The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-04

buI WHAT COuIQ nave ndppeneQ III LIle
past few days to turn esteem abruptly
into murderous fear or hostility? Crop
ing for an answer, Rankin recalled the
scene he had overheard at the Morton
club. when the sponsor explained why
he could not pay Carl Walton his
gambling debt. Something, he said,
had prevented him from obtaining the
money both on Tuesday and Wednes-
day. Was that something the stu
dents murder or, in some fashion, con-
nected with the motive behind it?
Whether or not this superstition was
far-fetched, the incident at least re-
vealed Patterson's desperate need Of
money. And the coincidence of events
was remarkable; his need, the theft of
the poison and the murder were all de-
velopments of the same day, Tuesday.
So significant was this sequence that
Rankin felt it justified further steps
against the sponsor. Besides securing
his finger-prints. he ought to search
his room and belongings at the fra
ternity; possibly he might discover
some trace of the missing chemicals.
For the present, too, he resolved to
have Patterson watched and followed.
There was always the likelihood that
some of his future actions would be
discriminating.
Kenneth Heyward's visit did not end
the unanticipated occurrences of the
day. Scarcely had he gone with the
finger-print expert, when the phone
bell rang. The call came from the
dormitory office at the university; the
detective had no difficulty in recogniz-
ing over the wire the deep, slightly
cracking tones of Mr.. Thorne the
attendant at the college post Office. He
had phoned to'apprise Rankin that he
was in possession of a letter for
Stuart Jordan.
II found it just now. on sorting the
batch of noon mail" he stated. 'Tm
holding it for you. sir; and I didn't
waste minute in ringing you"
"That's very good of you, Mr..
Thorne," the detective returned. "rll
be out for it this afternoon. Can YOU
tell whether it is personal letter or
not?"
swell, it looks private, If that's what
you mean," Mr.. Thorne replied. "It
was mailed early yesterday. And.
Mr.. Rankin :" he paused, 81 think
I ought to tell you there was a lady
here today, asking for his MAIL too;
whether anything had come for him."
Rankin's voice held note of won
der. "a lady to find out about his
letters? What was she like?"
"Quite young. sir-hardly more than
twenty-five and very attractive" was
the response.
"And precisely when did she stop
in to make this inquiry?" the detective
queried
"At about ten, after I'd distributed
the first mail which arrived at nine
o'clock. She asked kind of anxiously
II letter had come this morning for
Mr.. Stuart Jordan. And when I said
none had. she looked disappointed and
worried, as if she was expecting one.
She wanted to know what time this
next mail would be sorted; then she
thanked me nervously and left in
hurry without another word"
'You have no idea. suppose" Ran
kin demanded eagerly, ''who she VASE"
Mr.. Thorne was positive "No, she
didn't say why she was interested in
Mr. JordaHs mail To tell the truth,
was so surprised by her questions
that gave her the information she
was after and she went, before 1 had
chance to think it over. Then the only
thing l could do was get in touch with
you; only wasn't able to get around
to it until this letter arrived"
"I've decided to call for it at once"
Rankin announced abruptly. "This
requires immediate investigation. Ex-
pect me in about ten minutes, Mr..
Thorne"
Hurriedly, he rang off and fastened
from headquarters into the city hall
courtyard below, where his machine
was parked. There was ample cause
for his growing excitement, in Mr..
Thorne's recital, which the postmaster
could not appreciate. 1t was the first
indication in the case that a woman
had had some contact with the dead
boy. Thus far, all the evidence mega
lived the existence of any girl in his
life: the absence of feminine letters,
the ignorance of members of the fra
ternity and Mr.. Merrick's testimony.
And now suddenly out of nowhere, this
woman appeared, mysteriously inter
/ ested in the student and, in all prob
ability, being at least indirectly con-
cerned in his death. Otherwise, she
would have come forward openly and
offered her assistance, rather than
hide and surreptitiously attempt to
learn about his mail.
Twelve minutes after leaving head
quarters, he parked his car behind
a long, low gray limousine. outside
the university dormitories. AS he
turned into the Gethic arch within
which, on the right, was the post Office,