Show The Student Fraternity Murder By MilTON 1911 by Pro curries Ierne r CHAPTER I 1 IThe 1 The Initiation TilE HUE outward appearance of ot the Mu Iu Beta Sigma l Fraternity hous house located along Locust street just be beyond ond the confines of ot the Uni Uni- University University of Philadelphia campus sug SUI- sug- sug suggested suggested geared that It was deserted Out Out- Outside Outside Outside side In the tho darkness of the street no DO lights were visible though It was scarcely more than nine nine- o'clock In Inthe inthe the e Along the curb the sole Indication of or habitation was a parked luxurious and expensive yellow roadster fitted with every modern device and Improvement Within too n a strange strang forlorn silence proclaimed the house to be vacant Yet one Olle chamber on the right side of or the building hidden from the street b by the adjacent al 1 al- al alley al alley ley was occupied crowded with people It was a long bare room or of rough wood In Imitation of or n a hunt hunt- huntIng hunting ing tog lodge with a beamed ceiling supported by heavy timber limber trusses Perhaps the most conspicuous article ar- ar article ar article In the room was a raised altar before the rear wall Of carved ma- ma mahogany ma mahogany I wood It stood upon a n dais I ot of white stone that reached the I floor by a single step A fi figure re reposed posed behind It tall and Imposing reI I as he tie towered above every one else present A long black gown tight tight- tightened tight tight-I J ened cried about the waist b by a n black cord hid his entire body while an anI I attached hood masked his head and features only his eyes visible andI I through two narrow slits silts In the cowl Below him on tile the step lead lend leading leading ing from the dais two other fig fig- figures figures fig figures ures faced the length of the chamber chamber cham- cham chamber ber ber one on either cither side of or him Sim Sim- SimIlarly Similarly garbed their robes were blue however ho eyer A large book of ot vellum richly ly bound lay open on the altar On the floor at the feet of or the lie platform a group was arranged In Ina Ina Ina a long line turned toward It it Twenty hooded and gowned shapes their costumes alternated In color halt half of ot them were yellow ellow and the rest flowing white But nut whereas the yellow cloaked ellow figures stood up- up upright upright up upright right and unrestrained their alter alter- alternate alternate alternate nate companions In white nil all knelt knelton knelton knelton on the hard unpolished floor They were blindfolded and cords bound their hands tI tightly behind their backs Each Bach had a jeweled gold pin In lie shape of or a clover leaf uni uni- uni uniformly uniformly attached to the white robe robent at the level leel of or 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 or the lie room to the left and almost back to the entrance Its members were un- un un unvaryingly Var varyingly dressed In the same yel yel- yellow yel- yel yellow yellow low garments of the standing mo mo- motionless motionless Images within Its arc A solitary figure In gray stood alone vigil beside the door nt at the front The only light came from two large candles set In long brass can can- can candlesticks on the lie pedestals on each side of or the altar For a long sol sol- solemn sol solemn moment the silence continued then the black figure behind the altar broke It In a sepulchral voice yolee he read from the volume hI- hI before fore he-fore tore fore him the tle solemn ritual of or the Mu Iu Beta eta Sigma fraternity ending with the words Like a fond father the frater- frater Ity frater-Ity Ity welcomes you and In return you prom promise Ire that Jo loyalty alty obedience and support which are arc the obliga obliga- obligations obligations of every ery son Slowly his Ills voice olce died away and andi I he closed the book With precision he raised his eyes toward the seated In the line of yellow robed figures semicircle behind the lie and their sponsors he addressed them directly And now those brothers brothers those who are near come near come forward prepare the Initiates for their final rites to Induct them Into the folds of or Mu Beta Sigma To the white gowns he said Hold Bold yourselves In n readi readi- readiness readiness readiness ness for the last mysteries At his words of or command ten spectators In yellow left their chairs one approaching each of or the kneeling group at the altar step Bending over oyer them they unbound the Ule cords that fastened their wrists behind them There was some delay de- de delay de delay lay as he who bowed above the fifth of or the ten Initiates to meet difficulty In the darkness In loosening his knots While White the subject of ot his efforts braced himself stiffly he lie struggled shadowed over o the fettered hands Finally suc sue successful successful In freeing them be placed the cord on the floor as his assocIates associates associates ates had hod alread already done then he be re- re retreat retreated re retreated treat treated cl one step Into line with them awaiting the black leaders leader's next order It came clime after a solemn pause Brethren now remove their blind blInd- blindfolds blIndfolds blindfolds I folds They performed this direction more promptly and returned again to their empty places In the cIrcle or of chairs At the same time the two members In blue Mue robes on the altar steps descended from their positions and crossed the chamber to the left tt eft along the rear wall A cupboard way was concealed In the shade of the corner one of them pro pro- produced a key and opened it It On a as s shelf stood a n large tray with a bottle ot or some ome liquor and thirteen n small liquor glasses All e eyes es fol- fol followed followed fol followed lowed their movements while they rEmoved the tray and fastened the closet door the deep dp hush bush held a distinct tension Next they filled the lie glasses with the dark darl sparkling contents of the lie bottle and carried I them to the altar In order they distributed them the first glass glSS to the on the lie dais and then lien one oneto oneto oneto to each cadi or of o the ten novitiates They themselves s retained the two re- re remaining re remaining glasses seWn setting aside the tray and resumed their station be- be beside beside be beside side the altar allar I The figure above them began to speak again Initiates tes he Intoned the com com- completion completion of tills this toast Is the last cere cere- ceremony ceremony ceremony mony At my command stand up and raise your glasses before you when the toast Is recited repeat after me the words I Instruct At Atthe Atthe Atthe the end remove your our hoods so that we ma may drink together to Mu Iu Beta Sigma Rise to your our feet Lift your glasses lIe He extended his own glass for for- forward forward forward ward as they carried out the orThe orThe or- or The Thc Solemn Ritual of the Mu Beta Sigma Fraternity ders and opened the volume to an- an another an another other section The seated group In yellow also stood To the Illustrious past of or Mu Iu Beta lleta Sigma he read aloud and the six forty years of or Its growth To Its founders who brought Into ex- ex exIstence existence ex existence a great and august Institution Institution Institution tion To Its eight thirty eminent chapters scattered throughout the schools of or the entire nation To this our Gamma chapter third to tobe tobe tobe be organized and chartered by the central council To the new The Impressive toast was never concluded Suddenly his words were Interrupted without warning the fifth member In the line or of standing Initiates dropped his glass It shattered with a It ringing tinkle on the hard bare floor lIe gave himself gave ga e vent yent to a low gasping moan as ns though of ot pain checking the startled exclamation from his left Unexpectedly he swayed and staggered from the line toward the altar allar as ns It Ir grasping support unable un- un unable un unable able to reach It In time he lie dropped once more to his bis knees In an at- at attempt at attempt tempt to balance himself The next Instant before anyone could catch him he be collapsed an agitated trembling heap on the floor For the first pregnant seconds no one In the chamber stirred Then In a 11 confused concerted movement they crowded forward to the altar In a n milling excited mass The gray sentry at nt the door hurried forward forwar 1 and so failed to observe that one figure In n yellow did not join the melee he opened the door Instead and stole silently out closing It be- be behind behind be behind hind him Scarcely had he be gone when someone with presence of mind pressed the light switch or of orthe the central chandelier Most of or lie audience had thrown off ofT their cowls by this time and the bright glare I disclosed their wearers to be young oun men scarcely more than thon boys with one exception lie He In the white cos coso cos- cos costume costume tume of a novitiate must have been een verging on forty five One of ot the first audible comments came from a young man In yellow on the Immediate left of or the stricken boy Sly My Iy G-d G G d Stuart whets what the trouble he shouted excitedly his What voIce trembled with alarm on earths earth's s the matter with you The chairman of the ceremonies was himself but a youth yet et It was his leadership that asserted Itself to allay all the disorder of or the scene Pallid and anxious he had bad de- de descended de descended from from froID the dais almost the body first to reach the recumbent Swiftly he lie knelt at Its side removing removing the and supporting ing the cowl head with an arm while he be took charge of the situation Dont move In so 60 close there encroaching circle he directed the Let him have hll plenty of or air Dont Don't you think we ought to send scud I for a doctor Ted A haired fair I boy In yellow with pugnacious fea- fea features fea Cea features tures and freckled skin made the suggestion It looks as If Ir he lie had some sort of seizure The robed black lender leader nodded Of course Chuck try to get hold or of one as soon as ns possible And hell he'll lie he better off o IT upstairs In bed You two two-Geor two George two George e and you ou Ned Ned- Ned lift him and carry him to my room The two Individuals lie he Indicated shouldered their burden a lane was silently formed through which they bore It to the door Into the the hall all and stairway be beyond The third called Chuck hesitated before beCore following them out I 1 suppose Ted we should call Doctor Thompson rather r than anyone any anyone one else lie he said Inquiringly Yes Ys that's the wisest thing Any Any- Anyhow Anyhow Anyhow how hes he's In the neighborhood hell he'll probably arrive sooner too than some other doctor we ml might ht get Some moments elapsed before he succeeded In communicating with the physician And then lien It took Doctor Thompson another quarter or of an hour to reach the lie house Dur Dur- DurIng During During ing that interval every possible ef- ef effort ef et effort fort was made to relieve the afflict afflict- afflicted afflicted ed boy At first convulsive tremors and a fresh nausea he ho could not restrain obstructed his attendants but with the passing minutes these paroxysms ceased and a drowsiness drowsiness drowsiness ness and lassitude lessened his Ills pain Except for an accelerated but la- la la labored bored breathing he lie lay quiet and Inert Muscular rigidity followed and gradually as his leis strength ebbed even his respiration dimin dimin- diminIshed dimin- dimin diminished diminished When the Intently awaited assistance arrived his stupor bor bor- bordered bor- bor bordered bordered dered on unconsciousness Doctor WIlbur Wllbur Thompson was a atall atall tall rangy man bald and round round- round faced faced whose keen e eyes ees es looked I searchingly albeit kindly through nez pince-nez pince glasses In his official ca- ca capacity capacity ca capacity of or medical adviser of ot the Uni- Uni University University Uni University of Philadelphia his name was well known to all enrolled as students The young master of or ceremonIes still wearing his Ills black robe opened the door at nt his ring Well what seems to be the dim dim- difficulty culty Doctor Thompson greeted him briskly One of or the was taken sick during the Initiation and Im I'm afraid Its It's serious My name Is IsTed IsTed IsTed Ted Stanton Doctor he lie added Briefly he described the Initiates Initiate's sudden n attack while they ascended the carpeted stairs together There were two narrow beds In the room and the now Insensible patient lay In that against the rear wall The physician barely observed his surroundings as lie he began bean his ex- ex examination ex examination When at length he rose from the bedside his look was grim grimand and his usually amiable mouth drawn Into a n thin formidable line Im afraid Im I'm too late to do anything for him he Ice announced to tolie the lie president Perhaps treatment In the first few rew minutes after his collapse might have pulled him through Im I'm not certain But nut after that no doctor In the world could have saved sayed him Ted Stanton blanched and gulped his lips quivering In his attempt to speak You mean Doctor hes he's really dYe dy dyIng dy dying In ing The query was an appalled whisper Just that that Doctor Thompson re- re returned returned re returned turned austerely he cant can't live livemore livemore more than a few minutes We tried our best to help him sir The other oilier s seemed med at a loss And we e got ot In touch with you Im- Im Immediately Immediately Im Immediately mediately Just what's hap hap- happened happened happened to him The physician answered with a Question How lIow did he react after you brought him up here He De DeI I faced the group In the room Some Some one who stood close to him all the time did did he appear more at nt ease when his convulsions were over A gowned blue youth In the group around the stricken man spoke up hesitantly Not exactly sir he Bald said at least I thought be he grew stiff and strained as If IC In worse pain still And he kept on panting quickly with witha Ii a gr great at deal of or trouble Alt All then he seemed to find It difficult to catch his breath young man Yes Yeo sir until he practically be- be became became be became came unconscious He tie breathed noisIly with his mouth open he al- al almost al almost most choked be had hall such a 11 time trying to get enough h air Do any of or you know v whether he was subject to sudden attacks Doctor Thompson Inquired Bpi Epi Epi leptic seizures for Instance It was the president who replied No sir not as far as we ve could tell lIe was athletic and always looked to us In n the best of or health No I scarcely supposed that was the cause enuse the ph physician comment comment- commented commented ed sternly his features severe As Asa a matter of ot fact It Is something dif dif dif- different different ferent and much more dreadful aMuI like some form of ot asphyxiation or suf sut- suffocation Suffocation sir Ted Stanton 4 cried In his astonishment But ut how Is that possible The boy has been poisoned Doctor Thompson explained solemnly solemn solemn- solemnly I ly The effect of or the drug Is grad grad- gradually gradually to Impede the respiratory system system system tem In some sOUle fashion until breathing breath breath- breathIng breathing ing Is checked altogether Then due to the lack of or oxygen oxen a mus- mus muscular mus muscular cular paral paralysis stops the heart At thirty ten-thirty that lint same Tuesday evening headquarters of or the cen cen- central central detective bureau at city hall received recel a phone call that was to engage Tommy Rankin In the most puzzling m mystery |