A fllMistylltokul ~ BABS LEE
SYNOPSIS
A mysterious assassin cut short
the gay career of Syria Verne,
artists' model, just as she was answering
the telephone in her penthouse
apartment to which she had
returned soon afer midnight following
a quarrel with Pierre Sturgis.
art photographer. The police
could find no gun, significant fingerprints,
nor other evidence of an intruder.
The evening of the murder,
she had met an old friend. Argus
Steele, author and former detective,
in the Penguin Club where he
was dining with Ellen Curtis, a
model. Syria left, accompanied by
Sturgis. Bill Carstairs, ill, playboy,
introduced his latest blonde,
Dorry, to Ellen and Argus. Later,
Ellen found Dorry in the ladies'
room, weeping because her Hill
"was phoning tint awful Syria
Verne again." Ellen noticed a snubnosed
revolver in IJorry's open
purse. . . . Next morning, Ellen
phoned Argus to tell him that Syria
had been murdered. Police Inspector
Grange visited Steele as the
investigation got under way. Later,
Ellen introduced Argus to Roger
Flagg in the latter's model agency.
Flagg invited Argus to examine his
office files and Ellen acts as guide
in showing Argus the routine and
records of the model agency. They
note Syria's chart; she had four
appointments for that day, one of
them with Pierre Sturgis.
, •' CHAPTER TEN
Argus watched Ellen nr. r-hc
talked. There was a tonic quality
in her very appearance, he thought.
"Syria ever get chummy with any
of the girls she worked with?" he
asked.
"No. She was the silent, mysterious
type."
"But she must've been seen
nround. I thought all these glamour
girls were always being taken to
fancy dives l-y fancy boy friends."
"She may have," said Ellen.
"Seems to me I did hear a rumor
that Syrin had some man on tin1
string, but I never learned who it.
was—aside from Sturgis.of couvre."
"How was she liked generally 1"
"The girls didn't understand her.
I don't think they disliked her, but
she wasn't exactly friendly with
anyone." Ellen paused. "I've been
thinking about Dorry — you remember—
the girl Bill Car t airs
was with in the Penguin club? Ever
since I heard about Syria's being
shot, I've worried about that gun
IJorry was carrying."
"Maybe she was going to o=e it
on Carstairs," Argus suggested. "It
would have been a temptation."
"She seemed plenty burned up
about Bill's phoning Syria. Did the
police mention either <>f them in
connection with the murder?"
"No."
A man with a camera under his
arm approached them. In h: wake
was the indignant receptionist.
"Here!" she called. "You can't
barge in here like that without Mr.
Klagg's permission. What do you
think this is?" The cameraman
ignored her and smiled at Argus as
though he were a be • in friend.
"1 heard you were h* re, Argus,
old boy," ho said familiarly. Steele
hud never soon the man before. "I'm
still on the llladc—you remember."
He winked at Argus broadly. "I just
want to trot some shots of you with
some <>f those models." He turned.
There were four girls coming up behind
him. The receptionist shrugged
a gesture of hopelessness and rein
i tied to her duties.
"I've never seen you before, and
I'm not at all sure that I'm going
to work on this ease," Argus said.
"Sure, I know. Hut give me a
break, will you? I was sent up
hero to trot picture of the oflieo
and Mr. Flagg and the cirls. 1 find
you hero—one of the greatest gumshoos
in the business. It's a natural,
isn't it?" lie began to adjust
his camera. "Now trirls stand over
(u ii* by Mr. Steele and sort of drape
yourselves around. You too, sister."
lie motioned to Kllcn. She tried to
hide a grin.
The girls clustered around Argus.
"That's it," said the bulb-liombor.
"(let closer. Look at Mr. Steele and
smile. 1 *nt your arm around 'em,
Mr. Steele." Two of them, a blonde
and a brunette, snuggled against
him. Arcus frowned — a mock
frown, to be sure.
"Look pleasant, Mr. Steele. Maylie
you don't want any publicity, but
think of the. •• girls here. It's going
to help their careers." lie winked
again.
"Ilow's this?" Argus asked, grinning.
his arms full of models.
"That's it." paid liie pluitographor.
A flash bulb exploded in their
Taces. Argus blinked. The girls
lausrhed.
"What's going on here?" Flagg
aslced, coming into the room.
"Just taking a few pictures for
the Hlntlr." the lens ranger replied.
"I'd like to gel a : hot of you with
those model-:."
••Sorry," said Flaprg. "Some other
time."
"I'.ut, just one—"
"Xn," declared Flngg.
"Oko!" grinned the youlli with a
shrug. "Thanks, Mr. Steele," ho
said. "Much obliged, girls." He
put away bis camera and left.
"What time is it?" Kllen asked.
Flagg glanced at his wrist. It was
bare.
"I must'vo forgotten my watcli
today," he said.
"It's ten after twelve," answered
Argus.
'•I'll have to dash." said Ellen.
"My appointment—Oh, by the way,
you're coming to the fashion show
this afternoon aren't yon, Argus?
It's at the Park Hotel at four. Meet
me outside the models' dressing
room and I'll trive you a ticket."
"Now what would I do at a fashion
show?"
"They arc highly educational,"
said Kllcn. "Aren't they, Roger?
And besides, there arc going to be
some bathing-suit numbers."
"Well—in that tase—faltered
Argus.
"I'll sec you there, then," said
Flagg. "I'm to be one of the judges."
As Argus came out of Flagg's
building he saw Inspector Grange
emerging from a police car several
doors down the block.
"Well," said Argus, coming up to
him, "this seems to be my day for
running into the law. Where are
you hound for'!"
"Hello!" greeted Grange, shoving
his hat back on his head. "I wan
just Retting around to paying *
little call on Mr. Sturgis."
"So? Mind if 1 join you? I'm
getting quite interested in this
modeling business." Grange looked
doubtful. "Well, what are wc waiting
for, Inspector? Come on." lie
took Grange's arm and propelled
him across the sidewalk.
"Now listen, Steele, tliia isn't in
the regulations. 1—"
"Regulations. Rules. Are you
man or sheep? If anybody ask ; any
questions just tell 'em I followed
you." Reluctantly, Grange agreed.
"Thinking of doing some investigating
on your own hook in this
ease, Steele?" the Ispeetor asked
as they stepped into an elevator.
"Maybe. Anything new on the
case?"
"Sure," saiil Grange sourly. "I
know what kind of toothpaste Syria
Verne used, what she had for dinner
Monday night and how many brassieres
she owned, but as to who shot
her—" He shrugged.
Argus followed Grange through
a frosted-glnss door marked "Slurgis"
in large gold letters, inside, a
sedate, bespectacled woman sat hehind
a switchboard.
".Mr. Sturgis here?" Grange
asked.
"lie's in conference," she said.
"Well, tell him Inspector Grant;o
wants to see him."
"Yes, sir." She eyed the police
officer with apprehension, then
turned to the switchboard and
plugged in a line. Apparently there
was 110 answer. Sue tried another
line.
Argus heard her mumble something;
then she turned to Grange
and said: "Mr. Sturgis just stepped
out for a minute. Will you wail?"
"Sure," declared Grange. "We'll
wait."
"Mind if T have a look around
the studio?" Argus a.-kcd.
"I suppose it's all right." answered
the receptioni.;t. ".Mr. Sturuis' assistant,
l'aul, may be shooting a
picture. I—"
"Thanks," said Argus. lie walked
as far as the door marked "Studio"
and paused with his hand 011 the
knob. "Want to join 1110, Inspector?"
"Might take a look around at
that," said Grange. "But let me
know the instant Mr. Sturgis returns,"
ho cautioned the receptionist.
Inside the studio a number of
bright lights, similar to the Kleigs
used in Hollywood, were clustered
together in one corner of the room.
They threw a light of devastating
brilliance on a raised platform that
resembled a stage set. A beautiful
blonde, with long wavy hair that
hung down to her shoulders, wearing
only a brassiere and panties, was
seated on a red and white striped
dais. She was about nineteen and
her skin, tinder the lights, had a
peachcs-and-cream texture. One
shapely leg was stretched out in
front of her as she posed in the act
of pulling up a sheer, silk stocking
(To be continued)
rnpfild.t. It r.jr. <■":
DtitrlLutcJ 1» I'xtuiu d,wheat* u»
SOLDIER ARTISTS AT CAMP DAVIS
Thirteen artists ot the anti-aircraft a rMlei" jehvid s ilwrilrd iJ'ist'"1: fur sales "'jftiim in iltr fcurlh
war loan drive at Camp Davis, N. ('. Here the artist display tiirir work.
N. C. PI ANT BUH.DS PLYWOOD GUNNERS
four KntrrliHri ,-runners, advanced Iralncrs for Riinncr«, arc shown on the field of ihe. HiirliitRton plan!.
•Walling (Icll-cry lc llir Army air fnrrrs. The Falrr'11(1 (runners arc Ihr only large plywood tdancs now
being produced in (lie l ulled Slate*.
AIR-SWALLOWING A UNIVERSAL ILL
By I.OCAN ai'NIiKMXi;, V. |(
I!' \0U wish to be euphemistic
mill polite ami at tin- same iillu.
soientilii* jim will say that the
fcelltll ill III \l l| liUVO just hl'ltl Mllr.
("loudening will tiihui r
quest inns of central inteiest
only, mill then only through
lus cmuiiin.
versing with — is troubled wi'h
neiophagia. lint y«m will not ho
Ileal ly so intelligible to tiie average
person us if yon sail,—"lie
hm*|>s." t>r In ilcsmud n ally into
the language of the stri ot you may
say—"lie <li>i quite a hit o belching."
I'm most of us this aerophagia
is a pleasure, even a luxury. The
act is followeil by a feeling of wellbeing.
All is quiet along t!i • equatin
after a good Inn p Am! that is
the healthy, normal way to regard
the event. l!ut for certain unhappy
people it takes on a gloomy
aspect. They burp, but they ilo not
enjoy it. They pet the idea that
it is ilue to the fermentation of
food ami this means imligistioii
ami the outlook is ominous.
Now it is comforting to know
that investigations have sliowi.
that gas on the stomach is not a
serious sign at all, nor an indication
that the fooil is fermenting,or
that it is not digesting pntpcily.
It is ilue to the hahil. ipiite unconscious,
of swallowing air. Ami
the 1)UI"|» does not com ; t (il' the results
of fermentation, hut just
plain atmosphere.
Swallow Air
We all swallow some air with
ea< h deglutition whether it is of
f.ioil, iliiill or saliva. The amount
accuiiiiilateil after a meal or a
drink expands into a bubble at
the top of the food level in the
stomach ami is shortly ami quim
spontaneously "burped."
An x-ray speciali. t showed mo
a veteran belcher behind a thioroscope
the other day, drinking a
glass of barium. I-'irst we could
see tlie small air bubhh • that follow
each other ii ami ilm < ■■ jdiagus
into the stomach with i: h
swallow of the barium mixture.
They formed the usual stomach
bubble, retting on top of the barium.
Tl'.en the patient was instructed
to rid himself of •ras. and a
truly startling sit of menoeiivers
started, lie s»'i i.i 'd to start >-uokiag
and large bubbles of „»:\s
travi lied down t.i • esophagus in
the stomach, distending it rapidly
' l<> quite » degree tim! maHnj rip
J us much ns (wire the am* :ilit ■ »f
I burium mixture I•••! Alter
tin- fouith or tilth sucking tins
whole bubble was trlinntl w*|
I leol.nl :i» if it g." •? <piitc ii hit uf
Uitislaitiuli,
Causes »l lia«
Such is the mechanism in tlie
rase of t hi uvei ai;e belcher.
TIhi# are some real condition*
that cause accumulations i.l i :ts
oil the touiaca — one is k:iiII• l.i<r
I tiouble, one is oh>tiaction ol the
| outlet of the stomach from nicer,
I after which real fooil I'el iiieotnlioii
occurs, but this is a very rate eoiiilition.
The only other way uas
uccumulates in the stoma-h without
being swallowed is from Hu
action ot a Keidlitx powde r.
The treatment of the condition
is obviously fiist the use >f ethn ation
to explain the mechanism ->f
the ha! ii. I he ohl idea of putting
a cork between the teeth alter
every meal is cruel ami unnecessary.
Instruction that swallowing
1 he properly done *'b> closing the
lips, sucking in the cheeks and
pressing the tongue against the
rouf of the mouth before wallowing"
is too tcdiciis. Taking live
or six «!eep breaths when assailed
with a persistent desire to "burp"
is ntorr likelv to bring good results.
(U'KSi'lONS AMI A NSW IlltS
A. I!.: — Will eserine stop or prevent
cataract?
Answer: —Kserine is used for
glaucoma of the eye and marginal
corneal ulcers, not for cataract.
LENTEN REDUCING DIET
By Dr. Clendening
Saturdcy — 450 Cafarics
BREAKfAST
1 small baked apple - no sweetening
or cream.
1 1J ii 1. no butter or suh-titute.
1 cup ciill'ee—no cr< am or sugar.
IUNCHEON
Average helping Ilea.-! <'apt n.
'J ti.lilr. iw ins green hen:
Small h--111 it ii' gciatin «;• . 11; — no
cream or sauce-.
I cup eoll'ee or tea — nu cream or
sugar.
SUrPER
1 cup cream soup — made with
milk.
1! s< da crackers, c.- 1 slice whole
wheat toast.
I cup tea or coflVc—nu ••roam or
! sugar.
fCOTT'S SCRAP BOOK
4vt*f jf/OMH g t loM ikA »V.ame>>
: . i • J .! U » :> Y4 \
FIoAI.Km tV.AND»
*EA.<S Afhit-f.c.
Pf.r,w IXC AlU>
AU MA.Dt Ho^lMVEi(
f»it A.~tV
APV I MAI.
QtAKP
Y/MEK.
rtA-'j A
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ilV u' uin.
- A
W^Al" Attt <H|.
x ir i hi i- v-"®* 4U«/
'-'A 7 O l> Piyr B Y
THE OLD HOME TOWN - By STANLEY
: y *' } LUKC,siof>TMAr r :.-rrr-Pir»V
>v!;. v " Chfptcowtr. iw- t ?:ot.t-ir • » i.ufb)
J 1 || V1 •" (hi: ll thimk vco": r ur .■■■•-, -io-tic <
11 4 v y-\'f 7 aiidcallth' cbi »
. .. ■ '•> . :
R/CK P.OAO f-OLKS—
i THiiATRE—Starring Popeye
<:Pipa Dcnv, Sailor 1"
A "5AILOR OM UBERKV v M —■■ / C ■ I . voiTT
LIKE ClMDERCLLHR-UJ'eKl rCORK OPP f_j\
IT IS UR HIS PJJMPKlNGi i - .
COM-* TURVl-S IMTO A | ' t, -J,
-BUMKOR A HAWM'.CK J GR-P I1
BLONDiF - ». ,nm Always The Gentleman! By Chic Young
I
rt«- m': i-Ko-r
AU.M7 L->.r lETrci?S
TO YOU
Bv PAD! ROBINSON
Irs A LAUGH.." 6ECAUS
HE SEnr 'Ou MY < - •
PiCTWE
THE, GUMPS—About Face!
I
I
EVERYONE AfcW,lRE£
3UCH COLIRASE -IN pact
BlM SNATCHEP A Ffc.V^ '
OF HER PHOTOS. TO
HAVE A SURPRISE PORTRAIT
FAINTEC- 50 SHE
SENt? IT TO
PE AR ei/V\'
• IE'fJ> SQ
THOUGHT—
FUU