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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1941)
PTW5 FOTTRTTCTCtf MEDFORD MATL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, FRTDAT. SEPTEMBER 5. 1941 f.IAOE UP TO KILL .by KeHey Root I Chapter 35 The Fire ' "CEVEN people were killed In the lire," JeM aid, "six of the audience and one member of the company... the juvenile. Hi body was found in hi dressing room. And they found the door to that dressing room locked... . from the outside. There was an inquest, of course, and the cor- oner's verdict was death by some person or persons unknown. There wasn't a scrap of evidence, there never was, and the case went unsolved. But it could have been solved. There was a witness. Eve North saw Clint Bowers lock that door." "But, Jeff, why? Why did he do it?" "He was rather reticent about the motive. It involved a woman who is still living. No one knew about that woman and Clint Bowers but the juvenile. He tried blackmail. . .he worked on both of them, and when neither could meet his demands he threatened exposure. And he meant it. "Bowers never thought of kill lng the boy to protect himself ana tne woman, tie wasnt a murderer . . . not in those days. He thought there was no way out. "But, then, between the act that night, a fire broke out in the theater. It was none of Bowers' doing. A short behind the switch board caused it. No one person could actually be blamed. The flames swept through the drap eries and scenery and in a mo ment the place was filled with overpowering smoke. , "Bowers slapped a wet cloth across his face and rushed to the dressing rooms. He found no one in any of them until he reached the top floor. And there he found his blackmailing friend groping hysterically for nls door. In try ing 10 save nis wararore, sppar ently, he had waited moment too long; the smoke had got him. "Bowers took one step toward htm and stopped. If, instead of leading him to safety, he shut the door and turned the keyl The flames were gaining headway; the entire theater would surely Da aemousnea. no one would ever know that the door had been locked. No one would have seen him do it. So Clint Bowers turned the key . . , and rushed out of the theater. "He was wrong on both points, ef course. Eve North, trapped in her dressing room at the other end of the hall, had seen him turn the key before she slipped into unconsciousness, overcome by the smoke. Bowers hadn't seen her, hadn't heard her gasp (or help. "And consequently Eve wa left to burn . . , almost to death. The firemen got to her in time, but they didn t get to the juve nile until It was too late. And they did discover that the door naa oeen locked. Nest Egg ijvn i snow ir nve ever knew why Bowers hsd killed the boy. But that didn't matter. She didn't have to pre sent the police with a motive to have Bowers hanged. She had plenty; she had been an eyewit ness to the murder. But Eve never talked. Perhaps her own .tragedy kept her quiet. Or per haps, even then, she was saving her knowledge for a little nest egg." Jeff stopped long enough to beckon the waiter. "I've got to have another drink; my threoat's parched. That damn fire." He asked for another brandy and a large glass of water. "Now where was 1?" he asked. "I wasn't lis tening to myself." "Eve knew Bowers had killed man and she kept quiet." "When she got out of the hos pltal, despite her scarred back and arms that so few knew about she took up her career again. She became famous and wealthy, the darling of the early twenties. Then she started slipping, her looks were going, her youth fad ing, and she wasn't a good enough actress. She was down, out." "Poor Eve." ' "Yeah, poor Eve, she had to re sort to blackmail, a very esoteric type of blackmail. By then Bow er was the white-haired boy of the American theater. She simply said to him, 'You produce for me, darling; star me, or else the whole world will know what young man locked another young man in hi dressing room in the Detroit theater lire.' What could he do?" "He could produce for her." "Exactly. He Droduced for her and starred her, and ruined him self financially and artistically. It must have torn him to piece to do all those bedroom comedies and bad French translations after all the beautiful stuff he had been producing. It ripped him to shreds. The theater wa his life. Some people let that happen to their lives. Why, Haila?" "Go on, darling." , The Limit "1VELL, finally it got him. It ' was either Eve or he. Rather selfishly he decided it would be Eve. He just told us that he looked for a play for two years that would give him a chance to kill her. "Finally he found Green Apples. It was perfect. It had a drinking scene exactly in the right place. But Phoebe Thomp son forgot to put the flowers on the table. Eve, the trouper, re arranged the glasses instead of the flowers, and Carol, not Eve. got the poison. "Bowers dropped the poison into Eve's glass just before the curtain went up on the third act And what he must have gone tnrougn wnen carol got it . . . and when the play turned out to be a hitl He told us if Eve hadn't figured out the Doison was meant for her, he would have let her live, because Green Apples would've made enough money to put him back where he could produce other plays, too, the kind he wanted to do." I suddenly remembered. "When you went in to talk to -Eve be tween the act the second night "Yeah, that was the firnl flm. Eve heard about the poisoning." "And Clint was in the hall; he heard you and Eve; he realized then that . . ." Jeff nodded. "Rieht. When I asked her why she had been fussing around the table, she knew that she had changed the glasses, given Carol the poison that was meant for her. She knew then that Bowers was out to get rid of her." Why didn t she run? For her life!" "I don't know," Jeff said. "The shock. She thought she was pro tected by the twenty people backstage. She couldn't imagine any way that Bowers could have her dead within thirty minutes. She couldn't believe that ha would dare strike again so soon. or at the theater again. "And when the places were called, she took her place on stage a she had been doing foi twenty-five years. Then Bowen watched for his chance. His first attack had been planned foi months. This had to be one of the moment 'That chance came At F.ve'i first exit In the second act ant everything worked into Bowers nanas. tve, wailing there in thi wings for her next entrance leaned up against the arener. and the paint came off on hei Jacket She whipped it off to look at It after she realiied what sbt had done. Te be eonttnaeel Banker Spends Vacation Clowning Under Big Top Mt. Pleasant, Pa. U.R For two weeks each summer, O. Wylle Overly. ML Pleasant banker, takes down what hair he has lefL smears paint on hia face, dons red putty nose, big, flippy pant and over-sized shoes, and cavort about a sawdust circus ring. The atoutlsh, round-faced, 40-1 year-old bank cashier, who re cently was elected president of the Westmoreland County Bank er association, literally "clown around" during his vacations Since 1937. he has spent his two weeks off each year to sat isfy boyhood longing to be circus clown. This season. Overly divided his time between two big-Mme teni shows. His first date was with the Russell Brothers' cir cus beginning July 7, in Ver mont and continuing for a wek. During the week of Aug. 4. he Joined the battery of clowns with Ringing Brothers, Barnum it Bailey circus in Chicago. It all began. Overly says when as a boy he carried watei for the elephants In a tiny clr cu. That started me.' mused. And from that day on. bank cashier explained, never gave up the idea he the "1 that "MEET ME AT BARKER'S" Te pick out these Back-to-school clothes 73aXAa'CS Store Men ome day I would become a pro fessional clown. IMvorred Hammond. Int. (UP) Among oth tr thln, his wife "wouldn't get down to business." complained Ralph Hetllald in asking a dlvon-e from aiangarei Heuiaid, ss. Ha told the Judge that although ha paid tor a business oouraa. ah wouldn attend nueea rrjuiariy. me divorce wa (ranted. California Mine reported Ban PYencleco (UP I War-cauee1 trade diiloi-atioiia have resulted In the Importation by trench Indo china of 33.00V e-allotia 0( California wines monthly. California, to supply inia and other new demanda. ha In creased grape acreage to 4. 90.100. Motor squeak la Gopher vaner. Mont, (t'p) Anhle Idsos car waa runniraj all right but his mo tor had a squeak In It Ho he took It to a garage for a checkup. The mechanic listened to the motor, lifted the hood, and out Jumped the squeak a large copher. Loot way to H AT. London HP) After traveling 7.000 miles from th United states to )oln the R A P. Edward Ounn. a young American, arrived In London cn hu list birthday. Me reft a lob In Cali fornia and sailed for Britain a deck boy on a Iforweiian steamer. Alllcatoe In Hudson Watervllet, M. T. (UP) oemuel O Wise raptured an allUtator In the Hudson River. The alligator waa only I feet long. It waa Wises pet and It escaped a few hours before from a lily pond Cn hUii ItlDuue want ads. On the Radio Chains STATION!! When to find them en the dial; HEX, IIUO. Portland; KFI. 640. Los Anielet: KU.t, 1510. Spokane; koO, SIO, Ban Francisco; aUW, . Portland; kJU, low, Seattle: KVX, 1010, Loe Angeles: KOA. R.V). Denver; ItolM, ail). Portland; homo, ). Seattle: kpo, sao. Ban Francisco; KSL) 11 0, Salt lake. " Tims Shown Is PST """e - Friday 6:00 p. m Janet Jordan, KOO. KJR. KEX; Walts Time. KPO, HOMO. KCJW; Boulevard Interviews. KNX; Eyes of the World, KOIN; Americana, KrtL. 6:30 p. m. News, Here and Abroad, KOO, KJR, KEX; Uncle Walter's Dog House. KPO. KOW, KOMO; Holly wood Premiere, KNX, KflL, KOIN. 6:00 p. nu Pan-American. Union Concert, KOO, KEX; Penthouse Party, KSL, KNX, KOIN; Wings of Destiny. KPO, KOMO, KOW; Scandinavian News. KJK. 6:80 p. m. Llaten, America. KPO. KOW, KJR; Burl Ives. KNX, KUL. KOIN; first Piano quartet, KOO, KEX; Comedy, KOMO. 7:00 p. m. Prvd Waring. KPO. KOMO, KOW; Johnny Long's Orch.. KOO. KEX. KJR; Amos V Andy. KNX. KSL, KOIN; Dance Time, KJR. 7:30 p. m Death Valley Daya, KPO, KOW, KOMO: Oreat Momenta Prom Oreat Plays, KNX. KOIN, KSL; Vox Pop, KOO, KEX. KJR. B 00 p. m. Will Osborne's Orch, KPO. KOW; Orandpoppy and His Pals. KOO, KJR, KEX; Claudia. KNX, KOIN, KSL; Pish Finder, KOMO. 8 :30 p. m. Woody Herman's Orch., KOO, KJR: You and Tour Bank. KPO; Baseball Game. KEX; Port Lewis News. KOW; Chapel Music. KNX; Port Lewis Life, KOMO; Lead ers of the Weat, KSL. 9 00 p. m. Dance Orch.. KOO, KJR: BUI Clifford s Orch.. KPO: Paul Sullivan. KNX; Frontlera of Indue try. KOW; Leon P. Drews, KOIN: Highlight Hour, KOMO; Symphonic Serenade, KSL. :S0 p. m. Weekly Spectator. KPO, KOW. KOMO; Bill Henry, KNX., KOIN; Emlle Pettr Orch.. KOO: News, KSL, KJR. 10:00 p. m. Reporter News, KPO. KOMO. KOW: Jay Burnett, KOO. KJR; Bob Crosby's Orch., KNX; News, KOIN. ' 10:30 p. m. Nell Bondshu'a Orch.. KOO. KOW, KOMO; Matty Malneck's Orch., KJR; The World Today, KOIN. KSL; Concert Hall, KPO: Broadway Bandwagon, KEX: Maaterworks of Music, KNX: Behind the Headlines. KEX. 11:00 p. m Woody Herman's Orch. KPO. KOMO. KOW; This Moving World. KEX; News, KOO, KNX; Pish lng News. KJR. suaoovy was a former name for Russia. HOUND IS DEAD Kansas City, Sept. 9. Jerry, a hitch-hiking hound that made the navy for three trips around the world, is dead. Chief Petty Officer Harold Maxey found Jerry on the docks at San Francisco and took him aboard the U. S.S. Mississippi. Months later a visiting admi ral came aboard at the end of a globe-girdling cruise. "That dog's been around the world," they told him. He looked closely at Jerry. "Um-hmm, twice with me." Jerry retired to Kansas City with his master and spent his last years chasing stray dogs and burglars from the 3800 block on Wabash. Twice he rout ed prowlers and his toothless old age found his appetite for a good dogfight undiminished. He died a martyr to his taste for travel an overland trip to California proved too much. LOW BID LITTLE Portland, Sept. 8. P) De fense priorities are creating a serious obstacle to Oregon'i highway program, the state highway commission learned to day. Contractors complained that they were experiencing more and more difficulty In obtaining materials. The uncertainty of bidders resulted in A. S. Wal lace, Roseburg contractor, being low on six of 12 Jobs and in sev eral instances being the sole bidder. Lw highway bids included: Jackson Surfacing and oillM 4.07 miles of the Salt CreeT Hanley Ranch section. Little Butte, secondary highway, Nor ris Brothers, Seattle, $48,660. Patriotic ernes SteubenvlUe, O. (UP) The list of new Jefferson county draft regis trants Includes the names of Joha Pershlraj Devore and George Wash lng ton Greco. STRANGE AS IT SEEMS by JOHN HIX kWILUAOS THE WORLD AT ITS WORST By CLUYAS WILLIAMS ' . . 1 r rs i ii ii i ii i n u. AFTER W0RKW6 WSHT INfO A FRENZY fRVlNS 15 OPEN VODR surfcftsi it mm fo dawn on vou that your wife, who PACKED It TbR YOU, HAD ONE OF HER CAUTIOUS WOODS AND LOCKED 4 .If, NLEflN3 ONLY ID MENTION THAT YtU HAD BEffEfc TAKE AL0N6 THE KEY ,,..., n. m. lno s 'f A PARROT, MAKE TAIL w rr.ninr.-3 fUK Miwotl-r oti 'M TEARING CTQ1PC fP PAPS-H. v . He .TAr7TED W inROUQH , oeALOlrtV OF OTHER, BiRDV rLUAnAac. eC ..Jl I'--;:-. e r rrr n r x si I frtE SKELETON I "pi64 AT THE ' f 0 1 COLORADO TATR - I V HOSPITAL, PJrv--- Pueblo... r:".'LT; f " I K'wrvX -5- Ken Davidson trick BADMINTON CHAnP?HAft PLAYED BEFORE 8000. 05i rcurit. Arty l3 TH5 ONLV SPORT'S TAR EVER TO QlVc A COMMAND PERFORMANCE BEFORE l THg KING OF ENGLAND He can knock 10 ' i l. oirvv (tee FEET, AND DROP THEM IN '. A $ADIUS OF 1 SQUAM FdOT LI'L ABNER Gold Is Whar Yo' Finds Itll 77 IS" tIM r-atar, f ,ls,si W T B. I. f. M. OOAU nski, rm3 MISS AND HIT The hardest trick performed by Kan Davidson on tha bad mlnton court Is tha "miss and hit" shot., Ken swings at tha bird as it approaches, and misses. As the audienca gasps eft this apparent fluke, he hits the bird on the follow-through in a backhand shot directly behind himl Since he cannot see the bird as he strikes it, this shot is probably the most difficult in the sport. . : ONLY HALF THERE Although science cannot explain why, the abdomen of the skeleton shrimp, found on English shores, has degenerated to a mere stump at the end of the body. All digestion take place in the intestines. Sunday: Tale of the Rope Taill By AL CAPP mIll?arY RINOV',rt4ER-f' V- taATEIf- Lgf THIS IS A WONDIFUL VI 1 MUST BE 'ROUND A t roLhMirir? k Rk WA-?Tr??CiiF.e X stk MINE. -TH' GOLD IS I MILLYUN DOLLAH5 WORTH 1 olMutnIly3 lEGT . (SUCKER BAIT--J Wm AU V Iags CKCJ "icffi'? hs. SAFE. WITH THAT INTO A HYAft AH IS W Va5 - J5Sf(rfm H IS JiV v" J TAILSPINTO ' " ' " 8 HAL FORREST i?i r -rV. Ar- gi J Ml M&Y, TOM LOOK..' IBUT... AS SINES IS NOT IN THAT SMP I MUST WARN THEM - I l0.fcT.,i51Vlr" 1 T'S OUR. FRI EN 0, EL C0NDOR I THEH6 ARE TtsVO PILOTS.... I TIME BOMB IS jn S2nB faMJ558" 2?rV? 1 el condohO looks down Hcriat covoblan co! tuey in that plane.:. Ttfty cuaii mIJc - n- -N , THR.OU&H ElARt THE AMERICANO FLYEW THEV HAVE ONLY fW ' sT if :- WJ- TOMMYWsDT :"irS ij. t-jyy INES WAD PLANNED V$L M IVi Vl-" TIInSN $ II kK t. ' TO PLY OVER. CAS METTO V'OH ll TxKzfc - . T''C . 1 " S V?f)V l h. W wL' PLANTATION AND PROP DfcADLV f, U J M S fj V.-CI5l YfcisfaW "JV5 A f Sih 'HJ? explosives ...el condoh. . V 3 p.- fv Hvf 'VwTT- rj7d!vS?? I ,Yi ,A ALLOWS TME PLAN EsJl jffes M L"V All - , TgtWegtSrSl THE NEBBS Cold Will Merer But Me By SOL HESS Tamo CMOrT NDU 1 DO NT KNOWToyrj eeTTER V NCH-) CANT HAVE MUCH F, ' .ver . 1'nOW LETS GET DOWN VvOU mAvFnj-T rrrr tkt -r ?LS5 rSP A?ER.A'RAt,'EU-e KNOWING MIM FOR SUCH 1 cc?rT,nL D-D II STOP TALKING ABOUT .SOU AWDALl'vOUR RPLA- V0 ALlT V fr-IvSl n4 .MORr TIMC. ,T 5HCAJLD LOV 17 APFECT.CKJ Jf ! HE'S m 56ANO V5-V f ( lui I iL ' H t ( MF PE MARO FOCl y y uim A LOT M MUCH CO 0l-( AND IP HE WANTS TO STICK K V DlFCERENCe7 f5 HF "VJ0 eT- HIM UP. ' W'M A VSV VVANlT IN CASH JO ME 1U. SUPPORT HIM
