Nogales international., 1935-12-28

The detective could not decide
whether to believe the story or not.
DO you know whether Mrs.
Keith ever visited Allerton, Indi-
ana?" Abruptly Rankin shifted the
subject
The other shook his head. cal
lerton? Certainly not in the four
years since we met; before that,
She may have been there. She
never mentioned it. Why do you
ask?"
found an empty bottle with an
old label from hospital in that
town in her medicine closet. 1t had
contained pyramidon."
Rankin bent toward him to en-
phasize the importance of his next
question.
Isn't it fact, Mr.. Keith, that in
spite of your liberal allowance and
income, your wife was always
pressed for funds?"
Mortimer Keith looked startled.
"How could you guess that, Ran
kim" he exclaimed. "It's true she
worried about money, and often ap-
preached me for more, for charities
and clothes. Once I questioned her
about it, and she made some vague
excuse about losing it in stocks"
Perhaps this will explain her ex-
penditures," Rankin said, these
icheck-stubs and cancelled checks"
! AS he studied them, Mr.. Keith's
lips frightened into formidable line,
and his eyes flashed in features
.darl1ened by swift anger.
STEADY payments like this for
two years." he cried harshly, at last,
Gas if she were being blackmailed to
prevent me from learning some sc
cret about herl"
They certainly suggest that,
Rankin said. in disappointed tone!
"You had no knowledge of them Q
to whom or for what reason sh
drew them?"
mo, this is my first mixing c
them"
Were you aware, sir. that Mr.!
Keith would be a witness in tn
Rowland divorce suit in Mr.. Daw
sons Office, yesterday"
Mr.. Keith shook his head. "Nc
until read where she met he
DEATH"
Had you any idea," Ranki
asked, chow she happened t
accompany young Rowland, tw
weeks ago, and be in position t
give evidence for him1"
Il still don't understand how sh
ever permitted herself to become in
volved in such vulgar public scan
dali" the manufacturer rasped ou
Did you know Mrs. Keith wa
going out that Wednesday night a
alI?"
eyes, she was to visit her rhysi
clan, who attends her when he
headaches become particularly vi
cious. DR.. Anton Brantman o
Pine Street. l didn't pay any atten
tion to when she left or returne
home"
Then, Mr.. Keith, what was you
connection with the Rowland di
vorce action2"
At the abruptness with which th
detective shot this question tn
other gazed at him in perplexity an
surprise.
my connecticut" he repeate,
wonderingly. II don't follow you
Rankin; ! haven't the slightest inter
Rankin's voice rang with tn
vigor he put into his unexpected
offensive.
"In that case" he demanded
"what were you doing at Sunse
Ann, the evening of February first
when Mrs. Rowland discovered he
husband in compromising relations
with her secretary there?"
If it was Tommy Rankin's inten
tion to startle the manufacturer b.
his sudden query, he succeeded ad
nirabiy.
"How in tho world did you fine
that out7" he finally asked in dry
voice.
Rankin saw no harm in answer
Ing. "It came out at the hearing
that you reached the Inn just aftel
Mrs. Rowland's party and witnessed
the interruption of her husbands
affair"
"Well, it all happened quite
accidentally. . I had no warning
OF what was happening" the othel
Aoundered. II was driving to New
York alone that night, and when
reached Quakertown. l decided tc
sleep there because 1t was so late.
had left Philadelphia at about :. >
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