The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-09-29
CHAPTER XI-Continued


said, also rising. I'VE had better start
out Immediately"
By the time the two officers drew
up In police car before the HolcomD
apartments, Rankin had finished his
account of the crime and his most re-
cent discoveries. At the door of DS
the Captain knocked, and when 1t was
opened by Mrs. Dobson, tired frousy-
looking woman, inquired for Miss Myra
Prentiss.
A moment later, the chorus girl APP
peared in the doorway In negligee.
Rankin, comparing her with the wom-
an she had impersonated, was at once
struck by the resemblance. Like Laura
Jordan, she was statuesque, her beauty
professional; she possessed the same
seductive physical allure, enhanced
by her questing dark eyes and bow
lips.
She could not conceal her fright, as
her visitors presented their creden-
tials; her face paled and her slender
hands fiuttered nervously. Perforce,
she ushered them through the long
hallway within, into makeshift Hv-
ing room at one end. Still. Rankin re-
fiected, her fear might well be due to
knowing from Mrs. Dobson that the
police had inquired about her move
ments the day before.
Captain Chambers waited until they
were alone, seated behind the closed
door.
"There is some information we want
from you, Miss Prentiss," he began
sternly. "Mr. Rankin has come from
the Philadelphia detective bureau ex-
pressly to obtain it. And we expect
you to tell the TRUTH" he added warn
fngly.
1.-THE truth? About what?" The girl
spoke apprehensively. II don't under
stand why you suppose have any
thing to tell you"
"You returned only this morning
from New York, isn't that so?" Ran
kin queried deliberately. "You went
by boat from st. Louis last Sunday,
and yesterday started back here by
train. You impersonated someone else
on the voyage. You booked your pas
sage on the boat as Laura Du Monte"
swell, what of that" the show
girl retorted spiritedly. There is no
harm in that, as long as she doesn't
object" But she caught her breath
In dismay at the extent Of his informa-
ton.
Rankin shot his next question at her
abruptly. "Then you admit disguis-
ing yourself to resemble Miss Du
Monte7 How much did she pay you
to make the trip?'
you have no right to ask me
that. She didn't pay me any
thing!"
In the fact of this obvious lie, the
detective attacked with increased
vigor.
Then what did you expect to gain
by the deception?" he demanded in
credulously. "That is what am after
your purpose and hers, in arranging
that little trickery. Let's have It'll"
''But can't tell you that!" Myra
Prentiss cried desperately. SIT is pri-
waite and has nothing to do with you;
i promised Laura to keep 1t secret"
6 "For your own sake. Miss Prentiss,
you had better talk. We are quite pre-
pared to place you under arrest; but
first we wished to give you chance
to clear yourself"
At the direct threat, fear returned
to the show-girl's eyes and a harassed
expression replaced her bravado.
"Clear myself of what? / haven't
done anything wrong. I swear only
intended to help Laura out of tight
place"
Rankin's manner became suddenly
grim. Eyes, by concealing a murder
and protecting the criminal with an
alibi. That is always private. In help
ing Laura, you've made yourself ac-
-cessory before the fact of murder!''
Strangely, Miss Prentiss' features
held more horror than dread; the
blood drained from them, leaving them
q CHASTITY hue beneath the rouge.
Murder? Surely it wasn't that!"
she cried, with note of surprise.
Laura couldn't be mixed up in any
thing so terrible"
"But she is, just the same For the
past week, you kept to your cabin
aboard the Florida, to escape the OBJ
servation of passengers who might
penetrate your disguise. And all the
time you pretended to be her on the
ship, she was east committing a dread
full crime. You must have realized
what she was doing"
"Oh. My God! 1 didn't, Mr.. RAN
kin!' the girl insisted. "Please be-
neve I acted innocently. I thought she
was just deceiving her lover into sup
posing she remained in st. Louis while
he was out of town for MONTH"
"Was that her story to get you to
agree to her scheme?" the detective
asked.
A realization of her serious position
compelled the girl to answer frankly.
''Yes, she said she was two-timing
him. He had gone east and mean
while, she also left st. Louis with
some other chap she loved; unknown
to the first lover, she was having a