The Coolidge examiner., 1933-12-15


the company. For the last entry
about her was a notice she sent
Equity on about January twentieth,
of her new address in st. Louis,
permanent until changed; this was
the Holcomb apartments 2435
Charges street.
THOMAS RANKIN
"e6 HOMICIDE BUREAU. POLICE
HEADQUARTERS
NEW YORK CITY, N Y.
"MYRA PRENTISS. CHORUS
GIRL RESIDENT AT HOLCOMB
APARTMENTS SINCE JANUARY
18TH STOP AT PRESENT ABSENT
FOR A WEEK STOP EXPECTED
POSITIVELY TO RETURN TODAY
OR SUNDAY AT LATEST.
CAPTAIN PHILIP CHAMBERS,
ST. LOUIS HEADQUARTERS"
This telegram was the reply to
Rankin's inquiries about the girl by
long distance phone. of the st. Louis
police; and as soon as it arrived,
he purchased train ticket to st.
Louis.
AT headquarters in st. Louis,
Captain of Detectives Chambers,
notified of his coming in advance,
awaited him.
"As you suggested over the
| phone, Rankin" he said. when pre-
liminary intrOductions were COM
pleted, "Tve had every train from
New York watched for this wom-
ans return. And her apartment has
also been under observation, so that
we won't lose track of her after
ward. According TO the last rc port
| had from the chap assigned to
that job, she is there now"
Then she's arrived?" Rankin
nodded his satisfaction. "Goodl |
was afraid she might disappear on
the way or change her mind and
destination. What time did she get
in. Captain?"
"Only this morning, at ten-fif-
teen" Chambers replied. "She beat
you by just few hours. From your
description. we spotted her at the
depot"
The detective pondered a mo-
ment. And she only reached New
York at noon on Friday, the day
before" He commented slowsy.
THAT means she spent single
| night there. How did you
learn so quickly that she had gone
and when she was expected back
again?"
I'VE inquired at the HOlcomb
apartments, yesterday afternoon.
You see, she doesn't live alone; she
merely sublets two rooms in apart
ment DS from the tenants-a family
named Dobson. Before she left last
Sunday, she assured Mrs. DObson
she would return either this Satur-
day or Sunday-to prevent her quar-
ters from being rented out while
she was gone" The Captain paused
Exactly why are you after her.
Rankin?"
ut is in connection with a mur-
der. The facts are rather compli-
Gated, but III summarize them for
you on our way to see the girl. Now
that I'm here, I'm anxious to ques-
tion her and get evidence as soon
as possible"
AS the detective rose, Chambers
pursed his lips in low whistle.
That sounds rather serious" he
said, also rising. I'VE had better
start out Immediately"
By the time the two officers drew
up in police car before the Hol
comb apartments, Rankin had fin
ished his account of the crime and
his most recent discoveries. At the
door of D8 the Captain knocked, and
when it was opened by Mrs. Dobson.
tired frousy-looking woman, in
quired for Miss Myra Prentiss.
A moment later, the chorus girl
appeared in the doorway in negli-
gee. Rankin. comparing her with
the woman she had impersonated
was at once struck by the resem-
blance. Like Laura Jordan she was
statuesque, her beauty profession
al; she possessed the same seduc-
tive physical allure, enhanced by
her questing dark eyes and bow
lips.
She could not conceal her fright,
as her visitors nraSpntph their Gro