The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, August 22, 1935, Image 7
THUB^AY. AU6U8T
CLUIOM nn»m cL^h. s.
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>/'^MILTON PROPPER***
CH^RPEP• BPOrHiA$*MM4
Cotton Loans
~ Change Hinted
, NINTH INSTALLMENT
Synopsis:—Barbara Keith, wife of a
prominent Philadelphia business man,
is murdered as she waits alone in a
side room to testify in the divorce
case of Rowland vs. Rowland. She was
to have testified for the husband, a
friend, who was defendant in the ac
tion. Detective Tommy Rankki is as- ^
signed to tiia ease from-police^ head-^ <count witit^jn^int of satisfiaetioft.
exact as possible." i
“Well, since I watched the clock all
the while I 'waited, I can tell you
pretty close," Blake returned.^ “My
own ticker said twet^y to three; and
by the city hall clock, I wasn't more
than a minute or so slow."
The detective received this unex
pected support of Allen Rowland's ac-
Rowland had gathered evidence
against the other of infidelity^'fhe
will of Mrs. Rowland’s first husband
directed heriawyer brother,* Mr. Wil
lard, to hi^e the estate until she re
married when the new husband was to
coipi^into control. Dbtective Rankin
finds'motives and the evidence of guilt
for the murder of Mrs. Keith, leading*
to the d^rs of virtually all the prin
ciples involved. These principals ars^^
the two Rowlands, Mr. Willard, Mr.
Keith, husband of the murdered wom
an, Hugh Campbell, paramour of Mrs.
Rowland, and his underworld confed-
arates.
(Now Go On With the Story).
Rankin was in the captain's office
when Jenks returned, pride illuminat
ing his featuias. . Behind him came a
^oung, thin, curly-haired chap in the
uniform of a cab driver.
“Back already, Jei^s?" he com
mented. “It isn’t th^ hours since you
left to check Mr. Keith’s Washington
trip; you couldn’t have got Very far
i introductions were completed, the de-
Tar enough to prove he never tective’s preliminary questions dis-
this
redcap at the station," "he said, “how
long afterward did Mr, Keith return
to him for his baggage?’* ^
“At quarter afW three. Tommy,"
the other answered. “In time to catch
the three^wenty trains
“And that would bring Keith'into
Washington about three hours later—
say six-twentyT* Rankin observed.
Obviously, Rankin's next step was a
visit to Mr. MacQuiTe to learn the ob
ject of Mr. “Tarteton’s" call, the name
the telephone operator said Keith had
given.
As it was now almost seven o’clock,
the detective coUld' no longer reach
Mr. MacQuire at the Wolff building.
He obtained the lawyer’s home addi'ees
from a directory.
In answer to his ring, a maid opened
the door. She escorted him through tiie
sun porch into a larger living room.
The second member of the firm,
whom he had not yet met, descended
from above. Tall and Ungainly, Julian
MacQuire suggested a scholar rather
than a practical' business man. After
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1
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boarded the twelve-twmity-five train,"
Jenks responded cheerfjully. “Almost
the first person I questioned was this
fellow, Jim Blake. He has a yeUow cab
at the West Philly station stand."
‘*H|s story,” Jenks c<mtinued, “is
that Mr. Keith no sooner quit his own
machine in the station yard than he
hired Stake’s cab to follow it.” \ j
The detective turned to the taximan.
“Is that ,so, Blake? How can you be
certain the man was this Mr. Keith?’’
“I don’t know his name," Blake re
plied, gaining assurance, “but if he
wasn’t the same guy this bloke’s been
askin’ about, then he’s a double.
He comes in a maroon colored Packard
limousine, driven by a shoffer. It ain’t
hard to remember him; I haven’t had
such a'fare and run up such a big bill
in a half a year of sleepless Sundays."
*T see,” Rankki nodded. “In your
own way, Blake, tell me exactly what
happened. At what time did he ar
rive?"
“About twelve-fifteen, yesterday af
ternoon; and the car turned into the
station driveway, rght beside the Cld>'^
stand. That’s why I could hear every
thing he said. The shoffer wanted to
^rry in his bag but he told 'im never
mind iuid to go on, and handed it to
one of- the porters. He ordered the
dinge to check it' for ’im inside and
hold the cheek until be came back for
it; and he tipped ’im a buck. Then he
motioned fbr my bus and climbed in, in
a whale of a hurry."
“Well, all this didn’t take as long as
to tell it, y’unnerstand," continued the
cabman. “And when he got in my cab,
his limousine was only leavin’ the sta
tion yard.^ He says, 'Follow that car;
ahd don’t get too close, but dqn’t lose
it, whatever you do.’ /
“In West Philly, he turns down
IVirty-fifth street and stops outside
an apartment house; there he picks
up a gent waitin’/for ’inoH-a tall, blond,
handsome guy, like an athlete. I think
the place was the Westview Apart
ments," he added.
Rankin nodded. “Of course, be went
for Allen Rowland," he informed
Jenks. 'T suppose tlMn, Blake, the next
destination was OhMthut Hill?"
“That’s right," the driver agreed.
*Tt, was easy followin’ along there,
though the shoffer speeded some. We
went tp a swanky apartment house,
the Aldwich. I stayed outside the en
trance and the shoffer got. out and
walked in; and in a minute, a pretty,
•#ell 3roung woman joint gent in
jUtit tonnoe. Then, a litHe after two,
we was all off again."
“Where to this time ?’’ Ra^in quer-
ied. ,
“Back to town—to the Wolff build
ing, at SixtoMith and Maricet street.
My passenger didnit get out right
away; he waited a couple of minutes
after the lady and her escort went in
before he followed tbem. The shoffer
stayed outside in the car. I got orders
to’ srsit too, but not over ten minutee;
if Mr.—Wdkit’s-’is-name dkta^ show up
by then, I was to leave. And he bends
me a whoopin^ bief tip beeidee a six-
dollar fare. So T ht
most fifteen nnimites, but he never
came out aaf&^hat was the last I seen
of ’im>" '
Rankin spoke with ill-oonoealed ea-
gemees. “IW any of the' peo^e you
were interested in ai^iear while you
were watching, Blake?’’
The taximan seiatched his bead and
replaced his cap askew. '
“Oh, yes, the agent the shotfef
picked up came out and spoke to ’iin,"
he replied, as if just remembering. “I
guess to dismiss Mm or give ’tm or
ders, because he drove off as soon as
he went inside again."
“Could yon say nrhat time this hap
pened? it*9 impoKant for yen to be as
closed that he had no special knowl
edge about either Mrs. Rowland’s di
vorce or the murder itself.
Presently Rankin turned to the
more pressing subject.
“I unde^tand, Mr. MacQttire,’’^ he
said, “that you had a caller yesterday
afteroon named James'Tarleton?”
The lawyer displayed surprise but
nodded, “’niat’s correct," he said.
‘You were acquainted with him, of
course?” The detective kept hps tone
casual. “He was a regular client Of
;^urs?’’
"'tOn the contrary, Mr. Rankin, I nev
er met him before in my^Jife. As-is my
habit^'when 8trangers~Mnsult me, I
inquired how he happened to seek
me out. I^e stated that he had learned
of the firin’s special repute in hand
ling divorce nvatters."
“And it was about a divorce, I sup
pose, that he sought your advice?”
asked Rankin.
WhereNtte lawyer had spoken will
ingly beforb^he now hesitated.
“That is somewhat difficult to an
swer," he retorned cautiously. “You
realize I am ^und to treat a client’s
affairs as •strictly confidential."
“Yes, under ordinary circumstan
ces," Rankin agreed, but where a hei
nous crime is concerned, then^iare ex
ceptions. Have 3rou noticed t^ pic
tures of Mrs. Keith’s husband in the
papers?" ’ .
Mr. MacQuueMi j^ridrbation in
creased. “I . . not very closely. I’m
afraid. Besides, I had all my informa
tion of the tragedy firsthand from Mr.
Dawson."
“That would explain why you didn’t
mark the resemblance b^ween your
caller and MortimePKeith," said Ran
kin. ^
Mr. MacQuire’s uneasiness turned
into astonishment. “Mortimer Keith?"
he exclaimed. “But that’s incredible!
He explain^ he wanted to obtain a
release from paying alimony."
“A rather weak excuse,” Rankin
smiled thinly. “Did anything Mr. Keith
say suggest he was really interested
in what his wife was doing there?
For instance, hid he mention her or
the Rowlands?"
• Mr. MacQuire’s, jaw- tighten^.
“Yes, he mentioned Allen Rowland;
but so casually I could hardly sur
mise he bad an uHerior motive. He
said be had obeerved some one slight;
ly familiar enter the office just ahead
of him, who he thought was Rowland
whom he had once met.’’
“And how did you reply to that?"
Rankin asked.
I_l«t him understand 'that
while I, personally, had no dealing
with him, Mr. Dawson was deliberat
ing h}8 case. Just what way, I didn’t
go into.”
*^But Mr. Keith at least learned K
was a divorce case that brought him
there?"
The lawyer flushed uncomfortaUy.
“He seemed familiar with his domes
tic troubles without my telHng him;
in-facL if his object was id pump me,
he was very cautious. We dropp^ the
nng around for al- subject and left together."
“TMwt was at two-fifty, wasn’t H,
ICr. MacQmre?"^ the 'detective in
quired.
“To the instant I was due at my
club at three-fifteen, and was jK> jsor-
ried about being late for ipy game that
toward the last I constantly watched
the closk."
At which time, Rankin reflected, the
cabman, Blake, had alrci^y stopped
waiting for Mr. Keith and driven
away. -
“And what became of your visitor ?"
Mr. MaeQuirs replied slosrly, un-
conscKHis that on’his answer rested
the eccuraey of Rankin’s deduction. '
“At the lobl^ we oeid good-by and
parted at the entrance of the building.]
I had.to catch a train." ' *
“Have you'any idea in which direc
tion Mr. Keith- w.e»t?’’ the detective
“I couldn’t tell you that," Mr. Mac
Quire replied. “As I left, he started
back jnto the lobby, to buy some ci
gars at the stand, and tlmt was the
last L saw of him." ^
' Rankin rose with a smile of satis
faction and reached for his hat.
Rankin determined to interview the
ex-secretary ' that very night. She
lived in Logan on York road, in e pri
vate dwelling with a brownstone front
thet had been remodeled into an apart
ment house.
Jill Edmond, though surprised at
his visit, did not appear especially dis
turbed. She had a three-room apart
ment. Taking Rankin’s hat, the girl
indicated a chair.
‘I must apologize foe|intruding at
tKis time of night. Only I need a bit
of information you can supply imme
diately."
“Of course, if I can," Miss Edmond
returned curiously, “What do you want
to know?”
“It’s about the evening you went
with Mr. Rowland to Sunset inn. You
told me before you had no idea why
Mortimer Keith* tumM up, right af
ter Mrs. Rowland interrupted you.
I’ve come to 1^ you reconsider that
statement."
The secretary stiffened, on guard.
“Add to it?" she repeated^ affecting
perplexity. “No, it’s still a puzzle to
me what brought him there or where
he came from.” f
Rankin’s features set ih a stem
frown. ^
‘*You don’t believe that yourself and
you are hidi^ the truth.” Harshness
cref^ into his tone. “In fact, Miss Eki-
n^d, you kept to yourself a great
should have learned. For in
stall, ♦that you received four thou
sand dollars to act as Allen Rowland’s
. . . sweetheart, and correspondent in
the divorce!”
H% saw that the shot thrust home,
as she caught b®*" breath, her eyes
full, of consternation.
(Continued Next Week).
Restrict^ Policy May Be An
nounced That Will Not Inter-
JfiJre With Crop Movi^ent.
W’ashington, Aug. 19. — Obscurity
concemtlV thergOverniiHHi»*» .1988
ton loan plans continued t^ay even
after three h^ officials spent more
than an hour discussing the subject
with President Roosevelt. i
Secretary Wallace, Sceretary Mor-
genthauapd Chairman Jesse Jones, of
the Reconstruction Finance corpor
ation, attended the White House con
ference. They declined tp comment or
to predict the amount of a loan.
Conferences concerning the loan
continued at the agriculture depart
ment. Ask^ what tlM status of the
iMn s'^man wiis, bhe high farp^^
ficial said the situation remained un-
chdhged. It was reported authorita
tively Saturdly that a final decision
had not been reached. .
, It was learned that officials have
l^n discussing the possibility of a
compromise arrangemenf'fbr a loan on
the 1935 crop.
Instead of a flat 12-cent loan to
which some AAA officials *are op
posed, or even a 10-cent advance, it
was reported that officials have dis
cussed the possibility of a restricted
loan-^-a plan of adVancing farmers a
certain amount on stipulated portion
of their allotments under the Bank-
head law.
Other plans for a restricted and cur
tailed loan have been discussed, it was
learned, aija~some officials -predicted
that one of these might be chosen in
preference to a flat loan.
Among AAA authorities there was
a belief that a 12-cent loan, with the
market below '^hat figure, might re
sult in many farmers seeking advanc
es in preference tp_selling cotton. This
it was said, might restrict movement
of*the crop.
On the other hand, one official said,
a restricted loan might be provided
to enable farmers to obtain cash witht
out at the same time being sufficient
ly attractive to result in piling up cot
ton on the hands of the government.
/
/
Mrs. Betty Lawson spent the week
end with her uncle, Will Lawson, near
Spartanburg.
Mrs. Will Jones visited relatives in
Greenwood.
Mrs. Frank Saxton of Greenwood,
is spending the week with her sister,
Mrs. Jack Anderson.
Mi^ Edna Chaney is visiting rela
tives in Laurens.
Misses Inez BVown and Rla,Wright
are spending a two weeks’ vacation in
Spartanburg.
Mrs. D. V. Wright and Miss Mildred
Brown were visitors in Whitmire Sun
day.
Mr. and Mrs. John Word visited
their son. David, in Pelzer Sunday.
Mrs. BlajKhe Creswell is visiting
her brother, David Owens, in Welford,
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Trammell and
daughter, Jerry, Mrs. Woodrow Wil
son, Mrs. Arthur Daris and daughter,
Christine, and Mrs. Claude Warren,
visited relatives in Pelzer Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Davis and daugh
ters, Alice and Audrey, are sj^nding
the yreek in the mountains.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Seay and Mrs.
Clyde Trammell visited Natives in
Greenville last week, the Utter re
maining for a longer visit.
With the Sick
Miss Elsie Burkett has returned
from the '~GriMnwood hospital. Her
friends will be glad to kno4r she is
doing nicely.
Friends of “Granny” Crocker will
regret to know of herdHneas, and wiab
for her a apeedy recovary.
The friends of lyill Ledford ahd
Mri. Garter on Frhhoes street, Mr.
Gregory and little B- F. Scott on Sloan
street, Mrs. Pearl Sanders on Jackson
street, and Mrs. (Charlie Alexander on
Waehington street, are sorry to hpt(r
of their illness.
Mrs. Kenneth Brown is ill at the
home of her parents. Rev. and Mrs. V.
McK. Marlowe.
/
Mission Society Meeis
The Woman’s Missionary society of
Calvary Baptist church held its regu
lar monthly meeting Monday night at
the home of Mrs. John Word. Mrs. V.
McK. Marlowe, the president, presid
ed. The business attended to, t^ pro
gram on Japan and Japaneee" whs in
charge of Mrs. D. V. Wright. After the
profl^am, delicious refreshments were
serv^ by the hostess.
Mother’s Clnb In Session •
The Mother’s club met Tuesday eve-
iilDg. at the community halL ^ter
business was disposed of; an interest
ing program was enjoyed The meet
ing was dismissed with prayer by the
president, MivR. T. Trammell.
Shop First In
THB CHRONICLB
Than In the Stans
Trackmen Enroll
At Presbyterian
Lonnie S. McMilbian, coach of track
and basketball at Presbyterian collejfe,
who has, with others, been searching
for new students for P. C. through
the summer, must have had his eyes
and ears open for new track matt'rial
from which to build P. C.’s accus
tomed championship track teams.
He recently reported that a prom
ising looking bunch of potential track'
stars have enrolled at the college.
Coach McMlllian should recognize
potential track stars better than most
coaches as his record shows that he
has built many outstanding- track
teams at P. C.
Considering the comparatively small
size of the student body, and the fast
competition which Lonnie Mac hfis
eturoiintered successfully in larger
schools, it is believde that he can boast
of ope of the most unusual track rec
ords in the South. Here is -his record
from 1924 through 1935;
Dual meets; Won 26, lost 14.-
’ S. i. A. A. champions 1927, 1929,
1980; runnerup 1936.
South < Carolina state champions
1927, 1930, 1931, 1933; runnerup 1928,
1929, 1932, 19^4, 1935.
One mile r4lay record in Southeast
ern Amateur Athletic union .and
South Carolina.
From time to time during the pe
riod covered many records have been
establlshehd'by members of the P. C.
track* teams coached by McMillian
Since 1925 McMillian’s t^ms have.es
tablished the remarkable record of be-
ig champions or runnepsup each year.
T^is is done with a student'body of
300 or less.
WAN
T s
CABBAGE PLANTS and Cofiard
Plants. Bulk Turpip Seed^ Shogoin
and all other leading varieties. Blake
ly Brothers Seed Store, Phone 188. Ic
RADIOS checked free. Tubes, Parts,
Aerials. Radkf Repairing a Special
ty. Guaranb^ SetVice.' Phona 86.
Radio E^fduilge, tf
■ STEJ
|i£LIA£
ADY WORK-^OD PAY.-
lABI^ MAN WANTED to call
on fanners in Laurens County. No
experienoe or capital needed. Write
to^y. McNese Co., Dept. T, Freeport,
Illinois. Ips
NOTICE '— Anyone knowing where
abouts of black curly-haired Scotch
terrier, answering to name of “Jack,"
and owned by Capt^ W. L. Blanton,
please notify The Chronicle. $3J)0 re-
warif for recovery. , ^-2p
MAN WANTED for Rawleigh Route
of 800 families. Good profits for
hustler. We train and help you. Write
today. Rawleigh Co., Dept. SCH-27-
SA2, Richmond, Va. 8-29-5p
PROFESSIONAL NOTICE—- After
being for past ten months in field
service U. S. Internal Revenue Bu
reau, I am nony devoting my entire
time, to the practice of law. Ten years
practice in Columbia. Six and a half
years with the government and gov
ernment agencies. Offices moved from
Centckl Union Building Uf 121 m
Wariiiogtcm street, over Standard
Building And Loan. Wingate Waring,
Attorney 4t Xmw, Columba; S. C>
Ffaona 9507.
8-«9-2p
Uf • '
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A
HOW MUCH-
Taxes does the outside printing salesman or his
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HOWhflUCH-
Does he or his firm .contribute ifO the welfare of-
our city?
HOW MUCH -
Does he or his firm do io keep Clinton on the
map?
HOW MUCH- ^
Interest does he\take in the affairs of this com
munity?
\
HOW MUCH-
Money does he or the prihters that do the work
spend with the Clinton mercl^ants?
HOW MUCH -
Publicity does he give worthwhile moyeihents Rnd
individual business enterprises?
Your Home News
paper Printing
Establishment
—Pays taxes in Clinton.
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lies whose earnings are spent In Clinton.
• • x'
y
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ment. -
y
—Boosta pinton as a good place Jn which to live and
trajld.
X' ■ ^
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—And ' •
“AU Kinds of Print
ing Except Bad"
Pub. (|o.
Publishers—Printers
i
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