Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 April 1937 — Page 22

By Nard Jones

BEGIN HERE TODAY Martha Brittain and Betty Haynes begin a trip up the West coast to demonstrate the new Airspeed trailer. They pick up Gerry Neal, handsome young hitch-hiker. Neal tells them he is to meet ‘a friend, Jack Speddon, at the Long Beach auto camp. But at Long Beach, Neal disappears from tiie trailer and Speddon drives away with Betty, failing to return. Frantic, Martha calls polic:, she gets a wire, hours later, signed “Betty and advising that Betty will meet her in San Francisco at a designated hotel. Feverishly, Martha starts out and encounters Neal en route. He tells her that “this thing may bs bigger” than she imagines. ‘Martha agrees to accompany Neal back to San Francisco to find Betty. Martha is troubled because she likes Neal, yet she does not know whether ske should trust him. She wires ’Frisco nd finds that neither Beity nor Speddo: is registered at the designated hoi=i. The next day Neal saves Martha from drowning and she knows she loves him. They leave for San Francisco. Once in Frisco, Martha finds no trace of Betty, but receives anothe: letter; presumably from Betty, explaining everything is all right. Disturbed, Martha wants to call police again, but Neal protests that a fuss might cause Betty's death! NOW GO ON WITH THE S10RY

CHAPTER TWELVE ARTHA stared at Neil, color draining from her lips. “Do you . . . mean that?” “I do. There's a good possibility that these messages from Betty are perfectly genuine. In ther she's given you definite instructions—and the best advice is to follow them.” He touched her arm. “Why don’t vou go to your room and rest up for a few minutes? Then we'll have some lunch.” She shook her feel like eating.” “I'll call you later, then. Meanwhile, try to forget this. There's not a thing to be done right now.” Long after the boy had leit her luggage and disappeared into the hallway, Martha stood motionless by the window, staring down at the busy traffic of Market St.

Then

head. “I don't

Conflicting thoughts cluttered her.

tired brain, and she felt somehow empty and gone. Yesterday at Del Monte she had managed to forget her troubles a little, and in the gaiety of the Bali room she had convinced herself that evervthing would turn out right, and tha: here she would find Betty.

At last, from sheer nervois exhaustion, she dropped onto the bed. The drone of the city lulled her into a fitful sleep—a sleep filled with nameless fears, with dreanis in which she saw the face of Spaddon and heard Betty's voice crying out to her. : » 2 HE was awakened by th: soft buzz of the room's telephone, was startled to see that the falling dusk had already darkenec the windows. Still trembling froin the effect of her nightmare, she took up the receiver.

he asked. Martha hesitated. Why shou d she go.on with this man, not knowing how or why or whither he was misleading her? Yet he claimed to be a friend—and she so needed fiiendly advice and help. There surged through her, at the thought oi dining alone, of staying in this room, a terrible loneliness. “All righ: . I'll be down in. a moment.” “There's +a nice cocktail lounge on the second floor.” Neal Said. “It's called the Comstock. See you there in 10 minutes?” “Yes...

In spite of herself, Marth was | grateful for the soft cheery lights:

of the cocktail lounge, and the bright, deep chairs. She was grateful for the presence of Gerry Neal. He had changed into a comfortable, smart-looking suit of easy tweed. Certainly, Martha told herself, he looked anything but dangerous. One would take him for a young investment banker, perhaps, but never for a man living deviously by his wits and through harm to others. . When the waiter had set the thinstemmed glasses on the table, she said. suddenly, “Why don't you teil me what you know about Betty and Speddon?” : Neal's smile faded. His eyes grew serious as he answered, “I'd like to, Martha. I really mean that. But— well, it just wouldn't be—shall I say, ‘good business’?” “And that business is what?” “I can’t tell you that now, either.” He raised his glass. “Let's drink to anh early solution of the mess we're in.” : n UT Martha refused to accept his evasion. “You do zdmit that you know more of what's happened than you've told me, then?” “Well . .. ” frowning, he set down his cocktail. “I've told you I'm acquainted with Speddon. I've admitted that you and Betty may be involved in something which can have serious consequences. I've explained my disappearance Irom the trailer.” He smiled disarmingly. “The bitter truth is that I've only one piece of information that you yourself don’t know. I wish it were more—much more.” “But that one piece of information might be the key to the whole thing?” Martha pressed. “It might. Right now. I can’t say.” : “Why don’t you tell me what it is? You don’t seem to realize what it would mean to me to know. Betty and I have been like sisters since we were 10.” Neal looked at her squarely. “I understand, Martha, And before very long I think well be hitting this - thing head-on. Until then, I'm going to keep quiet. Cheer up, now. I've reserved a little table at the Deauville.” Martha sagged visibly. moment she had been hopeful that Neal was going to confide in her. “Why—why must you be so maddeningly stubborn?” . ”

” 2

” ”

«x 70OU'LL know that, too, when | the time comes, Martha. I've | ‘said it before, and I repeat-—just |

trust your Uncle Gerry for a while Jonger. It's your best chdnce now, if you'll ‘pardon the immodesty.” = She knew that.he hoped the cocktail and the glamorous surroundings of the Deauville Club would take her mind off Betty’s disappearance. But tonight it was no use. Realizing that she was for the moment helpless, Martha did try to enter into the spirit of the Deauville But she was not as successful as she had been that exciting day in Del Monte. The little table with its softly

shaded £2 the smooth orchsstra,

the |

Yor a’ in the city.

dinner Gerry orciered,

were not enough to make her forget. She attempted to be gay, to exclaim at the tiny metal bar set like a jewel on a dais at one end of the room. ‘ She tried to interest herself in the smart beautifully gowned women who are as much’ a part of San Francisco as its breathless hills. . But it would not, work.

= », HEY left early, and Neal took a taxi to carry them. up the Coit Tower road where they could view the awesome accomplishment of the great bridge. . “We should come here tomorrow, he told her, “and have a look at the .Golden Gate bridge. She's just about finished . » He pointed into the blackness of the Gate. “I'd like to,” Martha said. “But tomorrow I'm going to try to sell some Airspeed Trailers for Mr.

”

Sloss. If I don't do something I'll go mad.” He took her hand. “I know. And you're right in wanting to go ahead and follow Sloss’ instructions. I have an idea it will solve things quicker than anything we can do.” She didn't ask him why. She was too weary with asking Neal questions which went unanswered. He could, she told herself irritably, make enigmatic statements from now until doomsday. | ; But when they returned to the hotel and Neal accompanied her to the door of her room, she held out her hand. “You've been awfully nice. I— I'm sorry to have been such a dud.” Neal held her gaze searchingly. In a sudden movement he had taken her in his arms and she heard him whisper, “Martha . . . Martha, I love you!”

(To. Be Continued)

Daily Short Story -

“ppd been so horrible,” she said.

“Especially the police and their

fantastic questions.”

OY frowned irritably at Ellen's tears. “Look here, Ellen, crying won't help. You must get your mind

i off what has happened. . . .” It was Neal. “How about dir ner?”

. They were sitting on the daven-

| port facing the fire.

“Here's your embroidery. Work on that—it will help to distract you.” 2 Roy reached for the folded square of tapestry on the low table beside them. A needle dangling on a strand of yarn slipped to the floor.

| He picked it up.

“Lucky it was threaded or I never would have found it. Don’t you want to embroider?” “No—I couldn't,

Roy. Father's

. footstool—I'll never finish it.”

“Don’t be morbid, Ellen.”

om.

“Y'M not morbid. But I can’t bear to think that only last night at this time . . . father reading there in his chair, and I working on this tapestry. . . . And when you came in, father noticed the button loose on your sleeve and made me sew it on, though I told him the tapestry yarn wasn't right for sewing on buttons. last night—and now . . “Yes, I know. It's terrible. you have me, darling. We'll be married soon , ..” “Yes—soon.” “And we’ll go far away, you can forget ...” “I can’t forget. It's been so terrible—especially the police and-their fantastic = questions. There was nothing I could tell them, except that father hadn’t felt well, and had complained of dizziness—" “You told them that?” 4 “Of course. You. remember last Sunday when he said he felt dizzy, and 1 told him he ought to see a doctor . . . Roy, tell me again’ just exactly how it happened.” “Well,” said Roy, “we were in his office, and he went to the window—said~ something <about. the room being stuffy. I was at his desk looking at some papers that

where

he had called me to check for him.

I heard him open the . window. Then, he suddenly cried out, but before I could reach him—before I could get to the window . ..” Roy left the sentence unfinished.

t-3 LLEN was trembling. Roy drew her into the shelter of his

arms. “Roy,”

” "

she said hesitantly,

“there’s something 1 want to ask

you. The police kept asking —” she paused. “Well—what is it the police kept asking?” Roy drew away from her, and nervously twisted the needle in and out of the coarse mesh of the tapestry. “Roy, you| and father never quarreled, did you? Father admired you so! much—he. admired the way you came here a stranger and built up a reputation as one of the most brilliant young lawyers He was proud to have you associated with him. But the police say that you and he guarreled this morning just before —hefore—it happened. You didn't, did you?” Roy put the tapestry back on the table and turned to face her. He took her hands in his. “Ellen, you love me, don’t you?” “Of course I love you.” “Then tell the police to go to the devil. They come here at a time when their ‘intrusion is a ghastly impertinence and try to squeeze a little glory for themselves out of this tragedy. That your father had a dizzy spell and lest his balance is so self-evident that all these insinuations—” Se n ” & HATS it—insinuations! You see, Miss Marston told the police that there was a letter from Australia in father’s mail this morn-

We were so happy—only | But

didn’t open it, but she says that, when she gave it to father and he read it, he told her to get you and said he wanted to be alone with you. Those were the last words he spoke to her, but through the closed door, she heard your voices raised, as though you were quarreling . . Roy, did yeu and father quarrel?” “No! Miss Marston’s a fool—trying to get her name in the paper,

that's all. Besides, she never liked |

me.”

“I know. It worried. father that |

she didn't like you. But, Roy, the police can't find that letter. They hinted that you must have burned iti” “Nonsense!” “What was it about?” asked Ellen. “The defendant in the Wilton case has an uncle in Australia. We were checking up on him. Routine investigation.” “Oh, Roy, I knew you could explain it—but I was so worried . . .” Roy took her hand, “Now, don’t you worry any more. After we're married, we'll go on a long cruise and forget all this. We'll go—” “Mebbe to Australia?”: said a man’s voice. . n n 4 I OY jerked to his feet, and faced A. the detective who had entered the room. “What do you mean by barging in like this!” Roy demanded angrily. “The butler let me in—on orders of the District Attorney's office. You thought you were pretty smart, burning that letter from Australia, but Miss Marston remembered that the envelope showed that it was from the police out there. It didn’t take long -to exchange cables and find out what, that letter was about. It asked very pertinent questions about you, Roy Blank, alias Richard Montgomery. You were very foolish to think you could elude the law and escape detection by getting rid of Mr. Stevens.” “You're crazy!” Roy shouted. “I don't know what youre talking about. I tell you I wasn’t anywhere near Mr. Stevens when he fell. You haven't got a shred of evidence to the contrary—" | “Oh, yeah? that.” The detective glanced at the tapestry lying on the table, then

We'll just see about

- extended his hand, palm upward.

“Ever see this button before? It was found grasped tight in Mr. Stevens’ hand.” | “Oh,” cried Ellen. .. “Why, that’s ” Then, she stopped, staring at Roy in horror. 4 | Roy had turned deathly white. On the detective’s outstretched palm, lay a plain bone button from which trailed a wisp of brown tapestry yarn.

THE END

1937. bv _ United Feature

(Copyright. ; * Svndicate. Inc.)

The characters in this storv are fctitious

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

T OUR WAY

By Williams

YOU'VE

BROKEN THE LEGS

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QFF. VICE. INC.

VEAH ~ WELL, TH DRAWER STUCK. ~AN! I HAD MY FEET AGAINST ‘EM.

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FLAPPER FANNY

“ Well, I'm not bad enough to be kept in, and not enough to stay and clean the blackboards.”

—By Al Capp :

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1937 By Sylvia

“I'll say this for you, kid—you get home from sihool

good

HM-M-A CUTE 43 LITTLE NUMBER-

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS

THESE MYSTERIOUS FooTPRINTS HAVE THIS WHOLE TOWN WORRIED! MY WIFE DOESN'T SLEEP NIGHTS!

ALLEY OOP

pep. | J————— TTR: (7 AS MUCH WALKIN’ AS

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= ' YORE DANGED TOOTIH I AM, GENTLEMEN, AND I AIN'T FIGGERIN' ON LETTIN'

TH WHOLE LANDSCAPE’S UNDERGOIN' A CHANGE! /

1D LIKE TGET A

PEEK AT

WHATS LAYIN’ ABOUT—

“I don’t suppose it’s necessary to report a woman st

ture, and what was the title of the play? . A—Lon Chaney played the role of “Alonzo, the Armless Wonder,” in “The Unknown.”

Q—In what part of Florida was the gun placement in Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon”?

A—The book is fiction and the ce is fanciful. It is

os aw e Syndicate, Inc. : ~

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tween a crazy quilt and a patchwork quilt? a

| Pathe

owaway aboard, sir!”

laneous sizes, shapes and colors, while patchwork quilts are made from pieces of cloth differing in color and shape and often sewn together in the form of a design. Q—Give the name and address of the producer who is planning to film “Gone With the Wind.” A—Ddvid O. Selznick, SelznickInternational Pictures, .Inc., RKOStudios, 9336 Washington Iver -Cifiy

AH, “THERE'S A CLEARING WHERE I CAN LOOK

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

HORIZONTAL

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46 One who hears. $1 It has a hooked ===,

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48 Branches. 49 Narrative poem. 50 Soaks flax 53 Either. 54 South America.

The principal cause of ‘broken | I think there is a big danger in families and bankrupt business is loading the motorist with so many the attempt to.keep women in the | regulations. Accidents may happen

homes and men Roger Babson, urging » ho v3

business Siajisichn, think

tion of + | =P] freer participation o en | ile

in commerce.— | because he is given too much to about while he is at the whee]. P, Henry, American Automo-