Nogales international., 1936-01-18

When Rankin reached the Central
Detective Bureau, special delivery
letter had come from the State Hos
pitaI for Women. In the press. OF
complications, he had almost for
Sgotten his inquiry to Allerton,. In
diana, about the empty medicine
hottie he had found in Mrs. Keith's
medicine chest, that had once con-
Aained pyramidon. Whatever her
Eonnection with the hospital, it pre-
dated her marriage; and the slender
link had appeared relatively insig-
nihcant.
Tearing open the envelope, Ran
Gin perused the message. And as
he read, his brows slowly wrinkled
Ia astonishment.
Friday, June 9
Mr.. Thomas Rankin
Central Detective Bureau
Philadelphia, Pa.
My Dear Sir:
In reply to your inquire about
q Barbara Keith or Webb who
was a patient in this hospital be-
tween 1924 and 1923, I would ad-
wise you we can locate no record
of treating her. Approaching the
importance of your search l have
thoroughly questioned our staff OF
doctors, nurses and matrons with
out result. Since we serve only In
mates, I would suggest Mrs
Keith might have served a term
under another name, in which
case we would have her records
If you could send us a more com.
plete description, including hel
photograph and fingerprints, will
examine our files personally and
try to identify her for you.
Very truly yours.
Martha Anderson.
superintendent Of Wards
and MatronS)
But it was not these contents,
startling as they were, that SO
amazed the detective. For on the
ietterhead, in large black type, he
read, with a tremor of excitement,
bState Penitentiary for Women, Al
lerton, Indiana" and only under
meath in smaller print the words,
$EWomen's Hospital Department"
He gave vent to a low whistle OF
surprise and satisfaction. If, as the
message suggested, the hospital
was not public and treated only pa
tients incarcerated in the prison,
there was just one conclusion.
"But jailbirdr Rankin marveled
under his breath. Barbara Keith
sentenced to a term in the penl 1t
she was really at Allerton under
another name, how long did she
server And what. in Heavens
name. for?"
Late the next day the Superin-
tendent of Wards and Matrons at
the State Penitentiary for Women
at AlIerton, Ind, produced sheai
of papers from her desk and passed
them to Rankin.
''I've collected ali the information
] could about 6. Ellen Trent" she
STATED, "in anticipation of your ar
rival. Here is all the data we have
about her offense and confinement
here"
Rankin returned, Il appreciate your
cooperation greatly; it will spare me
a good deal of trouble"
Mrs. Anderson indicated the rec
ords. There, you can see for your
self how her prints coincide with
those of Mrs. Keith" She placed
the prints Rankin brought beside a
sheet from the files. "The descrip-
tions tally too; and these pictures
settle it that Ellen Trent and Mrs.
Keith were the same woman"
Worried, Rankin studied the pris-
on photograph of the woman he
Rad seen only after she died. She
did not look hardened criminal
and it bothered Rankin that she
should be involved in that sordid
existence.
"No, there's no mistake about her
identity, Mrs. Anderson" he agreed.
"It tells you here that she was
keajly slated for concealing as Well
as disposing of stolen goods, the
woman read on. "They were found
In her rooms, in Fort Wayne. And
ehe fact that she lived there with a
man not her husband increased the
penalty for first ofensc as moral
delinquent. We have no further &C
count of her crimes in this state. :"