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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1941-04-03, Page 2* * < TOUiRSDAY, APRIL 1041 THE EXETER TIMESh-APVPCATE •6 ;■ Money Isn’t Everything” by ANNE MARY LAWLER CHARTER XXIV Jill leaned back luxuriously in the roadster, and thought to herself: “Imagine being glad to see Slick Al­ len! Imagine ‘being grateful for a lift in his car! How times change!" She ran appraising fingers along the emooth leather upholstery. It had been a long time since she had ridden in a vehicle so magnificent and valuable. Slick’s gray marble eyes slid side- wise. “Where’d you say you’re going?” “Central Airport. I want to make the 3 o’clock plane." “Not running out on us, are you?” ■ Even Jill’s gratitude was not heavy enough to smother her instinctive annoyance at the curious aware­ ness of his voice. “Only temporarily. I’ll be back- in a day or so.’’ Slick smiled a twisted smile on the side of the mouth Jill could not see. “That’s good. We’d—miss you.” There Was something about the tone that made Jill ever so slightly wary. She explained: “Sickness in the family. An aged relative. With cash. You know how are." “Oh!” He twirled — -------- - around the corner in one smooth sweep of his arm. “Three o’clock plane? You’ve loads of time.” She glanced at the clock on the switchboard, “Oh, it’s not as late as I thought.” Time for Lunch iSlick grew solicitous. “If you got a sudden call,” he said gravely, . “I’ll bet you didn’t even take time for lunch.” “No, I didn’t.” And, having ad­ mitted that fact, Jill was for some unfathomable reason sorry for doing so. '“Neither did I. Suppose we get, close to the airport and have a quick snack? I’m starved. Be­ sides, I have to make a call. A man was half expecting me at his office twenty minutes ago.” Jill said hastily: “Then you go on and meet him. Just drop me some­ where that I can find a cab.” “He isn’t important—not half so important as you.” Slick, evidently was not to be easily dissuaded. Jill agreed without enthusiasm. The long, lean car whipped out of the city, swooped down a wide highway. “Is this—is this the road to the airport?" ' “Unless they’ve moved it since last week,” Slick laughed. “For a little girl born and raised in New York, you don’t know a lot about your’city.” Jill felt her cheeks growing hot. “I—suppose I don’t,” she said. “But then, I never did much flying be­ fore.” “Scared?” “I—suppose so,” she said, prim­ ly. Slick: The those things the roadster A Lonely Roadhouse The roadtser swung off the high­ way, purred to a silent pause before a long, stone roadhouse, some 100 feet back from the highway. Jill looked closely at the weatherbeaten sign, “T-he Rendezvous.” “Ever been here before?’’ She shook her head. “No.” “You’ll like it. Not a bad dump. Food’s darned good. Milk-fed chicken right out of the back yard. Swell coffee.” He opened the door, ■assisted her from the car. “Keep a weather eye on your watch,” he warned. “When I start to eat in this place sometimes I forget what time is—” The Rendezvous bore the unmis­ takable air of a reformed speakeasy, reformed but hot completely reha­ bilitated. A large, sprawling, nonde­ script place, shadowed by tall syoa- mores, and, Jill noted in passing, guarded by an ominously sturdy front door. Inside was the usual postage­ stamp dance floor, with the orches­ tra platform and the inevitable nick- le-in-the-slot music machine glaring at one another from either end.«■ Small tables starred the walls and rimmed the dancing space. “Take you pick, Madam." waved his hand eloquently, place was, except for themselves, empty. Jill decided, oddly, upon a table near the window. The view was hampered by a grille of ironwork, giving the outlook a hopeless aspect. A waiter hulked over to the table. “Why, if it ain’t Mr. Slick Allen! How’s tricks?” Into Oblivion “Look, Tim." Slick’s voice took on a confidential air, a tone, virtu­ ally, of conspiracy. “I want some , of your very best coffee for the lady, a plane before." Jill that a ped suddenly ovei' Tim’s eye. she could not be sure. “O.K., Slick.”’ Tim vanished into the bowels of the kitchen, whence came sounds indicative of approach­ ing lunch. Slick excused himself to telephone.' Then he and Tim re­ appeared almost simultaneously. The chicken was, as Slick had predicted, delicious. Jill was hun­ grier than she realized and she ate heartily. The coffee—she sipped it slowly. An odd flavor. She con­ tinued to glance at her watch. The pie was home-made apple, crisp and flavorful. 'There was something wrong with the coffee — something decidedly wrong, .She tried to tell Slick, Her head spun. Her tongue thickened. There was no power now even to raise her wrist to look at the watch. She slid to the floor. Tim hurried from the kitchen and the two men carried Jill swiftly and silently from the dining-room, through the mas­ sive oak door, out to the long green greyhound of a machine waiting sil­ ently beneath the sycamores. They propped her in the .corner of the Car, in the graceful, easy position of a woman snatching a quiet -nap while riding. “Thanks, Tim.” A bill changed owners. The putty-colored face lit with gratitude. “’S’nothin’, Slick. ' Glad to any time.” ■Slick stepped intp. the.. car. Gears meshed noiselessly; the long, green juggernaut whipped out of the winding driveway, bound due north. Slick’s Plans Nobody on the street to see the dame climb into the green car. Nobody to know or guess she hadn’t headed straight for the airport. Slick congratulated himself: “With all the noise in the daily rags, she was bound to make a run for it. Being on the spot was a stroke of genius. And luck.” Nobody, as a matter of fact, even to suspect he was in town. He had told Toni only a day er two before that he was'off again on business— to be gone a week, maybe two. The hideout up near the border— the note to John Morton—simple, very simple. Slick toyed with the idea of having the Negro porter at his apartment mail the ransom demand. Slick knew he couldn’t read. But no—'just the possibility of a chance that Joe might show the letter to somebody who could. Bet­ ter play safe. Slick chuckled at the thought of the ransom note, so carefully pre­ pared, Written with gloved fingers, waiting—waiting for the right op­ portunity. Othei’ fellows might have barged in as soon as they Were sure the dame was Jill Morton. Not Thinking kept smart guys jail, and Slick was a smart She’s going on a long ride— ride—and she’s never flown almost persuaded herself fat, putty-colored lid snap- But known from the beginning was fed up on The cops were unwound itself Pledge for War Savings "SALADS ■MaanHlMni TEA Golden Wedding of Dashwood e T* Worry Saps The Nervous System Worry over business or household dutiM, sudden shock, the insane quest for pleasure, the foolish at­ tempt to put a Week of normal life into twenty-four hours, feverish ac­ tivity, the demand for sensational literature are all Conducive to the aggravation of wear and tear on the nervous system. If you ate tired^ listless, nervous, and worried why not give Milburn *6 Health and Nerve Rills,a chance to help put you on your feet again. They ate a body building, nerve strengthening tonic containing the Bj&hM elements for the nervous 1 1 Ji i; XUwjyySvCWji tfhe T. Milburn Un»- 1M,» aww-uv, w*. Slick, out of guy. He’d the doll wasn’t Joan Merrill. He’d seen the Merrill kid too many times to be fooled. Merrill was dark. That’s why he was so startled the ■day Toni introduced this blonde number as Joan. He had dropped a few Careful sentences and watch­ ed her stiffen. •He hadn’t known what her racket Was—-not then. But he watched her carefully. Then when Toni spilled the beans about Lyle* Putnam and his visit to the apartment, the whole thing was clear. Then the vague familiarity Of the .girl’s face stfuck him; blonde hair or no blonde hair, that was the Morton kid. Thinks it a Set-up ISlick had thought vaguely of blackmail and other ways and means of turning this valuable piece of in­ formation to profitable use. But when the newspapers blow up with the story of the old dame’s death down in Havana, and old man Mor- J ton went haywire I “Snatch!” Slick’s mind was already I made up. Kidnapping. Slick slowed the car a trifle, looked at the .girl again. Out cold. Tim did a good job. And he know when to keep his trap shut. He’d ■hzsHor. I I'onigxti,, x. ilinijiinillllillllilllllliiililOliliiiiiiiliiiiiT pected to reach the cabin. H'ac would arrive in the morning. Mao was a good (partner. Didn’t lose his head like a lot of second-rate pupks. Of course, it would mean handing over a slice of the ransom, but it was worth it, Mac wouldn’t give him the criss-cross. Good thing he’d been able to snag Mac with that first phone call, More blind luck. They’d collect the cash and beat it out West. San Francisco—there was a town. Slick New York, anyway, getting watchful. Mile aftei’ mile along the speedometer. The air grew chill with the breath of dusk. Slick stopiped the car on a quiet stretch I and raised the top. Jill slept. He climbed into the car and the long, sleek roadster whipped on, nose pointed toward Canada. The clock on the dashboard clipped off hour after hour. T.he sun had settled low in the west when the girl stirred for the first time. Slick cast a swift glance about him, swung the car left at the first lonely lane. He ran swiftly for about a mile. Jill put her hand up to her throb­ bing head and moaned. The car stopped. Slick turned to his com­ panion, watchful and sinister. Jill Comes to Life Drums beat in Jill’s ears and a hot hammer pounded behind her eyes. Slowly, her distracted glance began to' focus. Stark trees. A darken­ ing sky, narrow twisting road. Where was she? A car—a long, green hood stretching infinitely be­ fore her. She shook her head, hop­ ing the vision would vanish. It grew nearer and clearer. She re­ membered—Slick—the roadhouse— the coffee— A voice slashed across the throb­ bing drums—a calm, cool, insolent voice, laced with deadly venom. “And how are you feeling, Miss Joan Merrill—or should I say, Miss Jill Morton?” Slick! Slick, with his hooded snake-eyes, boring into her, with his slippery smile twisting a corner of his cruelly mean mouth—Slick. Jill screamed. A large handkerchief whipped about her mouth, was knotted be­ hind her. head. She fought desp§rr lately, terrified.' ’ : Even the slightest movement was an effort to her. The terrible throbbing in her head dulled her wits. Her hands and feet seemed remote, out of control. There was about her the heaviness found only in nightmares, a slow-motion weight that rendered her helpless before she began. It seemed hardly a mo­ ment—or was it hours?—before her hands were neatly trussed be­ hind her, and her ankles lashed to­ gether until her feet were numb. “How—ungrateful of you,” Slick purred. “When I was only giving you a lift—oi’ should I say—a ride?” Realizes She is Kidnapped The roadster backed recklessly into a clump of bleak bushes, turn­ ed and swung once more toward the highway. “Now just relax and enjoy the scenery—-what you can see of it,” (Slick advised. “We’ve got along ride ahead of us even yet. I-trust your headache isn’t too bad. That’s the trouble with those little sleep­ ing potions. They wonk rapidly, but the after effects aren’t so good.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “But’ don’t worry. You won’t be permanently disabled. Tim car­ ries only the very best K.O. drops in the city, no, in the State. You and I will take a little trip—up north/ We’ll stop at a quiet little place.” t “Then, very soon, your father will receive a note, a Very courteous note, requesting him to make a donation to charity. The donation will be $100,00.0—the charity will be — me. Of course, I could have played safe and turned you in to him, for, the reward Of $10,000 he offered, but who wants to be a piker?” “I’m being kidnapped,” Jill was sick with horror. “Kidnapped!” ; things,” he nodded toward John Morton. “Give me what happened in Chicago before she came here.” ReconptrnCthig the Story John Morton’s glance at Lyle was barbed with poison. “Jill was en­ gaged to this—-this man.” Putnam flushed, a dark, embarrassed > and unbecoming brick red. “A couple of days before the wedding—he threw her over for another woman. But you read the papers. You know all about that. “Well—" the monosyllable was eloquent— “Jill and her aunt de­ cided th'at the best,thing to do was take a trip until the noise blew over. They sneaked out of Chicago and planned together a few days ago it would all have been simple. We have to pool our knowledge before we can even begin,” Toni prompted, Jill had been running around with Mike for a couple of months when Lyle Put­ nam came to Morton’s. He saw her and recognized her. It’s your turn now.” She bounced the conversa­ tion deftly to Lyle. (To be continued) and shouted, Ci CHAPTER XXV roadster hearing destina- t But tlie “Seem I wonder if Morgan, the pirate— When plunder had glutted his heart; Gave half of the junk From the ships he had sunk To found some Museum of Art? rw While the long green growled steadily northward, Jill and Slick to a dubious tion, four worried people sat in Toni’s threadbare living room in a desperate council of war, “You think Jill may really be kid­ napped?” John Morton winced at the word, as if it left a bitter taste on his tongue. Mike said? “Joan—-Jill I mean- had a funny idea about Slick, oh, a long time ago. He seemed to know an awful lot about the Merrill fam­ ily, She thought then that he was suspicious of Her. She said he watched her so much it made her nervous.” Toni knotted her eyebrows, whole thing doesn’t make a sense,” she said firmly, M<k© sighed. “Let’s «tort; I “This bit Of at the Uv0..».«.Uo XVa.uiUfa'tl’UCt came to New York. They to sail for Rio—.” Lyle interrupted. “Rio? papers said—” John Morton snapped, strange to you? That’s where you’d planned to sipend your honeymoon, wasn’t it? Well, Jill figured she had two good reasons for taking the trip as planned. One was that no­ body would suspect that’s where they were bound. The second—” the little room crackled with scorn, “was that since Jill had lost a hus-■ band and a wedding, she felt she,' was at least entitled to her wedding • trip. .She and Lucy were to have" sailed on the Serena early in June. “We know now that Lucy sailed alone. From the morning’Jill left' the Central Hotel, she vanished. Lucy took the trip herself, and mailed letters from Jill to me as ‘ she went along. So I wouldn’t sus­ pect, I didn’t.” John Morton paused a moment to swear at his own stupidity. “That same day a blonde girl named Joan Merrill got a job in my New York i store. There was nobody, naturally, to suggest that she was anything but what my letter stated—a school friend of my daughter’s seeking work. She’d done something to her hair and nobody recognized her. That’s all I know about that. You take it up from there, Miss Toni.” “All I knew Was’that she went to school with Jill MOrton and that her father had lost his money. She got a lot of letters from the tropics, said they were from an aunt .who traveled. I never guessed her name wasn’t Joan Merrill. Then she met Mike here.” What Mike Believed Mike took up* the thread of the narrative. “I knew right away th'at she wasn’t Joan the Merrill girl, dozens of times, never did tell me I never asked her. “■From the first day I met her-r- I photograph the models at Morton’S' —I knew there was something; wrong. She was scared stiff for fear»' any pictures of her would get into the newspapers. I thought she pro­ bably had a prison record. She said she did. Now, of course, it makes sense. She couldn’t afford to have her father see those pictures.” “I never did see the pictures,” • John Morton sai,d. Mike grinned a crooked grin. “I know that. I told Brinker she, didn’t photograph well. Anyhow, I liked the girl’s face. I—asked her to dinner. She handed me a tale about a cruel stepmother and a/lot of froth about being arrested for passing bad money and skipping her bail. I—believed her. It was silly but I believed her.” “Why”, Lyle Putnam exploded the word with the sharpness of a pistol shot. Mike’s glance Was cold. “A girl with eyes like that would have to be on the level,” lie said. * John Morton said: “This is all. Very interesting and all that but aren’t we wasting time? I mean—” Mike was curtly polite, “That’s been the trouble all along. Every­ body knew a little something.' Toni knew about Lyle. I knew she wasn't Joan Merrill. Putnam knew she was Jill Morton. If We’d all have got Merrill. I’d photographed Incidentally, who she was, a met her she * and 51 i * Give 7°^. VitMood Cluck start” farm-proven^ S t art er---thJ oney yaking ^er’s °Ot“ 'poultry farmers. | CHICK B St EK- Silf3/ 2 rZi withmA C»mplete iw.ash—the vztamizedfeed that- gives your chicks eve^^ ss Production m the Fall! ROE COMPLETE growing mash 415 si/ I. ROE ’’V1TAMIZED” FEEDS ARE SOLD BY: A. TRAOUAIR, Exeter w n DAVIDSON, Hensail WHAROtP KARMAN Dashwooa F. McNAUGHTON Kirkton J. The family of Mr, and Mrs. Hen­ ry Krueger, of Dashwood, pleas­ antly surprised them on Sunday, it being the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary. A decorat­ ed car was sent to the church,. where they were attending divine worship, to escort them home where they were welcomed by their entire family. Before partaking of a bounteous dinner, the following address was read by Herbert Krueger, of Zur­ ich: Dear Mother and Dad; We are gathered here today to, be with you on a very memorable occasion. You have attained a per­ iod in your life together, your fif<- tieth- wedding anniversary, which is to all of us a time of joy and of thankfulness. A time of joy, because you have been spared to us and an occasion of humble thanksgiving to Him who has granted us this bless­ ing. You have guided .our falter­ ing footsteps along th© right p.aths when’ we have strayed, comforted us when in sickness, rejoiced with us when we rejoiced. We ask you to accept this token at this time, with our wish for many more years of happiness in the sunset of life together. May the Giver of all good gifts grant this, the prayer* of Your Children The presentation of a handsome purse of money was made by Mrs. 'Carl Pieullisch, of Kitchener, to which Mr. Krueger very ably re­ sponded, The table was beautifully decorated with golden tapers, and daffodils and an elaborate wedding cake forjned the centre piece. Among those present were, Mr. and Mrs, Carl Pieullisch, Mr. and Mrs. William Zinkhan, Mr. Walter Rand, and Mrs. Walter Valenski, all of Kitchener, Mrs. Elmer Krue­ ger and family and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Krueger and family, all of •Zurich, and Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Schatz, of Dashwood. The day will long serve as a re­ minder of their golden wedding an­ niversary. Ths Exeter Times-Advocate Eatnbilshed 1873 and 1387 at Exeter, Ontario 'Published every Thursday morainfi SUBSCRIPTION—$2.00 per year i» , advance RATES—Farm or Real Estate ftwr sale 50 c. each insertion for flnrt four insertions, 25c. each subse­ quent insertion. Miscellaneous tides. To Rent, Wanted^ Lost, <w Found 10c. per line of six word®, Reading notices 10c, per line. Gard of Thanks BOhc. Legal ad­ vertising 12 and 8c. per llxie. IB Memoriam, with one verse pop. extra verses 25c, each. Member of The Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association T“ —— ?! !.•■!.- Professional ar--------------- - /..; ....... GLADMAN & STANBURY (F. W, G1 adman) BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, &c •Money to Loan, Investments Mad® Insurance Safe-deposit Vaults for use of our Clients without charge EXETER and HENSALL CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS. SOLICITORS, &c- LOANS, INVESTMENTS. INSURANCE Office; Carling Block, Mjoin Stree*. EXETER. ONT. 9 GREENWAY i(Too late for last week) Harmony Class Meets Harmony Class was enter- at the .home of Mr, and Mrs. Eggert on Friday evening, 14. There was a good at- Dr. G. F. Roulston, L.D.S.,D.D.S, DENTIST Office: Carling Block EXETER, ONT. dosed Wednesday Afternoons Dr. H. H. COWMEN, L.D.S..D.D S DENTAL SURGEON Office next to the Hydro Shop Main Street, Exeter Office 36w Telephones Res. 3fiJ Closed Wednesday Afternoons ARTHUR WEBER LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES'A SPECIALTY PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Phone 57-18 Dashwood R. R. No. 1. DASHWOOD FRANK TAYLOR LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY Prices Reasonable and Satisfaction Guaranteed * EXETER P. O. or RING 188 The tained Ernie March tendance, twenty-two answering the roll call. The president, Harry Horner, was in charge. The meet­ ing opened with a hymn, after which Mrs. McIntosh led in prayer. The Scripture lesson was read by Mrs. Harold Brophey. The worship period was in charge o.f Mrs. Elton Curts, who gave a splendid paper on “Making, Saving and Lending” and brought out, very clearly, what an asset this would be to every life. Articles bearing on the subject were read by Mrs. ■'Eggart, Mrs. Harold Turner, Mrs. McIntosh, Mrs. Whit­ ing and Mrs. Will Hicks, com then discussed with a portion of the Book of Acts. Another hymn, “Stand Up, for Jesus”, com closed with prayer. A spelling match Was enjoyed. The captains chosen were Mrs. Carman Wood­ burn and Lloyd Brophey. Mr. and Mrs. Albert -Pollock favored the class with a couple of violin, selections. Lunch was then served1^by tlie la­ dies and all enjoyed the social hour together. The class -accepted a Mindly invitation frpm M,r. and Mrs. Art iBrophey to hold the April meeting at their home. Everyone appreciated very much the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Eggart. •Mr. -and Mrs. Langford Ridley spent Monday in Stratford. Mr. and Mrs. W. 'Curts, Marilyn and Miss Viola Curts, of London, visited On Bunday with Mt. and Mrs. Chas. Curts, Miss Ruth Welffer, of London, and Mrs. Bert Carr and son David, of Sarnia visited On Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Dean Brown. The Red Cross Society held a successful .quilting on Thursday afternoon and quilted three quilts. Mrs. R. L. Sheppard, of London, and Mr. ISelboume English, of De­ troit spent the week-end with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. English. Mrs. Ervine Eggert entertained a few of FVeddy’s friends on Satur­ day afternoon in honor of his fifth birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Willis Hotsbn and daughter moved from London last w.eek and at present are staying with Mr. and Mrs. J. Hotson. Mr. B'ea- the class ■Stand Up was sung, and Mr. (Bea- WM. H. SMITH LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex Special training assures you of your property’s true value on sale day. Graduate of American Auction College Terms* Reasonable and Satisfaction Guaranteed Orediton p. O. or -phone 43-2 USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office, Exeter, Ont. President ........... JOHN McGRATH Dublin, Ont. Vice-Pres. ...... T. G. BALLANTYNE Woodham, R.R. 1 DIRECTORS W. H. COATES ................... Exeter JOHN HACKNEY .... Kirkton R. 1 ANGUS SINCLAIR ... Mitchell R. 1 WM. HAMILTON ...... Cromarty R. 1 AGENTS JOHN ESSERY ..... ALVIN L. HARRIS THOS. SCOTT ...... Centralia . Mitchell Cromarty SECRETARY-TREASURER W. F. BEAVERS '........... Exeter GLADMAN & STANBURY Solicitors, Exeter The World’s Finest Anthracite Trade Marked Blue. Order Blue Coal and we have it, also Large Lump Alberta Coal HAMCO Dustless Coke Prices are Right IS 9 | The World’s News Seen Through | The Christian Science Monitor ® An International Daily Newspaper g is Truthful'—Constructive—Unbiased—-Free from Sensational- » ism — Editorials * Ato Timely and Instructive and Its Daily I Features, Together with the Weekly Magazine Section, Make the Monitor an Idehl Newspaper fdr the Home. The Christian Science Publishing Society One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts Price $12.00 Yearly, Or $1.00 a Month. Saturday Issue, including Magazine Section, $2.60 a Year. Introductory Offer,,6 Issues 25 Cents. Name^_ Address SAMPLE 'COPY ON 'REQUEST & “I- can’t marry you,0 said the Justice of the Peace. “If this girl is only 17, you’ll have to get het father’s consent.” “Consent,” yelled the groom-to- be. “Say, Who guy with Boone?” A gossip save ih her the do think this old rifle is, Daniel Hi is not without honor own. neighborhood. * * #■ A work of art is valueless to, those who do not possess sufficient cul­ ture to appreciate it,I A. J. CLATWORTHY Phone 12 We Deliver He parked his car Just over the line,. Abd all that it cost Was a little fine# Grantor