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Show LEHI FREE PRESS, LEHI, UTAH Sally Sez fowl Ike Sitaflemit Copyright CHAPTER X Continued 15 "And vbat wai the number and loca tlon of the atateroom you occupied?" bad Cabin 28 on C deck," Mrs. Jordan replied promptly. At Binkln'f request, she produced from her pocket book the papers of her passage, which offered substantial of her account. It was not until the detective had thoroughly examined all these proofs and wrote down the names mentioned that be broached another subject cf equal Importance. "Now, Mrs Jordan," he said casually, "tell me of your romance with 1 evl-den- Stuart should have left you out wefct. when be matriculated at Philadelphia," the defective fenced adroitly. "Ton haven't been living with him since, and you waited so many months before rejoining him." The actress looked relieved at his answer, disarmed by his caution in not referring to the letters, about which she seemed to have feared be might know. "Oh, that's easily explained," she aaid quickly. "We were both afraid our secret would be discovered if we continued our double life out there. I was fairly well known and Stuart bad a host of friends, so close to his home and rollege. In this section of the country, however. It was different " "But besides that. Mrs. Jordan,". Rankin misled ber still further, ' I found no letters from you among his effects In the dormitories. Tour failure to write suggests some strain In your relations." She had completely recovered her poise. "Tou didn't? Then., he must have destroyed bis mall," she declared glibly, "for I wrote hlra almost weekly. And he answered me Just as often." "lie also sent you a check each month, didn't he? His check stubs list a dollar outlay every month, but don't state for whom It was." f "Tes, that was for me. They were always made out to my order as Laura Du Monte. Tou have probably already learned that until he was twenty-two- . he had an Income of ninety-fivnun dred a year." "So his uncle, Mr. Merrick, told me. Did you ever hear Jordan say any thing that might supply a clue to bis murder speak of an enemy, for infour-hundre- d e "Now, Mrs. Jordan," He 8ald Cas ually, "Tel! Ms of Your Romanes With Stuart." Stuart, so I can understand the circumstances that led to your marriage. Bow did you become acquainted with the boy In the first place 1" Willingly, the actress complied with as bwicuicmIi in DViun UCittil, Oiltj lire I net Stuart, she related, slightly over year ago, at a party held In private rooms at one of St Louis' most exclusive hotels. She was playing at the Forrest theater there. The party, a gay, rather abandoned affair, was arranged by Aberdeen students on a lark, The preponderance of young men had necessitated the presence of few extra girls; and though unacquainted with any of them, Laura Dumont bad, at the Invitation of several of the chorus, attended to fill In. And there she was paired off with Stuart Jordan, reckless under the Influence of liquor and participating in the general revelry. She fascinated the boy and he monopolized her the entire evening. And, when the party was over, he ber to the rooms she shared with another member of the cast He made a date for dinner the following day. Subsequently, he became Increasingly enamored ; with a week's vacation in which to entertain her, they- were together constantly at jlances and suppers after the show. Naturally she was not Insensible, she admitted, to his looks or position as the heir of a fortune and a young man of breeding and social standing. Their courtship, if such It could be called, was thus short and tempestuous. On the day before he returned to school, while moody and Impetuous at the prospect of leaving her, Stuart proposed that they elope. In anticipation, he had already obtained the mar riage license. They were on their way to a late danee, and Ijuira consented She understood that the nuptials must be kept secret at least until the boy completed his school year; meanwhile, n nnlf th fihow and Settle ha in luxurious quarters. But she discovered the real reason for this ar . ,l . m4sfln( cuu.u mo raogenieiu, concerning Ik. ' onlv afterward. Laura Dumont and the student were married at midnight on Saturday. February eighth, a year ago. in East St. Louis, across ue Mississippi nrrr. toAnd they spent their first night hotel a in neighboring gether "Tour marriage, Mrs. Jordan," Rankin spoke more gravely than his query warranted, was It a happy one? Too with pad no seVtous differences BtuartT According to Mr. Fletcher's Interprehusband tation,' una had written bersome dis' placatfrgly as If following agreement Her letters, he thought conveyed the Impression of attempting to effect a reconciliation. The actress was suddenly anxious et the question; her effort to appear failed to ring true and she rf puzzled .answered more vehemently than . "Happy, Mr. Rankin! Of course It .was. else I would never have come east to Join him." "Are you certain about that?" Rankin insisted, unimpressed, "Tod bad po quarrels Important enough to cause dia separation or even a . .;. vorce?" ""'.,. Sue absurd. .hesitated nervously; it was her apprehension of his curiosity that prompted her to ask. "Why you sure )y hud no reason to think there was trouhle oet ween us, Mr. Rankin?" "Nee partlculrrly. except that ".No, the notion la evl-de- stance?" Mrs. Jordan was emphatic. "Never, Mr. Rankin; it is as much a mystery to me as it Is to you." "Well, I am determined to solve it," Rankin stated grimly, "before many days have passed." Before he finished his Interrogation, he learned what her address In the city would be the Quaker hotel. From there, she Intended to notify Mr. Merrick of her connection with bis nephew. It was from Mrs. Jordan's letters that he hoped to gather the facts she had plainly concealed from him. She was not at ease until assured that be had not yet located them; evidently then, they would contradict at least some of her account At the same time, strangely enough, her manner had suggested she expected them to be missing almost that she was aware they had vanished or that Mr. Fletcher removed them. The lawyer's chauffeur brought the letters at nine o'clock; and Immedi ately Rankin locked himself in Cap tain Thomas' office to subject them to an uninterrupted study and examina tion. The contents bore out Mr. Fletcher's notion that their separation was due to a rift in their marital life. In one letter, the detective read: "Even If I was guilty of a trifling Indiscretion at tha most, that's all over with now ; it Is unreasonable that we should continue to live apart like this." And In another, Mrs. Jordan wrote : "Tou surely can't be serious about getting a divorce; 1 refuse to allow you to cast off your obligations so easily." When he remained obdurate and unforgiving, her Insistence of her claims was almost abusive. Whatever caused their estrange ment, several references told Rankin It had occurred ten months ago, on May sixth. That was Stuart's 'last blrtbday, according to Mr. Merrick, and about three months after his nuptials. That, Rankin realized, final ly explained his exchange of schools; for it was subsequently in May thai he first mentioned bis decision to get away from St Louis to some eastern college. Though resolved on a divorce, his hands were tied until he the publicity of reached twenty-two- ; the suit would apprize his guardian of And the his unfortunate marriage. secret bad to be kept until Mr. Mer rick had no further power to act under the terms of the will. But while bound to Laura Dumont for almost another year, and maintaining her as was his duty, the boy naturally sought to avoid contact with her and forget her as far as possible. three only though Apparently, months wedded, the actress was already faithless to Jordan. During his absences at Aberdeen, she had a lover with whom she carried on a vulgar clandestine affair. Her letters denied It but tt seemed this Intrigue had be gun before her marriage, and despite ber vows, continued afterward. Stuart's discovery of her Infidelity was evl dently an accident; on May sixth, he had surprised her by aa unexpected visit. In place of his customary vacaBut the tion the previous week-end- . complete story of that disclosure where it took place and the succeeding events Rankin could not assemble. Nor, searching each letter carefully did be find the name of Mrs. Jordan's paramour or any clue to his Identity the man for whom she played fast and loose with Stuart's affections. Not once, either, did she mention her Intention of joining tbe boy In Philadelphia, In March, and in view of ber statement that tt was prear ranged, the detective regarded it with suspicion. I5ut mere was anoiner in terpretatlon for ber appearance just at this time, so startling that Rankin wiped his brow excitedly as he con templated it Could ber five day Jour ney east by boat be purposely to, establish an alibi for herself covering tbe Tuesday night of tbe murder? That she wanted to protect herself. knowing In advance when tbe crime would be committed? Such conduct presupposed that she was aware of an elaborate plotnvolvtng others, to remove Jordan; but the .theory wa not beyond the bounds of probability, Tbe final deductions Rankin drew from the last two letters. In these when blandishments failed, she had changed her tone. If Stuart did not come to terms, she promised to ap prize Mr. Merrick of his disastrous nuptials before May sixth. It was sheer bluff, of course, Rankin re soned; such a betrayal would give the guardian power to strip the boy and herself, as well of the Jordan estate, Not even for revenge would she de liberately rob herself of the coveted inheritance. At the same time, the situation fur mo nished the actress an tive for murdering Jordan before his twenty-secon- d birthday. On his death before twenty-two- , there was no 6aa-geof her ever losing the property either through the boy himself, or through Mr. Merrick. In tbe absence of a will, she alone, as his lawful wife, automatically fell heir to bis Immense estate. But beyond establishing this motive, the letters did not Involve Mrs. Jor dan ; and Rankin refrained from conclusions. Nev. drawing ertheless, the situation was suspicious enough to Justify bis swift resolve to Investigate tbe actress as his next d move. In the meantime, however, Mr. Merrick's alibi about his Journey from Vandalia would not be neglected. As a suspect, his position was similar to that of the actress. Before Rankin could call It a day and go home, he received from the sergeant a resume of his Interview with the nurse at the university hospital. It was a short one, but verified Ben Crawford's account of his movements on Tuesday night as far as Florence Dalton could verify It She had apparently, however, been forewarned by the student to expect some sort of interrogation by the police. And when Gllmore reassured her that ber statement would not be made public, she spoke more freely. In accordance with Crawford's story, he had remained with the girl until morning. As Rankin realized all too well, the report settled nothing about Crawford's whereabouts during the ceremony itself. It offered no support for his tale of the blind date that was not kept. The difficulty about suspecting Crawford of the crime was that there was no lota of evidence to connect him with it And no suggestion of any motive he might have harbored for wishing Stuart Jordan out of the way. ... CHAPTER XI The Trail of an Alibi The purser aboard the steamship Florida ran his finger along the passenger list be had placed on his deck before Rankin. "There, you see, Mr. Rankin," he said as his hand paused under a particular entry, "Is the name you are looking for Miss Laura Du Monte. She occupied Cabin 28 on O deck. I don't recall her, but that seems to settle that she made the voyage, ns she claims." The detective verified his reading. "Not necessarily, Mr. Hammond," he returned. "It is possible, you know, for someone else to register as her. In her place. I think I ought to question your ship's doctor, the nurse, Miss Sumner, and Mrs. Winters, Just to check up on it." "I saw Doctor Ireland go ashore this morning," Mr. Hammond nodded affably. "But I believe the stewardess and Miss Sumner are still here; all cabin employees were to stay aboard till noon. I'll send for them, for you." "Please do. And 111 appreciate any other assistance you can give me." The detective first interviewed the nurse. At his explanation of his mission and full description of Mrs. Jordan's blond golden hair, bow Hps and statuesque beauty, she promptly Identified her patient of the last voyage in Room 25. She supported the actress' story that she was confined to her cabin throughout the voyage. Even when she felt better, she failed to go on deck. In fact, on embarking, she did not reserve either a deck chair or a table in the dining room. "And that struck me as peculiar," Miss Sumner asserted, "because It's practically the first thing every passenger does. Tou would almost suppose she had decided to stick to her stateroom and see no or.e." "How do you happen to know she didn't arrange for a chair or table : spacer "I advised her several times to sit en deck, when the cabin became stuffy," the nurse replied. "The air V.. P ropper rr sharp-feature- 1 demanded. Mrs. Winters answered volubly. "Well, I have eyes. Twiee, when . . . this woman lay In bed particularly bad, she was careless and let the wig slip over to one side a little. I dis- tinctly saw her real, darker hair underneath." She paused, hesitantly. "And her name wasn't Laura Du Monte either," she added. "Tou discovered that, too?" Ran kin's appreciation Increased with his enthusiasm. "That's wonderful, Mrs. Winters! How did you learn that?" But suddenly the stewardess ceased to be loquacious as though regretf ting her frankness, she glanced apprehensively at the purser.. "I . . . why I only guessed that," she'stammered nervously. "I . . . maybe she was registered correctly. I only supposed from the fact that . . ." Perceiving the causa for her distress, the detective hastened to reas sure her. "Tou need have no fear about revealing where yon obtained your knowledge," he Interrupted. "Nothing will be said. I promise you. And you may be instrumental in clearing up a serious crime and bringing the criminals to Justice." "Tou understand, I didn't mean to be so newsy," the stewardess spoke apologetically. "But after what I had noticed, I couldn't help wondering who she was. And finally my curiosity got tne nest or me. Toward the end of the voyage, while she was in her bath. I opened her largest suitcase and ex amined her clothes carefully. Some of It was marked with name-tape.- " "And who was she?" Rankin put the query with barely suppressed Intensity. "Her name was Myra Prentiss; she had it only on a few articles on old kimono, a brassiere and two pairs of hose. The rest was new and unmarked." The detective soon established the stewardess' Inability to odd further to his Information concerning the pas senger, nowever, ne was not disappointed; already, he felt, his speedy uncovering or tne fraud and Identify ing his quarry was more luck than he deserved. But for the woman's single blunder while she was sick, he might have drawn a blank. It was Indisputable that Laura Jor dan had deliberately engineered an alibi for herself, to mask her move ments during the murder. Such on elaborate deception could have no other Interpretation. While her ac complice Journeyed from St Louis, she must have been In Philadelphia; pre sumably, she had just met Miss Pren tiss and secured from her the details of the voyage. It mattered not whether her confederate aided Innocently, or whether she knew of the murder plot, behind the trickery. She must be found ; the fact remained that In one way or another, Laura Jordan, whom she could Incriminate, was responsible for ber husband's death. But how, Rankin deliberated un easily, was he to trace the actress' ac complice? Considering this problem, nankin reflected on how Jordan's wife might have enlisted the missing wom an In this Imposition. Obviously, she was selected because of her superficial resemblance to the actress, which make-uand a wig would enhance. In that case, her participation could scarcely be guiltless; she probably expected to share the Inheritance the murder brought Mrs. Jordan. But there was still another source from which the Prentiss girl might have been recruited, If the actress had no convenient relative. What was p ; lilt But she reno reservations and declined to let me procure them." "Do you mean to suggest she remained in her cabin to escape observation?" Rankin probed shrewdly. "That her illness was a pretense to avoid encounters with passengers and crew? Is It possible that she feigned much of her distress to have a reasonable prfr text for keeping to herself?" "Well, yes; I don't know why she should have, but I don't suppose It is out of the question." As Rankin dismissed the nurse, be cou'd not help being somewhat elated at this Information, trifling though It was. For It raised some doubt whether the woman who occupied And Cabin 28 was Laura Dumont when he summoned the stewardess, this mere speculation unexpectedly was fully and undeniably confirmed. d middle-ageAn angular, woman, with Inquisitive eyes and o firm mouth, Mrs. Winters took a chair r and Rankin repeated the story of his .search. But the Instant he touched on the passenger's appearance, she halted him by an abrupt gesture of the hand ; as though In satisfaction, she nodded her head. 'There, I was right!" she announced "I'm not surprised at your proudly. wanting to learn about her. I was suspicious of her because her hair wasn't golden blond at all She really had dark brown hair, straight and not curly; the light hair on top was Just a wig over it!" "How can you be certain of that that she wore a disguise?" Rankin ... V by KUtoB Propper WNU Service would have helped her. fused because she had fc J more plausible than that she also came from the stage? If this Idea were correct toe actors' organization should have some record of, her. Actually, as Rankin knew, there were two such institutions- for actors; the Actor'a Equity association for principals, and the Chorus Equity association. He finished questioning Mrs. Winters, expressed his appreciation to Mr. Hammond, the purser, and took his departure. Visiting the Chorus Equity association building first be sought out the membership bureau up stairs. Good fortune again rewarded the detective. Myra Prentiss was listed, a member of Equity, as a chorus girl of some experience, : , r association From Myra Prentiss card, Rankin gleaned that she was twenty-twand had been a show girl for three years. The past fall and winter she toured In a traveling comThat show, pany of an employee was able to Inform Rankin, had visited important cities between Pittsburgh and Detroit and disbanded in January, but two months ago, in St. Louis. But just as Laura Dumont had done a year before, she, too, for some reason, remained in St. Louis Instead of returning east with the company. For the last entry about her was a notice she sent Equity on about January twentieth, of her new address In St. Louis, permanent until changed ; this was the Holcomb apartments, 2435 Clarges street - We all bave feand M this eld nam. i J ..ii 8 Jet'e all hcie each ether aa, And daace ear wars threufh lift. BOMB PATRONAGE IS A WIT OArriilaVOB I , t 1 TO o "THOMAS RANKIN " HOMICIDE POLICE BUREAU, HEADQUARTERS "NEW TORK CITT, N. T. "MYRA PRENTISS, GIRL RESIDENT AT HOLCOMB APARTMENTS SINCE JANUARY 1BTH STOP AT PRESENT ABSENT FOR A WEEK STOP EXPECTED POSITIVELY TO RETURN TODAY OR SUNDAY AT LATEST. CAPTAIN PHILIP CHAMBERS, ST. LOUIS HEADQUARTERS." This telegram was the reply to Rankin's Inquiries about the girl by longdistance phone, of the St Louis police ; and as soon as it arrived, he purchased a train ticket to St. Louis. At headquarters in St Louis, Captain of Detectives Chambers, notified of his coming In advance, awaited him. He greeted Rankin cordially, extending a calloused hand. "As you suggested over the phone, Rankin," he said, when preliminary introductions were completed, "I've had every train from New Tork watched for this woman's return. And her apartment has also been under observation, so that we won't lose track of her afterward. According to the last report I had from the chap assigned to that Job, she Is there now." "Then she's arrived?" Rankin nodded his satisfaction. "Good ! I was afraid she might disappear on the way or change her mind and destination. What time did she get in, Captain?" "Only this morning, at Chambers replied. "She beat you by Just a few hours. From your description, we spotted her at the depot." The detective pondered a moment "And she only reached New Tork at coon on Friday, the day before." He THIS WEEK'S PRIZE ST0E1, Wa Intermoantain people eta k Made Gooes" (rv also "Bar Under tlx gram and ' Earlc". By hatpin all we caa li o, Nation', Recovery wa help ear en lan. monntain State and, in turn, htla ta-elves. In this way the Interawiua people hare doable the chance et rati a "new deal". 80 left em N.R.A.," chance and Intermoantain people CMtiu la bar everything Internoantaia Mi, which very adequately covert all at at reede, and recovery ia aare to come (aidUv MABEL HASKEU, f, Miliard, IM; ta aar "IntcraMantaia AT 400 I" Utah Oil Refining Service Statiom f in Utah and IdaLo, Variety of Equipment are taking the plact a great extent for Automobiles of horses to use by the police. This Canadian mountain force, composed officers ond men, is equipped, with 359 automobiles; 27 molar cycles, 13 trucks, 101 boats. Ml. seagoing and for use in inland, waters; 445 sled dogs and Ui la I ! horses. 1 !m ASK TOUR DRUGGIST FOB APES AS INTEBMOUNTAIN sh rei f PRODUCT Medals for Dogs The New York presents thtj' annually society medal of the Legion cf Hero Do& to dogs of varying pedigree thatS have exhibited unusual intelli-- j gence and courage. The medals Pt; small metal disks with "Alwayij True Hearted" engraved on okv side and with a laurel wreath fe the other. J in is! A ia Or. ho se fn fy ir Ji Cite Utah High School of Beauty 1? 3rt Fleet Cm ndg., Sill Uk City. Hut Osjrtssi Iwirtj Ciltirt Profestioi Ksows n Tki Ton can now learn a profession that ii. make you independent for the rest of days. tlS per month only for the coBpl. course of six months. Phone or wr I for our catalogue. Mail in coupon. I 1 NAME J! r et ia v ADDRESS 3 IL $ "Sizing Up" People Li Most business men and wonw. abiliT their on themselves pride to appraise the face value of thw with whom they deal. They near,' all do it by "sizing up" those ww, ro tf; f they contact, which means w L; they get a sense impression. L--t may feeling of trust or distrustnot. dependable or it may be Jj In: ! est EVERYTHING E FOR THE BUILDER f t s ! 23 From Myra Prentiss" Card, Rankin Gleaned That She Was Twenty, two and Had Been a Show Girl for Three Years. , commented slowly, "That means she spent a single night there. . . , How did you learn so quickly that she had gone and when she was expected back again?" "We Inquired at the Holcomb apartments, yesterday afternoon. Tou see, she doesn't live alone ; she merely sublets two rooms In apartment D8 from the tenants a family named Dobson. Before she left last Sunday, she as sured Mrs. Dobson she would return either this Saturday or Sunday to prevent her quarters from being rented out while she was gone.' The Captain paused. "Exactly why are you after her, Rankin?" "It Is In connection with a murder. The facts are rather complicated, but I'll summarize them for you on our way to see the girl. Now that I'm here, I'm anxious to question her and get her evidence as soon as possible." As th detective rose, Chambers pursed his lips in a low whistle. (TO BE CONTUTCED.) LUMBER SASH DOOKS MOULDINGS GLASS OIL PAINT PLUMBING FIXTURES ' PIPE VALVES f3 Ketchum Builders' Suppj' 78 Salt W. 4th So. La WL I Things That They Are Not, Geologists at the Smithscnj' institution have quite a collect. of specimens that look decepU";; like fossil human feet. fossil vV nets' nests, and other things r they are not. VKJ.JJ , tMi "Why r hoald use Intermoantain Gooda" Similar ta aaova. b yaar story la prose ar veria te v termeantaln Preducta Column, Boa B.U Iko Cilr. K story appeara In tbia eolfitnn yon will ceive heck for "f V list $3.00 Week Ne. 3J4J W.N.tL8a L J The Children Pay A University of Pittsburgh !, vey made of Pittsburgh clu' appearing before the court showed that 50 per ceny ; them were products of homes. J'i in P1 ace was restricted suffrage, in Andorra by a revoluti i which no one was harmed or ed. Ten per cent of the pop".";; (500 men) invaded the council and made the councilmen j across, Universal I suffrage, ; |