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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-02-24, Page 6fyS.S.Van Dine V WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES Thursday, February 24, 1938 KIDNAP MURDER/^ ♦ Weein,—have I Vance put in. here, I under- SYNOPSIS During the night Kaspar Renting Was kidnapped. Philo Vance, with District Attorney Markham go to the Kenripg hopie there to meet Sergeant Heath of the Homicide Bureau, Ken­ yon Renting and Mrs. Renting, the brother and wife of the kidnapped man. Present also is Eldridge Fleel, The Renting family attorney. The first evidence casts some doubt as to the genuineness of the crime. Vance examines Weems, the Renting butler, * ♦ “Just a moment, the name right?” “You’re the butler stand.” • '“Yes, sir,” he said, in a low rumb­ ling voice. “And your wife is the cook, I be­ lieve?" “Yes, sir.' “I say, "Weem,” Vance went on, “did either you or your wife hear anything unusual in the house, after you had gone to your quarters?" The man again shifted his weight. “No,” he answered. “Everything was quiet until I went to sleep—and I didn’t wake up till Mrs. Ken tin range for coffee around six.” “That’s all, Weem.” 'Who butler shuffled away lacks- daislcally* “I think/’ Vance said to Heath, “it was a good idea to get McLaughlin . . . There’s really nothing more to he done up .here just now. .Suppose we go down and find out what he can tell us.” “Right!” And the Sergeant started toward the door, followed by Markham and myself. Vance paused leisurely just reaching the door and turned small writing-table at the front of the room, on which the telephone stood. He regarded it contemplatively as he approached it. Opening the two shal­ low drawers, he peered into them. He ■turned to the small wastepaper bas­ ket beside the table and bent over it. When he rose he asked Mrs. Rent­ ing: “Does your husband do his.writing at this table?” “Yes, always,” the woman tm- swered. “Rut did he never need any paste or mucilage?” Vance asked. “I don’t a see any here” “Paste?” Mrs. Renting appeared still more puzzled. “Why. no. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe there's any in the house . . , But why?” “I’m merely trying to learn the truth about exerything, and I beg you forgive any questions which seem irrelevant.” The woman made no reply, and Vance again went toward the door where Markham and Heath and I were waiting, and we all went out in­ to the hall. As we reached the narrow landing half-way down the stairs, Markham suddenly stopped, letting Heath pro­ ceed on his way. He took Vance by the arm, detaining him, “See here, Vance,” he said aggress­ ively, but in a subdued tone? “This kidnapping doesn’t strike me as be­ ing entirely on the level. And I don’t believe you yourself think that it is.” ousn^ss, ’’you’re a most admirable character, but you’re far too naive for this unscrupulous world. .Both you and your legal friend, Fleel, are quite wrong in your suppositions. . I assure you, don’t y’ know, that J am not suf­ ficiently cruel to extend false to any one,” “What do you mean by Vance?” “My word, Markham J I can Only one thing.” Vance continued to gaze at the District Attorney with sympathetic affection and lowered his voice, “The chappie, I fear, is already dead.” Markham was dazed for a moment, but he was, I could see, frankly skep­ tical. “You have a reason for saying that, Vance?” “Tut, tut, my dear fellow,” Vance returned lightly. “This is neither the hopes that, mean before to the Vance, Said Markham, “Vance, this doesn’t strike me as being on the level.” El 14 flImKUI “Oh, my Markham!” deplored Vance. “Art thou a mind-reader?" “Drop that,” continued Markham angrily. "Either the kidnappers have no intention of harming young Rent­ ing, or else—as Fleel suggests—Rent­ ing ‘staged the whole affair and kid­ napped himself.” “What I want to know, is why you refused to offer any hope. “Really, y* know, Markham,” he said lightly, but with a certain seri- place nor the time to discuss the mat­ ter. I’ll be quite willin’ to point out all the obvious evidence to you later on. At the moment I am most anx­ ious to hear what McLaughlin has to say to the Sergeant. Let’s descend and listen, what?” McLaughlin was just about to speak to the Sergeant when he heard us enter the drawing-room. Re­ cognizing Markham, he saluted res­ pectfully. Business and Professional Directory“McLaughlin," Heath began* “What time are you relieved from your beat here?” “Regular time — eight o’clock.” “Where were you around six this morning?” ■“Doing my duty, sir,” the officer assured Heath earnestly ; “walking down the other side of the street op­ posite here, makin’ my regular , rounds.” “Did you see anybody, or anything j that looked suspicious?” * , “I did, at that, Sergeant! Only I , wouldn’t say as how it was suspicious at the time, although the idea passed . through my inind. But there wasn't any cause to take action.” “What was it, McLaughlin?” “Well, Sergeant, a coupe—-it was a 1 dirty greeq color — pulled up on-’this side of the street along about that i time. There were two men in it, and : one of the guys got out and opened the hood and took a look at the en- ■ gine, I came across the street and gave the car the once-over. But ev­ erything seemed on the ,up-and-up, and, I didn’t bother them. Pretty soon the driver got in and the coupe drove away.” “I say, officer,” put in Vance, “were both occupants of the coupe white men?” “Sure they was, sir.” “And couldn’t there have been a third man in the coupe?” Vance pro­ ceeded. “A smaller man, let us say, whom you didn’t see—on his knees, and hidden from view, perhaps?” “Gosh!” muttered McLaughlin. “You think there was tlyee men in that car?” “Really, McLaughlin, I don’t know, it would simplify matter if we knew there had been three men in the car. I crave a small pussy-footed fellow. “By the by, officer, did you, by any chance, stumble upon a ladder during your nocturnal circuit in these parts last .night?" “I seer* a ladder, if that’s what you mean,” the man. admitted. “It was leanin’ up against that maple tree in the garden out here. I noticed it when it began to get light. But t figured it' was only being used to prune the tree or something. There certainly wasn’t any use in reportin’ a ladder in a gent’s yard, was there?” “Oh, no," Vance assured him indif­ ferently. “Silly idfea, going about re­ porting” ladders—eh, what? . . 'That ladder’s still in the yard, officer; on-• ly, this morning, it was restin’ up against the house, under an open window." “Honest to God’?” McLaughlin’s eyes grew bigger. “I hope it was O. K. not to report it.” “Oh, quite,” Vance encouraged him. “It wouldn’t have done a particle of good, anyway. “Thanks awfully.” He sauntered to the sofa and sat down lazily, stretch­ ing his legs out before him. It was obvious he had no other questions to put to the officer. Heath straightened up. "That’s all, McLaughlin, Much obliged for coming down. Go on home and hit the hay.” The officer saluted, and turned. "What now, Mr. Vance?” Heath was again resting his weight against the desk. “Oh, much more, Sergeant,” Vance yawned in answer. “You haven’t the fainest idea of how much I’d really like to learn about a number of things J. V “But see here, Vance,” interrupted Markham, “I first want to know what you meant by that statement you made as we were coming down the stairs. I can’t see it at all, and«?I’d bet money that Fellow* Kaspar is as safe as you or I.” "I’m afraid you’d lose your wager, old dear.” « "But all the evidence points—” be­ gan. Markham. "Please, oh, please, Markham,” im- ; plorcd Vance. “Must we necessarily lean wherever a finger points?” “Damn it, Vance!” Markham re­ turned angrily; “I want to know why you said what you did on the salts, in tHc fcicc of till the evidence to the contrary,1’ i “Pardon me, Chief,” put in Heath; “I didn’t hear, what Mr. Vance said ■' to you on the stairs. I don’t know what his ideas on the case are." Markham looked at the Sergeant. “Mr. Vance doesn’t believe that Kaspar Renting was kidnapped mere­ ly for money or that he may have walked out and staged the kidnapping’ himself* fellow is Heath Vance* “The hell you say|” "How in the name of get such an idea, Mr. “My word. Sergeant!* flcienfly Indicated” “Do you really think, Markham, that your plotting Kaspar would have gone to the Jersey casino to indulge iff a bit of gamblh-tg’on his big night ter bedroom was Raspar, did he wait «*that is to say, on the night he in* till his wife knocked on the -door and tended to carry out his grand’'coup called to him before he made a pre- involvin’* fifty thousand dollars?" “And why not?” , Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840, Risks taken on all classes of insur­ ance at reasonable rates, Head Office, Guelph, Ont. ABNER COSENS, Agent, Wjngham. Dr. W. A. McKibbon, B.A. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Located at the Office of the Late Hr, H. W. Colbome. Office Phone 54. Nights 107 HARRY FRYFOGLE Licensed Embalmer and / Funeral Director Furniture and x Funeral Service Ambulance Service. Phones; Day 109W- Night, 109J. DR. R. L. STEWART < PHYSICIAN Telephone 29. \ .......... '...... J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister. Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan, Office -r, Meyer Block. Wingham THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD A Thorough Knowledge of Fann Stock, Phone 231, Wingham. Dr. Robt C. REDMOND M.R.C.S. (England) L.R.C.P. (London) ' PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON x i J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario It'Will Pay Yop to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See 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 Dxugless 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 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 CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street —• Wingham Telephone 300. I KOALA BEAR APPEARS ON AUSTRALIAN STAMPS He said he thinks that the already dead?* spun round abruptly to he exclaimed. God did you Vance?” It seems suf* Stamp collectors have a new oue« to add to their albums. Early in Feb* I tttary the Australian goverment is-J sued a stamp bearing the likeness of j the koala bear. These small animals are as harmless as toy teddy bears- and are easily tamed,. They live in Australian eucalyptus forests. Until a few yeags ago the koala was threat-1 toed with extinction through the de­ mand for Its leaves, which give both J food and valuable pelt. The live on gum water. The female carries her young hi a pouch until it can cling to jher long fur. The koalas venture to. | the ground only to run to another eucalyptus tree. So cute is the koala that people all over the world, includ­ ing Canada, used to import them as pots. But none survive^ and now there is a law against taking them from Australia.' Insert is a reproduc­ tion of the new stamp. “It’s quite obvious this criminal un­ dertaking was carefully prepared in advance. The note itself is sufficient evidence of this, with its letters and words painstakingly cut out and all neatly pasted on a piece of disguised paper.” “The criminal undertaking, as you call it, need not necessarily have been prepared very far in advance,” object­ ed Markham. “Kaspar would have had time to do his cutting and past­ ing when he returned from the cas­ ino.” ■ “Oh, no, I don’t think so,” Vance returned at once. “I took a good look at the desk and the wastepaper bas­ ket. No evidence whatever of such activity. Moreover, the jahnnie’s phone call in the wee hours of the morning shows a certain amount of expectation on his part of getting the matter of his financial difficulties set­ tled.” “Go on,” said Markham.. “Very good,” continued Vance. "Why should Kaspar Renting have taken three hours to change to street clothes after he had returned from his pleasant evening of desult’ry gambling? A few minutes would have sufficed. And another question: Why should he wait until bright daylight before going forth? The darkness would have been infinitely safe and better suited to his purpose.” “How do you know he didn’t .go much earlier—before it 'was day­ light?” demanded Markham. “But, my dear fellow,” explained Vance, “the laddei\was still leanin’ against the tree around dawn, when McLaughlin saw it, and therefore was not placed against the window until after sun-up.” ’T see what you mean, Mr. Vance,” I-Ieath threw in eagerly. “And Mrs, Renting herself told, us that she heard someone in the room at six ‘o’clock this morning.” “True, Sergeant; but that’s not.the important thing,” Vance answered casually. “As a matter of fact, I don’t think it ‘Was.Kaspar at all whom Mrs. Renting says she heard in Iter hus­ band’s room at that hour this morn­ ing . » * And, by the by, Markham, here’s still another question to be considered: Why was the communi­ catin’ door between Kaspar’s room and his wife’s left unlocked, if the gentleman contemplated carrying out a desperate and important plot that night? He would certainly not have left that door unlocked if he planned .any such action * * . And, speakin* of the door, you remember the lady op­ ened it at six, right after heatin’ some one walkin’ i'n the room in what she described, as soft slippers. And. don’t forget it is his heavy bluchcr shoes that are gone—not his slippers. Why, If the soft-footed person In the litas* . elpltate getaway? He could have left at any time during the three hours after he had. come home from his highballs and roulette-playin’. All of which, I rather think, substantiates the assumption that it was another person that the lady heard at six' this morning.” (Continued Next Week) cups flour, sifted teaspoon baking soda teaspoon salt cup sugar . cup shortening LEMON TEA BISCUITS . (Makes 16-20 medium sized biscuits) 2 % 3/i V3 Sift dry ingredients. Cut in fat. Add: Va cup milk (fresh or evaporated) 3 tablespoons lemon juice Knead slightly on floured board. Form dough, into small, marble-sized balls. Place 3 balls in each cup of a greased muffin tin. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake in hot oven (450 F.) 20 minutes. “Pidd,” roared the boss, “you seem to be ignoring our efficiency system altogether!” “Yessir,” returned Stew Pidd, the office cut-up, “but somebody’s gotta get the work done!” / . CONVICTED Robert Paul Harley, 26, former Winnipeg cricketer, was ontf of four men convicted in London, England, Feb. 18, of robbing a Bond St jew­ eller of $80,000 worth of valuables. He was sentenced to seven years and 20 lashes. BARCLAY /to orange^ /lire irtterk By BETTY Yes! Worry may be cast aside when a seedless orange is chosen for fruit cup, salad or dessert* No thick membrane between the seg­ ments! No sdeds or pits to be dug out with an orange spoon! , Slice if, cut it in small pieces, divide it into segments, or ream it for juice -— it’s an easy orange to handle and a satisfying orange to serve.Now that Z/ZZ__L oranges are on the market, it seems fitting three recipes __ ______ that are both tasty and healthful. The fact that oranges have aft alkaline reaction when taken Into the system will make these dishes particularly desirable to those who eat heavily of acid-reaction foods in cold weather. They may be looked upon as balancing dishes that are good as well as good for you. Orange Ban art a Salad (Serves 6) California Navel oranges Lettuce bananas tablespoons lomoif Juice cup finely chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans peanuts) California Navel to foature tWo or for winter dainties Peel oranges tod cut Into %-lnch slices. On. lettuce-covered salad plate place 2 orange slices. Cover With 2 lengthwise quarters of banatias, sprinkled with lemon juice and rolled in nuts. Top with Slice Of orange. Garnish With, mayonnaise and maraschino cherry. Variation: Roll banana fingers In grated coconut. Orange Marshmallow Fluff (Serves 6-8) whipping cream sugar quartered marshmallows 3 3 S U or 1 % 1 cups California Navel orange segments (or half slices) Whip cream until thick, fold in other ingredients* Serve cold. Orange Aifabrosia (Serves 6) Navel oranges cup powdered sugar cup grated coconut and slice oranges* Cut cup Cup cup 6 % % Feel slices into halves or quarters* Arrange in serving dish, sprinkle with sugar and coconut it desired, top with candied cli&rry.