Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, December 21, 1939, Image 12

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Medford mail tribune., December 21, 1939, Page 12, Image 12

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Newspaper Page TextE TWELVE MEDFORD MATT TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1939. by Frances Shlly Wim VtMtRDAY: lh (ecu to the poison cabinet trere to be left ' with Duncan, tettifiet Urt. Afur ' chijon. Duncan throw$ e bomb shell bv refuting to give evidence becauee thit cast it bound up with something eUe the murder ' of hit brother. Chapter 40 . Suicide? Jl ICHAEL shut the garage door that evening, and turned to go into the house. He heard a shout from behind him, and turned. Gordon was in his own yard wrestling with his tent pole, which had evidently (alien down. "Can you give me a hand, Mr, Ton-ester?" he asked. "I'm in a kind of a mix up." Michael vaulted lightly over the hedge, and went up to the tent Gordon crawled inside the col lapsed canvas, and pushed up on the pole. Michael leaned over and pulled at the canvas, which seemed to be caught together somewhere down below. There was quite an opening in the canvas at the top of the pole. Gordon's face was just beneath it. "It's old Mrs. Devoe," he said in a low tone. "I think the old dame's gene crazy. She came home after the inquest s'aftemoon, and went out for a walk all by herself. She never does no walking, you could tell that to look at her. She went out along the path in the woods, nu sue i;ieu imc sue uiun l nara ly knew what she was doing." "What do you mean?" Michael asicea. "Oh. rubbing her hands to. (ether, and putting them over her leie, aim iiiuuiiiiik every once in a while. I could hear her clear out in the brush where I was crawling aiong oesiae ner. Ana alter a while she Just flopped down on her knees right there in the woods, and she had her hands over her face. And then she took them off and crossed herself. So I guess she was praying. She stayed there an awful long time. I got a cramp in "And then?" "Oil, she just got up and come home again. You know what I think?" Gordon' blue eyes shone fiercely through the aperture. "I think she knows he did it, and it's driving her erazy, 'cause she thinks they 11 hang him. "Gordon! I shall have to soak your head in a mixture of vinegar and goose grease if you. . . . Oh, good evening, Mr. Deane." "Good evening. Giving the boy nana.'" "Yes. I think he's got It now, haven't you, Gordon?" "Yep. Get off the canvas ao's I ean pull it up, will you? "Gordon!" his father said stern ly. " That is no way to speak to Mr. Forrester." There was no answer from be ne;! Hi the canvas. Michael smiled. "It's not so easy to be oolite when someone's stepping on your leg," he murmured. "I think that's Whnt I was doing." "Well, he's a very impolite child anyway. Very." Mr. Deone took off his glasses and polished them. The eyes beneath were small, with pupils the size of pin points. He peered at Michael, near-sightedly. "This is a horrible state of af fairs, Mr. Forrester," he said. "It seems to be," Michael moved way from the canvas with the up heaval taking place beneath it. Gordon crawled out and started tying down the ropes. "What do you think of It?" Deane put on his glasses again and put his handkerchief away. Michael kicked at a tent peg. "To tell you the truth, I am com pletely bewildered." Trembling Hands EANE frowned. "I heard today that you were out here for the express purpose of investigating Dr. Murchison'i disappearance, he snid sharply. "I cannot under stand why I was not informed of that. It is a great surprise, to put it mildly, to discover that one's neighbor and colleague has disap- fieared that the police are work ng on the case that in all proba bility he has been murdered, and that one is told nothing." "There i.-n't very much to tell," Michael said apologetically. "I gather that, what progress, may I ask, have you made on the ease?" "Almost none," Michael replied adly. He looked away over the tops of the trees. "It's all very con fusing. Their family affairs seem to be in a terrible slate. A stranger finds great difficulty in under standing them." "You think this disappearance of Dr. Murchison has come about through these family diflerences?" Michael looked straight at him "What else can I think? You heard the evidence this afternoon." "Yes." Mr. Deane cleared his throat nervously. "Yes. indeed. I feel sure that you are right They are not a pleasant family. Dr. Murchison himself was a most ob jectionable person most objec tionable." lie clenched and un clenched his hands. "Most objec tionable," he repealed again. "Anyone would have found it irri tating to live with him. I wonder D that this contretemps did not arise sooner." "Have you any definite sugges tions to offer, Mr. Deane?" He hesitated the merest second. His hands, Michael noticed, were shaking. What was it Jameson had said? "When he gets excited, his hands shake." "I have," he sali after a moment. "I should suggest that you ques tion his wife closely very closely. Ask her, for instance, where she was the night he disappeared." "She has already said that sh went to bed at half past ten." "She has? Then I should chal lenge that statement. I happen to Know that she was not. "Where was she, Mr. Deane?" He pursed his lips. "I do not wish to make trouble for her, al though if she has murdered hei husband she must expect trouble." He spoke of murder as if it were as ordinary as cooking a dinner. "Yes. I will tell you that night at midnight I saw her getting into a car that stood over near the side of the men's residence." "You do not know who was driv ing the car?" "I do not. It looked like a taxi cab." "She was alone?" "I cannot say. I doubt It. She Is rarely . . . alone." There was sub tle insult in his tone. "How was she dressed?" "She had nn a long dark coat. That is all I can say." Gordon emerged from the back of the tent "I got it all done," he said gruffly. "Have It all done," Deane said sharply. He swung on his heel. "You will not mention that 1 have given you this information, Mr. Forrester." It was a command. Michael did not reply. Deane said "Good -night," and walked with short, quick steps into the house. Missing - AT TEN o'clock that night Devoe came over to the Forrester home in a state of tense excite ment. "My mother is missing," he said to Michael, who answered the door. "We are very worried. Can you help us to find her?" "How long has she been miss ing?" "Since just after dinner. Marie and I were drinking our coffee in the living room. Mother said she had a headache . . . not to be won dered at . . ." he said bitterly. "And we thought she was in her room. But she is not in her room. She is gone." Where do you think she s?" She has been eoinB for walks In the wood a great deal lately. I think that is where she is some where in the wood. But I cannot think why she should remain away from home at this time of the night. It is . . ." he wiDed his brow. The veranda light made his face appear very pale. "It is very wor rying. We are having " he paused, then looked full at Mi chael. "You will come and help me find her? It may be that she- Is in grave danger. I do not know what to think." "Mr. Devoe." Michael salH rnlt. ly. "I was shot at vesterdav. Twice. The bullets almost got me. I wouldn't go out there in the wood tonight to search for the unpen nf England. I will call the police." inoi me ponce; Michael turned and looked at him. "Is your mother missing or is she not?" "She is." Michael stenned bark Into the hall, and lifted the receiver. His call completed, he said to Devoe, win you come in and wait? As I told you, I will not venture one step outside my own gate until iney come. Without a word Devne crossed the threshold and sat in the rhnir Michael indicated. It was only a matter of minutes until the police car slid to a stop at the front door, and six stalwart men in blue stepped out. At the back of the garden, in the shallows, two of their fellows regarded them in tently, but did not disclose their whereabouts. It was their job to watch the Forrester house, and Michael went out into the wood with the other men secure in the knowledge that Tuck and Bunny were well guarded. Ine men soread out fanwLse. searching the wood for .he miss ing woman. The r flash ehls fl rlc. ered through the trees like great glowworms, and for half an hour their whistles answered one an other at short intervals. Then there was one lone blast on a whistle, and thereafteT silence. for they had found her. Not far up-stream from Gordon's hidden cave, she lay quietlv in the shad ows, ana am not answer when the man who stumbled over her gave a startled exclamation. I ho burly officer who knelt he- side her touched her with careful hands, lie saw the pearl handle of Ihe penknife protruding from the cold left hand over her heart, but he did not touch it. " Suicide," he said calmly. Michael turned shamlv to tbe shivering man beside him. In the beam from the flashlight Jared Devoe was oallid and the eret drops on his forehead looked like Deads. Continued tomorrow EPIDEMIC OF FLU were absent, authorities contitv ned classes in hope the Christ mas holidays would end the epidemic. Oak Grove, Ore., Dec. 21. (A'l influenza closed the second Clackamas county school yes terday. I'rincipal L. G. Rood discon tinued classes at the Oak Grove grade school because 41 of the 154 students were ill. The Con cord school closed last week af ter the enrollment dropped from 136 to Bl. Although 100 of Milwauklc union high school s 750 students Junction City, Dec. 21. i-lv-The high school and grade school were closed Wednesday on the recommendation of the health officer because of an In fluenza epidemic. SAN DIEGO PLANE PLANT AWARDED BIG CONTRACT Washington. Dee. 21. l.V The navy awarded a $20.01t),Blift contract for airplanes today to the Consolidated Aircraft Corp., San Diego, Cal. There were no i details as to the number or j type of aircraft Involved. Um M)l Tribuui want tat. On the RADIO CHAINS STATIONS Where to Find Them or the Dial; Kez. Portland. 1180; KFI. 840 Los Antelea; KOA, 1410, Spokane; KOO, 780. San Francisco; Kurt 620, Portland; KJU. 070, Seattle! KNX, 10&0, Loi Anielesi KOA, KSO. Center; KOIN, 0)0, Portland; KO.MO, 020. Seattle; KI'O. 030. Han FranclKo; K9l 1180, Salt Lake. Thuraday . 5:00 Rhythm Factory. KPO. ROW; Frank and Archie. KJR; Sunset Shad ows, KOO. 8:30 Strlnga at Sundown. KOO, KEX. KJR; Army Band. KPO, KOW. 8:00 Major Bowea, KMX, KOIN, KSL; Oood Newa of 1040, KPO, KFI; Sketch, KOO, KEX, KJR. 7:00 Columbia Workanop, KOIN; Mualo Hall, KPO, KFI. 7:30 Sports Huddle, KNX, KOIN; Vlckl Chase. KOO; Newa, KSL. 8:00 Fred Waring, KPO. KOW, KFI; Clinton's Orch., KEX; Aloha Lend. KOO; Amos and Andy, KNX, KSL, KOIN. 8:30 Symphony Hour, KPO, KOW, KFI; Aik-It-Baaket, KNX, KOIN. KSL; Drama, KOO. 0:00 strange, as It Beema, KNX. KSL, KOIN; Sketch, KOO, KJR, KEX. 0:30 Those We Love, KPO. KFI, KOW; Dance Orch., KOW; Roger's Orch., K8L; Heldfs Orch.. KOO; Operetta Series, KNX, KOIN; News. KJR. 10:00 News Reporter, KPO, KOW, KFI; Foster's Orch., KOO, KJR; Newa, KSL, KOIN, KNX. 10:30 Ravazza's Orch., KPO, KOW, KFI; Nottingham's Orch.. KOO, KJR, KEX; Prima'! Orch., KSL, KOIN. KNX. 11:00 Marttn'e Orch, KPO. KFI; This MoTlng World, KEX, KJR; Grays Orch, KSL. KOIN; Newa, KNX, KOW, Friday, 5:00 Frank and Archie. KJR; Sunaet Shadows, KOO; Melody Time, KPO: Don't Forget. KFI. 5:30 Etchings In Brass, KOO, KJR; Musical Vignettes, KFI. 8:00 Plantation Party, KOO. KEX. KJR; Walts Time. KPO. KFI, KOW; Prof. QulE, KNX, KSL. KOIN. 8:30 First Nlghter, KNX. KSL, KOIN; Jesael's Program. KPO, "FI, KOW; Who's In Town Tonight, K O. 7:00 Drama, KNX, KOIN, KfcL; Lombardo's Orch, KPO, KFI, KOW; Boxing Bout, KOO, KJR. 7:30 The story Behind the Head lines, KOW; Boxing Bout. KOO, KJR, KEX: Big Town, KPO. 8:00 Pleasure Time, KPO, KFI, KOW; Amos and Andy. KNX, KOIN. KSL; Robinson's Buckarooa, KOO, KEX, KJR. 8:15 I Love a Myatery, KPO, KFI. KOW; Lum and Abner, KNX, KOIN, KSL. 8:30 Hlmber's Orch, KEX; Death Valley Days, KPO. KOW, KFI; John ny Preeenta, KNX, KOIN, KSL; Aloha Land, KOO. :00 Tucker's Orch, KOO. KJR, KEX; Smith's Variety Hour, KNX. KOIN; London Letter, KPO; I Want a Job, KOW. 8:30 Quizzical Muatcale, KOO, KEX; Unlveralty Explorer, KPO, KFI; Muate by Woodbury, KOW; News, KJR. 10:00 Martin's Orch, KOO, KJR, KEX: News Reporter. KPO, KFI, KOW; Paul Sullivan, KNX, KSL: Newa, KOIN. 10:30 Heldfs Orch, KPO. KOW. KFI; McDonald's Highlanders, KOO; Deutsch's Orcha, KSL. 11:00 Nottingham's Orch, KPO, KOW, KFI; Oray's Orch, KSL, KOIN; This Moving World, KEX. KJR; News, KOO. FOREST SERVICE Washington, Dec. 21. (P) F. A. Silcox, 56, chief of the forest service, died Wednesday at his home in near-by Alexan dria, Va. He had been seriously 111 of a heart disease for nearly a week. Silcox came to the capital as chief of the forest service about five years ago. He first went with the agency about 30 years WRITING ON PRESENTS IIT-6 a' By CLUYAS WILLIAMS HIS PRESENT'S WRAPPED AND OWES OufPEHCIL fo WRHE ON THEM I l, Tl- IL l S.,H4. 6luVA WIluAiMS RUIft INTO SNAS BECAUSE" HC OUT TeU WHICH PACKAGE CoMTajHS WIFE'S BROOCH AND WHICH JlMOR'6 PUZ71T HAS TO UHllE ONE TO MAKE SURE, tV WHICH TiME HE HAS MISLAID PEKCIL W?APSITUPA6MrJ AND SETS 1HEM ASIDE, REMEMBERN61iW WIFE'S BROOCH IS AT THE LETT WHILE W0KIN6 FjR PENCIL, REAL LIZES HE HAS NO IPEA WHAT IS Ikl FlAf PACKA6E. UNWRAPS rf.BuT CAN'T TlE 1TUPA6AIN ON ACCODrlf OF TEARWI& WRAPPIN6& ALSO TO UNWRAP AND WRAP OP A&BIN TWO IDENTICAL PACKA6ES 0KTAIl(lH6 BOOKS, To FIND Which IS TOR iMCLE JOE ArlP WHICH FOR AtMT IRMA FINDS PFrMl.BUT BY NOW HAS FCR6&T- ten whether it was brooch or pozile he set pown at The left, wrs uikA 1hin6 BACK ON CLOSET 5HELF, WiFE EaENTUAIIV FINISHING JOB FOR HIM ago, his aides said, but for a while left the government em ploy to engage in private busi ness. Surviving is his widow, who was with him when he died. Silcox was a native of Charles town, S. C. Although it leads all other nations in the trapping of fur bearing animals, the United States Imports more rare and expensive furs than any other nation. UNION ROW HOLDS UP TONGUE POINT WORK Astoria, Ore., Dec. 21. (P) Officials feared today future expansion of the Tongue Point naval base would be jeopardized by an American Federation of Labor jurisdictional dispute. Work stopped a week ago, contractor Walter Makela said, on the. $90,000 pier project. Twelve members of the A. F. of L Pildrivers' union walked out because five members of the Building Laborers' union, also A. F. of L., were not taken off the payroll. The Piledrivers' union claimed Jurisdiction over the entire project. Alma Mater was given as a name, by the Romans, to certain goddesses, signifying mother. STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For further proof address the author, inclosing a stamped envelope tor reply. Reg. TJ. S. Pat Off. I TnJ;n3 Tonkin. HS COMPLETELY URKOUNPSO. & A CITY" INDiMMoUs 3 iyiTZ , yizz i ySisSesiTii. I ly sC'lWNS. I MH NOONS V JZ&mr I AT THR CONTROLS fT.!! alv I cwk Pennsylvania 4 mm wM"iWm lr-o km ? Miise at X )-Z Vr-l 7AV A PRfcMK ONLY WEKH AW AHP 6R tPWARD II l v fffc ONLY iNKlAtt KftKCPIl, 3i TAILSPIN TOMMY Spinning For a Crashl l Ikx. V. 8. fat. OB. All (If bU THE GHOST ENGINEER Giant locomotive pulling Psnnsylvania Railroad's St. Loulsan, which passed westbound through Selma, Ohio, on the mjrning of August 25. 1938, ran three miles, then pulled Jo a stop with no one at the conlrolsl As railroad officials later discovered, water became low In the boiler, resulting in over-heating of the crown plate. A blast of live steam enterad the cab and engineman J. L. Breen and fireman R. H. Mitch ell jumped to escape scalding. Both were killed. R educed pressure in the brake system even tually brought ihe train to a smooth stop. It was estimated the train traveled 60 miles an hour. ' TOMORROW: The Flying Cripple! Convinced that lem can solo, but lacks conf-idence, "tommy tosses his OOYCE STICK OVERBOARD.. AND LEM quiCKLY FOLLOWS SUIT By HAL FORREST IT W&Jy! I WZSutM JO-OH-b- I lo-D-DO YEW P IT DOESN'T Z3 ( pwmb pope.' bailout Lrf r.f.r-.c,, t-think m-my you can return SNV U5VS We D'VE... OVER. THE 1 G-G-GOSH' UMBRELLER-M IT AND GET ' feM I JUMP QUICK'. SIDE.HURRYU D-OH-I,- CHUTE'LLAV yOUR, MONEY BEN WEBST ' 7 By EDWIN ALGER f BUT, GRANDMA. YOU 1,Z -VOTED TO RUN f YES, I KNOW, LAND SAKES, IP MOTHErV'"' : - I I I PER ONE AINT A-fiiiu' " CAN'T LEASE YOUR LAND.' W THE OIL WELL BUT THAT WAS NATURE'S 61VEN US A ' TO M kIND W A 1 VOU AND ALL THE OTHER J DRILLERS OUT I TORE THIS FORTUNE UNDERNEATH to nN Sir rltl? J FOLHAPPy VALLEY -TOP TOWN hJI 6USHER COME OUR BACK YARDS, AIN'T I mMK - Sji g j j THE NEBBS The Needle In the Haystack S;W ta.loc I Wev! D0N1T "WYrs oust little! Y its the. little. "VSTvweu. it must be ?5,"""b.'- papers which roRruhZ REMOVED A yM" THAT F'WS! 0 GOOD. LOOK JWySH . i VuRM UP MOTHIM' Bf FIND THIS. A S0LD STICKERS AMD SCRAP OF gCf J WEWR!ra' i plc?UVUrf-E FER AWONSTB FORTUNE DEPENDS STAMPS ON 'EM.ThEYAIMT SSIRr?1 CnXf ? VueaepecEs. LFLDV time fflp41lONl ,T o,mavbe Jmothin' like that wast baet jj ! By SOL HES"