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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1941-03-27, Page 6b. «• THURSDAY, aiAJlCJI 11,41 THE EXEW TIMESi-APVQCATE s.* H by ANNE MARY LAWLER sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiui More Information As his daughter stopped heed­ lessly into Slick’s superb custom- built chariot, John Morton was re­ ceiving, some staggering news from his detective agency, ”We got a report on the Merrill dame,” Weber offered triumphant­ ly, "And what do you think? Her bank sheet shows heavy cash de­ posits—-in hills of large denomina­ tions—” he made the point more emphatic with a thrust of a long bony finger—“at times coinciding with the -dates Lucy Morton drew on her account in Rio, Mexico City and Havana.” He sat back and purr­ ed with self-approval. Weber glowed with unshared in­ formation, "(Get this. We checked on Merrill from the address in your files and what do you think? She left New York City in early June. Got a job as a stenographer on an ocean liner. We checked the steam­ ship companies. The Oceanic Line reports they took on a girl by that name almost six months ago, She’s traveling on the Arcadia, out of San Francisco for the Orient.” "Then who—” John Morton clutched at his reeling sanity— "who is the girl that works for us in New York? Where did she get the money?* How did she get the job? Why did she take that name?” "T suspect,” Weber said import­ antly, “that if this fake Merrill is one of the gang that kidnapped your daughter, they probably found the letter in her possession and de­ cided to use it.” "But why?” "That,” Weber ’ chewed off the words viciously, "is what we’re go­ ing down to the shop to find out. At least, we’re getting somewhere.” Mr. Arhur Brinker, a nervous, flustered, excitable Brinker, receiv­ ed his chief with nauseating servile homeage. What could he do for Mr. Morton? "I want to talk Merrill,” Morton "Pronto.” Brisker cringed, impossible—I mean- "Why is it so impossible?” "Miss Merrill is home sick today. I sent her off at noontime.” Weber shouted, "What’s her ad­ dress? Don’t waste time, man, this is a matter Of life or death!” Brinker disintegrated, visibly, "She lives with Toni, here.” Weber whirled on the little mod­ el. "Get your hat and coat and come with us. We’d like to talk to you, too.” 51 to Miss Joan said bluntlv. Gay’s Startling News A tall, red-haired girl with-know­ ing eyes drawled, "Just in case you’ve been wondering, Mr. Mor­ ton, Miss Joan Merrill is a tall blonde. She has a green outfit— just like the girl who sent that wire to you.” Her audience looked at her, open-mouthed. Gay went on, spitefully, "There’s something funny about her. Has been from the very beginning. We used to think it rather odd that no­ body ever came to see her or talk to her. Even when a girl loses her money, she usually manages to keep some friends.” "But—” the voice grew edged with a ermote sort of fury, "she did have one visitor on day. An Eng­ lishman. She told us he was a wealthy hunk of nobility she’d met an England. I saw him last night. He’s a second-rate actor playing at .•a third-rate house. Name’s Vernon, for your information, and the the­ atre is the Colonnade.” . Morton seized Toni by are arm, "Hurry,” he urged, "This changes everything.” Weber shook his head regret­ fully. ‘ tones, " too late, 'I think,” he said in wistful that we’re just a few hours CHAPTER XXIH The ride to hardly what cordial One. lions bluntly, frankly. Toni's apartment was might be termed a Toni answered ques- briefly—and almost Yes, Miss Merrill had come to Many a Romance Th# lives of many young people sura made miserable by the Weaking • owl pimplea on tlie face. The trouble is not So npich physi­ cal pain, but it is the mental suffer­ ing civuaed. by the embatfussing dis- figurcment of the face Which Very often. makes the sufferer ashamed to go out in company. Thd quickest way to get rid of pimples is to improve the general health by a thorough cleansing of the blood of its impurities. .iBurdock lilood Bitters cleanses and purines the blood ■“—Getrid of you/ pimples by taking B.B.B. T V ;« '’t- Ca.f Lhl„ OM Morton’s in June. Early June. No, there was hardly anything suspic­ ious about her, She had worked just as hard as the rest of the girls. She had been pleasant to the other models. had left, < new girl Why? with fury. Merrill. : ly, evidently a lady and because— Toni mot her employer's eyes de­ fiantly—the salaries of working girls made it necessary to evolve ways and means of dividing ex­ penses; Had Miss Merrill received any mail? And if so, from where? Toni Gets Third Degree Toni trod warily around those questions. She was sure she didn't examine Miss Merrill’s letters. Joan got mail occasionally, just like any­ body else. South America, Mexico, Cuba? Toni froze, any,” In July, Toni's roommate and Toni had invited the to share the apartment, Toni's dark eyes crackled \ Because she liked Joan Because the girl was lone- Letters from, say- "I’m sure I never noticed she lied quietly. Did Miss Merrill have any strange visitors, outside of the Englishman? Toni recalled the night Lyle Putnam had come to the apartment, remem­ bered her own doubts afterward. But she merely said: "Only her boy friend.” Morton and his satelite sprang upon that answer, tore it to shreds. Ah, a boy friend! Who was he? Where did he live? What did he do for a living? Toni was furious with herself for her pardonable error. His name, she said stiffly, was Michael Daly, a photographer. A very fine char­ acter. She, personally, had known him for years. Worked on the Ev­ ening Star. How had Miss Merrill become ac­ quainted with Mike? Toni said with enormous dignity: “I really don’t "know how—or when —or where. I was under the im­ pression they -had known each oth­ er for quite a while.” ’ The taxi swerved to a stop before the browstone front. "If you’ll come in,” Toni remarked with wearied patience, “I’m sure Joan will be only too glad to answer any questions you ask. You’ll have to discount a great, deal of. whnt Miss Roberts says. You see,” T-oni grin­ ned with open malice, "Miss Roberts has rather a hankering for Miss Merrill’s boy friend.” But. Joan Merrill was, unfortun­ ately, not available for further in­ terrogation. The apartment was un occupied. "Skipped,” Weber fumed, "and that precious photographer of hers, too, if you care to ask me.” He spied the envelope leaning against the table lamp, snatched it up. "This is Miss Merrill’s handwriting?” Jill’s Letter Discovered “Yes,” Toni reached for it, Weber drew the envelope back tily. "This may be important dence, ness. Toni’s temper already frayed' and thin with worry and questioning, snapped suddenly. She snatched th» envelope ’ from the investigator’s hand, ripped open the flap "If it’s important evidence,” she said an­ grily, "I’ll be glad to turn it over to the police. But I’m not under arrest oi‘ even suspicion. My mail is my own.” Toni read the last syllable on th? Iqst page. Then, with a strange little twisted smile, she extended the letter to Morton. To the detective, she said, derisively: "Smart fellow. Wise lad. You had it all figured out, haven’t you? Joan Merrill's the great master mind in the Mor­ ton kidnap plot!” Weber protested. "I didn’t Say she was the master mind. She might only be a pawn, hut she’s involved. Unquestionably she’s involved.” The little girl burst into raucous mirth. "She’s involved, all right. But not the way you think. You two boneheads—-” anger shook her --"she’s Jill Morton1” John Morton chair. "We never he moaned John, is John Morton began to read the letter, recognized the handwriting gild turned to Toni. "Now that it's all settled, young lady,” his trnwii was a terrifying thing, "haven't you been concealing evidence? And lots of it?” Toni remained unruffled. "Of course, I have. I knew that Joan— jill—was straight and would ex­ plain all this business eventually. She did get letters, lots of them, from South America and Mexico end (Juba. From lien aunt, she told me. She said her aunt traveled Fith a wealthy invalid. She got let­ ters every day ov so. Wrote plenty herself, toe. And she did have a ‘raiiga visitor one night, Lyle Tdtf* ' a ant— "How edid that—ho—know she if. Now York?” but has- evi - he announced with firm' collapsed into 'a thought of that ” Relieved alt.z "He and that big gypsy queen of a wife of his came into the store. He spotted Joan, I mean Jill, and. brib­ ed Miss Roberts for her address. Then he came here that same night, I was in the kitchen, I didn’t hear all they said, and didn’t listen. But he did say this, and .quite loudly—1-” she smiled gravely at Jill Morton’s father—"he said, ‘If I’d never mar­ ried Valerie Brooke, I wouldn’t have known I was in love with you’!” John Morton opened his mouth to speak, closed it hastily, Toni said: “I thought- -maybe you’d like to know that. Maybe— it would make you. feel a little bet­ ter, He got a raw deal, too.” John Morton bowed gratefully. "My daughter was very fortunate ” he said. "You are a faithful friend,” Morton looked at Toni approv­ ingly, "Young lady, I discover I’m hungry for the first time in weeks. Will you have dinner with me? W'e’ll just let Jill cool her heels at home. Serves her right.” An Invitation Accepted Toni met his eyes mirthfully. "Do you know,” she confided, "you’re the first man I ever met, Mr. Mor­ ton. who could really afford to take me out to eat.” Dinner was a long and leisurely affair, and John Morton enjoyed it thoroughly. Back at the apartment, he waited patiently while Toni rum­ maged through her bag for the key. "I want to thank you,” he said with obvious sincerity, "for every­ thing you’ve done. I—” ' Footsteps, fast running footsteps, diverted him. He swung round to face-—Lyle Putnam. The words froze forever on his* lips. “What the c^evil are you doing here?” he roar­ ed. "Haven’t you caused enough trouble as it is? If it hadn't been for you, we’d—” “I—” Lyle wormed the word in edgewise, took courage, and follow­ ed his advantage, "I came to see Jill —to tell her she’d better go back home, but one of the neighborhood kids told me she left with a suit­ case and that she was—” Toni deftly scooped both men in­ to t-he apartment. “We’re a chapter ahead of you, Mr. Putnam. Jill left a letter for me today. She’s ..gone.home.”. .... ..... r ... -- ■ ■ • ■ Lyle began, "But the youngster said—” John Morton lashed out with the accumulated fury of several days of frantic worry,- "For a dime—no, tor a plugged cent, I’d—” The doorbell rang. ed it. “This is she giggl'ed, as side. roommate's toy frlepd in a big green roadster about a mile long. She said she, was etoptog.” "Eloping?” Mike and Morton made a chorus of the word, "Elon- Ing?'* Mike leaped toward the telephone table, pawed through the fat phone book, Lyle and Toni exchanged humorous glances. Mike said, above the swish pf paper, flying on the 3 plane? They told me at the store she left around noon. That means she probably phoned for reserva­ tions. The airlines people would know whether she actually left on that plane.” John Morton yawned. "Well, why shouldn’t she?” Mike dialed a combination of numbers with a square determined finger. "Hello, Central Airport? Daly of the Evening Star. Can you tell me if a Mjss Joan Merrill or a Miss Jill Morton booked passage on the >3 p.m. plane day? O.K.—” "This young man mind,” Morton said Shouldn’t Jill have reached the air­ port? Why shouldn't she flown on the 3? Mike Gets "I see.” Mike tp Chicago to- is out of his bluntly. "Why have Why—” Bad News frowned. "I—see. You—haven’t heard from her since? I—see, Thanks,” He replaced the receiver slowly. "She never got as far as the airport. A Miss Joan Mer­ rill called for reservations shortly after 1 today. Her tickets are still there. Her place was finally taken by a Henry Vale, of Merbrook, N.J,, five minutes before flying time. 1 was afraid of something like that.” "But Mike,” Toni said incredu­ lous, "maybe she missed., the plane- Maybe—” "Then why didn’t she come back here? Or take the next plane?” He let the words sink in slowly. "I’ll tell you why. Because she went off somewhere—willingly or hot—with Slick Allen. And Slick Allen is a criminal with a record from here to TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SWALLOW PILLS If yoii feel sluggish, depressed, liverish or are inclined to constipa- tion—just try this treatment for two weeks: Take enough Kruschen to cover a dime, in warm wafer every morning. ' Nothing could be easier to take, and Kruschen is not harsh, but is a mild, gentle laxative. Constipation is caused mainly by lack of moisture in the large intes­ tine. Kruschen contains carefully blended mineral salts that bring back the moisture. Besides cleaning out stagnating, poisonous waste matter, Kruschen helps to rid the bloodstream of other poisons result­ ing from constipation. Get a 25c size of Kruschen from your druggist and within two weeks you’ll feel .your old good health coming back. Other size at 75c. STAFFA WMS. PLANS SERIES OF ACTIVITIES The regular monthly meeting of the Staffa W.M.S. was held at*the home of Mrs. George Butson. Mrs, Arthur Kemp presided, Fourteen were present. Roll call was ansr wered by naming a Foreign pr Home Misionary, Mrs. Aidworth charge of the business Plans were made to hold uuul Easier Thankoffering Sunday, April 20, instead usual morning service, Plans were made to hold a pot luck tea on March 28 in the town hail, also to prepare contributions for a sionayy bale. The April meeting will be at Mys. Cecil Boymans home, devotional period theme was "Fol­ lowing Christ’s Way in the Home”, Mjss Vera H^mbley read the scrip­ ture lesson. Mrs. Aidworth played softly the Meditation Hymn, Prayer was offered by Mrs, Kemp. Mrs, Thomas Drown gave an interesting reading of short sketches of Miss A. J. Archibald -of San Fernando, Trinidad. A social half-hour was spent, refreshments being served. was to ppriod- the an- servlce of the held, The Toni answer- Old Home Week,” Mike stepped in- tlie SceneMike op He grabbed her shoulders fierce­ ly. "Where’s Joan? They said at store She’d gone home hours ago. Where is she?” Toni said to the. room at large. "This is Mike.” T1 ” turbed young man, soothing of syllables, "Look. Mike, she went back home. She said she sent you a note that would explain everything and—” He caught up on the breath lost in taking the two flights of stairs in high. "I haven’t been back to my room yet. I ran all the way from the office to tell her to get out of town and get out fast. Toni, the wires are full of the Whole thing- all about the real Joan Merrill cabling and—” John room. Mikb "And a swell father you turned out to be, marrying turning your only the world! No into trouble. I poke your nose principles.” Morton was staggered. "Look here,” he began. "Mike,” Toni chiseled her way in­ to the conflict. "Joan’s safe and there’s nothing to wotry about. .She’®, not suspected of a thing. We—•” "Toni,” Mike was desperate, "the news hasn’t hit the streets yet. But it Will in no time. An arrest is ex­ pected and with her prison ;Tp- eofd—” Morton gulped. Toni said hastily, "But Mike—we know everything. Joan is—Jill Mor­ ton. This is her father, John Mor­ ton.” Jill’s father found his voice with an effort. "My daughter has a very fertile imagination, I’m afraid. I've been a widower since .she was born. And if she has a prison record, that’s news to me,” "Jill Morton?” Mike’s reason threatened to crumble before their very eyes. "But Jill Morton was kidnapped. The papers-—” "Jilt’s on her way home to Ohl* • cago, Mike. She .left this afternoon to make the 3 p.m. plane.” New Complications Lyle Putnam added a further ntr-m of Information. "The kid next ; told me die left with her Then to the dis­ in the most from the 'steamship Arcadia Morton.lumbered across the "I’m her father,”, he said. whirled on him bitterly. some dame and daughter out into wonder she got have a mind to just on general there. Did you ever tell Slick any­ thing about her, Toni?” . "Only—” Tohi’s eyes were large •only about the was here and was in love horrified, "—• Lyle Putnam Joan—Jill—he her.” said Michael and time told with "That tears it,” Daly bitterly. "Maybe you’ll find you have a kidnaping case on your hands yet, Mr. Morton.” (TO BE CONTINUED) MBS. GEORGE H. FAIRLES DIES FOLLOWING STROKE Mrs. (Grace, Rogers Fairies, wife of George H. Fairies, died at her home in Lucan on Sunday following a stroke which she suffered last Monday. Mrs. Fairies w^s daughter of the late William ers and Martha Goodman, was twice married. Her first band was the late Richard T. ter, of Toronto., Fourteen years ago she married George H, Fairies, the Rog- She hus- Bax- al-Young men can play ‘catch’ most anywhere, but when they real­ ly want to play ball, they straight­ way secure a diamond. Young la­ dies don’t need to read this item if they aren’t interested. GRANTON—Something cord was set by James Biddulpli, in setting -two February 22nd, and having all the chickens hatch and survive although hatched in the height of the storm. of a re­ Mackey, hens on The Exeter Times-Advocate Established 1873 and 1887 at Exeter, Ontario published every Thursday morning SUBSCRIPTION—?2.0i0 per year to advance RATES—Farm or Real Estate for sale &0o. each insertion for first four insertions, 25c. each subse­ quent insertion. Miscellaneous ar- tleleB, To Rent, Wanted* Lost, o® Found Ude, per line of sjx word®. Reading notices 10c. per line. Card of Thanks 50c. Legal ad­ vertising 12 aud 8c» per line, la Memoriam, with one verse £06. extra verses 25c. each. Member of The Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Professional Cards GLADMAN & STANBURY (F. W. Gladman) BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, &c Money to Loan, Investments Made Insurance Safe-depoalt vaults for use of our Clients without charge EXETER and HE NS ALL CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, <fto LOANS, INVESTMENTS, INSURANCE Office; Carling Block, Main Stree*, EXETER. ONT. Dr. G. F. Roulston, L.D.S.,D.D.S, DENTIST Office; Carling Block EXETER, ONT. Closed Wednesday Aftmrnonna i 1 • BUILT .MOTORS '‘-‘Vs.- Dr. H. H. COWEN, L.D.S.,D.D S - DENTAL SURGEON Office next to the Hydro Shop * Main Street, Exeter Office 36w. Telephones Rea. 38J Closed Wednesday Afternoon* ARTHUR WEBER LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Phone 57-13 Dashwood R. R. No. 1, DASHWOOD <7 F BUT MEW 1941 FRANK TAYLOR LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTI Prices Reasonable and Satisfaction Guaranteed EXETER P. O. or RING 188 •a I CANADIAN- BY GENERAL WM. H. 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