MllUDf R
PIRATES HEAD
BH ISABEL WAITt<^J-,i£—■
THE STORY SO FAR: Judy Jason,
trho Is telling the story, receive* an
anonymous letter enclosing $#00 and ask
ing her to bid tor an abandoned church
to be anctioned the next day. She And*.
In an old chest, the body of a man Identi
fied as Roddy Lane. The body disap
pears a few hours later. A fish shed
barns, apparently killing an old man
named Brown. Lily Kendall Is found
dead, with Hugh Norcros*' scarf around
her neck. Some of the guests succeed
In hailing a passing sailor and sending
him for the police. Judy accidentally
brushes against the wet palm on Albion
Potter's picture, revealing underneath,
n picture of Lily Kendall’s niece.
Now continue with Judy’s story.
CHAPTER XVIII
I could see the whole group had
•topped to listen. And also that tne
•allboat had completely disappeared.
Victor bent over Mr. Quincy's chaii
and whispered to him.
“With a monkey." I went on. "A
cute little monkey looking at itself
in a vanity mirror.”
“Arlene Parker.” I overheard
Quincy whisper to Victor. Evident
ly he heard what I was telling Pot
ter, too. “Did you say she had a
monkey in her arms?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Oh, nothing. Just a coincidence,
I suppose. But Arlene Parker did
a magazine cover a while ago of
•ome movie star holding a monkey.
‘Movie Beauties* it was. Just won
dered if it might have been this
niece of Miss Kendall's—what's her
name?"
“Gloria Lovelace. Know her. Pot
ter?”
His wide eyes held Victor’s as he
shook his head. “Never been West,”
he said.
“Judy, I’d like to see that por
trait, if you'll get it,” Victor said.
“Perhaps Mr. Quincy can tell if it’s
this Gloria Lovelace.”
“Oh, it is,” I said quickly. "It’s
on her bureau now. I just com
pared it."
“Get the painting.”
I brought down the double pic
ture and they all gathered around
to look at first one side and then the
other.
“There, you see?" Albion pointed.
‘The initials prove I didn't paint
the portrait, just as I said." Any
one could see he was telling the
truth, for the letters were blunt
print on the church side and sort of
hieroglyphics on the other; but both
distinctly A. P.
"Same as the cover, all right.
How'd you get hold of it. Potter?"
For a moment I thought he
seemed a little confused. “Picked
it up in a second-hand store in Bos
ton. Liked the monkey. Why should
I have to tell you people I couldn't
afford a lot of canvas."
Thaddeus Quincy played with his
cane. “Too bad you daubed that
freen paint on. Think you could get
it all off some way? Arlene's hus
band would pay you a fat price for
that picture."
“You know him?” Victor asked.
“Know of him. Who doesn't? Al
bert Parker—the famous movie di
rector. He nearly went nuts when
his wife ran away with Lane, but it
wasn't until after she came home
again to die that he began collecting
her work.”
“You—you can have it back, Mr.
Potter.”
“Keep It, Judy.” he said, a bit
huskily. “Sell it if you like. 1 don’t
care.”
“Of course you don’t, Parker.”
Potter whirled on Victor. “What
did you call me?”
I called you Albert Parker—Ar
lene’s husband. Coincidences like
this don’t just happen except in sto
ry books. Your initials and Pot
ter’s, I piean. Your having a pic
ture in your possession worth a lot
of money and you ostensibly so hard
up. Easy enough to trace, once the
police get here, or do you deny it?’’
Across the cove a little speck ap
peared on the water. Was it the po
lice boat?
‘‘No, 1 don't deny it,’* Potter re
torted. "What if I am Parker?
Where does that get you? Any more
of a motive for scotching that snake
than Quincy's here? Sure, I’m Park
er. What the hell of it?"
"If you’re trying to connect me
with Lane's death you’re out of luck,
that’s all I went to town that night.
That let’s me out. Dropped into the
movies. The picture was ’Love's
Tirade.’ Want me to tell you all
about it?"
"Not if you directed it in the mak
ing." Victor said.
"Why, damn you. Quade-— I’ve got
the stub in my pocket somewhere.
I think.” He fished around in sev
eral pockets of his dowdy, un
pressed. much-worn gray suit and
produced a purple stub. “Thank
Ood I saved that!"
I gawked at the stub along with
the rest of them. I d been to the
movies a lot at the Head myself
and couldn't help noticing.
"But that’s an afternoon stub," I
said. "They're pink at night."
“Thanks. Judy " Victor frowned
at poor Potter, who nervously be
gan to light the first cigar I'd ever
seen him smoke. It had a fine aro
ma, not nasty like Uncle Wylie’s
pipe. "You’ll have to fish for an
other stub."
Potter pretended to fish. ’Tve
been to the show more than once,"
he sneered. "If you’re trying to
put me on the spot for this business
I’ll say right now I had no reason to
push Lily Kendall into the ledges
down there and I never saw Old
Man Brown."
"Oh, look! Here ft comes!" There
could be no mistaking that the speck
had grown considerably larger and
was heading our way.
"Well, thanks be!"
"Won't be long now!"
"No, that fingerprint in your vani
ty case powder will soon be identi
fied. Judy. Then we’ll see if it
matches the one on what I saw on
the rocks near the Pirate's Mouth
and the partial whorls on the Lane
diamond.
"What are you talking about?”
demanded Hugh Norcross.
"Prints. Fingerprints. We have
three—probably more— but three
that will count. The fellow who
parked that evidence in Judy's com
pact—”
"But it was only a bead!"
"Bless you, yes! Brilliant rain
bow, square cut, worth a small for
tune. The killer may have wiped
your golf club clean of prints, Nor
cross, but he pulled a boner when
he left his finger touch Judy's pow
der."
"And this thing which you saw
on the rocks near the Pirate's
"Leakin' like a sieve!"
Mouth," Potter’s tone was scathing
"Where is it now?"
De Witt spoke from the doorway.
"I'd like to know, too."
"The police will tell you," Victor
said. "Let’s go meet them.”
“Let's." Albion Potter tore down
the steps, taking the path toward
the woods by the barn, but suddenly
he stopped short and veered for the
wharf. He leaped into the Eleanor
and pushed off before the crowd
realized what was happening. "I’ll
meet them!" he cried, rowing for
dear life in the leaky boat.
By the time the men reached the
rickety wharf, the Eleanor, carry
ing Potter, was out of reach.
"Man, you'll sink!” called my Un
cle Wylie, and at that I didn’t bother
with the quest of the willow stump
but tore after the others.
Aunt Nella came trotting along,
too. "Is he crazy! Leakin’ like a
sieve!"
Indeed, the water covered several
Inches above the boat’s bottom.
“Come on back." Victor cried
“You'll never reach the police."
Potter glanced over his shoulder,
though he kept tugging at the oars,
putting more distance between him
and the wharf. He made little prog
ress, but enough so that no one,
had he desired, could leap aboard.
The other boat was getting bigger
and bigger. Only the matter of a
few minutes.
The screen door banged behind
us. Bessie Norcross came running
down to where her brother was
standing.
“Hughie, darling! There's a
launch coming. Stay with me till
it's over.” Then she was among us,
asking questions and clinging to her
brother.
Hugh told her to be quiet. “Shall
I swim out to him, Quade?"
Victor shook his head. “He'd only
fight you.”
“You bet I would!” Potter said
grimly, bracing his feet as the wa
ter seeped over his shoes. "I missed
when I threw Lane * revolver over
the cliff and it landed in a crevice
of the rocks, but I'm going to make
it this time. You’ve got a stupen
dous mystery to write. Victor
Quade. Make a colossal picture.
Wish I might have the directing of
it. Anything you'd like me to clear
up? You'll have to talk fast.”
"Yes, sir. Where’s the body of
Roddy Lane? In the sea?" De Witt
asked.
Albion grimaced, pointing an oar
at the ruins of the shed. "That’s
Lane!"
“Then where's Old Man Brown?”
yelled Uncle Wylie.
“Let me, please," Victor said.
“She's filling fast You. of course,
were Old Man Brown, Mr. Parker?
You came here and established
yourself in that old shack as a rec
luse. for the sole purpose of taking
vengeance on Lane, whom you knew
was coming to the Head. That
right?'*
"God, yes! I adored my wife. She
—she wanted to go on with her ca
reer as a magazine illustrator. I
let her. She did movie stars for
covers of movie periodicals, most
ly. Among others, several paintings
of Gloria Lovelace. Lane," Potter
cried bitterly, “was always hang
ing around Hollywood actresses—
lavishing money he'd stolen on
them. Kept my wife strapped, aft
er the first infatuation had worn off. j
Played her for a sucker, though I
didn't know it till she came home, I
broken-hearted, after he’d cast her
aside for a new pretty face. Arlene
was found in her car in the garage.
Monoxide. Paper said it was an
accident, but I knew better.”
"You knew where Lane kept his j
misbegotten funds? He'd told your
wife he would repay her loans—that j
right?”
Parker, or Potter as I thought or
him, leaned on the oars and bowed
his head. ‘ Let it out to Arlene, just
as he did to Quincy's daughter, he
had a big wad hidden in the base
ment of the church. I dug it up.
It's now—what’s left of it, about
$200,000—deposited in a bank of Bos
ton. Discovered it the day before |
Lane came, while I was ostensibly |
fishing off the rocks. Hope at least
a percentage can be returned to
the rightful claimants.”
‘‘Disguised as a deaf old man,
whom nobody ever saw very dis
tinctly? The ear apparatus, thick
lenses and the stoop made an easy
impersonation. Not very difficult to
get yourself up as a recluse. Sup
pose your business as a director
made that second nature. But how
did you dare to come to the inn in
the role of an obscure artist?”
‘‘That,” Potter said, “was to be
my alibi. Lane had never known
me. I doubt if he'd ever seen me
in passing. My wife—women don't
acquaint their husbands with their
—their boy friends. As Potter, I
was safe, I thought. I don't really
paint, as you must know from the
church picture, but Arlene taught
me a little just for fun. It came in
handy, or I thought it would. Really
it led to my undoing. But skip it.
The thing was that Old Man Brown
was established at the Head. You
know they saw the light burning in
the fish shed last night. I'd left it
to make folks think Brown was at
home. After the fire. Brown's
glasses and earphone would be found
in the bushes, instead of beside his
charred body. If Lane vanished the
same night, it would look as if
Lane might have killed him,
wouldn't it? Left the big earphone
outside the fire area to do away with
any theory of accident—Lane’s fin
gerprints on it!”
“The victim used as the killer!”
Victor emphasized. “Mighty clev
er. Regular movie style.”
“Wasn’t it! I could get my re
venge and make my victim the sup
posed murderer in hiding. That's
why I left a time bomb at the
bridge—to supposedly give Lane a
head start and confuse the police.
Smashed the boats for the same rea
son, but it was a mistake draining
his car—too clever. Cut off his
means of escape.
“Milkman received a phone call
from Rockville to leave the milk at
the end of the route, on the Fourth,
and keep his mouth shut about what
he saw. and he'd And an extra $20
in one of his milk bottles the next
day Give it to him, will you, Judy,
out of the fund I sent you for the
church? You see. I wasn't sure I’d
And Lane's money before the auc
tion, so had you buy the church
where I could browse around later,
if necessary. It wasn't necessary,
and I’m truly sorry I let you in for
suspicion. However, keep it for what
you will and don't think loo badly
of me."
1 felt my eyes Ailing as he looked
my way. The water was up to his
knees! Any moment I was sure the
old Eleanor would disappear into
the bay. The chug-chug of the po
lice launch was growing louder and
louder. I couldn't speak. I could
only nod my head and cry.
Bessie Norcross screamed: "He
did it!! 1 didn't! I didn’t! I only
confessed to save my brother." The
fact just seemed to dawn upon her.
“We know it. Take her away,
Norcross,” Victor said impatiently.
He could see the nearness of the
police boat, too, and the creeping
water in the other.
But Hugh merely turned to quiet
Bessie. He put his arm around her
and I saw her bury her face against
his coat
De Witt asked eagerly: “Find any
ledgers. Potter? That church busi
ness I told you about. Wasn’t in
New York. It was here. Lane was
one of my deacons—the elder Lane,
I mean. How I'd like to have the
case reopened! His suicide, tanta
mount to a confession, brought about
my pardon. The church funds were
on deposit in the bank. There was
a forged check. He must have sus
pected his son was responsible for
everything. About ruined me. I
dropped the Smith from my name
when I Anally was allowed to preach
again."
He hadn't. Potter said, found any
books or other papers. Only cash
and negotiable securities.
/TO RE COSTINIED)
FIRST-AID
to the
AILING HOUSE
by Roger B. Whitman
Roger B. Whitman—WNU Feature*.
Tea may not b* able te replace warn
er breken household equipment. Thla I*
war. Government priorities come first.
So take ears of what yea have ... as
well as van possibly can. This column
by tbo homeowner's friend tells yon hew.
CELLAR CLOTHES CLOSET
Question: Last fall I built a cedar
closet in our cellar to keep clothes
protected from moths. Now I And
the clothes kept there have become
moldy. Our cellar is a little damp,
but the walls of the closet are at
least five inches away from the con
crete walls and floor. How can I
protect the clothes and get rid of
the mold?
Answer: You possibly might be
able to do a moistureproof job on
the clothes closet by insulating all
surfaces with insulation board; then ;
cover all exterior surfaces with
heavy asphalt paint. But my ad
vice is to give up the idea of storing
clothing in the damp cellar. You
would find it much more practical
to lay in several garment bags, (
the kind with zippers, if you iitill
can get them, and store your gar
ments upstairs. First, of course,
all clothing should be cleaned thor- I
oughly and the bags provided with
plenty of “paradi” (moth flakes)
and moth balls.
Furnace Smokes
Question: Our furnace has been
smoking for the last two or three
years when the door is left open. The
damper that is supposed to control
that part does not seem to function.
Have had it gone over by furnace
men, but they do not seem to be
able to cure the trouble. It draws
well when the door is closed, and
heats properly. What is the trouble?
Answer: When a furnace is in op
eration all doors should be closed.
When draft is necessary the damp
er in the ashpit door should be
opened, but the door itself should
remain closed. If the damper does
not operate properly it may need
replacement. Ask the maker of your
furnace to send you a copy of his
instructions on the proper operation
of the unit.
Painting Brick
Question: I plan on painting a cot
tage built of common brick, over
which there Is a coating of cement.
This cement has been painted sev
eral times. However, some of the
paint has peeled off in spots. Some
of the cement has cracked and fall
en off, which since has been re
patched. What sort of paint would
be best to use on this cottage?
Answer: Since the walls presum
ably have been painted with an oil
paint, use a good quality outside
house paint. Or if your local paint
dealer has a good brand of oil base
brick and cement coating you could
use that. If the old paint has peeled
badly, it may be necessary to re
move it first before repainting.
Roots in Sewer
Question: After having my sewer
pipe "rodded” out, the workman
informed me that the pipe was mat
ted with tree roots and would re
quire digging up. An oil treatment
was suggested. What do you ad
vise?
Answer: A pound or two of copper
sulphate, dissolved in a pail of warm
water, then poured down the sewer
may be more effective than oil. Of
course, if the pipe is matted badly
with roots, it may be necessary to
remove them first; then use the
chemical to prevent further growth.
If you can locate a plumber who
has a root-removing machine, with
rotary knives, the job can be done
without digging up the pipe.
Insulated Furnace
Question: Our hot-water furnace
when Installed was covered with as
bestos cement about one-half inch
thick on the sides, and one-quarter
inch on top. Poultry netting was
attached first, and asbestos cement
was put on. Can I improve on this?
Answer: Yes; insulation on all
parts of the boiler should be about
one inch thick. It can be applied
over the present insulation.
Insulation
Question: Is it possible for a lay
man to insulate, a two-story four
family brick house? If so, what ma
terials are needed?
Answer: If the house has an attic
space under a peak roof, insulation
can be put into this space by a lay
man, But if the roof is flat a pro
fessional should be engaged to do
the work.
Paint for Cement Block
Question: I want to paint and
brighten up my cement block ga
rage. Could I use ordinary cement,
mixed and thinned with water, for
this? I want to apply the material
with a brush.
Answer: I should prefer a cement
based paint, which Is an excellent
commercial preparation containing
a binder.
Women in Great
Farm Mobilization
Taking Over Jobs
Of Fighting Kin
Food is becoming more than ever
“woman’s business."
In 1943 she not only buys it and
prepares it for her family.
She’s growing it and harvesting
it, as well!
From the Atlantic to the Pacific
come reports of a highly successful
feminine occupation of the land.
Women are handling tractors, driv
ing farm trucks, running combines
and other machines, and even riding
the range on some of the West's
broad grazing acres.
They’re taking over the Jobs
of husbands and brothers in the
armed forces, and of the thou
sands of hired workers also lost
to Uncle Sam's army and navy
and industrial plants.
Back in the days of World War I
women "farmerettes” did their part,
too, but agriculture has changed
since 1917. Today's farm is a highly
mechanized plant, with tractors
Milking three times a day will
help meet ’43 goals.
numbering about 1,800,000 as com
pared with the 85,000 of 25 years
ago. Motor trucks in operation have
jumped from around 245,000 to close
to 2,000,000. These and many other
mechanical aids to the farmer re
quire trained operators and repair
men, even though they are releas
ing a lot of manpower.
Women are being prepared for
both jobs, and thousands are already
busy keeping the farm machinery
rolling. Vocational agriculture
classes in the schools and instruction
offered by farm implement compa
nies have both contributed to pro
viding skilled feminine mechanics.
Colleges and universities, as
well as high schools, are giving
courses in agriculture for the
girls. To increase their interest
in farm work, the University of
California at Los Angeles has
instituted a series of farm festi
vals.
Manpower experts estimate that
70 per cent more women were do
ing farm work in 1942 than in 1940.
Good Care Assures
Lambs 1
Saving a high percentage of the
new lamb crop and getting them
ready for an early market is one of
the important wartime jobs of the
American farmer, according to Dale
C. Snodgrass, animal husbandry ex- \
tension specialist of North Carolina
State college.
By following a few simple, well
established practices, the sheepman
can be sure of success with his
young animals. Snodgrass lists
some of these practices as follows:
Have the ewes in a good, strong,
thrifty condition before lambing, and
be sure that the flock is securely
separated from other stock, espe
cially hogs.
Do not disturb a ewe at lambing
time, unless she needs help, but be
sure to stay on the job. Carelessness
may mean the loss of a lamb. See
that the young lamb nurses and does
not become chilled. Should the ewe
disown her lamb, try to get her to
claim it.
Gradually increase the feed given
to the ewe after the lamb is abod\
one week old to stimulate the flow
of milk. During lambing time, the
ewe should be housed at night and
during bad weather.
If a new-born lamb becomes
chilled, take it to a warm room and
put it in warm water up to its neck.
After the young animal is warm,
take it out of the water and dry it
thoroughly before placing it with the
ewe in a warm dry place.
Conserving Fuel
It is clear that farmers have a
vital stake in the conservation of
gasoline and fuel oil. If supplies
run too low, not only will production
and distribution of essential food
and fiber be hindered, but the ability
of many farmers to continue op
eration will be endangered.
Farmers can be assured the
amounts of gasoline and fuel oil
which they actually need for pro
ductive uses and heating. Any uses
beyond these must be eliminated.
-
?i8<m
VOUR small daughter will love
* making her own bed with this
charming embroidery on the
spread. It’s a dainty old-fashioned
doll, complete with pantalettes,
hoop skirt and bonnet. Use gay
colors.
HOUSEHOLD
Hints®
If the butter is too hard, heat a
pan with hot water or otherwise,
pour water out and invert pan
over butter dish. This does the
trick and softens the butter evenly.
• • •
In order to conserve your woolen
clothes, alternate your clothes so
that you don’t keep wearing the
same thing one day after the other.
This method gives the wool fibers
a chance to relax and spring
back into shape. It also saves on
pressing, which is hard on woolen
fabrics.
• * •
In putting on window screens,
be sure that they are securely
fastened. Otherwise a tragedy
may result should a child lean
against the screen.
• • •
When rolling doors get rusty
and hard to open and shut, simply
put a little axle grease on the
track. Then the doors will open
and shut like new.
* • •
Boiling diapers at least once a
week is advisable to prevent
diaper rash appearing on the
baby’s tender skin.
* * •
It is cheaper to put on a new
roof when the old one shows signs
of wear, than to have rain leak
through and cause redecorating as
well as reshingling expense. Leaky
roofs are expensive.
They’re Even
“I’d fire you in a minute,” cried
the irascible manager, “if I
thought I could get another man
to fill your job.”
“And I’d quit in a minute,”
sighed the weary bookkeeper, “if
I was through with my night
course in welding.”
Frightful
“What’s that ugly insignia on the side
of the bomber?”
“Sh-h-h-h. That’s the commanding
officer looking out of a port hole.”
A milkman, inducted into the
army, wrote back home from
camp: “Bessie, I sure do like
this army life. It’s nice to lie
abed every morning until five
thirty.”
Has Love No Feeling?
“You seem very quiet tonight, Ro
land,” said the pretty girl. ” Are—are
you sure you love me?”
"Love you!” Roland exclaimed. “Good
Heavens, Rhoda, when we were saying
goodbye at the gate last night your dog
bit a piece out of my leg, and I didn't
even notice it till I got home!”
Pattern 7480 contains a transfer patten
of a 1314 by 1614 Inch motif and 12 smaller
motifs; stitches; color schemes; list of
materials needed.
Due to an unusually large demand and
current war conditions, slightly more time
Is required In filling orders for a few o4
the most popular pattern numbers.
Send your order to:
Sewing Circle Needlecraft Dept.
62 Eighth Are. New Tor*
Enclose 15 cents (plus one cent to
cover cost of mailing) for Patten
No.
Name .
Address ..
VEGETABLE SUCCESSES
FOR a BETTER GARDEN
See your Ferry" a
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lor a complete
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This is the year
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in top yield and
fine flavor.
FERRY’S SEEDS
P«<r»W « t»«
Shaky Japan
Earthquake shocks occur in on®
part or another of Japan at the
rate of almost four a day.
All this—and even serious illness
may be due to B Complex Vitamin
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With No Law
Where law ends, tyranny begins.
—Chatham.
* SNAPPY FACTS
ABOUT
RUBBER
A single 10-ten ponton bridge
eats up 3200 pounds of rubber
and 2.01 pounds are used far
each roll of adhesive plaster
made far the Army's medical
corps.
We've heard a lot about tire switch
ing lately, but the practice would
become mote common ii every driv
er realised that equalizing wear on
all fares can increase tread mileage
as much as 50%.
With conservation In mind heap
your rubber goods In a cool, dark
place, preferably away frase
direct heat, or exposure to sun
light, ell and grease.
To make the bullet-sealing gasoline
tanks of a Flying Fortress requirse
1660 pounds oi rubber.
berthenlum Argentutum Is whad
botanists call Oueyule(pronounced
Y-Yo-Lee) a scrawny desert shrub
of Central America and Southwest
11. S. which Is being developed far
Its rubber content.
j _
BFGoodrich]
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