Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-11-30

/ -tance calls to Mrs. Laura Jordan at
the Quaker. hotel in PHILADELPHIA.
am anxious to learn II he attempts to
warn her Of my visit"
do Won expect him to get in touch
with herr" the other plain-clothes man
asked
"That all depends. was forced to
disclose my cards rather fully to COM
pei him to speak and he may consider
1t necessary to inform her am on
their trail. It's more probable, though
that he'll suspect he is being watched
and won't risk 1t. He denied knowing
where she is and to communicate with
her would be to play into my hands
| and prove the connection between
them" The detective paused a mo.
ment. snow" he said suddenly, ''can
you tell me how to find the Central air
port of St. LOUISE"
At the unexpected question, both
sleuths looked temporarily perplexed.
The younger one comprehended first.
Central airport? oh, that's Lam
bert field, about twelve miles north
west Of here; it's good distance out
side the city. If you want to reach It
in hurry, your best bet is to hire
machine or taxi to drive you out"
swell, do" Rankin returned
promptly. captain Chambers is wait
ing to hear from me; phone him to
meet me there as quickly as he can
get to it. Tell him intend to take a
| plane back to Philadelphia immedl-
/ ately"
There was still much for him to ac-
complish in st. Louis. he realized, to
complete his investigation. He ought
to make inquiries of tenants in the
Somerset apartments for data about
the actress establishment there, for
both her husband and her lover. The
maid who served her, If he could To-
cate her, might be able to supply him
with evidence, unknown to Laura, of
| the intrigue; perhaps she could even
identify Doctor Prince as her para
mour. And at the Fenton hotel cues
lions about Myra Prentiss' sojourn
there, posing as Laura Du Monte,
should prove productive. But it was
| all routine work that could be man.
aged later, or possibly undertaken by
the st. Louis authorities after his de-
| parture. At that moment, he was
only concerned with the urgent need
of returning home before the morning
was over.
Rankin took leave of the two de.
tectives and hailed a cab, whose
driver, obeying his order to disregard
traffic regulations, brought him to
Lambert field in half an hour. 1t was
already one O'clock; but despite the
late hour, a plane roared off into the
darkness, circling west, just as he ar
rived. Typical of all airports, a be-
wildering variety Of red, green and
white lights cleaned from unexpected
places. Several searchlights swept the
night, revolving on skeleton-like tow
ers. An incandescent blue light flood
ed the fiat wide field itself with the
brilliance of day; its glare was re-
Elected in the CLASSY stare of the low.
arched plane hangers behind 1t. The
main building and waiting room, near
the road, still disclosed signs of activ-
ity and it was before this that Rankin
alighted.
By the time Captain Chambers ar
rived, he had introduced himself to
the only agent of the Continental Mail
and Passenger airplane present so
late, presented his credentials and ex.
planned his predicament. And in re-
turn, was informed of the extreme diff
Guilty of obtaining transportation to
Philadelphia at that time Of night
There were, of course, no passenger
planes or planes for both mail and
passengers going east until morning !:
II the detective wished, however, he
could charter one The only other al
tentative was the mail carrier from
Kansas City, bound for New York and
due at Lambert field at two-ten. But
except In rare circumstances, and
cases of extreme urgency, the COM
pany never permitted these to carry
passengers and then only with the
assent of the operation manager of
that-the Central-dlstrict. The Unit.
ed States post office, the agent assured
Rankin. could not object as long as
the mails were properly delivered. The
official in question though, Mr.. Alcock
was in Kansas City and would have to
be phoned by long distance to his
residence there.
All this Rankin briefly related to the
excited captain, as well as his discov-
cry and the reason for his abrupt and
speedy departure. Then he turned
again to the agent.
Try to get in touch with Mr.. Al.
cock at once" he suggested anxiously.
IF he refuses permission, l suppose
I'll have to hire plane. But the
emergency is certainly great enough.
once he realizes II is matter of pre-
venting the escape Of two murderers
and that l want to he on the ground
myself"
''Yes. I should think So" the agent
agreed. land I'll have him on the
wire in a few minutes OF course. It's
rather awkward at this hour; II there
were more time or the request came
from someone in higher or more rec