The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-06-16


shelf stood a large tray with bottle
Of some liquor and thirteen small
liquor glasses. All eyes followed their
movements, while they removed the
tray and fastened the closet door the
deep hush held a distinct tension.
Next, they filled the glasses with the
dark sparkling contents of the bottle
and carried them to the altar. In or
der, they distributed them, the first
glass to the presider on the dais and
then one to each Of the ten novitiates.
They, themselves, retained the two re-
manning glasses. setting aside the tray,
and resumed their station beside the
altar
The figure above them began to
speak again.
Initiates" he intoned, "the COM
pletion of this toast is the last cere-
mony. At my command, stand up and
raise your glasses before you: when
the toast is recited, repeat after me
the words instruct. At the end, re-
move your hoods, so that we may drink
together to Mu Beta Sigma. =. Rise
to your feet! Lift your glasses!"
He extended his own glass forward,
as they carried out the orders, and
opened the volume to another Sec
ton. The seated group in yellow also
stood.
s.To the illustrious past Of Mu Beta
Sigma" he read aloud, land the forty
six years of its growth. To its found
ers, who brought into existence great
and august institution. To its thirty
eight eminent chapters, scattered
throughout the schools Of the entire
nation. To this our Gamma chapter,
third to be organized and chartered
by the central council. To the
new. :"
The impressive toast was never con-
cluded. Suddenly, his words were In
terrupted without warning; the fifth
member In the line Of standing initi-
ates dropped his glass. It shattered,
with ringing tinkle. ON the hard bare
floor. He himself gave vent to low
gasping moan, as though Of pain,
checking the startled exclamation from
his left. Unexpectedly. he swayed and
staggered from the line toward the
altar, as il grasping support unable to
reach 1t In time, he dropped once more
to his knees in an attempt to balance
himself. The next instant, before any
one could catch him, he collapsed, an
agitated trembling heap on the floor.
For the first pregnant seconds, no
one in the chamber stirred. Then, In
a confused, concerted movement, they
crowded forward to the altar in a
milling excited mass. The gray sentry
at the door hurried forward and SO
failed to observe that one figure in
yellow did not join the melee he opened
the door instead, and stole silently out,
closing it behind him. Scarcely had
he gone when someone, with pres
ence Of mind, pressed the light switch
of the central chandelier. Most Of the
audience had thrown off their cowls
by this time; and the bright glare dis
closed their wearers to be young men,
scarcely more than boys, with one
exception. He, in the white costume
of novitiate, must have been verg-
ing on forty-five.
One of the first audible comments
came from a young man in yellow. on
the immediate left Of the stricken boy.
"My Cd, Stuart, what's the trou-
ble?" ne shouted excitedly; his voice
trembled with alarm. "What on
earth's the matter with you?"
The chairman of the ceremonies was
himself but youth; yet it was his
leadership that asserted itself to allay
the disorder of the scene. Pallid and
anxious, he had descended from the
dais, almost the first to reach the re-
cumbent body. Swiftly he knelt at
its side, removing the cowl and sup
porting the head with an arm, while he
took charge of the situation.
Don't move in so close, there" he
directed the encroaching circle. LET
him have plenty of air. =. Here,
I'd better loosen his clothes Bit"
"Don't you think we ought to send
for doctor, Ted?" A fair-haired boy
in yellow, with pugnacious features
and freckled skin, made the sugges-
tion. "It looks as If he had some sort
of seizure"
The black-robed leader nodded. "Of
course, Chuck; try to get hold of one
as soon as possible. And he'll be bet
ter off, upstairs in bed. You two
George, and you. Ned-lift him and
carry him to my room. But handle
him carefully"
The two individuals he indicated
shouldered their burden; lane was
silently formed, through which they
bore it to the door, into the hall and
stairway beyond. The third, called
Chuck, hesitated before following them
out.
II suppose, Ted. we should call Doc
tor Thompson rather than anyone
else" he said inqulringly.
"Yes, that's the wisest thing. Any
how, he's in the neighborhood; he'll
probably arrive sooner, too, than some
other doctor we might get"
Some moments elapsed before he