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Show LEHI FREE PRESS. LEHL, UTAH " I k Milton Propper elegit Stridwa during aaJtiatka fata tlx Mm Bate 5 if ma rrataraity, Stuart Jordan, university atudaat, aUea slums! isnaaeitiatalr. A physician declares be iraa poisoned. Tammy Rankin, Philadelphia drtactiva, ukea charge at the et igaban. CHAPTER I Continued 2 Mr. Warwick presented him to the detective and offered blm a chair. "Ton know what we expect of you here, Mr. Stanton," he stated soberly. The police must have a thorough understanding of the events culminating tn young Jordan'a death while your I have ceremony was In progress. told Mr. Rankin you could best answer hia questions about the proceedings. " The president spoke slowly, weighing his words. "I'll do my best, sir . . . as far as possible. Of course. It happened at the end of the ritual and that couldn't have any direct connection with the Investigation. It wouldn't help explain anything. . . . Ills disquietude did not surprise Rankin, who was quick to appreciate the cause. As with other fraternal or similar private organizations, certain ceremonials, special rites and mystic Insignia were known to members of r Mu Beta Sigma alone. They were oath never to reveal or interpret in public these emblems and practices. And terrible as was the tragedy, Stanton also considered his duty to the fraternity. The supervisor was not disposed to sympathize with his hesitation or dilemma. "We are dealing with a dreadful business," he pointed out sternly. "Frankness is absolutely necessary, it's too appalling to let expediency or caution Interfere. For the university's good name, we must get to the bottom of it swiftly." "I'm sure no one Is more anxious to have It cleared up than I, sir," the young man replied, respectfully but "It's only that I don't wish firmly. to discuss the details of our ritual that have no bearing on the inquiry." "Suppose, for the moment, you give me Just the broad outlines of what preceded the boy's collapse," ltankln suggested tactfully. "I'm only Interested in the crime; and I have no Intention of prying into your private concerns, unless It's unavoidable in arriving at the truth." Stanton glanced toward the detective gratefully and addressed him more freely. "There's little enough to tell, sir. It was over so suddenly. Tou probably noticed we wore robes for the occasion, with hoods that covered us completely. The pledgees, as we call candidates for initiation, had on white ones; that Included poor Stuart Through the ceremony, they knelt in a uu-de- i Throuflh tha Ceremony, They Knelt In a Line at the Foot of a Sort of Altar." line at the foot of a sort of altar; brothers, who didn't take part sat in a circle of chairs behind them. I officiated over the formal installation rites, mainly reading from our manual of codes and rituals, the initiates responding. That lasted an hour, then each boy was given a fraternity pin IS- - ... H "One moment," Rankin Interrupted, "where did the robes come from, Mr. Stanton?" "Every brother has his own, which he uses at each Initiation," the president told him. "They are all yellow. Those for the pledgees are kept by Lew Kurly, our sergeant at arms, and they put them on in his room, tonight." "And yon say they knelt beside one another in a line at the altar? All of the time, sir?" The young man shook his head. "Practically, except for when they were twice marched about the room behind one another in single file." "How long before Jordan's collapse did this part of the ceremony occur?" "About twenty minutes before, 1 should guess, for the first march." Stanton replied. "The second was five minutes Inter, probably ten after nine." The detective entered a "I see. notation In his book. "Now. then," he asked, "at the altar, who knelt closest to the boy on either aide?" "His sponsor stood next to him on the left, Mr. Rankin. They alternated that way in the line, first the sponsor standing, then the Initiate on his knees. Stuart's sponsor was Ned Patterson." He paused, reflecting a moment "Arthur Wilson, I believe, was on his immediate right" "Then I suppose this . . . er . . . Patterson put Jordan's pin on him?" the detective queried. At Stanton's affirmation, be signed for him to finish bis statement. "That's all there really is, sir," the president stated. "Stuart was seized shortly after that part of the ceremony. The final rite of the evening was a toast ; all the pledgees had been untied and stood up, so they couM drink It with me. While I pronounced It, he staggered and dropped to the floor." Rankin, suddenly alert, sat forward his chair, grasping the arm tightly. toast?" he demanded sharply. "What kind of toast?" Stanton glanced watchfully at the supervisor, as though to note his reaction. "From a bottle of wine, prepared by a special recipe with unusual ingredients, only for chapters of Mu Beta Sigma. We keep It locked in a cupboard in the meeting chamber. It's used Just for these particular occasions and otherwise never touched; I've got the single key to the cupboard door." "So you took it out yourself, Mr. Stnnton? Did anyone else handle It?" "No, that was the duty of two other officers of the fraternity," the boy corrected Rankin, "the secretary and the treasurer. They poured out the wine and gave a glass to each Initiate. . . ." Startled, he perceived the trend of the detective's conjectures. "Rut that didn't kill Stuart, sir," he added hastily, "If that's what's In your mind. He collapsed before he had a chance to taste a drop." The detective sat back, expressing his chagrin with a brief shrug. "Nevertheless, I want to examine both the wine and the glass he used to drink from," he said. "They may have to be analyzed. What has become of them?" "He broke the glass, when he felL Rut the bottle Is still on the altar in the chapter room." At the detective's request, Stanton described the exact location of this chamber. Rankin summoned the second officer from the hall. "Go out and stand guard at the first door on your right across the hall," he Instructed him. "The one nearest the entrance. Stay there until I dismiss you, and meanwhile don't let anyone inside or disturb anything." He turned again to the president, as his subordinate went to obey. "Can you suggest any other part of the ceremony that might be connected with the tragedy? Or anything that happened, no matter how trivial, the least unusual?" "Unusual, sir?" Stanton shook his head wonderingly. "No, the ritual went off without a hitch." "Try to remember," the detective urged. "Couldn't any Incident possibly have a bearing on Jordan's death?" "I dont think so; nothing that . . ." The boy stopped short, as though at a recollection; when he continued, the finality of his tone had wavered. "Come to think of it, there was some delay In untying Stuart's wrists. Whoever freed him had trouble with his cords and we had to wait a minute till he got done. Rut that couldn't be of any Importance." Rankin spoke with renewed eagerness. "I'm not so sure about that. Just when was he unbound?" "Soon after the main part of the ritual, but before the wine was brought out for the toast I gave the order and ten brothers In the chairs behind came forward; each untied one pledgee. Then they also removed their blindfolds and returned to their places." "Do you mean by that you don't know which particular chap tended to Jordan?" "No, sir, I don't," Stanton answered. "In fact, I can't say Just who undid any of the Initiates. Don't forget they all wore hoods." He hesitated an instant "It Is a matter of volunteering Whoever is nearest In the circle behind can get up to assist" "But whoever freed the boy took an exceptionally long time about It?" the detective observed. Ted Stanton nodded, a growing expression of distress on his handsome features; and Rankin rose. "I think, before I go any further," he said, addressing the supervisor. "I ought to see the body. I'll want a look through his belongings; and I'd specially like to examine his wrists." In "A CHAPTER II The Victim The president led Rankin, with Mr. Warwick, the physician and Mr. Fletcher upstairs to his bedroom. Rankin sought the bed on which the body lay, now covered by a white sheet With only a slight hesitation, he removed It to reveal a boy scarcely twenty-two- , whose breeding and education were at once apparent He hail a shock of unruly light hair. Candor was written In the staring blue eyes; the sophistication he might hive possessed was inoffensive and without conceit True, his chin suggested Irresponsibility and his full lips, an ardent impetuous nature; but they were insufficient to mar an unmistakable innate refinement and sense of decency. The character he read left the detective more perplexed than before. Under any circumstances, the murder of a boy scarcely out of his teens and still a student was mysterious; but in the case of the amiable, care-fre- e youth the victim appeared to be, it was doubly baffling. What motive, Rankin reflected, could anyone have for desiring Jordan's death and planning it so subtly? From bis features, the detective's attention passed to bis hands, placed neatly at his sides. Doctor Thompson was already examining them; his muffled exclamation brought Rankin to his side to bend over quickly. "Well, Doctor, what is It?" he asked. "You are probably right about the poison being administered subcutan-eously,- " the physician said. "This mark is undoubtedly that of a hypodermic needle; it was so aimed as to inject the contents Into the blood along the arm." "Do you think that whoever untied Jordan could have Introduced the poison at the same time without being observed?" "Since we must face facts," Doctor Thompson answered, "I should say it is easily possible. It would be the work of an instant; and the needle to hold a fatal dose Is small enough to conceal in the palm of the hand." Rankin nodded. "How long was the interval between the time Jordan was he unbound and his prostration?" asked Stanton. "Not more than five minutes, sir," he returned. "Long enough to get out the wine and distribute the glasses, and for me to explain the toast." "If you could tell. Doctor," Rankin mused, "how long after injection, the poison would take effect, we could be more positive about the time It was I don't suppose, however, ungiven. til it's analyzed that. . . . Hello, that's strange!" He stopped short and suddenly stooped over to Inspect the dead boy's shoes. On both, In the hollow of the soles, against the heel, he discovered two flat thumb-tacks- . in the light of the Conspicuously, room, one tack lay embedded in the side of each heel. Itself, and the other In the arched leather beside It. "How do you explain that. Doctor?" the detective questioned. "What In the world are those thumbtacks doing in Jordan's shoes?" For a moment Doctor Thompson was silent, his eyes puzzled and pondering. "It almost looks as though the criminal put them there to aid in Identifying him," he responded at length. "The guilty person would have taken that precaution if he knew the room would be dark. Otherwise he could not differentiate one pledgee from another. They all looked alike In their robes, covered by hoods; and kneeling at the altar, only their wrists and feet were visible. The entire crime seems to have been Ingeniously planned In advance with remarkable foresight." The detective lifted one foot to catch the light and scrutinized the tacks closely. "They were put In very recently," he announced. "They are still bright and new not scratched or nicked a bit. . . . What do you think. Doctor?" Doctor Thompson took a moment to examine them. "Yes, you're quite right, Rankin. He hasn't been carryshould judge, over a day ing them.-or two at the most." "Then it might be worth tracing his movements of the last forty-eigh- t hours, to learn who had the opportunity to tamper with this pair, unknown to him." "Only last night, Jordan's shoes were left here, at the fraternity house, with the rest of his clothes," Stanton volunteered. "All the pledgees undressed here before they were driven out in the country In clothes other than their own and deserted." "Last night?" Rankin asked sharply. "He didn't wear his own clothes? How was that?" "Well, we always haze the Initiates rather severely on the final evening before the ritual," Stanton explained. "It's to . . . er . . . humble them for the more solemn ceremonies. Usually we leave them In some lonely section far out of town, without money And to or means of transportation. guard against their hiding funds In their clothing, they nil strip and put on other clothes that we give them. Instead; their own clothes they leave here." "So that the boy's outfit was In the house until he returned? Who prepared the pledgees for this trip?" "All of us were present at some time or other. None of as cares to miss the last, sport we have at their expense." wide-heade- G A a MUton Proppar Copyright, 1MJ. WNU Serviea II SYNOPSIS Sally Sez I I I I I "Then anyone could have used the chance to mark these shoes?" Rankin queried, disappointed. The Stanton replied affirmatively. detective turned to the murdered boy and removed the contents of his pockets. He inspected them briefly, but thoroughly enough to disclose nothing to pertinent, at least on the surface, an was expensive his death. There watch, a fountain pen and pencil; a Incostly black leather pocketbook. dolitialed "S. J.." containing thirty lars and a Missouri automobile license; a creased program of a formal dance the 5Iu Beta Sigma fraternity had evidently held on Saturday, three nights before. A check book of the Philadelphia Western bank Indicated Jordan's bank balance to be fully four thousand dollars, immediate proof of his affluence and position. His pants pockets held a gymnasium disk, granting the holder all the privileges of the university's athletic facilities, loose change and several keys ; one belonged to his letter box, one apparently to an " auto, and one was labeled "Croft 315 His loose papers included a schedule of his classes, roughly scribbled notes of a course in European history, and a book of tickets to all of Philadelphia's contests and games. There were no letters to give Rankin any Information about his family or associates. He looked up from his scrutiny. "There's little enough to work on here," he again addressed Stanton. "What do you know about Jordan and his people?" "I'll tell you what I can, sir," the "But you mustn't president replied. expect too much. After all, no one In the house was acquainted with him for more than a month ; only since the of February, when our 'rushing' season for new members started." "Only a month?" The detective raised his eyebrows Inquiringly. "He's a junior, isn't he? I thought Mr. Warwick said this was his third year." The supervisor nodded his verification. "So it Is." "That's right, sir," Stanton concurred. "What I meant was that this is his first year at the university. He spent his freshman and sophomore years at Aberdeen college, near his home out west; he transferred east just this past September." "Aberdeen . . .? That's in Missouri, somewhere. . . . Hannibal, Isn't It? Have you any idea why he exchanged colleges as a Junior and chose Philadelphia?" The president shook his head. "No. he never mentioned any reason. 1 suppose because he wanted to go to i better known school and get away from home." Rankin removed the dead boy's automobile license from among his other belongings. "I suppose this is Jordan's address, if he went to college in the same general locality. . . . 'Hunter street. Vandalia, 111.," he read. "That can't be very far either from Hannibal or St. Louis." "Yes, Vandalia Is his home,'" Stanton informed him. "How about his school address?" the detective inquired. "Did he stay at the fraternity house?" "Oh. no, he has a room in Croft hall, in the upper classmen dormitories." "That explains the name on the key he was carrying." Rankin put it to one side with the license. "And now," he went on, "how much can you tell me of his family and position? What are his connections and situation at home?" "As I said, very little; our only Information on those matters was what he gave us on the questionnaire he had to fill out when we pledged him." "Then you had better let me see the questionnaire," the detective suggested. "I can get what facts there are most accurately from his answers." The form, when produced, dealt with miscellaneous data mostly concerning the dead boy's family, religion and previous schooling. The most fact it revealed was that both his parents were dead. His mother had been Alice Merrick, before her marriage, and his father. Edward after their names was written the word "deceased." Howard Merrick, evidently a relative on his mother's side, who also lived on Hunter street. In Vandnlia, was mentioned as his guardian. According to the record, he was a banker. "How old was Jordan?" was Rankin's next question. Stanton hesitated a moment Twenty-one I think going on twenty-two,- " he said. "And you were also aware that he was extremely This checkbook Indicates that." The president answered earnestly, almost as though In Justification; his voice held a tinge of regret. "Yes. since money is unfortunately Important In keeping up a chapter house like this. We'd rather learn before offering a candidate a bid! whether he has the means to Join, than suspend him afterward for falling to meet his obligations. On that score, val-nab- .Tur-da- well-to-do- ? Mi.wt tmie to worry about Jordan; he ran bis own car, a large roadster, here at school." "Have you any notion of the source of his incomer the detective inquired. suf"No. I haven't ; as long as he had ficient, that was none of our business." Rankin directed his words to Mr. Warwick. "Anyhow, his relatives will have to be notified of his death at once. Naturally, this Mr. Merrick, his guardian, will want to be summoned as soon as possible." "The university will advise him officially," the supervisor promised him. I will see to it that a telegram is sent tonight to his address on the questionnaire. You'll be immediately informed of any reply or message we receive." The detective continued his interrogation of Stanton. 'To return to how long the chapter has known of the boy," he asked, "you said the first contact with him occurred about the beginning of last month?" "It was on the opening day of the second semester of the school year." The president reflected briefly. 'To be exact, on Monday, February second. Our first smoker was on the second, and we invited every likely prospect n huh eh m ww mw car What wa folks do. ar saw , tu. We'll sat aa better when we've yZZ Ta spead aar axaey where It's auaa avri-tu.- 1AUUSTST THIS WEEK'S PRIZE STOItt Start year dollar rolling In tka right direction and it will return ta th! I you spend year dollar whera thev'esi western raw material and ate vesur labor It la a foregone conclusion that ymr busineea will fee! the stimulus ef a t wiaely. "Buy Intermountaia Mu Good!" MBS. HAROLD DAVENP08T, Parker, lathi. Russia's Spy System Before the World war, Russia', spy system ranked with that of France and Germany as the bes: organized in the world. WHY BE AILING? Retain Health by NATURAL Normalize METHODS Rejuvenate R. M. L. BIOTONE-$1.- 00 Neutralize acids and toxins. Restores chemical balance, the basis of health. For Rheumatism, Acidosis, Gas, Ulcers, Eczema, etc. R, M. L. LAXATONE-$l.- M Correct Constipation by vitalizing the intestinal muscles. "The longer you tut it, the less you need." ThU adv. good (or 5c on purchase of any R. M. L. product within one week from date of issue. At all druggists or direct from ta. Rocky Mountain Laboratories Salt Lake City. Utah Return this to us for re(Druggist demption. Limit 1 to each $1 purchase.) 18 W. 2nd So. With Only a Slight Hesitation, H Removed It, to Reveal a Boy Scarcely of whom Twenty-two- Football Most Strenuous Sport Physiological tests of athletes at Harvard showed football to be the most strenuous of all the forms of sports and exercises tested. . we knew. ASK YOUR DRUGGIST FOR APEX After that, we gradually eliminated the undesirables. Finally, we hold a last affair and ask to it just those to whom we've decided to offer the pledge pin ; this year, that was on February fourteenth." "So that he was pledged three weeks ago, this past Saturday," Rankin figured out "How did you first come to learn of his being at the university?" "Through one of our alumni, a Dr. Arnold Prince, of St. Louis. We have, you understand, thirty-sevechapters in as many colleges over the country; that gives us a large alumni organization. Whenever one of them hears of a promising boy who intends to enter a school where Mu Beta Sigma functions, it is his duty to inform the Interested chapter about him." "Have you any such chapter at Aberdeen, where Jordan came from originally?" "No, we aren't organized there," Stanton returned. "And of course, he never Joined any other fraternity at Aberdeen ; before we accepted him, we made certain of that. 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"And just who Is Doctor Prince?" Rankin wanted to know. "What can you tell me of him?" "Nothing at all, sir, beyond what his letter contains," the president replied. "We can't know every brother who ever graduated. But he writes that he was educated at Hawthorne university, in Fort Waynt;, Ind., he belongs to our Omicron chapter, there. He must be comparatively young because, he took his degree and finished his courses only eight years ago." The letter had been destroyed, Rankin's next question disclosed, once its contents were noted. But the author's address, if he desired it, could be found in the fraternity's national roster, which catalogued every living brother of Mu Beta Sigma. The letter had contained nothing, as far as Stanton could recall, to explain the extent of Doctor Prince's acquaintance with the murdered boy, or the origin of his volunteered information. Before proceeding further, the detective had Stanton obtain the physician's address Harker street, In St Louis. Then, he shifted the topic of his inquiry. "Now, I have a somewhat difficult request to make," he announced Im"Consider it carefully bepressively. fore speaking, Mr. Stanton. I want your opinion of Jordan . . . your Impression of his nature and temperament Give me a sort of character sketch; I think I can rely on your Judgment" (TO BE riasi'i TBftii wiiiwTaTiai-MMs- ai We have many volumes of god sets sayings but not a book whictof me silences out explicitly the i art1 urico niUV UI1U fVia K11V crrpaf".. m,w" GIGANTIC Fireworks Display "Swim In Water Fit To Drink" FREE DANCING -J- erry Beesley's Orchestra LAGOON First Pullman Car The first pullman car vas W 111 $3.00 ELSSSf - Intermountain should as Similar to above. Good," V" your atory In prose termountain rrooncis .,.dDBS twww i. ija.i.. I ,ke City. atory appears in :i I i ... column Toil wm. reive check for 11 p 0 '" S $3.00 " W.N.U. T"uTake CUT |