Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-09-14
THE STORY

CHAPTER L-stricken during initi-
a4ion into the Nh Beta Sigma frater-
pity, stuart Jordan, university stu
1e1t dies almost Immediately. A ply
stefan declares he was poisoned. Tom
ny Rankin, philadelphia detective.
takes charge Of the investigation.
rnins 10 shown to have been the cause
81 Jordan's death. Rankin hnds all
ne students shoes are marked with
lis uncle. HOWARD oN KnS %erri CEASE 81.
Louis banker, also his guardian. and
his heir.
CHAPTER III.-Two students from
the vicinity of vandalia, Ill, Jordan's
home town, Ralph Buckley and Walter
Randall. figure in the Investigation.
sn n Arnold id Prince nas S va eSieyp n re-
eponsible for Jordan's admission into
ne fraternity prominent lawyer.
don, also engages Rankin's attention.
That's what / thought" the detec-
tive remarked. "What about the
front door of the house. Mr.. Stanton?"
Gould an intruder steal in, undis-
eovered?"
'Not unless someone on the inside
unfastened 1t for him." Stanton re-
piled. TITS always kept locked; and
only brothers and PLEDGES have keys"
you realize what that MEANS" Ran
Kim pointed out soberly. "only men,
lDers and candidates for initiation could
have been present at the ritual to-
might"
Mr.. Warwick looked grave, and as
me comprehended the dreadful fmpli-
cation Of the statement, Stanton
blanched and swallowed hard.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
Yes. I suppose that's Inevitable" he
admitted.
"And now, what about your attend
ance at meetingsT the detective car
xied on briskly. rs 1t compulsory or
notr'
The president recovered his poise
with difficulty. at isn't, because we
have to make allowances for other en-
iEagements or for sickness. That's why
Med was able to stay away tonight"
II should like to find out, Mr.. STAN
ton. how many were present at the
ceremony, this evening. Also, who
was missing and where they were at
the time"
"The roll-book will give you most Of
that information" Stanton volun-
feered. "The recorder Of the chapter
keeps the minutes of our meetings and
calls the roll, before we start. Any
hoy who doesn't answer to his name,
lhe marks absent" He produced from
il shelf in a hollow section, behind
the altar, a brown leather-bound vol
iume Of white ruled sheets.
''Thfs is the recorders book and
here is the registry Of attendance"
He ran his index finger along one
isf the columns. ut was exceptionally
good tonight. you see-almost 100 per
cent OF our thirty-three active BROTH
srs. only three were away; besides
Ned. Ben Crawford. a sophomore, and
Larry Palmer. II may be that Ben
o. Larry also came In during the cere-
Dony, Just a. Ned did. But you'll have
20 ask the sergeant at arms about
that; was too busy with the ritual
70 notice" He shut the book and re-
turned It to the altar. ''That makes
thirty members IN the ROOM" he sum-
married. cor, counting Ned Patterson,
thirty-one as far as I know. In add
ton, there were the initiates, ten of
them II you count Mr.. Fletcher. :"
Rankin's sharp question halted the
boy. "Mr. Fletcher" he demanded,
mystined. do you mean that he
was being initiated into the frater-
nity?"
"As an honorary member. SIR" STAN
ton stated quickly. ave do that some
times. to honor someone outside of
school and prominent in the COM
munity."
II see" Rankin bit his lip medita-
lively. II had assumed that Mr..
Fletcher was already member of Mu
Beta Sigma, attending tonight as an
alumnus"
For the first time the lawyer spoke.
his features austere and hfs tone de-
liberate.
Perhaps ! should have explained
earlier my reason for being here" he
said, 'but | thought you understood.
Now, after this unfortunate tragedy,
would prefer to have my connection
with the fraternity kept in the back
ground. Undue publicity might EN-.
barrass me in my profession: at any
rate. the association would be most
unpleasant. Though not a fraternity
man, / heard great deal about this
chapter from two nephews of mine
who used to belong to It. They have
since graduated from the business
school. Last year, they preached the
subject Of my becoming an honorary
member. AS a possible means Of re-
,newing my youth. the idea attracted
me; though beyond visiting the house
once or twice. l was too busy to
consider 1t adequately. at theotime.
This autumn, my nephew and young
George Patten, whose people are close
friends, renewed the matter. was
literally rushed by smokers and social
sayents: at the dance last Saturday.