Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-11-09
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have my chauffeur bring them in i'm
mediately."
In allowing the lawyer his liberty,
Rankin by no means eliminated him
as suspect His explanation ac-
counted for neither the students
marked shoes nor the needle in the
roadster. If the hypodermic had been
planted to involve him, 1t predicated
a complete knowledge on the GRIM
inals part, of Mrs. Fletcher's intrigue
with Jordan, the source of which was
altogether battling. And Rankin could
still less perceive how anyone, even
with a key. could have slipped into
315 Croft hall, unseen by Mrs. Hogan.
tempered with Jordan's shoes and left
before MIR. Fletcher arrived. Bur
these doubts Notwithstanding, the law
yers claims made him even more
hesitant about arresting him. And he
had now further reason for delav-to
investigate the fresh development. 30
unexpected that he had not yet recoy.
cred from his turmoil of surprise and
excitement.
1t was of course too early to decide
how the existence of wife affected
the problem of the murder, If it made
any difference at all. But, Rankin re-
flected. 1t might change the disposi.
tiOn of the inheritance due the boy at
twenty-five. Manifestly his uncle was
totally ignorant of the marriage. Had
he learned of 1t and disapproved, he
could have exercised his power to de-
prive his nephew of the estate for I'M
proper conduct. But not knowing, and
taking no action, the property still
went to JOrdan's heir on his death.
heir, in lieu of will, was Mrs. Jordan
or the guardian. That did not, how
ever, free Mr.. Merrick from suspicion;
for still believing himself. though per
haps mistakenly, the ultimate sue
cessor. his motive for the crime was
as potent as before.
One mystery at least Mr.. Fletcher's
narrative cleared up. Mr.. Merrick had
been unable to explain the enigmatlc
bearer checks, each for four hundred
dollars. which the boy paid out month
~ to an unknown recipient. And since
ne first searched the students quar-
tiers. they had puzzled Rankin; at the
time, they suggested he was the victim
OF blackmail. Now, It became quite
apparent they went to the boys wife.
Even while separated from her. he full
filled his duty to support her in COM
fort. But to continue to conceal his
marriage, he had destroyed all the
cancelled checks to her. as they were
returned through the clearing house.
But where was the woman nOwf
Why did she not appear to inform the
authorities of her relation to Jordan
or to claim her rights? That, of all
the entanglements in the case, sudden
ly became the most mystifying. Three
full days had elapsed since the trag-
edy: ample time to broadcast the COM
plete details in the papers of every
large city in the nation. Yet nothing
was heard of her. To locate her. Ran
kin's obvious course was to communi-
cate with the address from which her
letters came. If that proved unsuc-
cessful, 1t might become necessary to
set the vast police network and or
ganization of the country in motion to
trace her trail.
AS it turned out. however, the puzzle
was quickly solved and without resort
to elaborate activity. While waiting
for Jordan's correspondence to arrive,
Rankin left headquarters to take sup
per in a nearby restaurant. He re-
turned after seven, bordering the
whereabouts of the missing woman.
when jerks greeted him with the It'd
ings that another visitor wanted to
see him.
TITS a young woman, Tommy" he
described her with enthusiasm, "and
darned good-looking. She came about
fifteen minutes ago and asked for who
ever had charge of the Jordan case. I
let her wait in the outside Office"
Though the woman might have been
Mrs. Fletcher or indeed, anyone at all,
a thrill Of anticipation ran through
Rankin.
"All right, Jenks," he said. "Send
her to me in the captains office"
There was no denying the callers
striking beauty, as she entered in a
tailored, gray wooden travelling suit.
About twenty-five years old, she was
statuesque without being tall. She had
dark eyes, anxious at the moment un.
der her long lashes, and delicate we'll
shaped nOstrils; her red bow lips dis
played sparkling teeth. Most lovely
was her golden-blond hair, visible be-
meath chic hat. But her beauty was
professional, a type to which Rankin
was not partial. A blatant physical
allure was enhanced by such heavy ap-
plications of cosmetics on lips, cheeks
and lashes as to suggest want of re-
fnement. Her eyes. too, reflected an
innate insincerity and the coarseness
OF a self-centered, Leartless mind. She
was, the detective felt, shrewd and
clever rather than educated or In
telligent.
For a bare instant, a strange sensa-
ton of familiarity assailed him. II
was vague and fieeting, this mex.
plicable feeling that he had encoun.
tered his visitor before. But he could
not place her Still tho no+fov, -