Nogales international., 1936-01-25

tNG4ks I4kCI0 W6O tAAV A0SS SAAs%s
Ellen and Garrett had only small
fraction of the stolen goods" said
the nurse who had attended the for
xner Mrs. Keith. After she was
here six months, Ellen realized l
ey1npathized with her, and once per-
4uitted herself to conf1de in me.
When l asked how she got into this
trouble, she didn't try to justify her
self, but only Garrett He wasn't
naturally bad, she claimed, and she
did her best to stop him from going
wrong. But he admired his friends
smartness and his influence, and
the temptation of easy money
was too much for him. | could
tell she clearly feared and despised
the fellow"
Rankin spoke eagerly "Did she
fell you anything about who he was
and what became of him?"
''She could hardly know what
happened to him after her arrest"
the matron shook her head. But
she mentioned the name by which
she knew him; more than likely it
was an alias. If I'm not mistaken,
he travelled as Fred Dennis"
But the matron had no idea of
her charges history, once she passed
beyond the walls of the penitentiary.
She had never heard from her. Nor
could she supply any further details
about Fred Dennis, or his descrip-
ton, which Rankin particularly de-
sired. And she was ignorant of how
Ellen Trent met her lover or where
In court, she had been repre-
eented by a Mr.. Nathan Lewis. a
Fort Wayne lawyer, in all probabil
ity appointed by the judge to defene
her, because she had no money.
Late that afternoon, Tommy Ran
kin presented himself, by appoint
ment made over the telephone, a
the law Office of Mr. Nathan Lewis
Evidently the lawyer had prosperet
since the day, six years before
when he was appointed by the court
an impecunious young lawyer, tt
defend Ellen Trent.
Mr.. Lewis studied Rankin's care
and motioned him to a deep arm
chair.
Eyes, Mr.. Rankin?" he inquired
politely, but with quiet reserve
you're from the Philadelphia Pc
lice Bureau, | see. How can l b.
of service to you3"
Il called you to make sure yol
wouldn't leave the office before
arrived" the detective replied. "It'
about young woman whose mys
ferrous murder | am investigating il
the East. Her name is Barbar;
Keith and she was once you
client, charged with concealing ant
disposing of stolen goods. You knew
her as Ellen Trent"
The lawyer looked genuinei,
shocked, and shook his head sol
emnly.
I'm sorry to hear that" he mur
INJURED "Of course, l recall the cas-
quite we'll. Exactly what happene
to herr"
Briefly Rankin related enough Q
the tragedy to enlist Mr.. Lewis &C
operation. The latter listened atter
lively.
II have reason to believe" Ranki
Z concluded, ''that this affair in For
Wayne-her arrest and imprisor
ment-has a bearing on her deatf
She was being blackmailed by som
one familiar with her past And yo
can probably tell me more about i
from her angle, than anyone else.
Mr.. Lewis pondered. "Unde
these circumstances, | suppose l al
justified in revealing whatever l ca
to help you. To me, it has alway
seemed a most distressing situation
for which the girl was not to blam
at all. Her misfortune was to low
a ne'er- -do-welI Yet, there were tn
goods, the evidence that she knev
of the robberies, and her obvious re
latt;0ns with one of the men. cor
sidered it most wise that she plea
guilty and trusted to the court
ieniency for a minimum sentence.
That's one of the details want
the detective cut in quickly. ct
been suggested to me, from othe
sources. that she was really quit
innocent"
I'm firmly convinced OF thai
Mr.. Lewis declared At our frs
interview in the city jail she as
sared me she was ignorant of Gar
rrtt'e dishonesty until after they ha
lved here for six months. At slime
80 wondered why he stayed out s
tA:e at aiRut. She found out &bor