University of South Carolina Libraries
THE SUN. NEWBERRY, S. C. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1939 CHILD OF EVIL O OCTAVUS ROY COHBN WNU SERVICE OCTAVUS ROY COE THE STORY SO FAR Beautiful, young Kay Forrest has been employed by Christine Maynard, photographer, to pose for a series of pictures, the background of which will be exquisite Cathedral Gardens, famous Southern resort. Unknown to them, one Jeff Butler, mean, unscrupulous "swamp angel,” has led a friend to spy on the two women. Kay. of necessity, Is scantily clad while posing for the camera studies. Kay frequently stays with Mrs. Ruth Hamilton, her son Barney, of whom Kay is very fond, and her daughter Margaret. Mrs. Hamilton, a remarkable woman, conceived the idea of the Gardens following the death of her husband. One night, after a local dance. Kirk Reynolds, a ne’er-do-well gambler of Beverly, a resort town, and Kay go for a ride. Kirk's car collides with that of Harvey Jackson, and during the ensuing argument Kirk whips out a gun and kills the young, popular engineer. Kay is completely stunned by the tragedy. Kirk threat ens to drag her into the thing if she tells even her father. Terror-stricken, she agrees to remain silent. However, the next time she goes out with Barney, he realizes something is wrong. She- tells him nothing. Mrs. Emma Forrest, Kay’s mother, is firm, positive and demanding. Her father is exactly the opposite, kindly, and unassuming. While at home Kirk Reynolds calls for her, and she is forced to go with him despite her family’s protests. He tells her the circumstances make it nec essary for her to marry him so she cannot be forced to testify against hi.n if he is accused of Jackson’s murder. They drive to a neighboring town and are married. The next time they are together Kay tells Barney she loves him, but is married to Reynolds. She refuses to tell him why she married the gambler, but he promises to try Co understand. Meanwhile, Miss Sonia ("Babe’’) Henkel, Beverly beauty operator of questionable morals, and intimate friend of Kirk Reynolds, berates him for marrying Kay. CHAPTER V—Continued —7— Babe was thinking aloud. “So you did kill Harvey Jackson.” He spoke acidly. “Pipe down on that.” “She was with you that night.” “What of it?” “Plenty. Now get this, Kirk, and get it straight. I don’t give a hang what you do with other women, but when you throw the harpoon into me, I get sore.” “So what?” “So plenty. I know why you mar- Tied this girl. And there are some things I’m not standing for. This is one of them.” “You’re not threatening me, I hope.” “Take it any way you want. Where is she now?” “None of your business. It just happens I don’t mind telling you that she went out to the Gardens with that Hamilton kid.” “Making you look sappy, eh?” Her voice cut into him. He shrugged. “If that doesn’t suit you—” “It suits me all right. What doesn’t suit me is that you didn’t tell me what you had up your sleeve.” “Since when did I start shooting off my mouth to you? Now grab this. Babe, I’m in a tough spot, and you might as well know it.” “Okay.” “In this State,” he said flatly, “a wife cannot be made to testify against her husband.” She said, “You did kill him, didn’t you?” “I’m telling you for the last time: Lay off that! I’m not talkin’ to any body, see, not even you.” “I’d like to help . . “Then keep your trap closed. I’m saying nothing. Let the saps talk if they want. But don’t you join in the chorus.” He looked up at her. "And don’t go soft on me.” “I won’t. I’ve played around with you a pretty long time, you know.” “Yeh, I know. You’re on the level . . . and I’m glad you’re not doing a run-out. Though if you feel that way—go to it.” She said, “I don’t though. It’s Just that this marriage of yours ain’t easy to swallow all of a sudden. Also, whether you like it or not, I don’t enjoy the idea of you being in a jam.” He took her hand with what was, for him, a great demonstration of affection. “You’re not so bad your self, Babe. So snap out of it.” “I will.” She waved and went out the door. ' “So he ditches me for a country kid.” Her fists clenched. “Well, he •aa’t get away with it.” , /j-*; CHAPTER VI ' The Lotus Gardens were nearing completion. It was understood that they would be ready for the public as soon as the azalea season had passed its peak. More reclaimed swamp, greater and more bewilder ing beauty. More tourists. Busi ness men were delighted, non-busi- ness persons didn’t quite know how to accept it . . . and godly souls who lived in the very rural districts considered it a disgrace. Country preachers declaimed against this imported iniquity from the pulpits of cross-roads churches, hands were held high in horror, the name of the Devil was bandied freely and with unction. And—town and coun try alike—the people pointed unwa veringly at what had occurred since the completion of Ruth Hamilton’s scheme to beautify ugly swampland and at the same time earn a fair income for herself and her two chil dren. There had been, for instance, the murder of Harvey Jackson on a lonely country road. The Harvey Jackson Mystery. It was called that at supper-tables, at club-meetings, at church socials. It was thus dubbed in front-yard con-, versations and at gathering places like the Fair Play Store and the Bon Ton Pool Room. It was denounced as a shame and disgrace, and the public inquired frequently and ve hemently why Gabe Dixon didn’t do something about it. Mr. Dixon was Solicitor of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, of which Beauregard County was a part. He was a resident of the town of Bev erly: a man whe was tall, lean and nervous. He had misty, shifty eyes and large, restless fingers and feat. Ha was addicted to stiff white col lars and ridiculous little white wash- ties. In times of stress his emo tional reactions were betrayed by an excited bobbing of his collar-but ton beneath a prominent Adam’s ap ple. He was a keen politician and a member of a family which con trolled at least half the votes in Beauregard County. He was shrewd, keen and consci entious . . . whenever and whergver conscientiousness was not calculat ed. to deprive him of votes. In a court-room, his very awkwardness made him effective, and he held the reins of office tightly, doing the ma jor portion of his job with astonish ing efficiency. For .nstance, he was genuinely anxious to find and convict the kill er of Harvey Jackson. That, he felt, would be an excellent move. Har vey Jackson had been one of the most popular young men in Beverly, son of ultra-respectable middle-class parents, an able young engineer and a man highly regarded by maidens and others. And because Mr. Dixon was sincere in his desire to con vict, he—at first—said nothing about the odd little compact which had been found on the road beside Har vey Jackson’s dead body. Of course, the whole town knew about the com pact, and discussed it avidly. The man who had found it failed to keep the secret. Solicitor Dixon investigated shrewdly, endeavoring to make sound evidence of that compact. He learned that it possibly belonged to Katherine Forrest—daughter of An drew Forrest. He couldn’t prove it, of course—not then—because he un derstood that it was a type of com pact which could be purchased in any of several New York cosmetic- shops ; the sort of compact that tour ing ladies might have carried. Then he discovered that on the night of Harvey Jackson’s demise, Kay For rest had gone riding with Kirk Rey nolds. The evidence was still too circumstantial, but it indicated sev eral things to Mr. Dixon. He be lieved that Reynolds had killed Jackson and that Kay Forrest had witnessed the affair. Beverly’s hard common sense, plus verbose interpretation by So licitor Dixon, gave a fairly proper picture of the tragedy. Mr. Dixon was quizzed. “You reckon Kirk Reynolds killed him, Gabe?” “He might have.” “Then why don’t you have him arrested?” “No chance of convictin’ him. Not on what we’ve got.” “You knew all the time that was Kay Forrest’s compact. Why didn’t you light on him befo’?” “Lots of gadgets like that. Any of these tourists might have lost one similar.” “But you could have tried him, couldn’t you?” “That wouldn’t have been smart. He’d have been acquitted, and then he couldn’t be touched again.” “Well”—with a hopeless gesture— “Look what he’s done now. He’s gone and married her.” “He sho’ has. And I cain’t make her testify against him. Smart boy, this Reynolds.” “Smarter’n you, eh, Gabe?” Mr. Dixon was unperturbed. “No-o, I wouldn’t be sayin’ that. This here marriage—with them not even livin’ together—tells us plenty. It’s just about the same as sayin’ that Kirk killed Jackson and Kay Forrest saw him do it. They might’s well have advertised in the Gazette. And lis ten, when you know a man has done a crime, when you know it, mind you, it's just a question of time be fo’ you git the evidence to convict him with.” • • • Cathedral Gardens was bathed in silver glow. Moonlight limned the old house sympathetically. A sign, tacked to a pine at the entrance to the Gardens, announced that in asmuch as this was the last night of the full moon, no tourists would be admitted on succeeding days after seven o’clock. A young man and a girl left the house and walked toward the water. The young man was tall and straight and broad of shoulder. He walked slowly and gazed through the al most unearthly beauty of the Gar dens with pardonable pride. Jim Owenby, landscape engineer, had designed and built Cathedral Gardens. To a Beverly man had been given the distinction of having created this beauty spot. Working from Mrs. Hamilton’s original idea, fired by youthful ambition and pos sessing great technical skill, he had planned and supervised. Margaret Hamilton was young, slender and unobtrusively beautiful. Her hair was ash-blond, and she wore it close against her small, perfectly shaped head. Her eyes were gray, like those of her brother. At the moment they were soft and gentle, perhaps because her hand rested confidently on the muscular arm of the young man at her side. He helped her into a little bateau which was tied informally to a stake. He seated himself beside her, and handed her a paddle. “We’ll both have to navigate this craft,” he said lightly. “Unless you want me to sit in the back.” A boat came out of the darkness and purled gently past them. A woman’s voice, freighted with a sigh for the things that might have been, came to their ears. The voice said, “Did you see that young couple? It must be wonderful to be young—and to be here in the moonlight.” Margaret Hamilton touched the hand of the young man. The place was overpowering in its beauty. Un believable. Tiny islands, flaming A young man and a girl left the house. with blossoms, seemed vague and unreal. There were no dimensions. Jim Owenby propelled the little craft into a sheltered bayou. Here they were sheltered by a midnight blackness, and his arms went about the girl. He said nothing. He did not kiss her. Here was a commun ion which transcended the desire for demonstration and caresses, and if their bodies were vitally alive—if they were acutely conscious of each other—that was because they were very young and very much in love. And then he said, gently, “I thought we could talk out here ...” “I understand. Let’s go back, be cause we must talk.” They found a seat in an arbor which was mantled with wisteria, and Margaret said, “Now we can talk.” He took her hand. “It’s about Kay Forrest,” he said. Margaret nodded. “I knew that.” “I’m sorry for her. Sony as hell.” “So are we all.” Jim Owenby hesitated. “I’ve al ways known Kay. Since she was a kid. She’s pretty swell.” “Barney thinks so.” “Well, he’s right.” Jim changed the subject slightly. “You know, Barney has stuff I didn’t think he had. I thought he’d go under when Kay married this Reynolds . . . but during the past week he’s been tak ing it on the chin like a man.” She nodded. “We’ve been watch ing him. too. Mother and I. It's tough on him, but perhaps it’s what he needed. A sort of tempering of the steel that we know is in him. I’m terribly sorry for him.” Jim shook his head. “Why did Kay marry Kirk Reynolds?” Margaret said, “You tell me.” “Right . . . and I’ll only be tell ing you what everybody in Beverly is saying. She was forced to marry him so that she couldn’t testify against him if he happened to be tried for Harvey Jackson’s mur der.” “Of course.” “She was with Reynolds that night. She saw what happened.” “Do you blame her for being afraid of him?” “No. She’s just a kid. And to see a murder . . . She’s in a rotten spot, but that doesn’t alter the fact that—unless we’re wrong about ev erything—Kirk Reynolds murdered Harvey, and Harvey was my best friend.” “I see . . . And so?” “And so,” he said bitterly, “I can’t let matters stand where they are. I want to talk to Kay—want to see if she’ll tell me the truth.” Margaret pressed his hand. She said quickly, “You mustn’t.” “Why?” “It isn’t fair. Kay came here to get away from the nasty gossip in Beverly. She’s our guest ...” “But suppose she knew that she was going to be protected?” “She couldn’t know that. She’d only know that you’d be willing to do your best.” He said gravely, “In this State a woman may testify against her hus band. The law merely says that she cannot be compelled to.” “You mustn’t, Jim.” “But I must.” “Why?” “Because Harvey was my best friend, that’s reason number one. Secondly, I’m fond of Kay.” Margaret was staring off into the night. She hoped that her voice was steady. “Suppose you knew that Kirk killed Harvey. What would you do?” “I’m not sure.” He paused brief ly. Then, “Listen, dear—and try to understand. A man can’t just sit back and do nothing. I can’t ... and neither can Barney.” “Barney?” “Of course. He’s all shot by this marriage of Kay’s.” “You and Barney have been dis cussing it, haven’t you?” “Of course. As a matter of fact, we haven’t talked about much else.” “And so?” "We feel like a couple of prims saps. Or perhaps that sounds more flippant than I intend. What I’m driving at is that—for everybody’s sake—we don’t intend to" let Rey nolds get away with this.” “You know he’s dangerous.” “What of it?” “This, Jim . . . and I’m trying not to be selfish. The past few years haven’t been easy for us. You didn’t know Dad—so you can’t understand what his death really meant. Then the financial collapse and the sym pathy of our friends—which was the wrong kind of sympathy. And Moth er’s worry over Barney which led to our coming down here so he could get away from wealthy friends who were too kind.” She paused and he touched her hand reassuringly. “I know. Plenty tough sledding.” “It is. Beverly has done a lot for all of us. I’ve been happy—maybe because I found you. But whatever the cause, I’m jealous of my happi ness. I don’t want it destroyed.” CHAPTER VII Barney said, “I’m proud of you, Kay. My mother is proud of you. Margaret is proud of you. The cook is proud of you.” Kay laughed in spite of herself. “The third waffle?” she inquired. “Plus grits and shrimp and what have you.” The girl rose from the breakfast- table and joined Mrs. Hamilton on the veranda. The morning was bril liant; pleasantly cool and crystal clear. Dozens of tiny bateaus were waiting patiently for passengers, and already several could be seen nosing quietly through the placid la goons. Barney came from the house and joined his mother and Kay. Kay looked up into the clean-cut, boyish face. “Going into town?” she asked. “Needs must. Heavy business.” There was a shadow of appre hension in her eyes. “Shopping?” “Yes. For Mother.” Strong fin gers closed about her arm. “And that’s all, Chica. My word of honor.” Kay followed him into the house, leaving Mrs. Hamilton alone on the veranda. A bateau approached the shore, navigating an eccentric course. In the double, high-backed seat amid ships, Mrs. Hamilton saw an elderly couple, and even at this distance it was apparent that the woman was more than a trifle nervous. The boat man was white, a long, angular in dividual who paddled the little craft viciously, to the further discomfort of his passengers. Mrs. Hamilton recognized the man. Jeff Butler, she remembered—and she had nev er liked him. He had seemed a sul len and resentful person. She knew instinctively that something was wrong, and this suspicion became certainty when Jeff drove the nose of the boat far up on the sloping bank with a last powerful stroke of his paddle. Mrs. Hamilton rose to greet them. “Anything wrong?” she inquired. “Yes.” The man spoke in a high, excited voice. “Who’s in charge around here?” “I am. Why?” “That fellow who had us in his boat . . .’’He gestured toward the lagoon. “He was drunk.” Ruth Hamilton’s eyes narrowed. “I’m terribly sorry . . .” “I was so frightened,” interjected the little woman. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. I thought every minute he might drown us.” “That wouldn’t be likely. The wa ter is very shallow in most places. But that doesn’t rectify matters. Sit down . . .” She designated chairs. “Tell me just what happened.” “He acted queer right from the beginning. And when we got inta the boat, he was ugly—” “—And insulting, wasn’t he, Ar thur?” “Quite. He kept paddling us, fast, when we wanted to stop and look at things. He wouldn’t do what we wanted—” “And he had liquor on his breath.” “Then he got very angry when ws told him to bring us in. Now, we’r# not complaining . . .” “But you have every right to com plain. I know the man and I don’t like him. I’m glad of this definite excuse to let him go.” The woman softened. “We don’t want anybody to lose his job . . (TO Bt CONIIHUMM- MAYBE FATHER WILL LIKE THESE? (Recipes Below.) HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONS Cleaning Dust Mops.—Use your vacuum cleaner to clean the dust mops with. • • • Care of Woodenware.—Wooden- ware used in mixing foods should be scalded often. • » • Mildew on Leather.—Petroleum ointment will remove mildew from leather furniture. * • • Soak Dried Fruits. — Raisins, dates, currants and figs blend bet ter with other ingredients if they are soaked for five minutes in a little boiling water. • .' * . • Furniture White Spots.—To re move white spots on furniture made by hot dishes, use powdered pumice and linseed oil, applied with a soft cloth, rubbed dry and polished with the grain. / Household Neuis Foods Men Like to Eat What are the foods that Father likes best—the fine, old-fashioned dishes—tasty, full of flavor, and per fectly cooked! He likes a meal to be composed of only a few foods; he wants to know what he is eating, and he does not want foods swathed in a blanket of whipped cream. In a word, fancy cooking is apt to be wasted on Father but he’ll appreci ate good cooking to the limit. Left to his own devices, many a man would choose a diet of meat, potatoes, and pie. They’re not par ticularly fond of vegetables—these men of ours—and when it comes to salads, it’s a sheer waste of energy to serve them anything fancy. So a little judicious planning is neces sary on our part in order to give Father his favor ite foods and pro vide a whole some, weU-bal- anced meal in the bargain. Each of these recipes, tested in my own kitchen, I’ve found to be prime favorites with men. Well pre pared and attractively served, they’ll go a long way toward es tablishing your reputation as a good cook. Vegetable Soup. (Serves 6) 2 pounds soup bone 2 tablespoons fat 2 quarts cold water 1 tablespoon salt % teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons barley 1 cup canned tomatoes 1 onion % cup carrots (cut in cubes) cup celery (cut in small pieces) Vz cup potatoes (cut in cubes) Vz cup peas Remove a portion of meat from cracked soup bone and cut into pieces. Brown in hot fat. Place browned meat, soup bone, season ings, and barley in kettle and add cold water. Cover and cook until boiling point is reached. Then sim mer about Vh hours or until meat is tender. Cool and skim off excess fat. Add vegetables and continue cooking until vegetables are tender. Devil’s Food Cake. (Makes one two-layer cake) 1V4 cups granulated sugar 2 ounces chocolate 1% cups milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Vz cup butter 2 eggs 2 cups cake flour % teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons baking powder Place Vz cup sugar, chocolate and cup milk in saucepan and cook, stirring constant ly, until thick. Add vanilla ex tract and cool. Cream butter and add remaining sugar. Separate eggs, beat egg yolks and add slowly. Then add the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix and sift all dry ingredients and add alternately with the remaining milk. Bake in 2 well-greased laytr-cake pans in a moderate oven (375 de grees) for approximately 25-30 min utes. Ice with boiled icing. Apple Pie. (Makes 1 pie) Cheese pastry 6 cooking apples Flour Vs teaspoon salt % cup granulated sugar Cinnamon Nutmeg 1 teaspoon lemon juice Line a pie tin with pie crust. Peel the apples and cut in slices. Sprin kle the bottom of the pastry with flour, salt and granulated sugar. Pile in the apples, filling very full. Dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and lemon juice. Cover with the top crust, crimp the edges together and score the top to allow the steam to escape. Bake in a hot oven (425 degrees) for about 40 minutes. Pigs-in-Taters. (Serves 6) 6 large baking potatoes 6 tablespoons margarine 4 to 5 teaspoons milk \Vz teaspoons salt Paprika Vz pound small sausages (cooked) Wash and dry potatoes. Place on rack in hot oven (500 degrees), and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are done. Cut a slice from one side of each and scoop out the inside. Mash thoroughly, add margarine, salt and paprika. Refill the potato shells. Make a depres sion in the center of each, and ar range in it 2 or 3 sausages. Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for about 10 minutes, or until brown. Harvest Moon Doughnuts. (Makes 24 doughnuts) Vk cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 4 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon nutmeg Vz teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Fat for deep fat frying Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Sift together dry ingredients and add alter nately with milk. Add vanilla. Roll dough V\ ■■ inch thick and cut with doughnut cutter. Fry in deep fat at 385 degrees until doughnuts are golden brown on both sides. Drain on absorbent paper. Sugar lightly, if desired. Hot Water Cheese Pastry. (Makes 1 2-crust pie) % cup shortening 6 tablespoons boiling water 2 cups general purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt Vz teaspoon baking powder 1 cup American cheese (grated) Place shortening in warm bowl, pour boiling water over it, and cream thoroughly with a fork. Place flour, salt and baking powder in flour sieve and sift gradually into the creamed mixture. Add cheese. Mix thoroughly. Make up into doughball, then chill in refrigerator. When ready to bake remove from refrigerator, divide dough and roll out. Line pastry tin with one por tion of the pastry and proceed with desired pie recipe. Need Help Feeding Father? If you would plan and serve meals to please the man of the house, send for a copy of Eleanor Howe’s book, “Feeding Father”; in it she tells what men like to eat and gives you recipes for father’s favorite foods— luscious apple pie, pot roast, oyster stew, and a man’s rich chocolate cake, and 125 other delicious dishes. Send 10 cents in coin to “Feeding Father,” care of Eleanor Howe, 919 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, and get your copy of this clever book now. Next week Eleanor Howe will give you in this column some of her own favorite recipes collect ed from good cooks the country over, tested in her own kitchen, and used successfully over a long period of years. Be sure to watch for “My Favorite Recipes” by Eleanor Howe. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) WORTH KNOWING Split hard rolls. Butter and then stuff them with chicken or fish salad. Chopped ham may be added to waffle batter and served with pine apple-orange sauce. Try combining two or more kinds of soup. The resulting mixture may be served in the regular way or used as a sauce for other dishes. Fruit Sandwiches — Put some dates or figs through a mincer and mix with some finely chopped nuts. Add a few drops of lemon juice, mix with cream cheese, and spread on slices of brown buttered bread. INDIGESTION Sensational Relief from Indigestion und One Dost Protes It If the first dose of this pleasant-tasting little black tablet doesn't bring you the fastest and most complete relief you hare experienced send bottle back to us and get DOUBLE MONEY BACK. Thla Bell-ans tablet helps the stomach digest food, makes the excess stomach fluids harmless and lets you eat the nourishing foods you need. For heart burn, sick headache and upsets so often caused by excess stomach fluids making you feel sour ana sick all over—JUST ONE DOSE of Bell-ans profes speedy relief. 25c everywhere. Still a Fellow Being However wretched a fellow mor tal may be, he is still a member of our common species.—Seneca. ____ J Put Just “2-drops” In DOSE I each nostril for quick iT I relief from excessive I nasal secretion. Ask for PENETROSkSS Evil Treachery Treachery, though at first very cautious, in the end betrays it self.—Livy. TAKE FOR MALARIA Get Relief From Chill* and Feoer! ( Don’t put up with terrible Malaria. Don’t endure the wracking chills and fever. At first sign of the dread disease, take Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic. A real Malaria medicine. Made especially for the purpose. Contains tasteless quinidine and iron. Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic ac tually combats Malaria infection in the blood. Relieves the awful chills and fever. Helps you feel better fast. Thousands take Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic for Malaria and swear by it. Pleasant to take, too. Even children take it without a whimper. Don’t suffer and suffer. At Ma laria’s first sign, take Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic. At all drug stores. Buy the large size as it gives you much more for your money. ^ Father of Independence In the end injustice produces in dependence.—Voltaire. Samis' 'lessedReliet RHEUMATISHKAGa Not an Act of Fortnne Fortune can take away riches but not courage.—Seneca. A GREAT BARGAIN VESPER TEA PURE ORANGE PEKOE 50 Cups for lO Cents Ask Your Grocer More Paths Than One There is more than one way out of the woods. FILMS Developed- Printed Any Size Ro^l 6 or 8 Exposures Fadeless Pnnts ^ • Postage Paid • DIXIE FILM SERVICE r. O. Bom 438S-A Atlanta. Co. Good Merchmdise Can Be CONSISTENTLY Advertised ♦ BUY ADVERTISED GOODS