Show the student dent fraternity murder by MILTON B bl barlo l copyright US 1932 by bt milton proper CHAPTER 1 1 the initiation TUB 1111 outward appearance of tile the mu beta sigma fraternity house located along locust street just beyond the confines of the university of philadelphia campus suggested that it was deserted outside in tile the darkness of tho the street no lights were visible though it was scarcely more titan than nine in the evening along the curb the solo 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 house to be vacant yet one chamber on the right side bide of the building hidden from the 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 coiling cel ling supported by heavy timber trusses perhaps the most conspicuous article in the room was a raised altar before the rear wall of carved ma hoenny wood it stood upon tx a dais of white stone that reached the floor by n single step A figure posed behind it tall and imposing as aa lie towered above every one elso else present A long black gown tightened about tile aalst by a black cord bild lild ills entire body while an attached hood masked ills his head and features fea turca only ills his eyes visible we through two narrow silts in the cowl helow below him film on oil the step leading from the dala dais two other figures faced the length of the chamber one on oil either cither side aide of him similarly garbed their robes were blue however A large book of vellum richly bound lay iny open on the altar on the floor at the feet of the platform a group was arrange arranged in a long line turned toward it twenty hooded and gowned shapes their costumes alternated in color half or of them were yellow and the rest flowing white hut but whereas the yellow cloaked figures stood upright and unrestrained their alternate companions in white all knelt on tile hard floor they were wera blindfolded nial cordo bound their hands hand tightly belilah their backs each had H n jeweled gold pin in the shape of a cloyer clover leaf uniformly attached to the white robe at tile level of the breast behind them was another group larger in number it however ans seated on clial rs ran ranged cd in a wide semicircle from tile tho right wall of tile tho room to tho the left and almost buck back to the entrance its members nen ibers were unvaryingly dressed lit in tile the same yellow 10 v garments of tile the standing motionless tion ti legs images within its are arc A solitary figure in gray stood vigil beside the door at the front tile the only light cattle camo from two large candles set in long brass candlesticks dle sticks on oil tile pedestals on oil each bide of the altar for a long solemn moment the silence continued then tile black figure behind the altar broko broke it in a sepulchral voice lie read from the volume before hint him the solemn ritual of the mu mn beta sigma fraternity ending with the words worda tike a fond fil father ther tile tho frater ity welcomes you and in return you promise that loyalty y obedience and support which tire are tho ilia obligations of every son slowly his voice died away n and n I 1 ila he closed the book with precision tie he raised ills eyes toward the seated line of yellow robed figures in tile the semicircle circle behind the lie pled gees and their sponsors he addressed them directly and now flow brothers those who are near cunio conio forward prepare the initiates for their final rites to induct them into the folds of mu beta sigma to tile white gowns lie he said bald hold yourselves in readiness for tile the lust last mysteries mas teries at lila words or of command ten spectators in yellow left their chairs one approaching each of the kneeling group at the e altar step bending beading over them they unbound the cords that fastened their wrists behind thern them there was as some dolay delay its as lie he who bowed above aboe the fifth of tile the ton ten initiates appeared to meet lit in the darkness in a loosening ills knots while tile the subject of lili ills efforts braced himself stiffly lie ho struggled shadowed over tle tile fettered hand finally sue api cpi saul lit in freeing them lie ho placed the cord on oil tho the floor as ills hla associates had already ilone done then he retreated one stop step into line with them tiwa lUig tho the black leaders adera le next order it came after a solemn pause brethren now remove their blindfolds 11 they berf performed ormed this direction more promptly and returned ngali to their empty places lit in tile circle of chairs at mhd same banic time the two members lit in blue robes on the altar steps descended from their positions and crossed the chamber to the oft left alons along the rear wall A cupboard wits was concealed in the shade of the corner one ot of them produced a key and opened it on a shelf stood a large tray with a bottle of 0 some liquor and thirteen small liquor glasses all eyes fol lowed thear movements while they removed tile the tray and fastened the closet door the deep hush held field a distinct tension next they filled the glasses with the dark sparkling contents of tile the bottle and carried them to the altar in order they distributed them the first glass to the pr celder on the dais and then one to each of the ten novitiates they them themselves selve retained the two remaining glasses seating aside the tray and resumed their station beside the altar tile the figure above aboa e them began to speak again initiates lie he intoned the completion of tills this toast Is the last ceremony at my command stand up and raise your glasses before you f when the toast Is recited repent after me tile w I 1 instruct at the end remove your hoods so that we may drink together to mu beta sigma rise illse to your feet I 1 lift your glass glassell esl ile he extended his own glass forward as they carried out the or tho solemn the ma sigma fraternity ders and opened the volume to another section the seated group in Y ellow also stood to the illustrious past of mu beta sigma lie read aloud and tile the forty six years of its growth to its founders who brought into existence a great and august institution to its thirty eight eminent dap adapters di apters scattered throughout the schools of tuo the entire nation to this our gamma chapter third to be organized and chartered by the central council to the new 11 the impressive toast was never concluded suddenly his words were interrupted without warning the fifth member in the line of standing initiates dropped hla his glass it shattered with a ringing tinkle on the hard bare fac lie ile himself gave vent to a low gasping moan as though of pain checking the startled exclamation from ills his left Unexpectedly Ae swayed and staggered from the line toward the altar as it if grasping support unable to reach it in time lie ho dropped once more to his fits knees in an nt at t tempt em to balance himself tile the next I 1 instant before anyone could catch jilin him tie lie collapsed an agitated trembling heap on the floor for the first pregnant seconds second no one in the chamber stirred then in fit a confused conceded conc eted movement they crowded forward to tile the altar in a milling excited mass the gray sentry nt at the door hurried forward and so failed to observe that one figure in yellow did not join the melee lie he opened the door instead and stole silently out closing it behind him scarcely had lie he gone i when someone with presence of 0 mind pressed tile the light switch of the central chandelier most lost of tile the audience had thrown off their cowls i by tins this time and the bright glare disclosed their bearers wearers to be young men mail scarcely more than boys with one exception lie in the white costume of a novitiate nolt late must have been verging merging on oil forty forti five one of tile the first audible comments cattle caine from a young man la in lellow the on oil the immediate left of the stricken lioy boy my ill 0 G d stuart chats tile the trouble lie shouted excitedly lug ills voice trembled with alarm what on earths the matter with you ion the cha chairman of the ceremonies was himself but a youth yet set it was his leadership that asci tod itself to allay the disorder of the scene pallid and anxious lie ind had tie de scented from the data bals almost tile the first to reach the recumbent body swiftly he knelt nt at its side removing the cowl and supporting the head with will tin nn arm while lie ho tool took charge of nf the situation dont move moc in so close there lie he directed the encroaching circle let hint him have plenty of mr air dont you think we ought to io send tor for a doctor ted A fair haired boy in yellow with pugnacious features and freckled skin made the suggestion it looks as if he be had some sort eort of seizure tile the black robed leader nodded of course chuck try to get hold of one as soon as possible and hell be better off upstairs in bed you two george and you ned lift him and carry him to my room the two individuals he indicated shouldered their burden a lane was silently formed through which they bore it to the door into tile the hall bull and stairway beyond tile the third called chuck hesitated before following them out 1 I suppose ted we should call doctor thompson rather than anyone else he said inquiringly yes the wisest thing anyhow lies in the neighborhood hell 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 at first convulsive tremors and if a fresh nausea he could not restrain obstructed his attendants but with the passing minutes these paroxysms ceased find and a drowsiness find and lassitude lessened his pain except for an accelerated but labored breathing he be lay jay quiet and inert muscular rigidity followed and gradually as life hla strength ebbed even his respiration diminished when the intently awaited assistance arrived his stupor bordered on unconsciousness doctor wllbur wilbur thompson was a tall rangy man bald and round faced whose keen eyes looked searchingly albeit kindly through pince nez glasses in hla his official capacity of medical adviser of the university of philadelphia hla his 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 1 doctor Tho thompson greeted him bris briskly lily one ot of the pled gees was taken sick during the initiation and im afraid its serious my name Is ted stanton doctor lie added briefly he described the initiates initiate Is sudden attack while they ascended the carpeted stairs together there were two narrow beds in the room and the now insensible patient lay iny in that against the rear wall the physician barely observed his surroundings as he began ills his a examination when at length he rose from the bedside his look was grim and his usually amiable mouth dra drawn wn into a thin f formidable ormi dable line im afraid im too late to do anything for him he announced to to tile the president perhaps treatment in the first few minutes after hla his collapse might have pulled him through im not certain but after that no doctor in the world could have saved hint ted stanton blanched and gulped his lips quivering in his attempt to speak you mean 10 pi etor catov lies hes really dying the query was an appalled whisper just that doctor boctor 1 13 tompson ompson returned austerely it cant live more than a few mes we tried clr ir best to help him sir the dier seemed nt at if a loss and we got in touch with you immediately media tely just happened to him the physician answered with a question ilow how did lie react after you brought him up tip here ile he faced the group in the room 1 fa I P neone who stood close to him athe time did lie he appear more at je ie when hta his convulsions were over A blue gowned youth in the group around the stricken man spoke up hesitantly not exactly sir 11 he said at least I 1 thought lie grew stilt stiff and strained as if in worse pain still stall and lie he kept on panting quickly with a great deal of trouble ali ah then he seemed to find it to catch hla his breath young man yes sir until he practically became unconscious unc ons clous lie ile breathed breathe noisily with his mouth month open he almost choked lie ho had such a time trying to get enough air do any of you know whether he was subject to sudden attacks 1 doctor thompson inquired epileptic I 1 seizures for instance it was the president who replied no sir not as far as we could tell lie he was aili athletic letle and always looked to us its in tile the best or of health I 1 no I 1 scarcely supposed that was the cause the physIc physician lan commented sternly hla features severe As a matter or of fact it Is something different and much more dreadful like some form of asphyxiation or suffocation fo cation ailon suffocation sir ted stanton cried in his astonishment but how bow to la that possible the boy has been pol poisoned doctor boctor thompson explained solemnly the effect of the drug la Is gradually to impede the respiratory system in some fashion until breathing Is checked altogether then due to the lack of oxygen a muscular paralysis stops the heart 0 0 at ten thirty that same tuesday evening headquarters of the central detective bureau at city hall received a phone call that was to engage tommy rankin in the roost most puzzling mystery lie ho had bad ever encountered captain thomas on duty at the time took the message which came from superintendent of police wainright himself lie ile was directed to dispatch an efficient and intelligent plainclothes plain clothes man to the philadelphia campus had and tile the mil 1111 beta sigma fraternity house on locust street rankin was ready to leave for his bachelor quarters just oft off rittenhouse square when thomas conveyed his instructions to him the old fellow sounded bounded quite pleased when I 1 told him you were still around the captain commented ile he said there anyone hed rather have going out on the case who would you like to take along to help you rankin shook ills his head smiling you know darned well captain that ill want a couple of policemen to take charge he returned for the present at least until I 1 learn the lay of the land did the old fellow say what it was about nothing except to suggest that whoever I 1 sent should use his common sense and sound judgment the matter must be handled with a groat great deal of tact rankin fitted in few respects the typical conception of a plainclothes sleuth ills keenness and ability were at once apparent in his dark piercing eyes constantly alert and quick to grasp a situation ills IS was not however a brilliant intellect capable of leaping to correct conclusions with klan accuracy rather hather lie he carried on his investigations by logic and perseverance which coupled with a faculty facility for reasoning enabled hint 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 five rankin drove to the neighborhood 0 of f the campus in west philadelphia with two policemen at eleven he parked his car behind the yellow roadster still standing 9 before the fraternity house d descended L and rang the bell of the iro iron n door A long and angular man whose face was waa equally long and cadaverous answered him obviously perturbed with deep lines about his eyes some unusual anxiety added years to the forty he |