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Show LEHI FREE PRESS, LEIII, UTAH 5a fly Sez I 4 4 Milton al"- like Stedleiaf d Oopyrti-h- t. d ... ... half-divine- ; ? g ten-thirt- y f one-fiftee- good-nature- d J. 1131. by afiilon Propper WNU SarTlce 9 PhilaStrict during initiation fata the Mu Beta Sigma fraternity, Stuart Jar dan, university tudrat, die almost instantly. Tammy Rankin, of Jordan' death. Raakia find all The woman Inspected him with delphia detective, tiim charge of tfaa investigation. Aa injection oi pouoa la shown to have bees the cauaa thumbtack. Hi eniy known relative i kit uncle, Howard Merrick. St. Loui hanker, alaa kia guardian. apprehension and dismay at the the dead etudent's shoe era marked vita member ai the fraternity, tra present at the initiation. Twa atudenta from taa vicinity of Vaniaiia, aeema peaeibb) that hum per too, not a It interruption. A prominent lawyer, Edward Fletcher, preaant at the IB., Jordaa'a bame town, Ralph Buckley and Walter Randall, ft fur in the investigation. she I don't understand." "I initiation, enrafae Rankin' attention. Chech atub ahow that Jordan had been paying $400 a month to eome unknown parson. A etudunt. Larry faltered, addressing the postmaster, Palmer, Ma Beta 5(m member, waa druiztd an the night of the initiation and the key of the fraternity bouae atolen from him. Ralph Buckley year had been Falmer'a companion of tU eveninf. Howard Merrick aa Jordan'a guardian, had supervision of hi conduct until ha wa twenty-tw- o "thla gentleman Is from . . . headSt. Loui physician. Dr. Arnold Prince, is brought into the investigation. Poiold. when the boy'a Urge fortune became hi own. The name of of A quarters?" woman seeks it. A Ned is the purloining student. mysterious suspected Patterson, university laboratory. son including conine. is atolen from "Correct, madam," Rankin replied an undelivered letter to Jordan, but Rankin secures it. the am for himself, "and I handling Investigation Into Stuart Jordan's "I suppose he must have been. Only As a result, he had been Intensely Jealous, because of his the last moment tragic death." A quality of steel crept In It was a deliberate, impersonal sort danced with fact wife the The early lawyer's temper. harsh, dominating Into his voice, which had begun calmthat he seldom gives way to it makes the evening. Then she requested an of anger, like fire smoldering under ly. "It was murder subtle murder by Introduction to Stuart Jordan. Later, the surface. Then I remembered I case like this, it is the him capable, I fear, of a deeper auger he had poison. In a remarked her continuously In hadn't seen Sirs. Fletcher anywhere than subtle more resentment a and business of every one acquainted with his outburst mere company, while Mr. Fletcher for an hour. I volunteered to find her him to offer their Information to the any resulting from a near the dining room door, but he refused; he said he would do to dread I lounged is That of why passion. police. And not hide their Identity or beside which for the orchestra was sta- it himself without any trouble. By try to suppress evidence as you have give him any further grounds and The next thing that time, I was pretty certain some watched. tioned, our relations. doubting You must have wanted thin done. was the noticed twice Connelly that pledgee and thing was up, and when he left me, I la most unfortunate "It letter badly to run the risk of discovMrs. Fletcher goinj; upstairs to the began to trail him. I couldn't help now, circumstances made them appear ery to obtain it." wanting to learn why Mr. Fletcher second floor. Incident the itself, At his sternness, the woman's eyes compromising. By was upset." Ran a "Just Mr; minute, Connelly," reflected genuine fear and her cheeks at the fraternity on Saturday night "Your interest may prove very kin at this hlra Juncture. husband so Interrupted was my not later, serious; paled beneath her rouge. But proving Mr. Whitaker," Rankin envaluable, "What time see did this?" sensible more a you would have taken equal to the occasion, she regained couraged him gravely. "Now, what "About half past twelve," the stuto It was too trivial realized view and her poise. did Mr. Fletcher do? He searched for make a fuss about After all. I had dent replied. "I did," she admitted, with every InThe president nodded, confirming his wife, of course?" never been through a fraternity house dication of candor. "It was very Im"Very thoroughly, air; he looked the hour In our no harm waa mentioned, and Rankin signed and there before portant for me to get It back. I didn't into every room along the halls, refor to continue. But last Connelly want to mention It; but you see, it's looking around together. gardless of whether the door was I have anywouldn't "Well, am Is I thought afraid, different night entirely my husband I'm afraid of. He disapIn Its pro thing of 'their quitting the crowd," closed or not. He had to excuse his proved of this charity and forbade me and he refuses to believe Intrusion to the people inside several priety and Innocence. Of course, you the boy obeyed, "except that Mrs. times. At first, he had no to contribute to It He Is very strict, luck, if you Even Fletcher wasn't Stuart's at our the first know at that girl meeting and as I am dependent on him, I hoped can call it that; and I began to think dance, I Intended our friendship to be so, I forgot about them until, twenty Mrs. Fletcher had left the houae altoto recover the check without his hearminutes afterward, I went upstairs only a pleasant companionship. Anying about It" gether. But when he reached Harris Rankin remained unmoved, "Set thing more Intimate was furthest from myself to my room to put my favor Connelly's room, he suddenly entered or I'd looked It away. oc I has am what If unoccupied sorry your mind at rest; I promise you he my mind; have knocked before entering; the and shut the door behind him. That'a Will never learn of It through me. Still curred since may have suggested the one next to mine, Mr. Rankin, on light was out and the door shut. But that won't excuse me from verifying otherwise. the top floor." the on I switched the instant light "In view of these facts, my dear your claim about this check." He bent "Do you recall if the door was open two from people Jumped up hurriedly toward her suddenly. "Who la your Stuart, we had best not meet again, or closed when Mr. Fletcher apbed been had where my sitting for sake At they the least, Immediately. husband?" proached the room?" of appearances and until we can do and I saw they were the boy and Mrs. "My husband?" Alarmed, the wom"Closed, sir, and he didn't bother to Fletcher." an fumbled her hand-bag- . I so without risk. Later, I shall drop "I knock," Whitaker returned. "He Just bedroom. is which your "Exactly don't see what difference that makes," you a line and we might continue this walked In without warning. As soon Mr. Connelly?" she replied hesitantly. "He hasn't any utterly enjoyable association. as he shut It I slipped Into my own "The second one along the back hall"Affectionately, from connection with all this . . . with den, next door, figuring I might be on the Mr. Rankin." third floor, way "VERA FLETCHER." this crime; It would be a waste of able to hear what happened." "All right" The detective nodded This was the letter which Mr. Thome time to bring him Into It." "Well, how much did you overhear?" Incon "Go with the aflirmatively. d "I can not neglect any line of Inquiry," had held for Rankin, ne had Rankin inquired. "Could you make the Identity of the woman ident What happened after you dis- out what was being said?" Rankin returned coldly. "If he was covered Stuart aud Mrs. Flitcher in even slightly acquainted with Jordan, "Not at first," the student related. claiming It, from the postmaster's room?" ydur It to was her mailed statement "As I closed my own door, Mrs. that he must be questioned. Are you cer"Nothing much could happen, sir, Fletcher was talking fast and earnestfrom Gladwyne; that was one reason tain that you attempted to reclaim It? I don't know which of us could to not did her detain he because prethis letter only attempt ly, as If explaining the situation. She you feared he said something about being tired of would learn of It?" cipitous flight. For Gladwyne was the home of the lawyer who was bein "Of rnnrea thnr una nil t Tie dancing and having a headache; and then, 'Mr. Jordan was kind enough to prejudiced against this charity and Inducted Into Mu Beta Sigma as an I didn't wish to antagonize htm." honorary member on the night of Jor keep me company while I rested.' Then I knew It was Stuart with her, The detective became accusing. "I dan's murder. He had settled there can suggest another reason for your with his bride after his marriage five though he didn't utter a word the entire time. The surprising part of it "You caution, madam," he asserted. years before. All that Rankin could was that Mr. Fletcher was almost as were still more apprehensive of the recall about them was that Mrs. Fletcher was twenty years his Junior quiet; interrupted Just once and said, police than of your husband ; primari'Don't you think your place as chapabout the age of the woman he had ly, yon tried to hide it from them. I eron Is down stairs. Vera?' And he Just encountered and lacked any sosuggest there Is no check In this enspoke In such a firm, almost threatenvelope, but a note to Stuart Jordan cial standing. ing way that it was definitely a comThe letter's Implications were dis you dared not let the police see. You mand. When they all came into the couldn't have sent a check by mistake ttnet enough; but the exact situation hall, I felt a tension between them In place of a birthday card, because between Jordan and Mrs. Fletcher that made the situation seem even his birthday Is In May." that aroused In her husband a "resentmore serious than it had sounded. Once more the woman's features ment more subtle than any resulting Stuart was flushed with embarrassmirrored her panic ; she moistened her from a mere outburst of passion" was ment and Mr. Fletcher looked posipainted Hps with a tongue that had obscure. Since she and the boy onlv tively vindictive; and his wife was become strangely dry. met the past Saturday night, how had scared, in spite of her efforts to cover "Well . . . maybe It wasn't a that situation arisen? And what about her confusion." 'last night" that ended so disastrous birthday card," she stammered. "May"And that was all that was said or be It was a note. . . ." to the Monday ly? That referred done between them?" The detective ". . . that would have divulged the night the pledgees were treated to voiced his regret at the meagerness of fact that you were unusually frlpndly their final and most severe hazing Whitaker's disclosure and acconnt. with the boy!" Rankin's harsh tone when they were abandoned quite late "All I saw," Whitaker answered with outside Us must the have "I Stuart of conviction, he Was Don't Know Which was rang city. though "When they came downpromptly. been one of the victims; when then, Most Embarrassed." only guessing. "Naturally you wouldn't stairs, I took Mrs. Fletcher away for want your husband to hear of your unless early In the evening, could be was most embarrassed. Nobody spoke a dance, to relieve the strain. But attachment ; but It was even more Imhave had an adventure with Mrs I never let on I had any idea of the for a moment; and then they Just Fletcher? portant to keep It from the authoriand waited for me to act. trouble there stood We talked mainly ties. It might set them to looking for To discover some answer to these So I excused myself for interrupting, about the pledgees how we haze Its relation to the murder." Rankin to the perplexities, proceeded The woman drew herself to her full fraternity house. At least as to the set the favor on my desk and made them and have fun with them the last few days before initiation." ray exit as quickly and gracefully as height. "How dare you make such Incident at the dance, he expected en I could." Rankin's features an insulting statement to me?" she lightenment. He began his Inquiries suddenly disRankin's tone became searching. played a fresh animation and he shot cried resentfully. "I only met Stuart In the down-stair- s living room, as be "Leaving them to follow you and Join his question at the boy. once In my life." Rut her consternafore, quizzing the members one by one. Or did they "Did you mention to Mrs. Fletcher the others down-stairstion was more pronounced than her Mr. Fletcher, It appeared, had not the annual practice of taking the lDdlgnation. danced throughout the evening. The remain where they were, Instead?" "They stayed right on In my room," pledgees for a ride late on the night "We'll , soon discover," Rnkin responsibility of entertaining bis pretty shrugged, "whether I am wrong or wife, therefore, had devolved upon the Connelly replied. "I waited a while preceding the Initiation, and losing not." ne began tearing open the en- - students. Several of the first young on the second floor landing, expecting them In the country?" "Yes, In some detail," the boy reu i am, i snail. De the first men Rankin questioned supplied a them to come out. But after ten minjTeiope. utes, I figured It was none of my busito apologize." plied. "I described the way we dressed shrewd and strangely unanimous charthem In old clothes, made sure they For an Instant, she watched him, a acter appraisal of Mrs. Fletcher that ness anyway and gave up watching had no money with which to return for them. But they still hadn't refascinated, almost desperate expres-elo- n coincided with his own. They agreed turned to the dance floor much later In and separated them In some deserted In her eyes ; It seemed as If she that she was alluring; but quickly the evening." spot outside the city to get back the would assault him to snatch the letter sensed that her enchantment was calbest way they could." He had not spoken of the Incident by sheer force. What she actually did culated and artificial, that she sought The detective turned to Ted Stanwas equally startling, however. Withexcitement and adventure merely to he informed Rankin, to anyone else. ton. "What time did you drive out to the Harris Connelly had nothing furout any warning, she dodged agilely relieve her boredom. For her own past the detective to the door. Taken amusement, she tempted and Invited ther to relate and the detective dis- country with the Initiates and where did you eventually strand them?" missed him. The next informationtouch-In, completely by surprise, he might but beyond a certain point of familon his Inquiry came from Paul nevertheless have halted her flight by iarity, withdrew before the advances "Well, we started from the house with her blandishments produced. Whitaker. a handsome alert boy. In them at quick action had he so chosen. Inby machine," Stana sense, his tale supplemented Conton compiled unreservedly. To Rankin, this estimate was Imstead, he contented hlm-lwith fol- "Three later. cars in all went out, belonging to the lowing her outside In time to see her portant In proving sound his original nelly's, taking It up a half-hou- r rush breathlessly to the magnificent Judgment of the dead boy's Integrity At the lawyer had singled boys; each carried three pledgees and gray limousine behind which he had and uprightness. Though he might he him out during the dance and asked the same number of brothers." "Before that, at what time did the parked on his arrival. "She flung her-iel- f gullible and Impetuous, he was also If he had recently een Mrs. Fletcher Into Its tonneau with a word of ordinarily decent: Into whatever enabout. In the lawyer's elaborately earlier hazing of the night begin?" command to the uniformed, swarthy tanglement with Mrs. Fletcher he had casual manner. Whitaker had caught "Right after supper, Mr. Rankin," chauffeur at the wheel. While the debeen drawn. It was not on his own a hint of trouble brewing. the president returned. "The pledgees tective noted Its license number, the Initiative. Instead, he was led on. "In his manner?" At this. Rankin had all been Instructed to report here machine was off, swiftly gathering mounconscious that she was playing with fixed his eyes Intently on the boy. by supper on Monday; they knew In mentum as It raced thunderously down bim. to accept her Interest and any "Exactly what attracted your attenndvance It would be a hectic evening fondness she might have displayed, as tion? Was It the way he spoke?" the street for them." genuine. "No. not so much that, Mr. Rankin, "Was Jordan present at the meal The first direct contribution to the though he sounded kind of harsh, as If and CHAPTER VI throughout the evening?" Rankin subject of Rankin's probe came from It was hard to control himself. Yet asked. a boy named Harris Connelly. Ted he seemed perfectly calm. What made Ted Stanton hesitated doubtfully, The Woman in the Case Stanton and his roommate, Clark, were me wonder was his look, If you underbut his roommate replied with con'.: "My dear boy: present to hear his statement; their" stand me. It was like a frown, only viction. "Although; this letter may be tndis faces mirrored their uneasiness at the worse; his mouth was drawn Into a "Oh, yes. I remember he sat at my kcreet, after last nlcht's little adven disquieting Implications of this fresh rigid thin line and his eyes burned" ' ture ended so table during supper." unpleasantly, J can not inquiry. Connelly, an overgrown, he hunted a word "well, ruthlessly. I The detective nodded. "How about help writing If onlv to tell inn nt mto heavily built sophomore, could almost see the veins on his head Mr. Fletcher? Did he take any part .oisiress. uw other older men, my too flabby to be an athlete and already In the activities?" ' husband la often excessively snsnlclous almost bald, waa a stag at the dance; throbbing. Tou would say, undoubtedly, that In bis lova for me. At times, he ha "Only as a spectator." It was the hla "woman" had disappointed him at he was angry ? president who replied. "We could mln-irle- J 'ropper THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING CHAPTER V Continued i ' i scarcely ride a person in his position. He was invited to attend the whole affair; but be could Just drop in for a tew minutes around nine o'clock on his way to town. He said be had business which would detain him eo late that he'd probably stay in town overnight He left about "Who composed the party that drove Stuart out of the city?" Rankin Inquired. Wallace Lloyd spoke up again. "I did for one. We went in George Patten's car he, George Drummon and myself. The other pledgees beside Stuart were Roy Martin and Alex Pike both freshmen In the business school." "Then you 6hould be able to locate the exact spot where you finally deserted him. How far out was it and by what route did you reach it?" As Lloyd described the complicated course followed three nights before, Rankin Jotted it down in his notebook. At the same time, he asked questions that would more definitely fix the loneNot ly site of Jordan'a desertioa until he fully understood the student's explanation did he ask: "How late was It when you reached this place, Mr. Lloyd, and left Stuart to shift for himself?" sir," the re"Nearly eleven-thirtcorder replied. "And how long did It take him to get back to the fraternity? Have you any idea of what time of the night he turned up here for his clothes?" But of this, Lloyd was Ignorant; he had retired Immediately upon returning to the house. Nor could any other brothers enlighten Rankin on this point Jordan had told no one how he had fared the night before. At length convinced that he had learned all he could about the Fletcher Incident Rankin shifted to his second mission at the fraternity. That was to gain private access td Ned Patterson's bedroom. Accordingly, as a subterfuge, he requested to speak again to Larry Palmer, whose chamber the sponsor's; Palmer, after being questioned among others, had to It As for Patterson gone himself, he had been absent all afternoon, so that the detective knew he could safely make the attempt "I'll call Larry down for yon, Mr. Rankin," Stanton volunteered. "I suphe said he pose he Is still had some studying to do before supper." Rankin was equally quick to refuse "Never mind bothering the offer. him," he halted Stanton. "I'll just run He waved up for a few minutes." Lloyd and the president aside as they started to accompany him. "No," he declared, "I want to speak to Mr. Palmer alone. I know which room he occupies." Before they could follow, he hastened from the chamber and ascended the stairs to the third floor. But In the long rear hallway. Instead of entering Palmer's door, he paused outside the closed one adjoining, the third from the right. He turned Patterson's door-kno- b soundlessly, slipped Into the room unobserved and closed the door as silently behind him. The most promising place of concealment for the poisons stolen from the chemistry laboratory was the desk. Rankin tackled this first. But a careful If hurried scrutiny of many objects, books and the welter of themes, pictures and miscellaneous items that filled the drawers and pigeonholes Nor at first proved unproductive. glance did his exploration of the bureau seem to justify his thorough search. In a corner of the bottom containei, beneath a soiled smoking jacket, he uncovered an oilskin tobacco pouch. He Inspected this with the rest ; on the verge of replacing It as being barren, his sensitive fingers felt the hard smooth surface of some round thin articles In Its folds. Eagerly he dug once more Into the shreds of tobacco. Two tiny both tightly corked, had been concealed In the pouch. One held an almost infinitesimal quantity of a yellow fluid and the other a minute amount of some grain-lik- e substance; uncorked, the fluid gave forth a repulsive mousy odor. Without any analysis, Rankin had not the slightest doubt that here was a portion of the missing conine and atropine. And it was equally certain that Patterson was responsible for their theft. Continuing his canvass with the closet and trunk, the detective failed to find anything like a hypodermic needle, with which the student might have Injected the conine Into Jordan's" wrist. There remained only to procure a to compare sample of his finger-print- s with those the finger-prin- t expert might locate In the laboratory. Rankin turned to Patterson's shaving kit for clear records. The surface of a razor blade, held between thumb and forefinger, retains Impressions admird ably; from Patterson's Initialed, box, he abstracted three with distinct marks, that In use and two others. These he placed In an envelope and pocketed. Then returning the kit to its drawer, so as to leave nothing disturbed, he opened the door and slipped oat of the chamber ai stealthily aa he had entered. nine-thirty- ." 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