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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1940-02-15, Page 2THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1010 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE 1 ......................................................................——..................... .. = by Eardley Beswick = Instinctively lie liad swung the bag in his right hand away from the snatching claw of his assailant, and with the swing his right shoulder came forward and his doubled fist shot out with the weight of the shoulder behind it. The movement completed itself with the automatic precision of one for whom boxing had been a favorite game from boy­ hood. His knuckle# made a satis­ fying contact against the pointed chin, lifting the fellow's head so that he was jerked upright to sub­ side staggering against the van. At the same moment the two men closed in from behind, one of them seizing the butcher man's right hand, from which the blue metal of an automatic's barrel had glinted a moment before, and wrenching it the other gripping Hendringham’s elbows and forcing them expertly together behind his back. But almost simultaneously, with a worrying snarl, a burly of grey and white fur and more than white teeth, the dog reached them. For the moment it seemed to Hendring­ ham that here was indeed a rescuer, for the dog seemed to him to have sprung at the man behind. He heard the fellow cry out in alarm, felt a wet muzzle against his own right hand.Then the bag was wrenched masterfully from his grasp. Away up the road the dog now rushed, the little leather cash-bag in its mouth, while the two men started in pursuit and the butcher’s boy fired twice, taking potshots at the flying grey beast with its flat­ tened ears and straight horizontal tail streamlining into the distance. Then he, too, seemed to realise the Uselessness of such tactics and springing into the driver’s seat jab­ bed at the starter knob. In a mom­ ent the van shot off, showing a turn of acceleration quite unexpected from any commercial vehicle. Hendringham, recovering his wits as the chase diminished, saw the van catching up, heard the sound of shot after shot as it drew level with the grey beast, saw the dog whip round a corner, saw the van attempt to take the same corner on two wheels, the two men, hopelessly outdistanced stop running, heard the crash and jangle of an accident somewhere hidden by the distant corner. The two men were now facing One another, gesticulating in what appeared to be a violent argument. He decided to disappear before they thought of returning. Two quick steps took him into a gateway -which was that of a villa residence, where a high wall hid him and he could confidently pause to think. He had lost the bag and he had not the faintest idea what of importance it might have contained. He could do nothing about that now. He did not want to return to that long open, unprotected road. He did not want to waste hiding here, and if he did there was not enough cover should the men decide to look for him. After a moment’s consider­ ation of the situation he made his way up the path and round by the side-entrance to the back-door. The door was open and from it women’s voices sounded. Through it he glimpsed a scrupulously bright interior. He knocked. Presently his knock was answer­ ed by a maid in a clean print dress who stood eyeing him questioning- ly, evidently at a loss to justify to •herself the presence of anyone so well-dresed at the back of the house, j “There’s been a motor accident| up the road,” he said. “I wonder if you’d let me take a pail of water.” “Well, if I didn’t think I heard Something like tyres a-going off, I said it was.” ;She raised her voice to inform someone within: “It real­ ly was an accident, mum, like I said it was. There’s a gentleman here wants a pail of water.” A woman came hurrying from the inner premises. “Anyune hurt?” she said avidly. “Well, I don’t know. I didn’t stop ; to see how they came off. I’m afraid j the driver must have been pretty i Children’s Coughs Quickly Relieved It is hard to keep the children from tailing cold; they will run out of doors not properly clad; have on too much clothing and get overheated | and cool off too suddenly; they get their feet wet; kick off the bed ! clothes at night, The mother cannot watch them all the time, so what is she going to do 7 Mothers should never neglect the child’s cough or cold, but on its in­ ception should procure a bottle of Dr, Wood’s Norway I’ine Syrup. It is so pleasant to the taste the youngsters take it without any fuss. The T. MilbUrn Co„ Ltd,, Toronto, Ont, badly damaged though, going at that speed.” “Fill the bucket you silly girl! Don’t keep the gentleman waiting. It may be a matter of life and death girl!” the woman babbled excitedly. Evidently such an affair in the mid­ dle of the morning was meat and drink to her. In spite of her urgings it seemed to take an immense time to fill the bucket and all the time she was flinging questions at him. When she heard that it was only a butcher’s van that had overturned at a corner it seemed to Hendringham that she lost some of her enthusiasm while equally that of the maid was in­ creased. He was glad when he was able to relieve a stout red arm of its burden and walk off with the dripping bucket. “I think it will be quicker by the back way if you don’t mind,” he explained as he made for a gate at the end of the vegetable garden. He hadn’t any real basis for that opin­ ion. All he knew was that he did not want to be seen on the front road for a while yet. It was an easy guess too that the lane at the' back must lead out somewhere near the scene of the crash. He strode off rapidly, slopping water as he went and behind him the housemaid and her mistress followed in little hesi­ tant sprints, pausing now and again as if fearful of the sight they might be approaching. The back lane wound a little but presently ran out into a cross road. Almost opposite its junction a green butcher’s van lay on its side, its radiator twisted into the stub of a broken lamp post. There was a small crowd about the wreck but so far as he could see no sign of the driver and certainly no sign of the Alsatian, dog. The two men who had assailed him might easily be among the crowd. He had no wish for them to catch sight of him. He stopped and put down his bucket, waiting for the woman to catch up. “Here,” he said to them. “I fancy I’d do more good if I was to look for a doctor.” They were voluble in their direc­ tion. It seemed that there must be at least four doctor’s establishments in the near neighborhood. With the politest, of thanks he hurried off. leaving the women standing hesitant beside their bucket. Round the cor­ ner he threw off his pretence of be­ ing a good (Samaritan. After all it would have been difficult for him to have risen to any genuine con­ cern for the driver of the butcher’s van, however badly the fellow might be suffering. Besides, he reasoned that if any doctor was needed some member of the crowd would already have made it his business to sum­ mon one. Without further delay therefore, he made his way to the Works. ‘‘Blight oil tiie Job” In the entrance hall the Commis­ sionaire delayed him with sympath­ etic enquiries, but at least he -was in­ duced to announce, so far there had been no messages with the excep­ tion of one from Mr. Mench, who wanted to have a chat with him as soon as he arrived. He felt he need have no scruples about keeping the little director waiting. He must see Johnny Cope before he bothered with Mr. Mench, must ask him if there was anything of importance in the little leather bag. By now he -was distressed by the idea that it might have contained those two tubes of explosive, in which case he would be inclined to hold Cope to blame for not having told him and, at the same time. Cope alone would know what to do next. He was hot and flurried with his walk and his apprehensions, but he tried to walk unconcernedly through the shops to the toolroom. Everywhere workers glanced at him and smiled, and, meeting their eyes, he managed to grin back good- humouredly. It even steadied him to feel the sympathetic interest be­ hind their smiles. His misfortune of the previous night had provided their dull working lives with some­ thing dramatically rousing. There was a sense too in which they un­ derstood him to be “up against it”, as they would have said, and'doubt­ less, to have come in to work the morning after the explosion seemed to them to demonstrate that he was putting up a fight, He could ima­ gine the sort of rumours that must by now be exciting their interest, the shrewd guesses they would be making as to the connection between the divine troubles that had all along afflicted the contract for Mark 1702’s. In the tool-room the foreman came eagerly to meet him. “I’m not very pleased with it, sir” He lowered his voice. “I’d a note from Mr. Mench to give the iob to G-rossmith this morning. There’s only one can work on it now you know, and G-rossmith isn’t exactly the man I’d chose to do it. He’s one of the new ones a fine fitter but, well, I’d sooner have a man I knew 1 could trust after all that’s hap­ pened. At present we’re complete­ ly held up for that armature. It wasn’t in the foreman’s office after all.” He looked nervously dis­ traught, as if the job was getting on his nerves. “There’s a blight on the job,” he concluded, and chewed savagely on the ragged ends of his moustache. “Don’t worry," Hendringham comforted him. “I’ll have another along in a minute or two. The foreman brightened visibly. “You will? That’s fine,” he said. “How long will you need after you get it?” “Take him till evening, I should think. I can’t work more than one man on it now that the sub-as- sembles are done. By the way, there was a new Government inspec­ tor down here in the night. 'Crowd­ er left word.” Hendringham said: “I know all about that.’ He wasn’t going to let Johnny Cope’s well-meant efforts give the impression he had been superseded. “I wasn’t very fit my­ self, you know,” he explained. The foreman said he should think not. “‘Lucky you weren’t killed, sir, from the look of the test-room this morning.” He went over and examined the job. The fitter was working sul­ lenly, he thought, completing minor adjustments, but it was evident that he was largely filling in time, touch­ ing immaculately finished parts with a file, brushing joints superfluous­ ly wth shellac, fitting parts and im­ mediately separating them. He was a dark, squat fellow with a brist­ ling jaw and he seemed to be ill at ease. Hendringham asked him how he was getting on. “Waiting for the armature. Can’t do much till they find that,” the man grumbled. “It’ll be here in a few minutes. How long is it going to take you after that?” There was none of the relief about this man such as the foreman had shown. ‘‘Some time tomorrow af­ ternoon, sir,” he grunted. His face was bent over his filing, hidden, his strokes seemed to have become heavier and fastei’ than hitherto they had been no more than the daintiest of touchness. “To-morrow afternoon? Ridicul­ ous! There isnt four hour’ work on it.” “Perhaps not, if everything goes right, but things aren’t going right with this job.” A gentle touch on Hendringham’s sleeve quelled the blaze of anger that was rising in him. He turned to observe Johnny Cope beckoning; the crooked finger unobtrusively brushing his own sleeve. He moved a few steps awiy and inclined his ear. “Get him taken off at once,” mur­ mured Johnny. “Then come outside for a moment. I’d like you to show me the ruins.” He found the foreman again and arranged for the man’s replacement. Then he walked out, making a pre­ tence of an easy chatting with Cope. But his anxieties were uppermost. “What about the armature?” he asked immediately they had stepped into the sunshine of the yard. “I‘m .sticking to that until it’s needed. Some time tp-morrow that’ll be from the look of things.” He sounded as if reluctantly resigned. “To-morrow?” “Looks like it. You’ll probably find that fellow has done in half the o3d bits and we’ll have to get them made again. I’d a hunch he was up to mischief the moment I set eyes on him.” For a moment his satisfaction with 'his own per­ spicacity, naive as usual, was cloud­ ed by an adverse thought. “Sorry, old man, it was my fault this time,” he added. “I hadn’t any hunch last night about that happening. You were right. 'One of us ought to have stayed here all night, only there was too much to deal with at the other end for that to have been practicable. And anyway, you can’t stop a destructive] file stroke by keeping your eye on the filer. Dir­ ectly I saw that fellow, though, I seemed to be hearing him say it was the easiest fiver that ever he learned in his life. By the way, what have you done with my marm­ alade?” “Your what?” Hendringham gasp­ ed. “Marmalade. YOu know, it was in that bag I gave you, half a pound of it at least.” Mr, Mench Keeps Alsatians “Oh, the bag! A dog stole it. I’m afraid I’d forgotten that for a mo­ ment. I’ve been awfully worried about it.” “Nice-looking Alsatians?” “Yes. Why, how do you know?” Johnny Coro -’ust loaned «'"tinst the factory wall and ro 1*< ”dth laughter. He might not have had a care in the world. Presently he be­ gan to speak between his guffaws. “Wo ought to get a bill-heading, you and I, Geoff,” ho gasped, and seeing the other’s half-angry, half­ perplexed frown, continued: “Cope and Hendringham, International Providers, Suppliers of the famous Doctor Gregory’s Powder to the Far- East and genuine home-made marm­ alade to the Central European pow­ ers.” Hendringham continued to look at him for a moment and then, yield­ ing to the laughter in his eyes, took up the joke. “There’s certainly an impressive demand this morn­ ing,” he said. “At least three cus­ tomers wanting it and one of them prepared to use firearms to secure priority.” “You don’t say? Amazing how a good article gets itself known, isn’t it? Actually I only gave you that bag to carry on the spur of the moment, hoping you’d draw any fire there was and give me a chance to sneak away with the things that really mattered. I’d have given something to see your Pandolfius’s face when he opened my little bag.” “Pandolfius?” “Yes. He’s Pandolfius Mench, isn’t he? He breeds Alsatians, you know. They use ’em as police dogs in the country he has the dishonour to represent in such an underhand way.” “You seem to know all about him.” “Yes. I was doubtful as first if it was really Pandolfius, but direct­ ly I heard about the Alsatian the thing was clear as mud. It’s about time you introduced us. There seems to be a suspicion of a time-limit about this job and that’s strictly in keeping with the man’s employ- | er’s mentality ... a rather belli­ cose nation with a lfasty habit of working things out to a split second in advance. They’ll have set a time for the completion of the sample and a time for the first delivery on the contract if I know them. Every­ thing will go smoothly as soon as their, times are achieved because we shall then be the precise amount behind their own efforts that the situation seems to them to demand. Now the man who can give us a line on their schedule is Pandolfius him­ self. When we know that we can make our plans accordingly. If we get the sample through and tested in advance of their date that’s first blood for us, and we can leave it to the authorities to speed things us to beat them by a still wider margin. There ought to be at least three factories getting ready for a start at this moment.” (To be Continued) There was once a bonnie /Scotch laddie, Who said, as he put on his plaidie; “I’ve juist had a dish 'O’ unco’ guid fish.” Now what had he had? He had had haddie. *TEA BAGS Hurondale W. I. The Hurondale W. I. held its regular meeting at the home of Mrs. F. Down January 30 th with a good attendance and several visitors, The meeting opened with the Ode fol­ lowed by “A Call to Prayer” read by the president followed by the Lord’s Prayer in unison. The roll call ’was answered by “An Article of Apparel I am Wearing or Have at Home Naming Place in Ontario Where it Was Made.” A business session followed. A program com­ mittee was named for the Institute Anniversary to be held the last Wednesday in March, Mrs. Kirk­ land, Mrs. Etherington and Mrs. Kernick. A motion was passed for each member to make “A Red Cross Penny Bag” to hold collections to be brought to each meeting. The members were divided into groups each group to make a quilt for the refugees. Mrs. Cudmore then took the chair for the program and led in community singing. The motto “Deeds are Mightier than Words; Actions Mightier Than Boasting” was prepared by Mrs. M. Beckler and was read by Mrs, E. Mitchell. Miss Reta Oke gave an instrumental The topic “Canadian Industries” was ably given by Mi;. H. Strang. Miss Pearl Wood favored with two solos. A humorous reading was given by Mrs. R. Kestle. Miss N. Keddy and Miss Oke demonstrated on fancy stitches. Mrs. H. Perkins gave a vote of thanks to all taking part. The meeting was closed with the National Anthem and lunch was served by the committee. The next meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. P. Passmore on February 28 th. delivered at the Township Hall on or before April 1st. Tenders to be received on or before February 17. The auditors’ report was present­ ed to the council and after careful consideration was adopted as sat­ isfactory. The following accounts were paid: Municipal World supplies, $44.- 01; Salvation Army donation $25.; Direct Relief $80.0'4. The Council’s next regular meet­ ing will be held on the first Satur­ day of March at one p.m, Thos. D. Wren, Clerk of Hibbert HURON-PERTH Conservatives to Meet at Hensail HIBBERT COUNCIL The Hibbert Township council met in the Township Hall, Saturday, February 3rd. All members were present with the Reeve presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted. „ Mr. Frank Allen and Mr. Lloyd Colquhoun were instructed to re­ ceive tenders for fifteen cords of hardwood beech and maple to be To Nominate on February 19th Resolution Declares Confidence in Dr. Manion A meeting of the National Con­ servative committee for the riding of Huron-Perth was held at Hensall Thursday, February 8 th when it was decided to hold an open convention at .Hensall on February 19 at 2 o’clock for the purpose of selecting a National Conservative 'candidate for the riding to contest the coming election in support of Hon. Dr. R. J. Manion and his proposed Nation­ al Government. The convention is to be open to all parties and, groups and every­ one present at the convention is to have the right to present nominees and vote at the meeting. A resolution was passed support­ ing Hon. Dr. Manion’s stand as fol­ lows: “Be it resolved that the exe­ cutive of the National Conservative party for the riding of Huron-Perth is wholeheartedly in accord with the policies of the Hon. Dr. R. J. Manion and especially his proposal for the formation of a National Government with the intention of most effectually prosecuting the war.” A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to Dr. Manion. T&u’d Price it much higher- 'Most Everyone Does... ... Kt Prices start with the Lowest! TTERE’S PONTIAC’S answer to the demand for a low-priced car of which you can be REALLY PROUD! It’s long, low and beautiful —bigger and better in every way. It’s luxuri­ ously appointed and upholstered. Its front-end looks like the setting for some gigantic jewel. It performs like a thrilling thoroughbred. Whether you want a big, thrifty six priced right down with the lowest, or want peak luxury in a superb and distinguished eight — there’s now a Pontiac priced, powered and equipped to suit you perfectly. For 1940—Pontiac presents 27 new models in 5 different price ranges—Pontiacs that intro­ duce a new order of beauty and a degree of comfort totally new at the price. No matter what you plan to spend, you ought to see them before you buy any Car. You’ll find over 60 advancements, including Sealed Beam Headlamps, Increased Visibility and Improved Safety-Shift Gear Control. You’ll find everything you want and need to satisfy your pride and give you great performance. .ifrpAS rf.5 NEW SERIES FOR 1940 27 NEW MODELS 20 Thrifty New Sixes and 7 Brilliant New Eights P-45B Snell Bros & Co., Exeter tJlir Exrier aJuitm-Aiiinicuir Established 1873 and 1887 at Exeter, Ontario Published every Thursday mominM SUBSCRIPTION—$2.OiO per year in advance RATES—Farm or Real Estate for sale 50e. each insertion for first four insertions. 25c. each subse­ quent insertion. Miscellaneous ar­ ticles, To Rent, Wanted, Lost, or Found 10c, per line of six word*, Reading notices 10c. per line. Card of Thanks 50c, Legal ad­ vertising 12 and 8c, pot line. Ii Memoriam, with one verse 50c. extra verses 25c, each. Member of The Cana'lian Weekly Newspaper Association Professional Cards GLADMAN & STANBURY (F. W. Gladman) BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, &c •Money to Loan, Investments Made Insurance Safe-deposit Vaults for use of our Clients without charge EXETER and HENSALL CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, LOANS, INVESTMENTS, INSURANCE Office: Carling Block, Mjain Street*, EXETER, ONT. Dr. G. F. Roulston, L,D.S.,D.D.S DENTIST Office: Carling Block EXETER, ONT. Closed Wednesday Afternoons Dr. H. H. COWEN, L.D.S..D.DS DENTAL SURGEON Office opposite the Post Office, Main Street, Exeter Office 36w Telephones Res. 34j 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 USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office, Exeter, Ont. President ........... JOHN HACKNEY Kirkton, R. R. 1 Vice-President .... JOHN McGRATH Dublin, Ont. DIRECTORS W.. H.. COATES ........... Exeter ANGUS SINCLAIR ... Mitchell, R. 1 WM. HAMILTON ... Cromarty, R. 1 T. BALLANTYNE ... Woodham, R. 1 AGENTS JOHN ESSERY ................ Centralia ALVIN L. HARRIS ... Mitchell R. 1 THOS. SCOTT .......... Cromarty SECRETARY-TREASURER B. W. F. BEAVERS ............„ Exeter GLADMAN & STANBURY Solicitors, Exeter Lumber Shingles Our Prices are the Lowest they have been for several years. If you are building it will pay you to call and get prices. Just think Matched Lumber at $35.00 per M. feet A. J. CLATWORTHY Phone 12 Granton We Deliver Phone Exeter 235, Collect DAY OR NIGHT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK Our drivers are equipped to shoot ol(l or crippled animals DARLING and CO. of Canada, Ltd. CHATHAM, ONT.