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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-04-21, Page 6BAGS SIX WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES AUTOCASTER to S.S.Van Dine c re- lis- the- our Thursday, April 21st, 1938 Business and Professional Directory SYNOPSIS During the night Kaspar Renting was kidnapped. Philo Vance, with District Attorney Markham go to the Renting home 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. Further search shows that Kaspar probably did not go down the ladder found outside the house. Vance re examines Reqyon Renting first, then Mrs. Renting’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 Rentings and Fleel, their lawyer. It is decided to allow the police a free hand in ■dealing with the supposed kidnappers. A dummy package is substituted for the motley and then secreted in a tree in Central Park according to instruc tions. The police capture a cloaked figure, Mrs. Falloway', who admits to Vance she is really trying to forestall an attempt by her son, Fraim, to get the money. The woman is not held and the real kidnapper’s identity re mains a mystery. Immediately after ward, Madelaine Renting, wife of Kaspar Renting, also disappears sud denly. . • * ♦ * When we reached the drawing room we found all four of its occu pants anxious and alert. “Have you learned anything?” ask ed Fraim Falloway, in a semi-hyster- -ical falsetto. > • “We’re not through looking round yet,” Vance returned placatingly. "We hope to know something defin ite very soon. Just now, however, I .wish to ask each of you gentlemen a question.” ‘ “What is your favorite perfume, Mr. Fleel?” The man stared at him in blink as tonishment, and I am sure that had he been in a courtroom, he would have appealed instantly to the judge with the usual incompetent-irrelevant- and-immaterial objection. However, he managed a condescending smile and replied: “I have no favorite perfume — I know nothing about such things. It’s true, I send bottles of perfume to my women clients at Christmas, instead of the conventional flower-baskets, but I always leave the selection to my secretary,” “Do you regard Mrs. Renting as one of your women clients?” Vance continued. "Naturally,” answered the lawyer. “By the by, Mr. Fleel, is your sec- ret’ry blond or brunette. “I don’t know. I suppose you’d call her a brunette.” “Many thanks,” said Vance curtly. “What is your favorite scent, Mr. Falloway?" “I—I don’t know,” Falloway stam mered. “I’m not familiar with such feminine matters. But I think emer ald is wonderful—so mysterious—so exotic—so subtle.” “You’re quite right,” murmured Vance; and then he focused his gaze on Kenyon Renting. “Al! perfumes smell alike to me,” was the man’s annoyed assertion be fore Vance could frame the question again. “I can’t tell one from another —except gardenia.” “And how about you, Mr. Quag gy?” Vance asked lightly. “If you were giving a lady perfume, what scent would you select?” “I haven’t yet been guilty of such foolishness,” Quaggy replied. “I stick to flowers. They’re easier. But if I were compelled to present a fair crea. ture with perfume, I’d first find out what she liked." “Quite a sensible point of view,” murmured Vance, rising as if with great effort and turning. “And now, I say, Sergeant, let’s have a curs’ry look at that ladder.”- We walked down the front steps, and for the second time we went through the street gate leading into the yard. The short grass was entirely dry, and the ground had completely hard ened since the rain two nights ago. Vance again bent over at the foot of the ladder while Heath held the flash light. “There’s no need to fear any spoil ing your adored footprints tonight, Sergeant—the ground is much too hard." Vance straightened up after a moment and moved the ladder slightly to the right, as he had done the previous morning. “And don’t get jittery about finger-prints, Sergeant," he went on. “I’m quite convinced you’ll find none. This ladder, I opine, is merely a stage-prop, as it were; and the person who set it here was clever enough to have -used gloves.” He bent over again and inspected the lawn, but rose almost immedi ately. * “Not the slightest depression—on ly a few blades of grass crushed . . . I say, sergeute mio, it’s your turn step on the ladder—I’m frightfully tired, Heath immediately clambered up five or six rungs and then descended; and Vance again moved the ladder a few inches. Both* he and Heath knelt down and scrutinized the ground. “Observe,” said Vance as he rose to his feet, “that the uprights make a slight depression in the soil, even with the weight of only one person press ing upon the ladder . . . Let’s go in side and dispense our adieux.” On re-entering the house Vance immediately joined Renting at the en trance to the drawing-room and an nounced to him, as well as to the oth ers inside, that we -were going, and that the house would be taken over very shortly by the police. "I might as •well be going along myself,” said Renting despondently. “Oh, quite," returned Vance, with out looking at the man. “Go home, by all means.” The man seemed grateful. Taking his hat from the hall bench, he hur ried out the front door. Quaggy’s eyes followed the depart ing man. “I guess I'll be getting along too,” he said finally, with a note of inter rogation in his voice. “I may go, I suppose?" There was a suggestion of sneering belligerence in his tone. “That’s quite all right,” Vance told him pleasantly. “You probably need a bit of extra sleep, don’t y’ know, after your recent all-night vigil.” “Thanks,” muttered Quaggy sar castically, keeping his eyes And he too left the house. When the front door after him, Fl eel looked apologetically. “What do you make of terrible episode tonight?” he asked. “Really, y* know,”—Vance was cov ertly watching the man—“it is far too early to arrive at any definite con clusions. Perhaps tomorrow . . .” His voice faded away. Fleel straightened up with an effort ind moved forward resolutely. “I think I too will be going.” He spoke in a weary tone, and I noticed that his hand trembled slightly as he picked up his hat and adjusted it. "Cheerio,” said Vance as the lawyer turned, at the front door and bowed stiffly to us. Meanwhile Fraim Falloway had risen from his place on the davenport. He now moved silently past us, ?with a drawn look on his face, and trudg ed heavily up the stairs. Falloway had barely time to reach the first landing when the telephone down. had ■up this closed rather second Victoria Garden Beauties Bring Joy to Thousands / ohmi Wellington Mutual Fir© Insurance Co. Established 1840, Risks taken on all classes of insur ance at reasonable rates. Head,, Office, Guelph, Ont ABNER COSENS, Agent. Wingham. SHIRLEY TEMPLE, darling of movie-going millions, sum med up world-wide opinion in a sentence when she said of the Empress Hotel gardens in Vic toria, B.C.: “They’re beautiful. I'd love to stay here a whole year." These and other choice gardens of the British Columbia capital will be thrown open to public view for & full week starting May 4 during the eiglit-day garden festival held annually by the colorful city. Garden week in Victoria has become an institution whose uni quefloss attracts thousands ^vis itors to Vancouver Island every spring. The gardens at this time of the year are a glorious riot of bloom because in that western city tho favorable weather gives year-round golf and flowers which cannot be surpassed for size, variety and rich colorings. In addition an entertaining programme has boon planned by the management of the Empress Hotel, sponsor of the event There will be flower shows, talks on flowers by world famous hor ticulturists; and many Informal parties. The above pictures show -Shir ley Temple in a favorite spot in the Empress Hotel gardens dur ing one of her recent visits} a visitor showing her son floral sculpture at its best: and a view of tho famous ivy-covered Em press Hotel itself, resting on a small wobbly stand in the hall began ringing. Weem sud denly appeared from the dimness of the rear hall and picked up the ceiver with a blunt “hello.” He tened for a moment; then laying receiver down, turned sullenly in direction, “It’s a call for Sergeant Heath,” he announced. The Sergeant went quickly to the telephone and*put the receiver to his ear. “Well, what is it?” he started bel ligerently. “. , , Sure it’s the Sarge *—shoot! , , Well, for the love of— Hold it a minute," He clapped his hand over the mouthpiece and swung about quickly, "Where’ll we be in half an hour, Chief?” “We’ll be at ment,” The Sergeant instrument. ’ “Listen you,” “we’ll be at Mr. Vance’s apartment in East 38th Street. Rnow where it is? ... That’s right—and make it snap py.” He banged down the receiver. “Important, is it, Sergeant?” asked Markham. “I’ll say it is.” Heath stepped quickly away from the telephone table. “Let’s get going, sir. I’ll tell you about it on the way down. Snit- kin’s meeting us at Mr. Vance’s ap artment.” Just as Markham and Heath and I turned to follow Vance, there came, from somewhere outside, a, startling and ominous rattle that sounded like the staccato and rapid sputtering of a machine-gun. Then came the explosive exclama tion of the Sergeant, who was at my side. Then he suddenly sprang for ward past Vance and, jerking the front door open, hurried out into the warm summer night without a word to any one. The rest of us followed close behind him. Heath was now breaking into a run ahead of us; and Markham and I had difficulty keeping pace with Vance as he, too, lengthened his stride. Just this side of the Nottingham Hotel at the corner, a small group of excited men were gathered under the bright light of the lamppost set be tween two trees along the curb. There, leaning in a crouching atti tude against the iron lamppost, was Fleel. His face was deathly pale. I have yet to see so unmistakable a pic ture of collapse from fright as he pre sented. He was as pitiful a figure as I have ever looked at, huddled be neath the unflattering glare of the large electric light overhead, as he leaned weakly for support against the lamppost. “That was a close call," he mut tered. “They almost got me.” “Who almost got you, Mr. Fleel?” asked Vance. “Didn’t you see it all?” he asked, his voice high and unnatural. “I was on my way to the corner, to get a taxicab, when a car drove up from behind me. I naturally paid no at tention to it until it suddenly swerv ed toward the curb and stopped with a screeching of brakes, just as I rea ched this street light. As I turned'" round to see what it was, a small ma chine-gun was thrust over the ledge of the open window of the car and the firing began. I' instinctively grasped this iron post and crouched down. After a number of shots the car jerked away. I admit I was too frightened to notice which way it turned.” “But at least you were not hit, Mr. Fleel.” “No, thank Heaven for that,” he muttered. “And,” Vance continued, “the car couldn’t have been over ten feet away from you. A very, poor shot, I should say. You were lucky, sir, this time.” He spun round quickly to Quaggy, who had taken a step or two back ward from the frightened man. “I don’t quite understand your being here, Mr. Quaggy. Surely, you’ve had more than ample time to ensconce yourself safely inyour boudoir.” Quaggy, stepped forward resent fully. “I was in my apartment. As you can see,” he pointed indignantly to his two open front windows in the near-by hotel—“my lights are on. When I got to my rooms I didn’t go directly to bed—I hope it wasn’t a crime. I went to the front window and stood there for a few minutes. Then I caught sight of Mr. Fleel coming up the street—he had appar ently just left the Renting house— and behind him came a can And when I heard the machine-gun and saw the spits of fire coming through the win dow, and also saw Mr, Fleel grasp the lamppost and sink down, I thought he had been shot I natural ly dashed down—so here I am. . , , Anything illegal in that procedure?” “No—oh, on,” smiled Vance. “Quite normal. Far more normal, in fact, ____ 1U than if you had gone immediately to'counties to the restricted area plan bed without a bit of airin’ by the op- fostered by Ontario and Federal Gov- en window.” He glanced at Quaggy ernments, but this opposition has with an enigmatical smile, “By the gradually been swept away until now Mr, Vance’s apart- turned back to the he fairly bawled; DR. R. L. STEWART PHYSICIAN Telephone 29. ft Dr. Robt. C. REDMOND M.R.C.S. (England) L.R.C.P. (London) PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. W. A. CRAWFORD, M.D. Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late Dr. J. P. Kennedy. Phonfe 150.Wingham by,” he went on, “did you, by any chance note what type of car it was that attacked Mr. Fleel?” “No, I didn’t get a very good look at it," Quaggy returned in a chilly tone. “And the color?” prompted Vance. "It was a dingy, nondescript color." Heath was watching Quaggy shrewdly. ‘ “Yeah?" he said skeptically. “Which way did it go?” “I really didn’t notice. I caught on ly a glimpse of it as it started toward the park." “A fine bunch of spectators," Heath snorted. “I’ll see about that car myself." He he started running toward Central Park West. ’ As he neared the corner a burly fig ure in uniform turned suddenly into 86th street from the south, and al most collided with the Sergeant. By the bright corner light I could see that the newcomer was McLaughlin. “What was it, Sergeant?" His breathless, excited query carried to us. “I heard the shots, and been try ing to locate ’em. Did they come outa this street?" “You’re damn tootin’, McLaughlin, replied” Heath, and, grasping the of ficer by the arm, he swung him about and the two started off again. “My word, such energy!” sighed Vance when Heath and the officer were out of sight. “The coupe could be at 110th Street by this time—and thus the mad‘ search would end. Heath is all action and no mentation. Sad, sad . . . Vital ingredient of the police routine, I imagine—eh, what, Markham?” Then he turned to Fleel. “Feeling better?” he asked pleasantly. “I’m all right now,” the lawyer re turned, taking a wobbly step or two forward. “That’s bully,” Vance said consol ingly. “Do you want an escort home? “No, thanks,” said Fleel, in a voice that was still dazed. “I’ll make it all right.”' He turned shakily toward “I’ll pick up aCentral Park West, taxicab.” “Queer episode,” commented Vance —as if to himself. “Fits in rather nicely, though. Lucky for your law yer friend, Markham, that the gentle man in the green coupe wasn’t a bet ter shot . . . Ah, well, we might as Well toddle to the corner and await the energetic Sergeant. Really, y* know, Markham, there’s no use gatin’ at the lamppost any longer.” (Continued Next Week) T<B.» Areas for Ontario Ontario farmers are becoming- in* creasingly conscious of the necessity of eliminating bovine tuberculosis from their herds, A few years ago there was open hostility in many Ea Dr, W. A, McKibbon, B.A. physician and surgeon Located at the Office of the Late Dr, H. W. Colbome. Office Phone 54.Nights 107 HARRY FRYFOGLE Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director Furniture and Funeral Service Ambulance Service, Phones; Day 109W. Night 109J. A J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham I J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office — Morton Block. Telephone No. 66. 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. there are fifteen counties in Ontario in the restricted area list, Grey, Sim coe, Lanark, Victoria and Peterbor ough counties have signed up for tests while petitions are being circu lated in Lennox, and Addington, Has tings; Wentworth, Norfolk, Rainy River, Lincoln, Essex, Welland and Bruce. Following educational meetings in Oxford county, petitions are being signed rapidly; a complete canvass is being made in Middlesex. Brant held a meeting last week to discuss appli cation to county council to have A THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD Thorough Knowledge of Farm Stock, Phone 231, Wingham, 4 ■) It Wiil Pay Yop to Have An ; EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS THERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Hours by Appointment. Phone 191. Wingham A. R. & F. E. DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street —- * Wingham Telephone 300. 3 Brant made a T.B. Restricted Area. Haldimand County Council has. asked the Live Stock Improvement commit tee to hold meetings and distribute application Forms. Two meetings have been held in. Elgin county, one at Port Burwell, the other at Aylmer. Mr. F. S. Thomas, agricultural representative, is in charge of the campaign for in structing farmers about the plan. The western part of the county will be canvassed later. Waterloo county is proceeding early next month to have cattle Owners canvassed? By BETTY BARCLAY Once upon a time, long long ago, a lemon pie was a lempn pie no matter where you obtained it— just as a dish of outmeal was.a dish of oatmeal. But today we meet lemon meringue pies, lemon coconut pies, lemon chiffon pies, lemon souffle pies, lemon angel pies, magic lemon pies — there seems to be no end to the ways discovered by good cooks as they experimented with their lemons, sugar, eggs, butter and other lemon pie Ingredients. The pie photographed above is a magic lemon meringue pie —a rich cousin to the original lemon pie grandmother made. One slice, and you will decide that this pie must be a constant visitor when company comes or the males of the family are tired and irritable. It’s the greatest little pacifier Imaginable. Before giving you the recipe for this pie and another delicious lemon dainty, here is a pie tip or two that you should know: Cool lemon pies' for two hours or more at room temperature for satisfac tory cutting, unless recipe specifies otherwise. Then again, for never- fail results use the following pastry whenever baked shells aro requir ed. A Second pie plate set inside the pastry-lined plate during bak ing, insures a perfect shell: Sunkist Pastry Sift together 3 Oups sifted flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1 Cup shortening. Add 1 slightly beaten egg, combined With 3 tablespoons lemon juice, Add led water gradu ally—just enough to bind dough together'. Roll pastry out thin and line pie plates. Bake in hot oven (476® F.) for 16 minutes, (Makes three 8-lnch single t>i® shells. Keep unbaked dough in refrigerator until heeded), Magic Lemon Meringue Pio (Makes 1 pie) cups (1 can) sweetened condensed (not evaporated) milk » % cup lemon juice Grated find of 1 lemon 2 egg yolks, beaten Stir together thoroughly. (Filling will thicken as though cooked). Pour into crumb crust pie shell made as follows: Unbaked Crumb Crust: Roll enough lemon or vanilla wafers to make % cup crumbs. Arrange a row of wafers to, stand around edge of 8-inch pie plate. Mix rolled crumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Cover bottom of plate and fill in space between wafers with crumb mixture. Pour in filling and top with a meringue made of: 2 egg whites Vt. cup sugar % teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon grated peel (Orange or lemon) Beat egg whites until frothy, and add sugar, baking powder and rind. Continue beating until Stiff. Cover pie. Put in moderate oven (325® F.) for 15 minutes to brown. Lemon Soufflfi Pie cup lemon juice teaspoon grated lemon peel tablespoons hot water teaspoon salt Cup sugar egg, yolks, very well beaten n 3 % % 3 Cook in double boiler until thickened (about 15 minutes). Fold in: 3 egg whites, beaten stiff with cup sugar . Fili id-inch baked pie shell and. brown in moderate oven (about % hour),