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Show THE RICH COUNTY REAPER, RANDOLPH. UTAH BROWN W.N.U. Duke McCale, private detective, is investigating the murder of Curt Vallaln-eour- t, who was about to marry Veronica Bigelow, heiress to thirty million dollars. She is the principal suspect. McCale questions members of the family and obtains important clues, uncovering a deep plot to kpep control of the great fortune in the family, through a deal with McCale decides that Shari Lynn, Vallaincourts former wife, holds the key to the puzzle. He hurries to her apartment, only to find that she has been shot dead. On looking around, he notices that a picture is missing from the wall of her apartment. He later' talks to Veronica about her love for CHAPTER XIV til the taxi had driven off. That afternoon the one before when you and Curt yesterday came into the living room, he flashed you a signal with his eyes. You noticed that? Yes. What did it mean? It meant that everything was all right, that hed destroyed everything his letters, his associations, everything that had tied him to the past. It was as if he said her voice broke as if he said, Look, darling, the past is all finished. Im clean. McCale blinked his eyes, cleared All right, he said. his throat. Then, Im not going in with you. Things to do. Lots of them. Chin the up, now. Ill see you tomorrow. her. Pain seared his shoulder. He groaned a bit coming wide awake. Ann said. Behave yourself, Youre in no condition to become amorous. Good lord, did you see that? She flung the morning paper on the floor. The papers have you at deaths door. Here, let me lift you up a little. She propped a pillow behind him and sat down. There were deep shadows under her eyes. Have you been here all night? he asked. Sure, why not? Why didnt Rocky make you go home? Do you think Id leave you to the tender mercies of that behemoth? Every time you asked for a drink, he reached for the bottle of Scotch. She scowled. Just then the door opened and Rocky stuck his head in. He grinned broadly on seeing McCale awake and sitting up. Doc Preble is here, nurse. He dropped a curtsey to Ann. Preble! McCale howled. The coroner! What is this? Im not dead or am I? Ann chuckled. She did not look too tired or harassed now that he But how can I be sure its t. emptiness of lost love? Its more like oh She broke off, burying t. She made an atI dont tempt at a mile. And thank you her head in her arms. know. McCale came abreast of his own I think I understand, he said doorway. Just when it was that the quietly. .It hits you sort of in the first warning came, he couldnt aftstomach instead of in the heart. erwards recall. He had just looked But she up to see the lights of his office Yes, yes. Thats it. grimaced as though the thought so gleaming faintly. He was only a stated was a trifle vulgar. She few feet from the doorstep when it brushed a tear from the corner of came that intuitive message from her eye. his nerves, his glands. About the scrap of letter you The report came like a firecrackfound a letter to Curt. er, hard by on his right. He heard Yes, that. I was sure it was the sound of running feet. He felt from Vicky. Shes always been so Her attitude funny about Curt. seemed to be that because she had known him Nfirst, she had priority rights over him. Something like that. I was shattered by that note and what it implied. And when I accused her, she was so hard in spite of her denial. In a foolish moment I gave it to Aunt Addy. I was so upset. I know that, he said. He hesitated, not sure whether to go on; .then decided to risk her shock at what he had to say. It is cruel, perhaps, to tell you now, he began, but necessary. We havent much time. The inquest is the day after tomorrow and Oh, but do. Im able to stand she shuddered anything after after this afternoon. You see, he said bluntly, the thing you suspected, the plot to gain control of your inheritance, was real. It was a diabolical plot sill were in it. He expected her to cry out or to huddle away from him. He ' was nearly bowled over himself when But she almost laughed, saying, no no. Youre wrong, Mr. McCale. Oh, I dont mean about the plot. Youre wrong in thinking I didnt He didnt hear Ann scream. know about it. I was so horrified . . . Well, I went first to Chris a ghastly blow near his heart. He and. reeled, stopped in his tracks. A A low You went to Chris Storm? whisper escaped his lips. His signal flashed through his mind. He knees buckled as a pain shot clamped his teeth together hard. through his side. He climbed up Yes. He was furious, of course. the steps somehow. He thought, He wanted to have it out with Curt Oh, God, this is how Curt then and there, but I persuaded him died. I wonder what went not to. I said it was my job and through his mind crawling ' up that I would do it. those endless stairs? And did you? After a thousand years, the door Yes. 'I went right to Curt be- swung open. Ann stood there. She fore the rehearsal, the day before in the dark. He seemed far away before he died. But you see, I was forced a smile. wrong in one thing. Curt confessed he said, conscious of Hello, to the original plot. That was true slobbering. enough, but But what? McCales mind was A Narrow Escape working furiously, conjuring up all He visions. of absurd kinds pulled From Death himself up abruptly. Duke! she gasped. You see, she said carefully, a His legs gave way again. Slowly tremor in her voice, Curt loved he slid to his knees, crouching there. me. He really did. Oh, I know. His face twitched a moment and Hed been a hellion all right. He he made a mumbling noise before told me a. great deal about himself he pitched forward. about his past about that day He didnt hear Anns scream. Shari Lynn. But for once, it was Once during the night, he became the real thing with him. He could conscious. It was like being hardly understand it himself, but dragged up into the light from the there it was. He was truly in love and darkness of a great well. for the first time in his life.' He was depth a breath of cool air anc felt He going to turn his back on them all. He realized his his We were going to be happy togeth- opened was eyes. He asked for throat parched. er. There wasnt anything they water and a floated into phantom marcould have done after we were view. It was Ann. She held a glass ried. of water for him. Her eyes, he were big and filled with noticed, An Attempt on love for him and fear for him, too. Good-nigh- Good-nigh- . ... Val-lainco- . . McCales Life His voice Had he told them? was soft, insistent.' Oh, no. I think he realized the danger, because someone was watching him. You mean Yes. He told me wed have to be careful right up to the hour of the wedding. He joked about it a lot because he considered it funny. He said, Set a thief to catch a thief, or When thieves fall out. Things like that. He supposed they were suspicious because hed been seen with Shari Lynn. The papers had got hold of it, you know. . Didnt he know who was following him about? Did he say wheth-- . er it was a man or woman? No. He said I wasnt to worry about it. That was all. She began to cry softly. He helped her out and paid the driver. He didnt speak un FEATURES Berry pies will run over in the Keep up to date a record of your childrens diseases. These will be oven, but if you will make your pan and place handy for reference when they are pie in an eight-inc- h it in a nine-inc- h pan, you will save ready to go to school. the work of cleaning the oven. Youll be surprised how much a Have you tried serving raw few touches of white will do for a sliced as room. such vases, apples with cheese for desObjects reThe different textures and white in sert? cushions and lamps y room. flavors of the apples and cheese lieve a crowded, Touches of white also add a mod- afford a very refreshing taste. ern note. Lemon juice added to the fruit When you sink a fence post, coat mixture for most pies will bring the end that goes into the earth out the fruity flavor. A tablewith a good grade of roof paint. spoon or two will do the trick. color-wear- NEEDLEWORK PATTERNS Gay Animal Head Potholders day giving, church bazaars, bridge prizes and for your own kitchen. Actual size is given on the pattern chart. To obtain three Animal Potholders (Pattern No. 5280) actual size for embroidering. color chart, send 20 cents in coin, your name, address and pattern number. Send your order to: SEWING CIRCLE NEEDLEWORK 709 Mission St., San Francisco, Calif. Enclose 20 cents for pattern. smiled. When you fell in the doorway ast night, you looked pretty dead to me. I fainted. Rocky had the two of us in his hands. Of course, he simply let me lie there. With the door wide open, I wasnt unconscious long. I came to and stumbled up the stairs to find he had stretched you out on the office desk, too much like a corpse for me to think of anything else. What with Rocky seating his own brains out and curs-n- g that someone had bumped off the boss, I dialed headquarters. The lomicide squad, down to the last egman, were here in three minutes No Name- - Address. 130,000 Lights Illumine Palace of the Maharaja The Maharaja of Mysore, India, to make his fabulous palace ap- pear as spectacular at night as during the day, has its exterior outlined with 130,000 electric lights which are set. eight inches apart and which, if placed in a straight line, would cover a distance of 16 miles. flat. Preble was short and thin and past middle age and sported goatee. He had the typical medical mans eye. He looked McCale over shrewd- T SE colorful scraps of ly, examined the wound, and rematerials to make these gay bandaged it in short order. little animal head potholders. EmYoull do, he said. Stay in broider with bits of floss and bed for twenty-fou- r hours. Dont some ideal gifts for holiwant you running a temperature. youve Youre a lucky guy. The bullet was deflected by the cigarette case you Buy. wisely for this Christmas carried in your upper vest pocket. . . . buy practical, useful gifts that Was it a forty-five- ? are sure to please. For example, Undoubtedly, from the nature local dealers are featuring two of the wound. If it hadnt been for timely items you can give to the that cigarette case, it would have smokers on your Christmas list ripped you wide open. Well, mind Camel Cigarettes and Prince Alwhat I say now. This girl needs bert Smoking Tobacco. These popsome sleep. He turned to Ann, ular brands are all dressed up in harumphed, and went off, giving special holiday suits, ready to Rocky the stare of an anthropolo- give. Camel comes in a handconcarton gist ignoring an interesting but in- some tains 200 mild, mellow cigarettes. ferior specimen. mellow And for the in gay, is available Prince Albert Calls Donlevy tins. All are so colorful And Talks attractively packaged that no additional wrapping is necessary, inA half hour later, McCale was Even in middle the of space is provided for the terrupted exasperall-seei- This Home-Mixe- d Cough Relief Is left-ov- ei - So ten-packa- ge pipe-smoke- r, one-pou- ated resentment at the light diet ordered by the doctor and carried out to the letter by Ann. The telephone rang. Ann, provokingly placing the bedside telephone out of his reach, and with a smug expression on her face went into the outer office to take the call. That was Veronica Bigelow, she said I had the devil of a time before shed trust me with the message. Shes upset no end. It seems that Donlevy has arrested Christopher Storm. matter-of-factl- givers Merry Christmas sage. It will take only a few mesmin- utes of your time to pick up these popular Christmas items at your nearest dealer. Adv. 1 To Beat Hard No Saves Dollars. Cooking Easy. No matter what youve been using for coughs due to colds, youll be the first to admit that this surprising relief, mixed in your own kitchen, is hard to beat, for real results. Make a syrup by stirring 2 cups of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water a few moments, until dissolved. No cooking is needed a child could do it. Or you can use corn syrup or liquid honey, instead of sugar syrup. Then put 2 ounces of Pinex (obtained from any druggist) into a pint bottle, and fill up with your syrup. This gives you a full pint of really about four splendid cough relief times as much for your money. Tastes fine children love it. It never spoils. You can feel this home mixture taking right hold of a cough. It loosens the phlegm, soothes the irritated membranes, and helps clear the air passages. Eases soreness and difficult breathing, and lets you sleep. Pinex is a special compound of proven ingredients, in concentrated form, a most reliable soothing agent for throat and bronchial irritations. Just try it, and if not satisfied, your money will be refunded. y. When? Last night or early this morn- ing. Shes been trying to get the office ever since, I suppose. You suppose? Well, I I stuffed blotting paper in the telephope bell last night. I thought the ringing might disturb your rest the doctor said God Almighty. Between rou and the doctor, I might as well be a corpse. I was all hopped up with He turned wasnt I? morphine, Im himself around with a painful efThats Ann, he thought. sick and shes worried about me fort. She loves me and shes worried Now, Duke, youre not to excite Thats great. Thats fine. yourself. Youll raise a tempera-,turWhen the black curtain of morTo hell with my temperature. phia lifted again, it was another day. The room was light. The first Get Donlevy on the wire. thing he saw was big black letters Obediently she called police headThey formed slowly out of the mist quarters, only to learn that the that still clouded his vision some homicide man was on his way there what. at that very moment. They read: DETECTIVE SHOT. His mind struggled with McCale patted her hand, feeling this and he made a slight motion ashamed of his irascibility. He rewith his head. A golden blonde an- signed himself to waiting for Dongel leaned over and kissed him levy. In less than twenty minutes, the lightly on the brow. Where am I? He mouthed con- lieutenant strode in, in the wake of Rocky. The. two of them so big, fused thoughts. Why, darling, this is Ann.. You but so different, bulked hugely iii the know where you doorway. Donlevy, with a muttered TJh huh. Fuzziness began to greeting to McCale, flung himself Crevices of fatigue leave the edges of his brain. This into a chair. and worry lined his face. is heaven. Do that again 'angel He started to put an arm about (TO BE CONTINUED) e. ar,.t k y for welcome, fast relief from Ben-Ga-y to contains up Gentle, soothing pain. 2 Vi times more of those famous agents known to all doctors methyl salicylate and menthol Insist on than five other widely offered rub-inBaume the Analgesique. original genuine It acts fast where you hurt Rub in stiff-nec- Ben-Ga- pain-relievi- ng s. Ben-Ga- y, Also for Pain due to RHEUMATISM, MUSCLE ACH& and COLDS. y Ask for Mild for Children. Ben-Ga- 4 |
