Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-09-21


belongings and gone. "YesT' he asked
the detective. what is 1t you wish p
There was some Immediately strik-
ing quality about Walter Randall, diff
cult to define. Chiefly 1t was his some
what pallid features, clean-shaven and
exceptionally clear-skinned, with fresh
ness rare in a young man. They were
almost cameo-like In outline; his dark
and expressive eyes had long lashes,
his nose, while not small, was thin and
sensitive, and his mouth and chin mo-
bile and delicate. If the description
"pretty" could be applied to a boy,
Rankin considered 1t would fit him.
He was not wearing civilian clothes,
but cadets uniform, instead. This
consisted of a dark blue coat, with
brass buttons along the front, long
trousers of the same color, though no
puttees. a single stripe running down
either side and round fiat-topped hat
with metal shield above it's stiff visor.
About his waist was a brown leather
belt.
In reply to the boys question, Ran
kin took out a professional card from
his pocket.
"This will tell you my business" he
said. "If you have seen the newspa-
pers today. you'll know that a student
named Jordan from the next dormi-
tory was killed last night in a fra
ternity house. am investigating his
death. believe the latest accounts,
mentioned that though junior at the
university, Jordan only entered this
year. For the last two, he attended
Aberdeen college in Hannibal, Mo-,
transferring this past autumn. The
Office Of admissions informs me, Mr..
Randall, that Aberdeen was also your
original Alma Mater"
The boy closed the door of his room
and invited Rankin to a chair; he took
another.
"Oh, is that why you've called on
me?" he remarked. "Yes, was a
freshman last year in Hannibal, but
decided / would rather go to a larger
and better known school in this part
of the country. Now 1t seems I'll have
to quit school, without even finishing
the term"
Rankin was properly interested. Els
that so? Mrs Bixby said something
about you not being in the best Of
health. hope it isn't that"
THAT'S just the trouble" Randall
explained. "a damnable tubercular
condition keeps undermining my
strength. / wasn't here in October
more than week and classes had only
begun when it got the better Of me.
My doctor advised me to withdraw for
the semester and rest while at home
and Mr.. Warwick granted me leave
Of absence on his certificate of illness.
That's why just signed up for mill
tary training class, instead of gym
nasium. But feel the whole trouble
beginning again and | don't think I'll
be able to see it through"
II was wondering what your uni
form signified," the detective stated. II
didn't know that the university taught
military tactics as a study"
ut Is a substitute for gymnasium
work. Naturally, In my condition, Ii
was much easier"
Rankin reverted to the object of his
visit. what wanted to ask you, Mr..
Randall, is whether you were acquaint-
ed with Stuart Jordan at Aberdeen.
am seeking for facts about his past
life in hopes Of learning something
that will help clarity the problem OF
his death. Anything you know Of him
might be valuable
"As a matter of fact, l did know
him." the student replied. "Only cas-
ually. though; he was sophomore,
a class ahead of me. For one term,
he happened to serve as proctor of the
freshman dormitory In which / lived
at Aberdeen. But that was my only
contact with him and don't suppose
there would be anything in that which
you could possibly use"
"Didn't anything ever occur that
might throw some light on the crime p
Though reasonably Rankin could hard
ly have expected more. he was disap-
pointed.
Nothing that remember" RAN
dali spoke slowly. Jordan had some
difficulty with a classmate of his,
Ralph Buckley; heard of that be-
cause 1t took place in my dormitory.
But that couldn't have anything to do
with. :" G
The detectives recognition of the
name startled him.
"Ralph Buckley, did you say?" Ran
kin demanded sharply. do you mean
that he was also at Aberdeen"
"Certainly-at the same time as Jor-
dan, during the past two years. AS |
said, they were both sophomores just
when I entered. The trouble between
them broke out the middle of last
year." The boy paused. "How Is II
you were familiar with Buckley's
name when ! mentioned it?" he in
quired curiously.
81 had heard he came from Jordan's
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