Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-11-23

me aulIll..us answered with touch OF
insolence.
"Our paths crossed just that once"
he declared confidently. "Much as
I'd like to help you, Mr.. Rankin, I'm
sorry I cannot"
'Then, Doctor Prince" and suddenly
an implarahle tone replaced Rankin's
ingratiating manner, "what about his
wife. Laura DumOnt, who was also
your mistress for more than year?"
Caught off his guard, CONSERVATION
leaped into the physicians dark eyes;
but despite his surprise. he screened
his alarm by an assumption of anger.
Laura Dumont?' he demanded. II
never heard of her! Who the devil is
she?"
1T was your relations with her that
| caused the .JOrdans to separate. He
found out about you only last May,
after his marriage, when he happened
to visit his wife Unexpectedly from
school. That was why he decided to
quit Aberdeen and go to college else
where"
"You must be crazy, Rankinl
haven't the least idea what you are
talking about"
There's no point, Doctor, in claim
ing you were ignorant Of Stuart's
movements" Rankin interrupted ac-
cusingly. Mrs. Jordan kept you well
posted. In several letters she wrote
the boy, asking his forgiveness. she ad-
mits you were her lover. And to per-
suade him of her good faith, she prom
ised him to forget you completely"
He lied cOnvincingly, certain that Doc
tor Prince could scarcely know the
exact tenor of the actress correspond
ence.
AS though in anger that some part
of his plans had gone awry, the doc
tors features revealed genuine fury,
mingled with his sudden alarm. "You
found some of her letters?" He COM
pressed his fps viciously, then re-
gained his suavity with an effort.
"You are on the wrong track altogeth-
er, Rankin. Whatever she wrote, they
nave nOtnlng TO 90 with me-.
Except as very satisfactory proof
of your association, Stuart's blindness
and how he detected you. It would
carry weight as evidence in court"
Abruptly, Doctor Prince appeared to
realize the futility of further evasion.
swell. what If Laura and were
lovers for a while?" he shrugged.
That's an old story; it has been over
since last June-nearly ten months.
In fact, we broke off soon after Jordan
discovered us together in May"
Since the letters had only vaguely
outlined the circumstances leading to
that exposure, the detective asked: II
suppose that occurred In the Somerset
apartments he had taken for his wife?"
"Yes," Doctor Prince answered will
ingly enough. "You see, the arrange.
ment was that Jordan visited Laura
only over the week ends; at other
times he couldn't very well get away
from Aberdeen. And Hannibal was
too small town in which to establish
his wife secretly. That left me most
of the week with her. though didn't
take advantage of 1t; we were careful
not to make my presence conspicuous
and start the other tenants gossiping.
Even her maid never suspected any
thing wrong in our two and one-half
months at the Somerset; she came In
to clean, always in my absence, and
didn't sleep in."
"How did you become acquainted
with Miss Dumont in the first placer"
"Our affair began in Chicago a year
ago last fall" Doctor Prince related.
"Laura's show, "The Blue Rose" had a
long run there; and I was attending a
medical convention in the city. We
met at studio party of Layton Knoll,
an artist and former classmate of
mine. and readily formed an intimate
friendship. Then, when the show
came here in the winter, and she quit
1t to marry Jordan, we continued to
make the most of our opportunities"
"And his awkward interruption of
your affair."" Rankin inquired,
happened on his last birthday, didn't
it?"
Eyes, on Tuesday, May sixth; he
just walked in without warning at
about nine O'Clock in the evening"" the
alumnus admitted without apology.
1.-THE previous week end. he did not
visit her; writing her that his studies
and track practice detained him.
Meanwhile he secretly planned to join
her after hours on his birthday and
surprise her pleasantly" He paused,
an amused smile playing unashamed
on his lips. ut was difficult to tell
who was most surprised. We had just
completed an informal late supper in
Laura's bedroom; she wore negligee
and I'm afraid I was hardly In
the most conventional attire"
Rankin nodded at this confirmation
Of his deductions. "What occurred
thenT
swell, there was no scene. If that is
what you mean; the boy took It quiet
1v-in fact was fhp least f1uSterad of