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Show LEHI FREE PRESS, LEHI, UTAH II TObfls srjmwEksona El Wbsbs WmZm$M . . . By RMLTON PROFFER Pill! III SAVE SUGAR beets WNX5 Berric Fanner Allows Ocpyrirht HJJ. by If U ton Proppar CHAPTER I The Initiation The outward appearance of tbe Ma Beta Sigma Fraternity bouse, located alone Locust street. Just beyond the confines of tbs University of Philadelphia campus, suggested that It was deserted. Outside, in the darkness of the street no lights were risible, though It was scarcely more than nine o'clock in the evening. Along the curb, the sole Indication of habitation was a parked, luxurious and expensive yellow roadster, fitted with every modern device and improvement Within, too, a strange, forlorn silence proclaimed the bouse to be vacant Yet one chamber, on the right side of the building, hidden from tbe street by the adjacent alley, was occupied, crowded with people. It was a long bare room, of rough wood, in Imitation of a hunting lodge, with a beamed ceiling, supported by heavy timber trusses. Three windows, covered by blinds lowered to tbe sills, overlooked the alley on the right Perhaps tbe most conspicuous article In the room was a raised altar before the rear wall. Of carved mahogany wood, It stood upon a dais of white stone that reached the floor by a single step. A figure posei behind it, tall and Imposing, as he towered above every one else present lie wore a long black gown, tightened about the waist by a black cord. It hid his entire body, while an attached hood masked his head and features; only his eyes visible through two narrow slits in the cowl. Below him, on the step leading from the dais, two other figures faced the length of the chamber, one on either side of him. Similarly garbed, their robes we.e blue, however. A large book of vellum, richly bound, lay open on the altar. On the floor, at the foot of the platform, a group was arranged in a long line, turned toward it. Twenty hooded and gowned shapes, their costumes alternated In color; half of them were yellow, and the rest flowing white. But whereas the yellow-cloakefigures Stood upright and unrestrained, their alternate companions in white all knelt on the hard unpolished floor. Bent slightly forward, they seemed to bow In submission. They were blindfolded and cords bound their hands tightly behind their backs. Each had a jeweled gold pin, in the shape of a clover leaf, uniformly attached to the white robe at the level of the breast. Behind them was another group, larger in number; it however, was seated on chairs, ranged in a wide semicircle from the right wall of the room to the left, and almost back to the entrance. Its members were unvaryingly dressed In the same yellow garments of the Standing, motionless Images within Its arc. A solitary figure In gray stood alone, keeping vigil beside the door at the front. It was a weird and fantastic tableau, its uncannlness accentuated by the Utter stillness and the darkness. The only light came from two large candles, set In long brass candlesticks on the pedestals on each side of the altar. For a long solemn moment the silence continued, then the black figure behind the altar broke It. Evidently directing the bizarre spectacle, he addressed the group at his feet In a sepulchral voice, he read from the volume before him the solemn ritual of the Mu Beta Sigma fraternity, ending with the solemn words: "Like a fond father, the fraternity welcomes you; and in return, you promise that loyalty, obedience and support which are the obligations of every son." Slowly his voice died away and he closed the book. With precision, he raised his eyes toward the seated line of yellow-robe- d figures in the semicircle behind the pledgees and their sponsors; he addressed them directly. "And now brothers those who are near come forward; prepare the initiates for their final rites, to Induct them Into the folds of Mu Beta Sigma.' To the white gowns, he said: "Hold yourselves in readiness for the Inst mysteries." At his words of command, ten spectators In yellow left their chairs, one approaching each of the kneeling group t the altar step. Bending over them, they unbound the cords that fastened their wrists behind them. There was some delay, as he who bowed above the fifth of the ten Initiates appeared to meet difficulty, In the darkness. In loosening his knots. While the subject of his efforts braced himself stiffly, he struggled, shadowed, over the fettered hands. Finally successful In freeing them, he placed the cord on the floor as his associates bad already done; then he retreated one step Into line with them, awaiting the black leader's next order. It came after a solemn pause. "Brethren, now remove their blindfolds." They performed this direction more promptly, and returned again to their empty places In the circle of chairs. At the same time, the two members in blue robes on the altar steps descended from their positions and crossed the chamber to the left, along the rear USES CHICKENS TO as concealed In cupboard the shade of the corner; one of them wall. A produced a key and opened It On a shelf stood a large tray with a bottle of some liquor and thirteen small liquor glasses. All eye followed their movements, while they removed the tray and fastened the closet door; the deep hush held a distinct tension. Next, they filled the glasses with the dark sparkling contents of the bottle and carried them to the altar. In order, they distributed them, the first glass to the presider on the dais and then one to each of the ten novitiates. They, themselves, retained the two remaining glasses, setting aside the tray, and resumed their station beside the altar. Tbe figure above them began to speak again. "Initiates," he Intoned, "the completion of this toast is the last ceremony. At my command, stand up and raise your glasses before you; when the toast Is recited, repeat after me the words I Instruct. At the end, remove your hoods, so that we may drink together to Mu Beta Sigma. . . . Rise to your feet ! Lift your glasses!" lie extended his own glass forward, as they carried out the orders, and opened the volume to another section. The seated grouj In yellow also stood. "To the Illustrious past of Mu Beta Sigma," he read aloud, "and the forty-siyears of its growth. To Its founders, who brought into existence a great and august institution. To Its thirty-eigh- t scattered eminent chapters, throughout the schools of the entire nation. To this our Gamma chapter, third to be organized and chartered To the councIL by the central new. . . ." The Impressive toast was never concluded. Suddenly, his words were Interrupted without warning; the fifth member In the line of standing Initiates dropped his glass. It shattered, with a ringing tinkle, on the hard bare floor. He himself gave vent to a low gasping moan, as though of pain, checking the startled exclamation from his left. Unexpectedly, he swayed and staggered from the line toward the altar, as if grasping support ; unable to reach It In time, he dropped once more to his knees in an attempt to balance himself. The next Instant, before anyone could catch him, he collapsed, an agitated trembling heaj on the floor. For the first pregnant seconds, no one In the chamber stirred. Then, In a confused, concerted movement, they crowded forward to the altar in a milling excited mass. The gray sentry at the door hurried forward and so failed to observe that one figure in yellow did not Join the melee ; he opened the door Instead, and stole silently out, closing It behind him. Scarcely had he gone when someone, with presence of mind, pressed the light switch of the central chandelier. Most of the audience had thrown off their cowls by this time; and the bright glare disclosed their wearers to be young men, scarcely more than boys, with one exception. He, in the white costume of a novitiate, must have been verging on forty-fivOne of the first audible comments came from a young man in yellow, on the immediate left of the stricken boy. "My G d, Stuart, what's the trouble?" he shouted excitedly; his voice "What on trembled with alarm. earth's the matter with you?" The chairman of the ceremonies was himself but a youth ; yet It was his leadership that asserted itself to allay the disorder of the scene. Pallid and anxious, he had descended from the dais, almost the first to reach the recumbent body. Swiftly he knelt at its side, removing the cowl and supporting the head with an arm, while he took charge of the situation. ''Don't move In so close, there," he directed the encroaching circle. "Let him have plenty of air. . . . Here, I'd better loosen his clothes a bit." "Don't ,you think we ought to send for a doctor, Ted?" A boy In yellow, with pugnacious features and freckled skin, made the suggestion. "It looks as If he had some sort of seizure." , The black-robeleader nodded. "Of course. Chuck ; try to get hold of one as soon as possible. And he'll be better off, upstairs in bed. Yon two-Geand you, Ned lift him and carry him to my room. But handle him carefully." The two Individuals he Indicated shouldered their burden; a lane was silently formed, through which they bore It to the door, Into the hall and The third, called stairway beyond. Chuck, hesitated before following them x falr-halre- d d orge, out "I suppose, Ted, we should call Doc tor Thompson rather than anyone else," he said Inquiringly. "Yes, that's the wisest thing. Anyhow, he's In the neighborhood; he'll probably arrive sooner, too, than some other doctor we might get" Some moments elapsed before he succeeded In communicating with the physician. And then It took Doctor Thompson another quarter of an hour to reach the house. During that Interval, every possible effort was made to relieve the afflicted boy In the bedchamber. At first, convul nn-stal-rs sive tremors and a fresh nausea be could not restrain obstructed his at- tendants; but with the passing min- utes, these paroxysms ceased and a drowsiness and lassitude lessened his pain. Except for ui accelerated but labored breathing, he lay quiet and Inert Muscular rigidity followed; and gradually, as his strength ebbed, even his respiration diminished. When tbe Intently awaited assistance arrived, his stupor bordered on unconsciousness. Doctor Wilbur Thompson was a tall man, bald and round-faced- , keen eyes looked searchlngly. albeit kindly, through plnce-ne- s glasses. In his official capacity of medical adviser of the University of Philadelphia, bis name was well known to all enrolled as students. The young master of ceremonies, still wearing his black robe, opened the door at his ring. "Well, what seems to be the difficulty?" Doctor Thompson greeted him rangy whose briskly. "That's Just it" the boy replied "We can't tell what It Is. soberly. Rut one of the pledgees was taken sick during the Initiation; and I'm afraid It's serious. My name Is Ted Stanton. Doctor," he added. Briefly, then, he described the Initiate's sudden attack, while they ascended the carpeted stairs together, to lose no time In giving the necessary There were two narrow attention. beds In the room, and the now insensible patient lay in that against the rear wall. The physician barely observed his surroundings, as he began bis examination. When, at length, he rose from the bedside, his look was grim, and his usually amiable mouth drawn Into a thin formidable line. He shook his head slowly, his voice strangely harsh. "I'm afraid I'm toe late to do anything for him," he announced to the president. "Perhaps treatment In the first few minutes after his collapse might have pulled hlra through; I'm not certain. But after that, no doctor In the world could have saved him. WnmP " about He paused, his gaze traveling the gathering of Ustening, tense, white faces. "Suffocation, sir?" Ted Stanton cned that in his astonishment "But how is possible?" DocThe boy has been poisoned, solemnly. tor Thompson explained "The effect of the drug is gradually in to Impede the respiratory system breathing is some fashion, UDtil Then, due to the checked altogether. lack of oxygen, a muscular paralysis stops the heart" that same Tuesday headquarters of the central detective bureau, at city hall, received a phone call that was to engage Tommysmy Rankin in the most puzzling Capencountered. ever he had tery tain Thomas, on duty at the time, took the message, which came from Superintendent of Police Wainright himself. He was directed to dispatch an effman s icient and Intelligent to the Philadelphia campus and the Mu Beta Sigma fraternity house on Locust street. Rankin was ready to leave for his bachelor quarters Just ofT Rittenhouse square, when Thomas conveyed his Instructions to him. "The 'Old Fellow' sounded quite pleased when I told him you were still around," the captain commented. "He said there wasn't anyone he'd rather have going out on the case. Who would you like to take along to help At evening, ten-thirt- plain-clothe- you?" Rankin shook his head, smiling. "You know darned well, captain, that I'll want a couple of policemen to take charge," he returned, "for the present, at least, until I learn the lay of the Did the Old Fellow say land. what It was about?" except to suggest that "Nothing, whoever I sent should use his common sense and sound Judgment. The matter must be handled with a great deal of tact." Rankin fitted, in few respects, the typical conception of a sleuth. His keenness and ability were at once apparent in his dark piercing eyes, constantly alert and quick to grasp a situation. His was not, however, a brilliant Intellect, capable of leaping to correct conclusions with Sherlockian accuracy. Rather, he carried on his investigations by logic and perseverance, which, coupled with a faculty for reasoning, enabled him to succeed where others failed. Despite his youth, he had already established a reputation for himself. At thirty years of age, he looked scarcely more than twenty-fivRankin drove to the neighborhood of the campus in West Philadelphia, with two policemen. At eleven o'clock, he parked his car behind the yellow roadster, still standing before the fraternity house, descended and rang the bell of the iron door. A long and angular man, whose face was equally long and cadaverous, answered him. But for the saving grace of a mobile mouth, Indicative of humor and geniality, his monastic features might have been repellent. Only an austere distressed expression welcomed the detective, however. Obviously perturbed, with deep lines about his eyes, some unusual anxiety added years to the forty he bore. He appraised Rankin shrewdly, but In some disapproval at his apparent youth. "You're from headquarters, I suppose," he greeted him and offered his hand. "Come in. we're waiting for I am Mr. Warwick, superyou. visor of student welfare." Rankin, with his two men, stepped into a wide hall, itself the size of n room, and shut the door. "My name Is Rankin. Mr. Warwick. Superintendent Wainright supsxested might be of service to you," he said tactfully. "You've been in touch with ... plain-clothe- s e. The Solemn Ritual of the Sigma Mu Beta Fraternity. He's sinking fast now and his pulse is hnrely perceptible." Ted Stanton blanched and gulped, his lips quivering in his attempt to speak. "You mean, Doctor, he's really dyThe query was an appalled ing?" whisper. "Just that" Doctor .Thompson returned austerely, "he can't live more than a few minutes." "We trledj our best to help him, sir." The other seemed at a loss. "And we got In touch with you Immediate. Just what's happened to him? ly. It doesn't look like heart failure; that would have killed him even quicker, wouldn't it?" The physician answered with a ques"How did he react, after you tion. brought him up here?" He faced the "Someone who group in the room. stood close to him all the time did he appear more at ease when his convulsions were over?" A youth In the group around the stricken man spoke up hesitantly. "Not exactly, sir," he said, "at least, 1 thought he grew stiff and strained, as if in worse pain, still. And he kept on panting quickly with a great deal of trouble." "Ah, then he seemed to find It difficult to catch his breath, young man?" "Yes, sir, until he practically became He breathed noisily, unconscious. with his mouth open; he almost choked, he had such n time trying to get enough air." "Do any of you know whether he was subject to sudden attacks?" Doctor Thompson Inquired. "Epileptic seizures, for Instance?" It was the president who replied. "No, sir, not as far as we could tell. He was athletic, and always looked to us In the best of health." "No, I scarcely supposed that was the cause," the physician commented 6ternly, his features severe. "As a matter of fact It is something different and much more dreadful, like Rome or suffocaform of asphyxiation tion. . . .. blue-gowne- d ... him?" "Yes, I know him quite well, per sonally. Doctor Thompson, here, our university physician, was first summoned by the students in the house at about He phoned me, once he realized the need of an Investigation, and as I live in the vicinity, I arrived in a few minutes." The physician, waiting on the cteps, came forward to acknowledge the Innine-thirt- troduction. "Then something has happened that might require official Inquiry?" Rankin asked. Terhaps we had better go into the living room," Doctor Thompson put in. "I'd much prefer to discuss the matter privately." Rankin posted the two polictmen at the door and followed the university A middle-ageofficials. man, seated in the room In a comfortable armchair rose to greet them. He had a thin' somewhat sharp face, with cool Impenetrable eyes and a bony nose; compact, set lips held a hint of rothless-nes- s over an unyielding Jaw. Hi;, bearing was dignified, almost dominating, perhaps because of his chill serenity. The supervisor mnde the Introduc tions. "Mr. Rankin, of the central detective bureau. . . . This Is Mr Edward Fletcher." Rankin knew of Mr. Fletcher as B successful civil lawyer, renowned for d field of his Ingenuity of mind in the he which in specicorporation law, ally hp had married late in life, the five years bdetective recalled-b- ut eforea girl much his Junior, from his own office; the nuptials had caused d press comment and rather publicity. Rankin was not aware, however, of with any connection he might have the university or fraternity. But his though at a loss to account for mothe for It presence, he accepted ment without comment Tbe supervisor waited until the livwere ing room door was closed and all seated. "I regret very much, Mr. Rankin," he began, "that what has occurred here tonight makes it necessary to summon the aid of the authorities. Briefly, these are the facts. An initiation was held in this house tonight to admit new men into membership in this fraternity. And Just as the final rites were being administered, one of stuthe candidates, a young third-yea- r named architectural school, in the dent Stuart Jordan, was killed." "Killed?" Rankin pursed his lips gravely. "That's very tragic It was an accident, of course?" But Mr. Warwick negatived the detective's supposition. "We can't say how it happened, but it was scarcely unintentional Young Jordan was wide-sprea- poisoned." "Poisoned?" Rankin repeated; the unexpected statement startled him. "How?" "By a subtle, quickly acting drug," Doctor Thompson explained, "that produces a sort of muscular paralysis. Death follows from obstructed respiration." "Have you any idea, Doctor, of the nature of the poison?" the detective asked. "I can only guess; the autopsy will have to decide that accurately. But I am led to suspect a vegetable alkaloidthat is, the poisonous Juice of some plant. It might be aconite or nicotine or perhaps gelsemin. . . ." "Gelsemin?" Rankin queried curiously. "Yes, the Juice of the gelsemium It causes most of the symptoms observed in Jordan the muscular disturbance, prostration, dilation of the eyes and quickened respiration. Or again, for the same reasons, it could be conine." "How would you say the poison was taken?" "It Is difficult to determine that until the autopsy," Doctor Thompson replied. "It might have been swallowed ; but In my superficial examination, I found no indication of that Perhaps it was injected with a hypodermic needle, under the skin." "Could it possibly be Rankin put the suggestion tentatively. Evidently it had never occurred to the doctor, but he considered It careplant. fully. "Yes, I know of nothing to contradict that idea," he admitted slowly; "in fact, I'd rather that were the case. But it seems most unlikely, doesn't it? After all, a fraternity initiation is a singular place to commit suicide." The detective's tone held the perplexity his words expressed. "But no more so, surely, than as the scene of a murder. And if someone else injected the poison during the ceremony, the boy would have felt the stab of the needle and made some disturbance." ne paused. "You were called in. Doctor, at " "To be exact, at that was shortly after Jordan collapsed In the initiation room, and a fruitless effort to revive him made. I arrived fifteen minutes later, but It was then too late to help him. Given nine-thirty?- a large enough quantity of poison, It must have taken effect a few minutes after entering his system." "So that it probably did so at or thereabouts," Rankin commented. "I'll have to send for Doctor Sackett, the coroner's physician. He'll want to see the body before Vs mover, in any case, and the sooner he gets here to do it, the more he'll learn." Summoning one of the policemen from the hall, he instructed him to communicate with the city official-alsto arrange for the dispatching of a rhotographer from headquarters That done, he turned to Mr. Warwick' "And now, sir, the quickest way for me to proceed with my Investigation Is to hear exactly what took place In the Initiation room. Preferably from someone who was both and had an active part In the present ritual-I'l- l ' want the facts clear." The supervisor went to the door and said : "I'll have the president of the fraternity In. He probably directed the ceremony and should know more about Jordan than anyone In the house." Ted Stanton had not removed his black robe when he entered the g room. Nor was the pallor gone from his features. He was. Rankin saw. about twenty-three- . phvslcally and mentally well matured, with light hair an aquiline nose and a handsome month. llv-In- full-lippe- d (TO BE CONTlNl'En.) Cockerels to r east on insects. Colorado farmer c ,.. ... A beet crop last year fcuS by letting young cockerels run in the field feast on Juicy worms and weh.Jj which Infested it At the same time neighbor! him lost practically all of their bem to these destructive insect When he first noticed the wZ moving In on his young betti ft. World war reteran and forme, Cok n. rado Aggie student pulled both towi. erg in which the Leghorn dere were uuubcu i me eage of the and turned them loose. The birds spread out al over th field and followed along the roin, rx. bllng op the worms on one plant tit anoiner. me rarmer told the extend poultryman for the agricultural mi lege. It was much cheaper thu spraying 10 kui me worms, be nn At the same time the young roosteu grew rapidly Not a single beet was lost to tU worms, he says, but a few pUnu were destroyed by being trampled bj the chickens near the brooder hotuei This could largely be preveuted, It believed, by placing the brooder bouj some distance apart and perhaps do: too close to the beets. It is suggested that other sugar beet growers might try the plan la trolling Insect pests. It Is recommend-ethat cockerels used for tail be fed a grain ration for two or three weeks to put them Into condition for the market. Large flocks of jkjI turkeys have been used to control iV falfa webworms in many Instances, e Keep the Cooties Off Biddy, Out of Henhouse can sympathize mos Any heartily with the plight of a hen or i pullet shut up with a good Infestatlos of lice to make things lively for her. The A. E. F. boys know how to get rid of their unwelcome visitor! unfortunately Biddy cannot "read her shirt" Neither can she dip her clothes In hot water or use I er It easy, however, to pot her) a through delousing process which fiB leave her clean and free from vermin, Just a little nicotine solution painted along the tops of the roosts will fur nish fumes which knock dead the B. that are on the birds. Experiment!! carried on privately and by expert ment station officials, under the moit carefully controlled scientific condi tions, prove this solution to be almort infallable as a louse destroyer. Bj mites are present in the house, 'ttli treatment with the nicotln solution will destroy numbers of them. How be' ever, in addition, the house should thoroughly cleaned up and sprajea with a solution made up of three to tablspoonfuls of nicotine solution of cube a which to gallon of water been soap one Inch each way, has added. Wisconsin Agriculturist. Is Summer Feeding Pays owners sometimes feel that because their hens are not laying much in the summer it Is not necesj Flock sary to feed them as well as they flj earlier in the vear. This is a misuiM for neither body condition nor egg Pj ductlon can be maintained unaer nnnriiHnns finvs n writer in SUCCeSSM be give Farming. Adult birds should careful attention as to feeding, the maintenance of egg Production Twt add considerably to the profits. means seeing to It that they g mash all the tune j-good . UIHL IUIS Uliisu 10 oun"1 ijf of vm grain ration fed at the rate ten pounds per 100 birds per day. "j additional reason for feeding laying ration Is that it is mvT raw to cull accurately unless an egg . of . . - aduM t is tea. ine propei - . also serves to prevent a uimu be can molt a Preve"t7hl,J longer i better. As a rule the later m wt takes molt, the shorter time It to get over It w ,3 egg-layin- g t!nr Pmiltrv Briefs at bantam rooster hatched owner Its small so Ga is burg, It In a bird cage. A .. i im malnt111' i,,nrthefor mash ., ing the body, whereas . r tains me nuinems y 0!rv. for The largest Asiatic roosters abnormal giants or rue flesh males that are best in ment weigh about 12 pounds. art urtv-- production. - Jj deTell -POOlW' !n t Extensa Massachusetts as v I offers man.W. C. Monahan substitute for "luck" In Bro'" ders, ens "clean cmcks, t- - ana ffjtff. clean lands, clean feeding B " . onntrPTTient J .1 whfle program. The tobacco plant contributes - another valunbie promm tryk?Tr' mat pound 11 is mu"" for Single . i n nm intcst "8tpbWi flock treatment sites. Don't .contuse i"'" " ,tm dust, which Is n repent pn.i |