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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-01-14, Page 6THE WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES Thursday, January 17,1937 ''XTOiviJiiui'-.'j' 'POffTSMAN by Lawrence A Keaiing final instalment “You get the snow. I want the girl—alive. But there’s to be no kill­ ing of Graber, understand? Not un­ less it’s self defense.” Worriedly, Dan watched the repe­ tition of farms. He berated himself for bungling back there in his office. Over-confidence had ruined the whole game, A swelled head! Otto had certainly been swept off his feet by the news that Irita, known to him as Helen Fane, and Colwell, were Cus­ toms Special Agency operatives! It naturally had never occurred to Grab­ er that a Graber-Vael Agency sleuth might also be a representative of Uncle Sam. Admiration rose in Colwell’s blue­ grey eyes. Irita had taken chances, insinuating herself with those fellows! It was like walking a tight-rope over Niagara Falls. By astute means known only to her clever, resource­ ful self, she had prevented the rascals ■quarreling over her. Yet she had won and maintained their confidence. That hectic ride lasted five min­ utes less than an hour. But Ewing, Pennsylvania, a country town of per­ haps a thousand souls, was not their goal. As they careened down the main street Dan turned to Lefty. “Now which way? It’s up to you to find the camp!" Quillen nodded. “Straight ahead, buddy," he told the driver. “The se­ cond road outside town, turn left. Hit it up!” Another thirty minutes dragged past. Despite his efforts at calm, Col­ well’s tension heightened. They turn­ ed off the main road, went two miles down a muddy country lane, and halted when Quillen ordered the driv­ er to do so. The two men piled out . “Guess you earned the ten-spot,” Dan paid the fare and handed it to him. “Sup­ pose vouj-Qll back in three hours?* They waited until the rattly cab was gone. “Come on,” Quillen snap­ ped, and led the way into the tower- ing forest. It was rapidly growing dark; in fifteen minutes it would be like night. But the killer of McDon­ ald and Catterby seemed to know the way. Another mile they traversed afoot before Lefty stopped and touched Dan’s arm. “It’s up there. Sec that cabin?’ ’ Colwell could not at first make it out. Going nearer, they found it dark. The two men exchanged questioning looks at this. Dan felt his heartbeat slow, then go faster. Suppose their guess was wrong? Suppose Graber still was back in the city? « Cautiously they approached the square log structure with the slanting roof extended over a front porch. There was no light in it, no car near­ by, no sign of habitation. Quillen seemed concerned. He walked to a side window and peered in. Then both men went to the front door which they found locked. Again they peered at each other—it was dark now —and again were in wordless agree­ ment. They put their shoulders to the door and after several efforts of their combined power, burst the cheap hinge lock. Dan struck a match. “We won’t light that iarnp — we don't need it. NEW PRINCE CHARMING OF ENGLAND Prince Edward, who fe counted on now more than ever as the “person­ ality Prince” the Royal House of Windsor, since the abdication of Ids Just want to see if their things are gone.” Several matches flickered and died before they convinced themselves the hunting party had not abandoned the shack for good. Two. deer rifles were there,, one of them identified as Gra­ ber’s. A supply of canned food, cof­ fee, and bacon, was found. “They’re coming back,’ 'Colwell stated. He walked to the door and’ stared at the back sky. Suddenly, almost a mile of the countryside flared alight, and at the same time he became con­ scious of die whine of a motor. “Lef­ ty! There’s a plane!" Quillen followed at his heels onto the porch, It was a flare the ship had dropped, used when a pilot seeks an emergency landing field, The motor roared loudly now and in the slow-burning three hundred candle power magnesium they found the ship itself circling. It was quite low. A cabin job of the Monogram make, with a powerful Whirlwind motor. By mutual consent when the, flare j Graber’s gqn exploded upward, died at the end of its appointed three minutes, Quillen and Colwell rushed to the fringe of woods. They judged that Graber—if it was he—intended landing somewhere to the south. Both men ran fast as they could over hard, uneven ground. Until, two min­ utes later, they burst suddenly from the copse of trees onto a wide, flat clearing. “Sure! I remember this. But I never thought Otto could use it for landin’,” Lefty panted. Colwell determined the direction of the wind and knew which way Graber must face to land. As the ship banked, coming lower, he start­ ed at a dead run for the spot it was due to touch. But he had forgotten Graber’s second flare. It burst alive suddenly, illuminat­ ing the two men who raced across the cleared space. “Down!” Colwell yelled, and hurled himself flat. With a searing cw-.se Quillen followed suit. But they had been seen .... The motor, which had been cut out, pick­ ed up with a roar. The ship’s nose lifted as Graber put her into a climb. Dan’s heart stuttered and seemed leaden in his breast. They had given uncle, is shown as he unconcernedly went forth from the home of his par­ ents, the Duke and Duchess of Rent, for a tide through Betgrave Square, themselves away! Vengefully, Quillen raised- his au­ tomatic. He, too, could utilize the still burning flare that swung lower on its small parachute. He fired twice, three times. Foolish, of course, it seemed useless. Or was it? The monoplane was only two hundred feet up, Suddenly the motor sputtered. It died and the plane rode without a sound. The white magnesium still made the field almost bright enough to read a news­ paper. The motor picked and Grab­ er increased his revs anxiously. It sputtered, choked — went completely dead. “He’s got to come down!” The words were scarcely out of Colwell’s mouth before he and Quil­ len rose full height with a jerk. Lefty gave an ejaculation. His eyes like agates followed the sharp swoop of the aircraft, nose foremost but side­ slipping badly. There was a splintering crash. That was the undercarriage and the wing tip. Yet the monoplane like a wounded bird bumped and floundered along with diminishing speed, push­ ed by her momentum. Another yell from Quillen—trees looming up close before the ship—and a louder rending of metal and wood and fabric. Quicker of wit, Colwell was dash­ ing for the ship before that final ca­ tastrophe. It was a hundred yards that seemed never-ending. His great fear was of a sheet of flame that would burn them all to a crisp* and prevent any interference, any saving of life. It did not come. In the dying light of the flare whiqh had struck ground somewhere ,Colwell saw a form crawl out. “Stick ’em up!” he shouted. The man did—but with a gun in his hand. It lanced fire. Colwell’s hat left his head as though wiped off by some invisible hand. The next in­ stant he realized that this chap was. not the first to alight. This first fel­ low was hidden behind the crumpled wing and had opened fire. Lefty Quillen’s forty-four roared. He was closing in as fast as he could. As he struck ground Dan realized Ir­ ita Doran was on the floor of the monoplane — helpless though she London, Eng., even as his parents were receiving hundreds of congrat­ ulatory messages on the birth of his baby sister, who was born Christmas squirmed and battled her bonds. Dan groped on his knees, shooting. The second man to alight gave a yell and toppled. Dan saw Quillen locked with the other chap; Vael. He rush­ ed for his own quarry. The fellow lay still . . » but when Colwell got within ten feet, his figure dim in the half-covered ship’s ground lights still burning. Graber! They struck, Both heavy, the ter­ rific impact merely jarred them. Nei­ ther gave way. Graber’s square face was contorted into hate and rage that Dan never had seen there before. Perhaps also there was desperation'at knowing they had outguessed him to arrive here first and that now he bat­ tled the last time, to win or lose. ’ His stubble of hair felt hard as the byistles of a brush to Dan’s hand. They mauled and punched and grap­ pled for the guns. Colwell's twirled from his .grasp. It hit wing fabric with a ping. Otto Graber got in a. murderous left liook that grazed Dan’s jaw. Had it landed all would have been over. But it didn’t land, and Colwell put new savagery into his attack. Grab­ er’s gun exploded upward — and again. In the darkness they could scarcely see each other; there was on­ ly feeble light from the wing lamps. They stumbled back against the metal stirrup at the open cabin door, Dan’s lucky right flattened Braber’s big Germ'an nose. Blood spurted from it as water from, a fire hydrant. Otto howled. Colwell tried to wrap both arms around him to bend him back' out of control on the floor of the cabin. Graber side-stepped, and his terrific blow to the temple stun­ ned Dan. He was aware "of shots a distance off and of Lefty Quillen’s scream. And that he himself was weakening, that . Graber was more powerful than he had ever estimated. He punched again with both fists and suddenly grabbed for the gun as it swung nearer a line with his face. Their hands struck; the weapon slip­ ped; it was gone. Graber, panting, jammed Colwell back, His head hit an iron support just inside the cabin. Things got foggy .... Something cold came into his hand. “Dan! Dan!” It was a scream uttered close to his ear. Venomously he swung that cold thing, swung at Graber’s skull. And it landed with a low, hollow sound that thrilled one clear to the pit of the stomach. Otto crumpled. He twisted and wriggled on the ground while Colwell slowly collected himself and stood swaying groggily, forced to cling to the open cabin door or fall. Graber’s writhing hand paused there on the dark ground. He raised his arm sud­ denly— '“Look out!” Graber grasped it just as Lefty limped up, Dan reached out and with a kick at Graber’s arm tried to dis­ lodge the gun. And the first shot did go wild. But the second took effect. Lefty Quillen, knifer of two mfen Dan knew about, gave way at the knees. A dot blackened his forehead and an expression of bitter surprise stamped on his face. He uttered a low moan—then folded in a heap. — dead. s Dan straddled Otto Graber, tie clouted him with his own automatic I until Graber slumped unconscious. Then Colwell, very unsteady and with warm blood trickling down his shoul­ der went uncertainly to the fellow Lefty had tussled with. Horace Vael was badly mauled and weeping drun- kenly with the rage that was in his* helpless body. Dan lurched back to the cabin. He had Irita free in a matter of seconds. “We’ve got to tie them!” He nodded. “Their belts—will do. Until we—can get rope from the cab­ in. You—all right?" he panted. “Yes. Oh Dan, Dan, I—” Shud­ dering, she shook her head. “How did you know? How did you guess they’d fly here? How did you come so fast? We were stalled—motor trouble. “He meant to kill me. Vael was a little afraid, but he was for it, too. Graber said he’d do it because you—” “What?” he asked wearily, Colwell I folded the girl in his arms and inhal­ ed the fragrance of her hair. “The i snow’s in there, eh? All of it? Good, i Graber said he’d kill you because I— what?” [ She nestled closer to him. “Loved I me.” Colwell considered a moment He was growing faint and weaker. “Sure, he said, and with a great effort chuck­ led. "I do. You know that! 1—there hasn’t been much—chance to say it. But—”’ He struggled for breath to go on. “There will be, lots of chance. From how on!” I THE END Beggar: “Pity a poor man, madam. I have not eaten a morsel of food today.” Woman! ”Ah, my poor creature, we all have to suffer In this world. I have just been obliged to give up my opera box.” Business and Professional Directory Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co, Established 1840. Risks taken on all classes of insur­ ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Qnt. ABNER COSENS, Agent, Wingham, * ...........1 ..... U......II...Ill Dr, W, A. McKibben, B.A. PHYSICIAN And SURGEON Located at the Office of the Lute Dr, H. W. Colborne. Office Phone 54. Nights 107 HARRY FRY Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director Furniture and Funeral Service Ambulance Service. Phones; Day 117, Night 109, DR, R. L, STEWART PHYSICIAN Telephone 29. 1 J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham Successor to Dudley- Holmes. THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD A Thorough knowledge of Farm Stock. Phone 231, Wingham. Dr. Robt. C. REDMOND M.R.C.S. (England) L.R.C.P. .(London) PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON ‘ J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario It Will Pay You to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale, flee T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. | DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office — Morton Block. Telephone No. 66 J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS THERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT . | Hours by Appointment. | Phone 191. Wingham | W. A. CRAWFORD, M.D. | Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late Dr. J, P. Kennedy. , Phone 150 Wingham 1 F. A. PARKER OSTEOPATH All Diseases Treated. Office adjoining residence next to Anglican. Church on Centre St. Sunday by appointment. Osteopathy Electricity Phone 272' Hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m, A. R. & F. E. DUVAL | CHIROPRACTORS I CHIROPRACTIC and electro therapy North Street’ ' — • - Wingham Telephone 300. | TIGHT FIT A HEALTH SERVICE OF THE CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN CANADA The human body like the human mind, desires freedom. Tight fitting garments are uncomfortable and moreover they are ill-advised because they may cause damage to the indi­ vidual. Every part of the body requires an adequate blood supply to keep it healthy and capable of performing its proper funition. “Anything, therefore, which cuts off or retards blood sup­ ply must be considered harmful. Tight fitting shoes are a splendid Josef Stalin, dictator of Soviet ’ rlson of the Red army climb on the Russia, helps a daughter of oho of j table at an all-unidn conference of the commanders of the Moscow gar-1 wives of Red army commanders in the Grand Kremlin palace in Moscow# example of this. How many thous­ ands of people have suffered frpm corn and callouses, hammer toes and bunions, cold and clammy feet, be­ cause they did not wear proper shoes. And the time to start wearing com­ fortably fitting shoes is when the in­ dividual starts to walk. Tpes were never intended to be piled up in a heap to be housed in a cone. They should be freely moveable within the shoe. The foot of the growing child should be carefully watched by the mother. Any sign pf rubbing of heel or toes should be checked and if the shoe is at fault, do not let the child wear it again. If this plan is follow­ ed throughout the growing period, no boy or girl need have corns or cal­ louses and much discomfort of body and mind may be saved to the in­ dividual. But we must not stop there. Throughout life, it is necessary to choose footwear that fits and allows RUSSIA’S DICTATOR LENDS HAND TO YOUTH of-complete foot freedom. Ill-fitting shoes not only impede blood supply, causing pain and discomfort, but those same symptoms may have a. bad effect upon one’s temper and judgment — in fact upon one’s whole life. Take proper care of your feet. Questions concerning Health, ad­ dressed to the Canadian Medical As­ sociation, 184 College St., Toronto, I will be answered personally by letter. I ■ “My dog took first prize at the cat show.” “How did he manage that?" , “Well, he took the first prize cat.”’ The toastmaster arose to introduce a prominent elderly speaker, and said: “Gentlemen, you have been giving your attention to a turkey stuffed with sage. Now you will give your attention to a sage stuffed with tur­ key.”