The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-11
CHAPTER V-Continued

The woman inspected him with min
gled apprehension and dismay at the
interruption.
Il I don't understand" she
faltered, addressing the. postmaster,
''this gentleman is from head
quarters"
Correct, madam" Rankin replied
for himself, sand I am handling the
Investigation into Stuart Jordan's
tragic DEATH" A quality Of steel crept
into his voice, which had begun calm
Iy. ut was murder-subtle murder by
poison. In a case like this, it is the
business Of every one acquainted with
him to offer their information to the
police. And not hide their identity or
try to suppress evidence as you have
done. You must have wanted this
letter badly to run the risk of discov-
cry to obtain it."
At his sternness, the woman's eyes
reflected genuine fear and her cheeks
paled beneath her rouge. But proving
equal to the occasion, she regained
her poise.
II did," she admitted, with every in
dication of candor. ut was very i'm
portant for me to get it back. didn't
want to mention it; but you see, it's
my husband I'm afraid of. He disap-
proved of this charity and forbade me
to contribute to it. He is very strict,
and as am dependent on him, hoped
to recover the check without his hear.
ing about it."
Rankin remained unmoved. "Set
your mind at rest; promise you he
viii never learn of it through me. Still
that won't excuse me from verifying
your claim about this check He bent
toward her suddenly. "Who is your
husband?'
"My husband?" Alarmed, the wom-
an fumbled her handbag. 81 1
don't see what difference that makes"
she replied hesitantly. HE hasn't any
connection with all this with
this crime; it would be waste of
time to bring him into it."
II can not neglect any line of inquiry"
Rankin returned coldly. eff he was
even slightly acquainted with Jordan,
he must be questioned. Are you GER
tain that you attempted to reclaim
this letter only because you feared he
would learn Of it?'
"Of course that was all! He was
prejudiced against this charity and
I didn't wish to antagonize him."
The detective became accusing. 81
can suggest another reason for your
caution, madam" he asserted. "You
were still more apprehensive of the
police than Of your husband; primarl-
1y, you tried to hide 1t from them. I
suggest there Is no check in this en-
velope, but note to Stuart Jordan
yon dared not let the police see. You
couldn't have sent check by mistake
in place Of a birthday card, because
his birthday is In May"
Once more the womans features
mirrored her panic; she moistened her
painted lips with tongue that had
become strangely dry.
swell maybe 1t wasn't
birthday card" she stammered. MAY
be 1t was note. :"
g. that would have divulged the
fact that you were unusually friendly
with the boy!" Rankin's harsh tone
rang with conviction, though he was
only guessing. Naturally you wouldn't
want your husband to hear of YOUR
attachment; but 1t was even more i'm.
portant to keep it from the authori-
ties. 1t might set them to looking for
its relation to the murder"
The woman drew herself to her full
height. SLOW dare you make such
an insulting statement to me?" she
cried resentfully. II only met Stuart
once in my life" But her consterna-
ton was more pronounced than her
Indignation.
wen soon discover" Rankin
shrugged, whether I am wrong or
not" He began tearing open the en-
velope. ''If I am, I shall be the first
to apologize"
For an instant, she watched him. A
fascinated, almost desperate express
sion in her eyes; it seemed as If she
would assault him to snatch the letter
by sheer force. What she actually did
was equally startling, however. With
out any warning. she lodged agilely
past the detective to the door. Taken
completely by surprise. he might
nevertheless have halted her fight by
quick action had he so chosen. In
stead. he contented himself with fol-
lowing her outside in time to see her
rush breathlessly to the magnificent
gray limousine behind which he had
parked on his arrival. She flung her
self into its tonneau with a word of
command to the uniformed, swarthy
chauffeur at the wheel. While the de-
tectiye noted its license number, the
machine was off, swiftly gathering mo-
mentum as it raced thunderously down
the street