HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1943-06-03, Page 7THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 3rd, 1943
NEW SERIAL STORY
... Tragedy of X
. by ELLERY QUEEN
....... ............. .
SYNOPSIS
Harley Longstreet, broker, dies
on a trolley from poison scratched
into liis hand by a needle-pierced
cork in his pocket, He and his
guests were on their way to cele
brate his engagement to Cherry
Browne, an actress. The others
were his partner DeWitt * DeWitt’s
superstitious wife, Fern -— with
Whom Dongstreet had had an af
fair—Jeanne, DeWitt's daughter
and her fiance, Christopher Dord,
Cherry’s vaudeville friend, Bollux,
Ahearn, friend of DeWitt, Imper
iale, middle-aged Latin, and Michael
Collins, brawny Irishman. Ques
tioned, each member of the party
seems to have been unfriendly to
ward the dead man. Bruno and
Thumm, investigators, think De
Witt guilty—Longstreet had a sinis
ter hold on him. Drury Lane, re
tired Shakespearean actor, says he
knows who the murderer is, but
will identify him only as Mr. X.
One night the investigators and
Lane go to the Weehawken Ferry
house in answei’ to anonymous note.
A man is murdered on an incoming
boat. He is identified as Charles
Wood, conductor of the murder car
—writer of the anonymous letter,
DeWitt denies talking to Wood, but
in Wood’s pocket is a cigar bearing
DeWitt’s private mark. Guineas,
motorman of the murder car, identi
fies Wood by an ugly scar on the
leg. Hicks, a ferryman, says
Wood always smoked Cremos—and
that he and Wood had seen DeWitt
on the boat an hour before DeWitt
admits being there. Confronted,
DeWitt offers no explanation.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
District Attorney Bruno strolled
into Thumm's office. “Well, what
happened last night?”
“We went out to that rooming-
house, but got nothing except some1
more samples of his handwriting.
Here they are.” Thumm riffled
through a bundle of papers on his
desk.
Dr. Schilling arched in. He ex
tracted a long piece of paper from
his breast pocket slapped it on the
desk before Thumm. .
Thumm and Bruno rapidly read
the neatly written report. “Noth
ing here,” mumbled Thumm. “The
usual boloney.”
Drury Lane came in. He asked:
“Have you the autopsy on Wood’s
carcass?”
The -Inspector picked up Dr.
Schilling’s paper and handed it to
Lane without comment.
D'rury Lane held it high before
his eyes, intently studying the re
port. It stated that Wood had been
unconscious, not dead, at the time he
was thrown overboard. This, it went
on, from unmistakable signs, of as
sault on that part of the head which
had not been crushed, and substan
tiated by a small quantity of water
in the lungs, indicating Wood had
been alive for a few seconds after
plunging into the water and before
being crushed. The scar on the left
leg was estimated to have been at
least twenty years old. There also
was a two-year-old appendicitis scar.
The man had weighed two hundred
and two pounds and been six feet
and a half-inch tall.
Lane returned the document to
inspector Thumm.
“Get anything out of it, Mr.
Lane?” asked Bruno.
“Dr. Schilling is a meticulous
workman,” replied Lane. “And
how are your suspicions of DeWitt
f-aring this morning?”
“His movements yesterday,” said
Bruno quickly, as if this answered
the question, “are being traced.”
"You are not withholding any
thing from me, Mr. Bruno?” mur
mured Lane, rising and settling his
cape about his shoulders. "But then,
I’m sure you are not . . . Thank
you, Inspector, for granting my re
quest for a clear photograph of Long
street. It may prove useful before
the curtain comes down.”
CHAPTER VI
"Look here, Mr. Lane,” said
Thumm. "I think it only fair to
tell you that Bruno and I both have
our minds set on DeWitt.”
"Indeed? Let me earnestly ad
vise you, however, to take no spec
ific action against DeWitt at this
time.”
Drury Lane sat before a triple
mirror, A 'brilliant bluish-white;
lamp shone directly on his face.
Quacey knelt on a bench facing his
master, leather apron smeared with
rouge and speckled with powder.
On a table to his right were scores
of pigment jars, powders, putties,
rouge pots, mixing pans, delicate
brushes, bundles of vari-colored hu
man hair. Lying* on the table was
the photograph of a man’s head,
Along the wall was strung a thick
wire, from which depended fifty
wigs, of different sizes, shapes and
colors.
“It’s done, Mr, Drury,” Quacey
prodded the actor’s shins. Lane
opened his eyes.
.• Five minutes later M(r. Drury
Lane rose, another individual alto
gether. He stamped across 'the
room and switched on the main
light. He was wearing a light over
coat and had jammed a gray fedora
hat on his differently arranged gray
hair. His lower lip thust forward.
Quacey howled.
“Tell Dromio I’m ready. Get
ready yourself.”
Even the tone of his voice had
changed.
That afternoon Inspector Thumm
stepped off the ferry in Weehawken,
looked about, nodded curtly to a
New Jersey policeman on guard
near the entranceway to the de
serted Mohawk and strode through
the ferry waiting-room out in the
open.
He began to climb the steep hill
which led from the wharves and
piers. He finally found the crum
bling house which was his destina
tion, No. 2075, squeezed between
a dairy and an automobile acces
sories store. A yellowed sign on
one of the porch-posts announced
“Rooms for ’Gentlemen.”
He pressed a bell marked house
keeper. There was a shuffle of
carpet-slippers; the door stirred in
ward and a carbuncular nose pro
truded from the crack. “What d’ye
want?” demanded a peevish female
voice. Then a’ titter and the door
swung open, reveiling a stoutish,
middle-aged woman, as ramshackle
as her establishment. “Come in,
Inspector Thumm! I’m so sorry—
I didn’t know . . . We’ve had the
awfulest time! Reporters and men
with big cameras all over the place
all morning! We—”
“Anybody upstairs?” demanded
Thumm.
“He sure is, clutterin’ up’ my car
pets /with his cigarette-ashes,” the
woman shrilled. “Were you want
in’' to see that poor man’s room
again, .sir?”
“Take ' me upstairs,” Thumm
growled.
The woman waddled up a flight
of thinly carpeted stairs. Thumm
grunted and followed. A bulldog-
gish sort of man confronted them
on the top step.
“Who’s that, Mrs. Murphy?” he
asked.
“Keep your shirt on. It’s me,”
snapped Thumm. The man grin
ned. “Didn’t hee you good at. first.
Glad you’re here, Inspector. Dull
work.”
“Anything stirring since last
night?”
“Not a thing.” He led the way
to a -small rear room. An old-fash
ioned iron bedstead, a chest of
drawers, a marble-top table, a wire
braced chair and a clothes-closet
comprised the furnishings.
Without hesitation the Inspec
tor walked over to the closet and
opened the double doors. Inside
were three worn suits, two pairs of
shoes and a felt hat. Thumm swift
ly went through the pockets of the
suits, searched the shoes and hat,
but seemed to discover nothing of
interest. His heavy brows con
tracted.
- “You’re sure,” he muttered to
the detective, who .stood in the door
way watching him, “that nobody
touched anything in here since last
night?”
‘The detective slwok his head.
“It’s just as you left it.”
On the carpet beside the closet
was a cheap brown handbag, its
handle broken, dangling by one
end. The Inspector opened the bag;
it was empty. He stood in the
Had Another Bad Night?
Couldn’t You Get Any Rest ?
To those who toss, night after night, on sleepless
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whoso rest is broken by bad dreams and nightmare.
To those whq wake up in the morning as tired as when
they went to bed, we offer in Milburn’s Health and
Nerve Pills a tonic remedy to help soothe and strengthen the nerves.
When this is done there should be no more restless nights duo to bad
dreams, and nightmares. . ’
Price 50c a box, 65 pills, at ail drug counters.
Look for our registered trade mark a “Red Heart” bn the package.
Tho T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont.
...J ..I.;.,,,........ , .. ...
center of the room, legs apart, and
frowned about, then started pacing
off the floor, slowly, feeling along
the skeleton carpet with one foot.
A slight elevation in the flooring
at one point, near the border of the
carpet, caused him to strip back
the cs rpet, only to find a badly
warped board. When he came to the
bed he hesitated; but he dropped
heavily to his knees and crawled
underneath, feeling about like a
blind man. The detective said:
“Here, Chief-—-let me help you,”
and sprayed the beams of a pocket
flashlight beneath the bed. Thumm
muttered with elation: “Here it is!”
The detective ripped away the car
pet corner, and Thumm pounced on
a thin yellow covered little book.
It tabulated numerous deposits of a.
savings account several years old;
there had never been a withdrawal;
no deposit had been made for more
than ten dollars, and the majority
were for five; the last entry showed
a balance of nirie'nundred and for
ty-five dollars and sixty-three cents.
In the bankbook was a neatly fold
ed five-dollar bill, obviously a last
deposit prevented by death.
Thumm pocketed the bankbook
and turned to the detective. “When
do you go off d<uty?”
“Eight bells. Relief comes on
at that time.”
“Tell fyou what.” The Inspector
scowled. “Tomorrow about half
past two call me at headquarters.
Remind me that I’ve got something
special for you to do here. Get
me?”
“Phone at 2.30 prompt. Right!”
Inspector Thumm descended the
stairs and out to the .street.
Back in New York Thumm went
to the offices of the Third Avenue
Railway System and inquired for
the personnel manager.
“Checking up,” Thumm said, “on
Charley Wood.”
“Yes. Terrible thing. Can’t un
derstand it—-Charley Wood was one
of my best men. Quiet, steady, re
liable. He worked every working
day since he took over the job. He
hever took time off, always pre
ferred to work out his vacation
and earn double pay. We’re al
ways getting requests for pay-ad
vances. Not Charley Wood! Saved
his money—showed me his bank
book once.”
. "How long had he worked ’for
this company?”
"Five years. Here, I’ll check that
up.’” He was back in a moment
with Wood’s record-sheet. "He
came with us a little over five
years ago, starting on the Third
Avenue run; was transferred with
Pat Guiness, his motorman, at his
own request to the Crosstown three
and a half years ago.”
Thumm looked thoughtful. “What
about his personal life? Friends,
relatives, pals?”
“He was chummy with the men
but he never went out with ’em, as
far as I know. Here—” He turn
ed the record over. "See that?
Next of kin—none.”
Ten minutes later a lean, grin
ning chauffeur yanked the rear
door of a long, black limousine
open. Inspector Thumm glanced
quickly up and down the street,
then climbed in. Crouched in a
corner, more gnome-like than ever,
Quacey was dozing, serenely.
The car purred off into traffic,
Quacey opened his eyes, popped
awake. He saw a very thoughtful
Inspector Thumm sitting beside
him. Quacey’s face suddenly drip
ped with smiles, and he stooped
to open a compartment built into
the floor of the car. He sat up, a
little red, holding a itfrge metal
box, the cover of which, inside, was
a mirror.
Inspector Thumm shook his broad
shoulders. “X good day’s work,
Quacey, all things considered.”
Dipping his hand into the box, he
began to attack his face with a
creamy liquid. ■ Quacey held the
mirror before him, offered a bit of
soft cloth. Soon there was the smil
ing physiognomy 6of Mr. Drury
Lane.
The next morning the long black
limousine rolled through West En
glewood and pulled up before a
small, well-kept estate. Lane, ill
liis inevitable cape and black hat,
gripping his blackthorn stick, got
out hiid beckoned to Quacey,
He wore a derby, a black over
coat and brand-new sparkling shoes
that seemed to pinch. Groaning,
he followed Lane up the walk to
the portico.
An old man in “lively escorted
them to a large sitting-robin in ex
quisite Colonial taste. Lane sat
down, Quacey hovering behind him.
"And you are?” beamed the
actor.
“Jorgens, sir. Mr. DeWitt’s old
est servant,
"The very man. I owe you an
explanation, Mr, Druno, the Dis
trict Attorney, in charge of the Long
street case, of which you know,
has kindly permitted me to act in
the capacity of independent inves
tigator, I-—”
“I beg your pardon, sir, but sure
ly you don't have to explain to me.
If I may say so, Mr. Drury Dane
is
■“J appreciate your enthusiasm,,
Jorgens. Now a few questions, and
J should like exact answers. Mr.
DeWitt—” (
The animation went out of Jor-
gen’s face. 4*If it's anything dis
loyal to Mr- DeWitt, sir . ,
“Bravo,' Jorgens.” Danes sharp
eyes studied the man intently, “And
again—bravo, I should have as
sured you that it is in Mr. DeWitt’s
best interests that I am here. Did
Dongstreet visit here often?”
"No, sir. Very rarely.”
“And why was that, Jorgens?”
• “I don’t exactly know, sir. But
Miss DeWitt didn't like him, and
Mr, DeWitt—well, he semed op
pressed by his presence, if I make
myself clear . ,
“Oh, quite. And Mrs, DeWitt?”
“Well, sir , . The butler hesi
tated.
“You would rather not say?”
I would rather not, sir
For the third time—bravo.
Would you say Mr
companionable man?
"Well ... no sir,
friend is Mr. Ahearn,
. DeWitt is a
His only real
who lives near
by. But Mr,- DeWitt is really a very
pleasant man, sir, when you know
him well.”
“Then this menage does not cus
tomarily have guests?”
“Not very often, sir. Of course,
Mr. Imperiale is staying here now,
but he’s a special sort of friend.
Otherwise Mr. DeWitt rarely en
tertains.”
(To be continued)
AILSA CRAIG PRESIDENT
FOR N. MIDDLESEX W.I,
North Middlesex Women’s In
stitute District, in annual session at
Ailsa Craig on Wednesday, May 19,
heard reports from all but one of
the 13 senior and two junior
branches that make up the’ district,
nad heard also Miss Mary Clarke,
superintendent of the Women’s In
stitutes Branch of the Provincial
Department of Agriculture, in an
inspiring address on the work.
At the day session held in the
United church at Ailsa Craig, Mrs.
C. Callaghan, of Kerwood, presi
dent and Miss Elizabeth Hotson,
Ailsa Craig, was named her succes
sor in the presidency.
The district will raise its share
of the balance of the $3,800 which
the W.I’s of Middlesex County
are raising for the purchase of
I mobile kitchen for New Brunswick.
Some '$3,400 is already in hand for
this purpose.
"A well-balanced educational
community and social programme
brings success and strength to the
W. I., Miss Clarke said, addressing
160 women at the afternoon ses
sion. This followed luncheon ar
ranged by Riverview branch. Miss
Clarke stressed the qualities -of
leadership, loyalty and faith, as
assets in W.I. members.
Plans were made to study health
education in a lecture-demonstra
tion in the autumn.
Mrs. Harry Scott, of Norwich,
chairman London convention area,
and Mrs. A. Rundle, of Exeter,
federated representative, also spoke
Miss Marjorie Carroll, Middlesex
County junior coach, announced a
field day at gyron on June 9 when
the cereal shelf and clothing pro
jects will be demonstrated.
Election Held.
Elections brought the following
results: Honorary president, Mrs.
George Edwards, of Komoka; hon
orary vice-president, Mrs. C. Cal
laghan, Kerwood; president, Miss
Elizabeth Hotson, of Ailsa Craig;
first vice-president, Mrs. D. A. Car
michael, of Ilderton; second vice-
president, Mrs. James Dixon, of
Ailsa Craig; secretary, Mrs. M. N.
Grieve, of Denfield; assistant, Mrs.
E. Scott, of Ailsa Craig; auditor,
Mrs. A. B. McNair, of Ilderton; Fed
erated representative, Miss Kate
McKinley, Coldstream; alternate,
Mrs. George Young, of Clandeboye;
district delegate, Mrs. C. Callaghan;
alternate, Mrs. M. McNaughton, of
Clandeboye; representative to trus
tee Board, Mrs. J. H. Needham, Il
derton; alternate, Mrs. E. Hobbs,
Denfield; Federation of Africulture
representatives, Mrs. Hobbs and Mrs.
N. Tuckey, Hyde Park.
The following standing commit
tee conveners were named: Agri
culture and Canadian Industries,
Mrs. Malcolm Allison, of Ailsa
Craig; citizenship, Mrs. R. N. Som
erville, St. Marys; historical re
search, Mrs. Mac MacArthur, Ilder
ton; home economics, Mrs. James
Paton, of Clandeboye; social wel
fare, Mrs. Chester Gorvitt, Granton;
publicity, Mrs. M. N. Grieve, Den
field; war work, Mrs, James Hall,
Clandeboye.
WOMRN COOKS NOW ON
RAILROAD WORK TRAINS
Women continue to “invade” the
field of men In railroad work and
now on the lines of the Central
Vermont Railway, Now England
subsidiary of the Canadian National
Railways, women are being employed
as cooks on work trains and the
feminine touch In the preparation of
welding gangs is making itself felt.
One woman lias been assigned on a
special work train which houses an
“extra gang” of some 75 workmen
who are laying new rail and another
woman is cook on the work cars of a
track welding crew.
A/E’RE keeping our place in
V V good condition—inside and
out—with the best quality paint
we can buy. I guess it’s a patriotic
duty: we avoid possible repairs
or replacements supplies for which
are needed for war use—and
which may be hard to get any
way ...”
"Not only that, but Mother and
I are pretty proud of the house
and we want to keep the old
home bright and cheerful for
when our boys come back on
leave and when the war’s over.”
Yes, Neighbour, you’re right!
And by using Sherwin-Williams
Paints, you not only protect what
you have and make it last as long
astpossible, but you beautify your
property as well. For decoration
and colour guidance, ask your
Sherwin-Williams Dealer to
lend you his "Paint and Cgy
Colour Style Guide.”
The Sherwin-Williams Co.
of Canada, Limited
Head Office MONTMAL
Consult your local Sherwin-Williams Dealer
B. W. F. Beavers, ............... Phone 86, Exeter, Ont.
Restemayer and Miller,...................Dashwood, Ont.
Desjardine Store, ....................... Grand Bend, Ont.
I Sherwin-Williams Paints R*43.14
The following are the results of the 4 Victory Loans in Huron
1st Loan 2nd Loan 3rd Loan 4th Loan
Ho wick ...................$ 150,550 $ 163,650 $141,500 $ 246,650
Blyth ...................25,900 31,050 24,650 46,800
Hensail & Hay E. .... 138,700 126,8'50 88,750 115,950
(Including Zurich & Hay West)
Clinton ...................... 132,700 135,850 142,550 ■200,900
Seaforth .................... 167,650 158,200 136,750 183,650
Hullett ..................66,100 80,250 93,900 114,000
Tuckersmith ........76,300 60,750 49,350 110,650
Zurich & Hay W. .... 138,700 126,850 59,650 97,800
(Including Hensail & Hay East)
Exeter ....................... 150,200 134,700 120,400 159,050
Brussels ...............61,900 '58,300 68,300 78,650
•Goderich, Town .... 333,900 369,750 363,500 435,950
Goderich Twp........62,100 56,250 70,050 84,800
McKillop ...............42,050 46,000 61,650 102,050
Wingham ................. 159,4'50 149,100 129,950 188,300
Colborne .............44,850 44,500 4J.050 64,700
Turnberry ...........41,850 38,500 49,650 75,750
Morris ...................54,800 64,200 56,100 83,500
Wawanosh E.........32,850 24,350 43,200 63,000
Wawanosh, W.......47,350,47,950 62,650 67,700
Stanley .................51,850 49,250 78,550 86,300
Grey ....................66,500 61,400 68,600 97,600
.Usborne ..............60,100 50,250 73,450 83,650
Ashfield* .............45,850 67,300 63,600 84,550
Stephen ...............76,700 70,650 74,000 85,150
Air Schools ...........9,450 111,100 272,400
$2,100,200 $2,109,25.0 $2,2S0,150 $3,229,500
SAINTSBURY
(Intended for last week)
Mr. and Mrs. Mason and Shirley,
of Exeter, spent Sunday as the
guests of Mr. and Mrs. iFred Dobbs.
Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Brock
and family, of Zion, spent Sunday
with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hunter.^
Mr, Bill Dobbs returned to Wind
sor after spending a week-end un
der the parental roof,
A.C.2 Harvey Dobbs, of St. John,
Quebec, and Miss Nettie Steeper, of
Parkhill, spent the week-end with
the former’s parents.
Sunday was the anniversary of
St. Patrick’s Church. The morn
ing service was led by Rev. Canon
James and the choir was assisted
by Mrs. Mervin Elston at the or
gan. The evening service was taken
by Rev. J. Atkinson, of London, and
the singing was led by the Brins
ley choir.
Visitors in the community over
the week-end were. Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon Davis and family, of Lon
don; Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Batson and
Mrs. R. Atkinson, of Granton; Mrs.
E. Collwell, Mr, and Mrs. Tom
Kervio and Mrs. Will Davis.
Construction costs in Britain's
Treasury of airfield and facilities for
the U.S. air force alone already
amount to over $500,000,000; main
tenance costs arc running at a rate
of tens of millions a year. In ad
dition, the British 'Government has
boon paying out nearly $250,000 a
week in wages to civilians directly
employed in the IDS. forces.
Some 3 00 factories have been set
up in Britain <by refugees from Nazi
persecution, and they are employ
ing about 30,000 British work
people in war production.
urrwwimiwwiii in1-— wamniHMwmmgaB8QgBaMii>mi!fminnrw»iiffTB
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A. M.- Powell, President
A.R.P. Ready At Ford Plant
15 EADY for any emergency, tlic A'.R.P. organization at the great
**-'■ war .plant of Ford of Canada at Windsor numbers approximately
1,000 men. They have been trained to light incendiaries, render first
aid and to cope generally with eventualities should the Windsor in
dustrial area ever become the target for enemy bombers, Ford workers
Mike Delaney, left, and Charles Maitland, right, demonstrate the equip
ment provided^ in the background is ono of the 30 A.R.P, lockets
located at strategic positions throughout the plant, Each locker
contains additional first aid supplies and sufficient of all equipment
to completely outfit five teams of three men each,