IT
SERIAL. STORY
1 AM A MURDERER'
- BY MORRIS MARKEY
COPVRIOHT. t4t.
NCA SERVICE. INC.
fcn
85
Sir.
THIS BTURVI Tills la 1k alarr
if Inn "prrrrr-l rrimr" the ntur.
r of Col. Wr-.lr,- llntm Mri.
wrthr In the, llnrarr of Ma Long
Ifltiind ea(1f-aiid of lae- vena
li-ndlna: Mil lo It. At l polo same
lw hnvn met Ihr vsraltnr rolonrl'a
attractive daiurhlcr Omnia. And
hllr. tan Whlrltvlnda brat the:
CJlovrra, ft-S, we have aat In on.
-Mra. Porter Wear-a mnalnaa. Crn
tala offers a aolntton to the
vVeala Ananelal dimrulllra. Bat
ahe'll not narrr Mm. Weal'a aon.
Fred. And Mra. Went aeaeee a
rival In Henrr Prenflaa.
VICTORY rARTX. '
. CHAPTER IV
pHEY gathered that night at
Stone House to celebrate the
victory of the Whirlwind side and
the Increment to Cynthia Merri-
wether's pocketbook which had
accrued thereby. All of Gull Point
ttathered, with the exception of
Mrs. Porter West, who simply
on- could not face the situation, and
fcs Henry Prentiss, who had a miser
on able appointment in the city.
t- When he spoke of that appolnt
sii ent, Cynthia gave him a mock-
Ing glance and said, "Why don't
you go on and bring her to-the
- party?" .
Prentiss smiled in his insuffer
ably genial fashion.' "It isn't a
she at all," he said. "And fuxther-
"so. more, she wouldn't at in."
fThen help yourself."
. "Help? A man needs help, all
right, when . the chickens come
home to roost I can tell you that."
io ''You're being a little unkind.
zz'. I suppose you know it." .-
is "I don't mean to, Miss Pretty.
I simply have to do a rather un
pleasant job, and I'd like it over
with once and for all."
' She laughfld. - "Don't be seen
- where Winchell could spy you outi
f That's little enough to ask, isn't
It?"--'- '
Bh- The party' went easily and
pleasantly and quietly.. Someone
should write his doctor's thesis,
one of these days, upon the im
mense difference between the par-.
4. ties that blossom and flower and)
.--" die in this world of men.
lOui. The fundamental gap lies be-
ii tween the unhappy folk who are-:
,jtit determined to enjoy themselves in;
.,- spite of everything, and the more;
fortunate lot who know perfectly
" well that they are out for a de
- - lightful and satisfying evening,-
and settle naturally to the . living
, of it , .
AT Stone House, human beings
KS i - expected good wine and amus
. Ing talk and girls of a certain
!'. .' beauty. Also assorted small jokes
T, of a more or less practical nature
never very funny but always
entitled to a polite smile a rou
lette table for those in; such a
ttoc mood, bridge and swimming and
!r ' tennis, and the rather specialized
ipleasure of strolling toward the
.-! stables and being patronized by
the grooms. . ,- . .,
- The ducal throne, so to speak,
was the high-backed oaken chair.
. 'behind his broad oaken desk. The
ia." 'desk, in turn, occupied the precise
crtr center of his - library, and the
z library was a handsome room with
J one of its fwalls made out of
" ,' 'French-doors The French doors
Sff- igave upon the terrace, which was
J- lof flagstone, and the terrace .(one
step down) dominated the lawn.
But. .-the-, view through the
French doors was not confined to
terrace and lawn. It commanded,
aa well, the deeper end of the
swimming pool, the stunted lemon
trees which guarded the entrance
to the tennis courts, and the gar
den of rose trees which fell away
at the left toward the summer
bouse. .
' It was the Colonel's custom to
have upon his desk a humidor of
sound cigars, and it was his whim
to have also a silver-framed pho
tograph of the horse which had
.last won admiration in the com
munity of Gull Point Sometimes
a hunter, sometimes a polo mount
sometimes a saddle hack or show
animal but always different and
always the product of Mitchell
Grace, man-of-all-talents, who
could snap a shutter as readily
as he could tactfully dismiss an
unwelcome stranger. . -
Likewise, the Colonel ordinarily
required a manservant to be pres
ent in the library, with a small
portable bar from which drinking
matter of sound design (never the.
silly or the capricious) might be
served. Mitchell Grace himself
was usually in attendance id this
room, watchful of the proprieties.
In dutiful observance of the
custom of the country, Cynthia
herself, upon- the. arm of Fred
west strolled' at an early hour
through the open French windows
to wish the gentleman of the
house a good evening. They were
followed almost immediately by
several others of their own gen
eration, and then by Captain Pugh
and Mrs. Pugh. The dance orchestra-in
the main hall was already
playing in the? manner known,
quite appropriately, as sweet
. e
. POLONEX, MERRIWETHER rose
and nodded hospitably to' his
guests, and shook hands with the
men. He waved them toward
chairs and settees, and resumed
his own chair, and beckoned the
manservant into action.
, He said to Cynthia, "I hear that
good luck fell your way this after
noon, my dear."
"Why, Colonel," she cried,
"what a tactless thing to say! It
wasn't luck at all. It was good
old Fred here, swiping at the ball
like a' Cecil Smith. Bless you,.
Fred darling.- These marvelous
iS Whirlwinds can take the Clovers
- any time at all. The champion
. ship is going to be a canter, isn't
it, Fred?.".. -.'.'. '-""; ' ' "
. Fred West blushed. And he said,
"We had a lot of breaks."
Colonel Merriwether regarded
the tip of his cigar. "I stand cor
rected, Cynthia," he said. '
He was an unlikely looking
man. Unlikely, that is to say, to
be the father of Cynthia Merri
f wether. In contrast with the
urgent immediacy of her coloring,
her voice, her . slightest gesture,
his own voice .and coloring- and
(gestures were 'as near as such
things may, be to total neutrality;.
-.&..
si.
b'.
3
Ou.
He was "neither" large nor small,
neither light nor dark. His hair
was thin brown and his eyes, when
he opened the lids wide enough
to permit an inspection of them,
mottled hazel.
His voice was carefully con
trolled, and his whole body, in
cluding his hands, seemed eter
nally at rest. Had he evinced
either excitement or boredom,
even upon the most provocative
occasions, people would have been
astonished, and only his superbly
made clothing, the frame and at
mosphere of his Stone House,
gave him the slightest distinction
from a million other men past
the middle of life, hanging stub
bornly to the dubious benefits of
existence.
He spoke to Fred West "I am
sorry I did not see the game. It
must have been quite interesting.
I really did not think you had a
chance against Prentiss and tho
Clover side."
"Henry didn't play," Cynthia
said. "He had a fall yesterday in
a practice game." .
"Indeed? Nothing serious, I
hope."
"Oh, no," Captain Pugh said.
"Just an ordinary sprain."
i Colonel Merriwether regarded
Captain Pugh. "I am glad that
you came in to see me," he said.
"It seemed to me that your mare
Is a trifle out of condition, and
even half a game is rather severe
for her. Why don't you give her
a rest and use my gray gelding
for a while? He needs the work."
The captain's face reddened by
the faintest possible degree. He
could never quite get used to the
necessity for thrift nor to offers
from others to alleviate that ne
cessity. Before this, he had said
to his wife, "It annoys me to ac
cept favors from Colonel Merri
wether. It annoys me for very
particular reasons. But I cannot
HOLD EVERYTHING I
"Now don't be pigs, children
Papa will decide who gets the '
drumsticks!'.'
Every man In the United
States navy is a specialist . . .
and right now is the time for
men in their 17th year to Join
up with Undo Sam's bluejack
ets to become a specialist ' in
two ways . . . First, you be
come a specialist at blowing the
Japs and nazis out of the wa
ter; second, you become a high
ly skilled specialist in the trade,
skill or profession for which
you are best qualified.
The new giant air freighter is
a high-wing monoplane, has a
wing span of 108 feet, is 68 feet
long and is powered with two
1200-horsepower engines.
II it's a "frozen" article you
need, advertise for a used one
in the classified.
possibly offend him."
So now he said, "It is very kind
of you. I shall be grateful."
(To Be Continued)
THIS CURIOUS WORLD
By William
Ferguson
OCCUPIES MORE THAN OA-7W& OF THE -A fj
entire Area of the earth, and comprises '-AXpn
ABOUT QMF-A? OF fT5 WATER. SURFACE. '.-"yV ' V!-1
COPS. 1M) BY MCA SCRVtCL INC '
NATLUAirY CVPCY HAIR.
BECOMES CUfCV
IN DAMP WEATHER., BUT
ARTIFICIAL CURLS TEND TO
JWMaviRv oar.
T. M. REG. U. 8. PAT. QTT.
HEN VOU feOTO A
MOVIE, YOU SIT IN THE
DARK TO SEE," iays
, GEORSE E. WRAV.
i-f
NEXT: Help save our forests!.
SILENT-FILM STAR
HORIZONTAL
1,5 Pictured
actress,
10 She was a
in silent
films.
14 On the lee
side.
15 Island off :.
Scotland.'
16Wan.
17 Limb. ;
18 Opposed io.-
20 Male child. -
21 Burdens.-
23 Standard. -'
(abbr.). .,
24 Group of .
eight singers.
Answer to Previous Puzzle
42 Australian
bird.
43 Detest
45 Abyss.
26 Part of mouth 47 Was seated.
27 Withered. 50 Sacred song.
28 Exclamation.' 53 Possesses.
30 Like.
31 Lyric poem.
32 Accomplish.
34 Lifeless.
35 Sketch. -
36 Upon..
37 Half an em.
54 Lees.
57 Beverage.
58 Extent -60
She starred
In many
silent .
61 Rip.
39 Three (prefix) 62 Try.
41 Myself.
63 Cooks' In hot 11 Flavor,
12 Plant -j
13 Lease. I
18 Snakes. .
19 Having pedal
digits.
22 Crowns. . '
25 Gives
credence. .
27 Direction.
28 Bustle. .
29 Fowl. .
32 River barrier.
33 Be indebted. '
38 Deaden.
40 Knocks.
42 Makes more
fat . - -comfortable. '
64 Footed vases.-4 Diner. 1
VERTICAL 45 Gossip. ,
1 Cloak. . 46 Rabbit. .
2 Oleum : . 47 Move,
(comb. form). 48 Scandinavian
3 Pertaining mythical king,
to law. 49 Volume. ,
4 One (Scot). 61 Thin.
5 Horse. 52 God of war.
6 Ages. 55 Removed.
7 Sand. ' 56 Manuscripts
8 Cut into strips (abbr.).
9 Inches (abbr.). 59 Near.
10 Spain (abbr.). 61 Tungsten
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s t a g et" abe movie
pater nee enate
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5UVS NiEXT TO Mt VS'E OOT
FEG THEM POTTEM TO KEEP
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THEY KW OMLV RUM PLfWOER.
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f.lT -..- km .-u r" VJIA V riJkVC
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Hf"Hr; j I FREE ADVICE
. )
I
SsSSj
Out- Our Woy
By J. R. Williams
THE MMvi OF THE HOUR
EGAD, MLV? I'M ABOUT
1 6MART GOAT IM THE 11
FIFTH.'- HMPVo V
the MiAKirU rNT m Ji
MB k lj r .
AS A BOoKlE.Ho'vO
DO MOU RMB THE
ANilNAAU ?
Ttrri 0Mr4ER bO'd.atrlW9,'"TrAA't"Ty
r&tX PITCHED FOR r-'Y TURTLES
1 Linkaniija umu it. rm rN.VT
.WW PLU& o TILL ON V tT l
WE: TRACK BUT IP if PHOVO
VOLS VMAMTA BET.T'LL SA UNlfciH
ivm jn -in Tr I J WllTU A
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Vvi . U ' - ' - '
TELL NOBODW, BECAUSE I CREEPING
rx
S ,1EP,REt.' XOU CA.
- rtWE it' arr &AT 1HAT
! Iin 030 ln
WITH K ROTIEbi TbrAMG.'
TUCHE5S , HOW Hf'A '"'
ABOUT A'ACNJ5 ) A4fy
. --SWfV-fX V
. v . i
-- , .- 1 I
Our Board
With Maj
ing Houso
or tiooplo
VII
AC
1 ETTER
GO HAME
ANOTHER
DREAfrS,
Red Ryder
JAV0
1 AIN'T-'
THE aA51EO
ECsOTlBTlCAL,
NO-'COUMT
bUrt BUT,
euT,rte,--
ErvCA'E'
1 AMo mois ns
OU'R.E 60RRV W
YOU OVXSE-D I
OFF THE R
( VB.L, ClT GOil' ' FIND
V KID PEPPE.R-' BUVWrA K.
tCl TICKET HOE- TOU , ,
Vain'T FCOuirO' tEjj
By Fred Harmon
' DO VOU THINK
ITS ALL. RIGHT
TO LET ANNIE
GO TO MALCOLM
MITTS CASTLE.
ALL ALONE?
T
"1-7-43
of course, rrs not
AS THOUGH MALCOLM
MITT WERE NOT SO
WEL- KNOWN- FAMOUS.
ALMOST WHY. IVE
READ HIS BOOKS FOR
YEARS -
AND EVERYONE
KNOWS HIM FROM I
KIS PICTURES -THAT
BEARD
AND ANNIS
SAYS HE AND
WARBUCKS ARE
OLO FRIEN05-
YES - APPARENTLY
WARBUCKS IS COMING
HOME FOR A BADLY
NEEDED REST-WHAT
BETTER PLACE THPVN
A SECLUDED CASTLE
OH, IT- ALL RIGHT.
I M SURE" J
OF COURSE,
WELL ALL
MISS ANNIE,
BUT THINK
WHAT A
TIME SHEU.
HAVE-
JJ
Little Orphan Annio
YES-FROM WHAT
IVE HEARD, ITS
A REAL CASTLE'
IT WOULD BE
A DREAM COME
TRUE FOR ANY
YOUNGSTER
OH. BOY I
WHAT TO HWE
GIVEN TO
HAVE BEEN
TURNED LOOSE
IN A CASTLE
AT HER AGE
mm
DO YOU REMEMBER USIMG- A
BRUSH TO PUT YOUR. HOME
. MADE? CLEAN IM&
SOLVENT ON MY YES, MRS.
FLOORS ? - 1 BINKLEY
f
Well. look at
WHAT IT DID TO
YOUR ,
BRUSH
Gosh! i
musta pur in
TOO MUCH
ACIDf MAY I
USE YOUR PWONB,
PLEASE ?
Freckles and His Friends
1
t vrr-'SV
Cr. .. 3 'S
By Harold Gray
"v"
I MOPE I
I'M NOT . )
TOO LATE
Freck.Tmis is
nutty dont
use that sol
VENT ON Mrs- .
BRIG6S' FLOORS
IT EATS
Things
4w
1
llKNOW ir...AND AT-p
I TUB MOMENT. ITS MAKING M
a GLuTforJ op :;
By Blosior
" rp IF THAT FELLA WASN'T IM AN AMERICAN S
P!8ji V UNIFORM I'D 5WEAR HE WAS A GERMAN
Wash Tubbs
HE'S MAJOR FRIT
WEI6EWHEIMER...ONE
OF THE MOST LOVAL AND
REMARKABLE MEN IM
OUR ARMY. SPENDS MUCH
OF HIS TIME BEHIND THE
ENEMY LIMES, IMPERS0W-
ATIM6 A 6ESTAP0 OFFICER.
AMD YOU'D BE SURPRISED
HOW MUCH IMrOKWMiWN
HE BRIN6S BACK
2j
BUT COME A10N61
f X WANT VOU TO
, JK MEET HIM. HES TO BE
o?n V THE COMMANDING
Pi v officer of youn I
fchfojffi Xexpedition.'V
.- tS-i
1043 BY NEA SERVICE, INC. T. M. nTaiT: gy
vocw oy? twn; yccxxtvoks
OrtrNVO LA VJKiW VNEF
T
r L
Boots and Her Buddies
W 6VbKV , TUm Vvv.
ov9l'-vio,avv-
OA ,X VOV),TVKT I
TWROVAi Off
cm'1;
-OOV.
?voov
Heora?iau nv iiH bTirvic
pat, orr.
By Martin
WiSZmsifoffi- 1 GOTTA HAMD IT P'
ITW I TO YOU AM1 TH' BOsj
vw r N. up tip ( he'llstay
TM SATISFIED ) ( WHATCHA
SHE WILL. MEAKl.
soi eyE m ATHERE'S
UUE55 . KIT)
? UllODV
WAR-GUILT
TR.IA.L '
STARTEP
THERES NO
HURRY ABOUT
GETTIW HER.
1
I Y V
tp. a - . r
WE AIN'T GONMA
STANP FOR NO
VVAITIM' AROUND
TILL THIS THIWG
&OR.TA
BLOWS
OVER.
I'LL SAVWEAIM'T
THAT OL' WITCH HAS
CAUSEP US LOTSA
MISERY AM SHE'S
GOWNA GET WHAT
CC-wilN TO HER.
VCO'RE QOKJrJAWOU'BETCHER.
TRV HER. CASE J LIFE YOU ARE...
RIGHT r HILE WE'RE
NOW s ,LI- WOOD AN'
IT
MOOfH, 1843 BY fl
I Alley Oop
1-8
By V. T, Hamlin