The Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-03-31, Page 6rsix WINGHAM ADVANCE’TIMES
IS,SYNOPSIS
During the night Kaspar Renting
was kidnapped. Philo Vance, with
District Attorney Markham go to the
Kenting home there to meet Sergeant
Heath of the Homicide Bureau, Ken
yon Kenting and Mrs. Renting, the
brother and wife of the kidnapped
man. Present also is Eldridge Fleel,
the Kenting family attorney The
first evidence casts some doubt as to
the genuineness of the crime. Vance
examines Weems, the Kenting butler,
further search shows that Kaspar
probably did not go down the ladder
found outside the house. Vance re
examines Kenyon Kenting first, then
Mrs. Kenting’s mother Mrs. Falloway
and her son, Fraim. He learns little
but notes an undercurrent of hostil
ity among these members of the
strange inhabitants of the Purple
House. At this time a ransom note
arrives demanding $50,000 and free
dom from police interference. Vance
and Markham consult the Keatings
and Fleel, their lawyer. It is decided
to allow the police a free hand in
dealing with the supposed kidnappers.
’i' * $
“I think I’ll go down to my office
how,” he
raise the
Markham,
Letter go
turned quickly to Fleel with an in
terrogative look.
“I’m sorry I can’t advise you, Ken
yon,” the lawyer said in answer to
Kenting’s unstated question. “It’s a
damned difficult problem on which to
offer positive advice'.’ But if you de
cide to take this step, I think I should
leave the details in the hands of Mr.
Markham. If I can be of any help—”
“Oh, don’t worry, Fleel, I’ll get in
touch with you.” Kenting turned to
the dark corner of the room. “And
thank you, Quaggy, for your kind
ness; but I think I can handle the
situation without your assistance, al
though we all appreciate your gener
ous offer.”
Markham was evidently becoming
impatient.
“I will be at my office,” he said,
"until five o’clock this afternoon,
■expect you to communicate with
before that time, Mr. Kenting.”
“Oh, I will—without fail.”
When we were back at the Dis
trict Attorney’s office, Markham sent
immediately for Heath. As soon as
the Sergeant arrived the situation was
outlined to him$ and he was shown
the letter which Fleel had received.
He read the note hastily and looked
up.
“If yon ask me, I wouldn’t give
those babies a nickel/* he comment
ed -gruffly. ’‘But if this fellow Ken-
ting insists, I suppose we’ll have to
let him do it. Too much responsibil
ity in tryin* to stop him.”
“Exactly
phatically.
particular
Sergeant?”
assented Markham em-
“Do you know where this
tree is in Central Park,
can get young Kenting back—that
if the abductors are playing straight.”
Playing straight!” Heath repeated
with contempt, “Say, Chief, did you
ever know any of tjiese palookas to
be on the level.? I say, let's catch
the guy who conies after the money,
and we’ll giye him the works down at
Headquarters,”
In the pause that followed Heath’s
last words Vance Spoke.
“Really, y’know, Sergeant, I think
you’re going to be' disappointed. You
may round up somebody, but I doubt
if you will ever be able to connect
Iyour victim with the kidnapping.
Thursday, March 3UB; I9W
said wearily, “and try to
cash." Then he added to
“and I think the police had
ahead with the case.” He
They grasped the black-clad figure just as it.straightened!,•
♦
f
I’ll
me
t
“Hah!” Heath said explosively.
“I’ve seen it so often, I’m sick of
looking at it. But it’s not a bad lo
cation, at that.”
“Could you and the boys cover it,”
asked Markham, “in case Mr. Kent
ing decides to go through with this
and we decide it would be best to
have the spot under surveillance?”
“Leave that to me, Chief,” the Ser
geant returned confidently. “There’s
lots of ways of doing it. Searchlights
from the houses along Fifth Avenue
could light up the place like daytime
when we’re ready. And some of the
boys hiding in taxicabs, or even up
the tree itself, could c/tch the baby
who takes the money and tie him up
in bow-knots."
“On the other hand, Sergeant,” de
murred Markham, “it might be better
to let the ransom money go, so we
have an idea it is designed to throw
us off the track. Still, the experiment
may be interestin’. Fact is, I’d be
over-joyed to participate in it myself."
“You like to climb trees, maybe,
Mr. Vance?” Heath asked.
“I adore it, Sergeant,” Vance told
him. “But I simply must change my
■clothes. What would you suggest as
an appropriate costume?”
“Try rompers!” retorted Heath.
It was four o’clock that afternoon
when Kenyon Kenting arrived.
Vance, eager to be on hand for any
thing new that might develop, had
waited in Markham’s office, and I
stayed with him. Kenting had a large
bundle of $100 bills with him, and
threw it down on Markham’s desk
with a disgruntled air of finality.
“There’s the money, Mr. Mark
ham,” he said. “Fifty thousand good
American dollars. It has completely
impoverished me.. It took everything
I owned , . . How do you suggest we
go about it?”
“I’ll, give the matter careful con
sideration,” he answered. “And I’ll
get in touch with you* later,”
“I’m willing to leave everything to
you,” Renting said with relief as he
departed.
Heath, who had gone ouj ®arljer in
the afternoon, came in shortly, and
the matter was discussed pro and con,
The plan eventually agreed on was
that Heath should have his search
light? focused on the tree and ready
to be flashed on at a given signal;
and that three or four men of the
Homicide Bureau should be on the
gro-und and available at a moment’s
notice. Vance and I, fully armed,
were to perch in the upper branches
of the tree. ,
Vance remained silent during the
discussion, but at length' he said: in
hjs lazy drawl:
“It think your plans are admirable,
Sergeant, but I really see no neces
sity of actually plantin’ the money,
Any package of the same size would
answer the purpose just as well, don’t
y’ know. And notify Fleel; I think
he would be the best man to place
the package in the tree for us.”
Heath nodded.
“That’s the idea, sir. Exactly what
I was thinking , . . and now I think
I’d' better be running along—or todd
lin’, as you would say—-and get busy.”
Vance and Markham and I had
dinner at the Stuyvesant Club that
night. I had accompanied Vance
home where he changed to a rough
tweed suit.
He did not exhibit the slightest ap
prehension, although as we were
about to leave the apartment he hand
ed me a .45 automatic.
We had finished our dinner and
were having our coffee in the lounge,
shortly'before ten o’clock, when Ser
geant Heath joined us and reported
the arrangements he had made.
"Well, everything’s been fixed,
Chief,” he announced proudly. “I got
four powerful searchlights in the ap
artment house on Fifth Avenue, just
oppdsite the tree. They’ll all go on
when I give the signal.”
“What signal, Sergeant?" asked
Markham anxiously.
“That was easy, Chief,” Heath ex
plained with satisfaction. “I had a
red electric flood-light put on a traf
fic-light post on the north-bound road
near the tree, and when I switch that
on, with a travelling switch I’ll have
in my pocket, that will be the sig
nal.”
“What else, Sergeant?”
“Well, sir, I got three guys in taxi
cabs stationed along Fifth Avenue,
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Established 1840.
Risks taken on all classes of insur
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Head Office, Guelph, Ont.
ABNER COSENS, Agent.
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Dr. W. A. McKibbon, B.A.
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEOK
, Located at the Office of the Late;
Dr. H. W, Colbome. i
Office Phone 54. Nights 107
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PHYSICIAN
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PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
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'Wingham Ontario
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PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Phone 19.
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BARRISTER and SOLICITOR
Office -T- Morton Block.
Telephone No. 66.a
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Located at the office of the late
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Phone 150. Wingham
F. A. PARKER
OSTEOPATH
AU Diseases Treated.
Office adjoining residence next to
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Sunday by appointment.
Osteopathy Electricity
Phone 272* Hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
HARRY FRYFOGLE
Licensed Embalmer and
Funeral Director
Furniture and
, Funeral Service
Ambulance Service.
Phones: Day 109W. jNTigbt; 109J.
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r
I
\ ■■
t •«' J $
Let’s be sure which are Weeds!
What are the real reasons that the cause
of true temperance sometimes seems to
grow so slowly?
There are four which every fair-minded
man will recognize , . .
One: A failure to recognize the fact
that a control law is designed for the
control of those who drink—and not to
please those who object to drinking, even
in moderation.
Two: The excesses of the few whom
prohibition taught how NOT to drink!
Three: The lack of successful control
in the areas under local option!
Four: The misguided efforts of ex- .
tremists, sincere and insincere, to discipline
rather than educate our own generation!
For no law which aims at making people
"good” against their will will ever do any
thing but the apposite! Every map Open-
minded enough to read a simple lesson of
history must admit the fact* Prohibition
itself taught it!
The present law merits the support of
all who are truly interested in good
citizenship. Why? Because in human terms
it is a sound law. It takes men and women
as they are. It gives them freedom of
choice till they have proved themselves
unfit to exercise it. It gives men and
women their British liberties up to the
point, but never beyond the point, where
they interfere with the liberty of others!
Let those who want to pull things up
be sure which are the weeds!
*
o 'o
o
O
S
o
JOI
«/government CONTROL has proven
VT the most successful system as yet
tried in the Town of Amherstburg. Any
system which gives any measure of con
trol is certainly preferable to what we
experienced under the O.T. A. Since the
present law came into force we have had
no serious complaint regarding boot
legging activities; the problem has
ceased to be one of major proportions,
as was formerly the Case.”—-Sighed
(J, E. McGee, Mayor of Amherstburg) *
I
6
i
This advertisement is inserted by the Brewing
Industry in the interest of a better public
understanding of certain aspects of the
problems of temperance and local option*
*
all dressed up like chauffeurs, and
they’ll swing" into the park at the
same time the searchlights go on. I
got a couple of taxicabs at every en
trance on the east side of the park
that’ll plug up the place good and
tight; and I also got a bunch of in
nocent-looking family cars running
along the east and west roads every
two or three minutes. On top of that
you can’t stop people strolling in the
park—there’s always a bunch of lov
ers moving around in the evening—
but this time it ain’t gonna be only
lovers on the path by that tree—
there’s gonna be some tough babies
too ... I don’t see how the guys can
get away from us, unless they’re darn
slick.” He chuckled and turned to
Vance. “I don’t think there’ll ’ be
much for you to do, sir, except look
in’ On from a ringside seat.”
“I’m sure we won’t be. annoyed,”
answered Vance good - nature.dly,
“You’re so thorough, Sergeant—and
so trustin’.” ’
“Well, good luck, and cheerio.”
Vance dismissed our taxicab at the
corner of 83rd Street and Fifth Av
enue, and we continued northward on
foot to the pedestrians’ entrance to
the park. As we walked along with
out undue haste, a chauffeur from a
near-by taxi jumped \td the sidewalk
with alacrity and, overtaking us, step
ped leisurely in front of us across
our path. I immediately recognized
Snitkin'iil the old tan duster and the
chauffeur’s cap. He apparently took
no notice of us but must have recog
nized Vance, for he turned back.
• Vance led the way across a wide
stretch of lawn to a large oak tree
whose size set it apart from the oth
ers. It stood in comparative darkness,
at least fifty feet from the nearest
dimly bickering electric light.
“Well, here we are, Van,” he an
nounced in a low voice, “Now for the
fun — if you regard emulating the
sparrow as fun . . . I’ll go up first.
Find yourself a limb \vhere you can
See pretty well all around you through
the leaves.”
We had climbed up and had been
sitting in silence in our precarious se
clusion for about, ten minutes when
a corpulent figure, which I recogniz
ed as Fleel, came into sight on the
pathway to the left. He stood irres
olutely opposite the tree for several
moments and’ looked about him. Thea
approached the tree.
He paused beneath where I sat
twelve or fourteen feet above him,
and ran his hand around the trunk of
the tree until he found, the large ir
regular hole on the east side; then he
took a package from tinder his Coat.
The package was about ten inches
long and four inches square, and he
inserted It slowly arid carefully into
the Hole. Backing away; he ostenta
tiously relighted his cigar, tossed the
burnt match-erid aside, and walked,
slowly toward the
pathway at least
away.
i
west, to another
a hundred yards
I
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AUCTIONEER
REAL ESTATE SOLD
A Thorough Knowledge of' Farm
Stock,
Phone 231, Wingham.]
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EXPERT AUCTIONEER
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See
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Phone 174W.
J. ALVIN FOX
• Licensed Drugless Practitioner
CHIROPRACTIC . DRUGLESS'
THERAPY - RADIONIC
EQUIPMENT
Hours by Appointment.
Phone 191.
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Wingham I
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North Street «— Winghan^
Telephone 300.
It was less than ten minutes later
that I saw a figure moving toward
us from the north. No one had pass
ed along that little-known, illy-light
ed pathway since we had taken our
places in the tree. At each succeed
ing light I picked out an additional
detail of the approaching figure: a
long dark cape which seemed to trail
on the ground; a curious toque-shap
ed, dark hat, with a turned-down vis
or extending far over the eyes; and
a slim walking-stick.
“How positively thrillin’!” I heard
Vance whisper, though his voice did
not sound in the least excited. “This
may be the culprit we’re waitin’ for.
But what in the world will we do
with him when we catch him? If on
ly he wouldn’t walk so deuced slowly.
The dark-caped figure was moving
at a most deliberate gait, pausing fre
quently to look right and left, as if
sizing up the situation in all direc
tions. It was impossible to tell who-'
ther the figure was stout or thin, be
cause of the flowing cape. It was a
sinister-looking form. Its gait was so
dilatory and cautious that a chill ran
.over me as I watched—it was a my
sterious -nemesis, imperceptibly but'
inevitably creeping up on us.
Then, as if with a burst of vigor,
the cloaked form stepped toward the
natural cache on the east side of the
trunk, and, fumbling round a mom
ent or two, withdrew the package
that Fleel had placed there a quarter
of an hour earlier.
I glanced: apprehensively at the red
flood-light on the lamppost Heath
had described to' us, and saw it flash
on and off like a grotesquely winking,
monster. Suddenly there were wide-
shafts of white light from the direc
tion of Fifth Avenue splitting the
gloom; and the whole tree and its im
mediate environs were flooded with
brilliant illumination. For a moment
I was blinded by the glare, but I
could hear a bustle of activity all
about us. Then came Vance’s awe
struck and startled voice somewhere
at my left.
“Oh, my word!” he exclaimed over
and over again; and there was the
sound of his scrambling down the
tree.
Everything seemed to happen sim
ultaneously. Markham and: Fleel and
Kenyon Kenting came rushing across
the eastern lawn, preceded by Heath
and Sullivan. The two detectives
were the first to reach the spot, and
they grasped the black-clad figure
just as it straightened up to move
away from the tree. ’Each man had .
an arm tight in his clasp, and escape
was impossible.
(Continued Next Week)
Harry: “I can’t thread this needle,
mother.”
Mother: “How’s that?-”
Harry: “Well, every time I get the
cotton near the eye it blinks.”
“You understand, cook, that you
forfeit yOur wages if you leave with
out notice.”
“Oh, that’s all fight, ma’am. Keep
them and buy yourself a jtin-opener,”
BOATS REPLACE CARS ON ROADS
Eastern Ontario had its first taste two brought 50 miles to do rescue
of springl floods a few days ago work, Both had difficulty cruising
when the Nation river overflowed its over .flooded roads because of long
banks. At Inkerman it is five miles grass on the highway’s edge which
wid^This power boat was one of tangled the propellers,
two brought 50 miles to do rescue
tangled the propellers,