?" "A hat." "What kind of a hat? Whose hat?" "I don't know. Miss Lissey In formed me this afternoon that there was a hat left here the night school closed that might have a bearing on this situation. It sounds ridiculous, but I ask merely to trjj anil see what she was getting at. McBain shook his nead impa tiently. 'The woman s a fool, he said angrily. 'There wasn't any one here on that night. No one could have left a hat here. I was at home all evening I'm posi tive." "Still do you mind If I ask your wife? There might be some reasonable suggestion back of Miss Lissey's words." For answer, McBain went 10 me door and called, "Lucy? Where are you, my dear?" "In the garden," a woman'l voice came faintly. "I'm in the garden, John." We 11 go on out n you nice, McHnin said, oreceding Michael down the long passage that led to the back door. An Owl Boots MRS. McBain was sitting In a irarden chair in the dusk. She sprang to her feet lightly as Mi chael followed her nuspana out. I didn t know we had a guest, she said chidingly. "I was enjoy ing the evening quiet, wny aiant you call me, John?" "We've been talking, my dear, and I didn't notice the time flying. Lucy, Mr. Forrester has rather a ridiculous question to ask you can you tell him if there is a hat here that was left on the night school closed?" She stared at him. A hat?" sne repeated slowly. "Whose hat?" '1 don't know," Michael said lightly. "Just any hat, that was left here that night." "Perhaps ... it might . . . per haps that was the night I found a strange hat hanging in the pas sageway ... I don't iust remember. Is it important.' What kind or nat? Mcuain asked her. "Why ... a gray felt, I think It was. "A man s hat?" Michael asked. "Yes, certainly." "Is it still around. Lucy? Do you mind getting it?" "I think it is certainly not," she said, and turned into the door way. They followed her. fane lilted the lid of a carved chest standing lust inside the door; it held sev eral hats and caps. She snapped on the light, and examined them. "Thnt s strange, ' she said, it doesn't seem to be here any longer." "When did you see It last, Mrs. McBain?" Michael asked quietly. "I don't remember." She looked at him, and her brow was smooth and untroubled again. "I really didn't pay any attention to it. 1 remember wondering at the time who owned it, because no man had called here the day I found it." No man? A woman, thenr No one but Miss Lissey, and she only ran In for a few minutes." "A erav felt hat. Lucy? Do you remember if it had a round brim?" She looked at her husband. 1 think it did." she said. They left her, and McBain walked to the gate with Michael. The last time 1 saw him. he said, and there was no need to tell who he meant, "he was wear ing a gray felt hat with a round brim. And Heaven only knows why it was left here. Perhaps if we knew that we should know everything." Michael took the path that wound along between the edge of the woods and the hedges at the back of the gardens, and started for home. He walked slowly, thinking over the events of the day, and the strange information he had lust received; and his steps were noiseless on the pine needles which had drifted across the little used pathway. He passed the Deanes'. and was rounding the curve of this outer horseshoe when he saw movement on the path ahead. Ho stopped Involuntarily, and watched There was someone just outside his garden gate, some one who crept rather than walked, and kept close in the deep shadow of the hedge. As Michael peered at It, the figure melted into the hedge and could be seen no long er. He wailed. It seemed to him that he could hear heavy breathing, and other small noises, which he could not quite distinguish: but there was no longer any movement that he could see. because of the dark ness. Suddenly, out of the woods be hind him. an owl hooted loudly. Michael lumped. The sound of breathing stopped. The owl hooted again. Continued tomorrow FARMERS PROFIT BY Thursday 5:00 Rhythm Factory, KPO. KOW; Prank and Archie, KEX, KJR; Sun set Shadows, KQO. 8:30 Drams, KOMO; Kelseys Orch., KOO, KEX, KJR; Army Band, KPO, KOW. 9:00 Major Bowes. KNX, KOIK, KSL; Good News ot 1040, KPO, KFI, KOW; Beyond Reasonable Doubt, KOO, KEX, KJR. 7:00 Workshop, KOIN: Muslo Hall, KPO, KPI. 7:30 Pop-Off s, KrtX, KOIN; News, KSL. 8:00 Pred Waring. KPO, KOW. KPI; Cutler's Orch., KEX; Aloha Land, KOO; Amos and Andy, KNX. KSL, KOIN. 8:18 Sam Haj. KNX; Cutler's Orch., KOO; Myai ry, KPO, KOW, KPI. 8:30 Symphony Hour, KPO, KOW, KPI; Ask-It-Basket, KNX, KSL, KOIN; Lyman's Orch., KOO. 9:00 Strange As It Seems, KNX, On the RADIO CHAINS STATIONS Where to Find Them od the Dial: Hex. Portland, 1180; BFI, 840. Los Angeles; KGA. 1470. Spokane; KOO, ISO. San Francisco; HUH 820. Portland; KJB, 970, Seams; KNX. 10SO, Los Anceles; BOA, 830, Denver; KOIN, 940. Portland; KOMO, 920, Seattle; KPO, 830, Han rranclnco; KSL, 1180, Salt Lake. KSL. KOIN; Sketch. KOO, KJR, KEX. 9:30 Those W Lova. KPO, KPI, KOW; Roger's Orch., KOW; Owens' Orch., KSL; Msdrlguera's Orch.. KOO, KEX; Operetta Series. KNX. KOIN; News, KJR. 10:00 News Reporter, KPO, KOW, KPI; News, KOIN, KNX; Poster's Orch.. KOO, KJR, KEX; News, KOIN. 10:18 Noble's Orch., KGW; Con cert Hall, KPO: Clark Ross and Yeo, KOIN, KNX. 10:30 Ravszai's Orch., KPO, KOW, KPI; Roland's Orch.. KOIN, KNX; Nottingham's Orch., KOO, KJR, KEX. 11:00 Martin's orch.. KPO. KPI; This Moving World. KEX, KJR; Grays Orch, KSL, KOIN; News, KOO, KNX, KOW. Friday 8:00 Frank and Archie, KEX, KJR; 8unaet Shadows, KOO; Melody Tlrae, KPO; Don't Forget, KOW. KFI. 6:30 Etchings in Brass, KOO, KJR: Musical Vignettes, KOW, KPI; Quiz Program, KPO. , 8:00 Plantation Party, KOO, KEX, KJR; Waltz Tims, KPO, KPI, KOW; Prof. Quiz. KNX, KSL, KOIN. 6:30 First Nlghter. KNX, KSL, KOIN; Jessel's Program. KPO. KFI, KOW; Who's In Town Tonight, KOO; News, KJR. 7:00 Drama, KNX. KOTN, KSL; Lombardo's Orch., KPO, KFI, KGW; Congress, KOO, KJR. 7:30 Story, KGW; Young Man With a Band, KNX, KSL; Olsen's Orch., KOO, KJR; Drama, KPO. 8:00 Pred Waring. KPO, KPI. KGW; Amos and Andy, KNX, KOIN. KSL; Bucsaroos. KGO, KEX, KJR. 8:181 Lovs a Mystery, KPO, KPI. KOW; Sketch. KNX. KOIN, KSL. 8:30 Dance Orch, KEX; Death Valley Days, KPO, KOW. KPI; John ny Presents, KNX, KOIN. KSL; Aloha Land, KOO. 9:00 Austin's Orch, KOO, KEX; Noble's Orch, KPO; Kate Smith's Hour, KNX, KOIN. 9:30 Musicals, KGO, KEX: Uni versity Explorer, KPO, KFI; News, KJR. 10:00 Martin's Orch, KOO. KJR, KEX; News Reporter, KPO, KPI, KGW; News, KNX, KSL; News, KOIN. 10:30 Msdrlguera's Orch, KPO. KOW, KFI; McDonald's Orch, KGO; Owens' Orch, KSL. 11:00 Nottingham's Orch, KPO; Gray's Orch, KSL, KOIN; This Mov ing World. KEX, KJR: News, KGO, KNX, KGW. Italy Interested fn Finn Air Force Rome, Dec. 7. (IP) Italy closely watched today the ac counts of the performance of the Finnish air force in its counter-attacks on the Soviet union, because Finland's planes are mostly of Italian manufac ture. Authoritative sources said the Italian-made pianos were order ed before the war broke out. Delivery was said to have been rushed because of the sudden Russian attack last Thursday. Robins Fooled Baker, Ore., Dec. 6. (IP) The fine weather in Baker is even fooling the robins. Junior high school students report that two robins are building a nest In a tree at the school building, located near the center of Baker! Artist Dies Seattle, Dec. 7. UP) Edward F. Brotze, 71, Seattle Times staff artist since 1907 and creater of the widely-known Seattle Pot. latch "Bug," died at a hospital last night. He was stricken with a heart ailment a week ago. YCJTH NABBED IN G. P. ADMITS STEALING CAR Grants Pass, Dec. 7. (JP) Mahlon Earl, 17, arrested .here Wednesday, admitted the car he was driving was stolen, State Patrolman Jay V. Williams re ported. It was registered to Wes ley Simpson of Klamath, Cal., ant was taken at Crescent City, Cal., the officer said. Closing time for Too Late to Clas sify Ads Is 1:30 p. m. Use Mall Tribune want ads. Portland, Dec. 7. OP) A de cision which State Senntor Rex Ellis, Pendloton, declared would save Oregon farmers $200,000 a LETTING IT RING By GLUYAS WILLIAMS frx 6UJVA ISJUSf Wlrf6T6Wfl)MER1-flREP1foS AFuTRNOOH MAP, WHEN TOORBELL RIKSS O.05E5 EVES , MuffERlUfe Iff rf RIN6, SHE'S BEEN RUWMN6 -TO THE POOR BllDAV AMP IfS PR08A8W JUSf A SfUESMAtf OR ONE OF fHE CHIlSREM WANTIH& JUNIOR. 8KIN5 1b HAVE WSeWllteS, BlrffEUS HERSElf TriPrt whoever rf was muS1 have 6lE awav 8V Now-MWmm MOMEMf bell RitM a&aiN LIE'S 1ELUH& HERSELF SHE'S JUSf A SLAVE 1b THE PODRBELL AND WlSHlHS SHE COULD HAVE A HAP IK TEAtF. AND W0NDER1H6 WHO tf 15 W&HE6 TriEVD EITHER RIN6 AeAlN, IH WHICH CASE SHPP WfeYVER IT, OR EI&E THAT SHE'D HEAR THEM 60IH6 AWA.V, In WHICH CASE SHE COtfLP 60 To SlFEP (Relpangfl hy Tha Dpll Syndicate, Inc.) SlfcHS SHE MI6HT AS WElJ. SEE WHO IT 15, FlHPS HO 0H A1 DOOR OR IN SlfcHT, AND 6E5 NO NAP FOR, woRRvmt that it mav have been" something IMPORTANT STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For further proof address the author, Inclosing a stamped envelope for reply. Reg. TJ. 8. Pat. Off. V ill V lI.MJ.0gR" WgRefsMoNSTrie rlR'51 10 Pcwcvu 1rW1He WRLP A? POUND frtfY1H0USrtfTTo8f M6t COCONUT ZHtLL Mitels y ',- ImK mm J',30 isHoTsmmsH! HIS ftVICKTRV Z FRSNCH ftMD PUTCH.., 1oV&., of las Angeles, CP1U6HT h NRIY TWICE HER OWN WEIGHT rZ35k pounds, t'zfeebn$ TRANSPARENT IS MME CHIEFLY fftM 0PA9UE SUBSTANCE'S GAND&PAhSH MpT. 11PJ3 OJ l mica rmur aynmcBie. inn. L'T' lsIlf.U.& CM ironed hBrirf-H A "4. RULER OF SWEDEN Strange as it seems, Gustav V of Sweden has not one dr op of Scandinavian blood in his veins. The Swedish royal line has been extinct for morn han 100 yaars since 1818, when Bernadottu of France succeeded to the throne as Charles XI V, on tho death of the Crown Prince of Sweden. ' Bernadotte's wife was Desiree, Clary, a Marseillaise merchant's daughter. The ruling fam ily of Sweden remained pure French until the present ruler's father, Oscar II, married Prin cess Sophia WilHelmina, youngest daughter of Duke William of Nassau. COCONUT WORLD Solomon Islanders believe the world to be a giant coconut shell, cut at the top with a single aperture communicating with tho upper air, where human beings dwell. TOMORROW: Air Raid That Saved a Cityl TAILSPIN TOMMY The Class Gets Oul of Orderl By HAL FORRES' NEW ALASKA GOVERNOR URGES STATEHOOD AIM Juneau, Alaska, Dec. 7 (W) Calling upon citizens of the territory for united effort "to ultimately brinK statehood," Dr. Ernest GrueniiiR took his onth of office as Rovernor of Al j nskn. j The inauguration took place : in the territorial building last ninlif with nnnronrinte i-erpmon. year wus nimounccd yesterday ifs M E M(,nnRl0i fonPrni at. by Attorney General I. H. Van 1 torney (pr t,e (irst division, ad Winkle. ministered the oath. Van Winkle said a provision: of the Kllis farm truck bill ap-l Start Flying Practice proved by the Inst legislature Corvallis, Dee 7. iiP) Ore was constitutional. H permits a I gon State college civil aeronau farmer to haul his neighbor's , ties students becan iH'tual flying produce on a regular farm truck j practice this week at the Albany i!," .OF TH MA.1!f64'L tX EW OUGHT'NWHA'WHAf D 13 VEW'RE A Bt& BULLY.'VVOU AlN'TJ MY PAPPY ALIUS SAID I VIL1-' D YAJ&J brfi Ma 7 HEV HIT A YOU CALL h THET'S WHAT YEW A TOO LITTLE, Jt"HE i WHO OIVETH vtfi6.!? APPUES:&Cfil LrrIRJl N ARE' HITTIN' A rARE YUH ? rfA MUST ALSO OU LU G r,Wi' BIGGER N HE APPL.E LITTLE FELLER. J V- ji ' ilAJ. RECEIVETH'" BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Mayor Balllnger By EDWIN ALGER VSAy THE VOTES ,YVll1 I AMyOR BALLINGER, 1 HMM! THAT IP FO" .tf f, . Ijj T tJ? YOR8111lilllljpL VMAMMOui ? fM I' 1 W"V1 RESPONSIBILITY - tO KL-- FROM "THE AA405fif SHe THE NEBBS The Doubter By SOL HE' ftiVlEREMODECl- IMS OP "THE CXD roc H LABORATORY TO MAK.E. EMBERTS POWER PILLS 5 UMDER WAV. TUERES THE CRADLE. OP A BIS INOUSTKYTHt NEST PROM WIU1CU WE VsMLL HATCH UNTOLD, WEALTH f MR. WE88.IN SPITE OF" VOUR DOUBT AND YOUR ' jVe .just sot omeM SARCASM IM GOIWS TO m Mp Mn makc vru luiFM niv UONXT MAKE ME 50 SEVOMD OUR WILDEST) , ' ' ,riw.t. HJLKo &MVY vHE IO RATHER ' ll y. . . . . .. ,rr-r- Ar irrV TUERES THE SMELL, 1 HOPE A . i.'Tr.S , ,".7,7 ll l rv I i it "ujiit ll. . . -..rr .. ,-. ti ri I rji s I I &AC. AT LEAST MONiev i0 MVESrOP-ivE ALWAYS SOT (J i - - - - . r - n &,-L-"v i hm i kj n lt-qv- ri i w rsjvt- wif : x ' ..!,'," . , , y rri V i HAVE THEM AlKE ME! license at one half cost. 1 airport. t
