The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-09-15

way; but murder was farthest from
my thought"
Amazed that for all his shrewdness,
the lawyer was so blind to his wife's
shortcomings = unless he purposely
CLOSED them over-Rankin merely
asked:
"And how else did you propose to
get ridsof him?'
"Bys bringing about his dismissal
from, the university. That would prob
ably cause him to quit Philadelphia
and go home; and again insure my
peace of mind and the integrity /
value in my house. have enough
connections at the college to pull the
necessary strings, provided / could
prove Jordan's undesirability as stu
dent. But, of course, his expulsion
had to be subtly managed for some
other reason than my real grievance;
that would have reflected my own
weakness and necessitated a public
scandal. That was why / seized the
chance to enter his rooms to learn
something about him. It occurred to
me l might possibly discover some in
formation among his private effects to-
use as weapon against him. 1t
wasn't very likely, admit, but 1 was
prepared to turn any evidence to my
design"
is that what you were doing" the
detective inquired, "when Mrs. Hogan
interrupted you beside the desk
searching it?"
Mr.. Fletcher answered convincingly,
though with no attempt at self-justifi-
cation.
Il had just finished going through
the room-his bookcase, clothing and
the trunk. But l handled only his let
tiers and papers; I assure you neither
touched his shoes nor moved them into
the vestibule by the door,"
One of the most puzzling circum-
stances of the entire case had been the
absence of mail to the student: and
Rankin's voice was suddenly sharp.
Letters, you say. That's strange;
found none when examined his be-
longings on Wednesday,"
"No, because took them with me-"
the lawyer explained. Remember,
had to act rapidly and couldn't read
them there. / didn't dare risk the en-
barrassment of being caught. And on
hasty glance, l got the impression
that they supplied the very proofs Of
his looseness and immortality that |
wanted. SO pocketed them when the
woman entered. AS it turned out, l
was mistaken; but from what 1 did
read, l gathered they were written by
Jordan's mistress-some woman with
whom he had been living while at col
lege."
This casually volunteered, but total
ly unexpected intelligence brought
Rankin to the edge of his chair:
startled and alert, he stared in sur
prise.
Ills mistress? You mean the boy
and the writer were having an affair?
What did the letters say to give you
such an idea?"
"First my attention was caught by
reference to the fact that they had
shared an apartment together for some
months" Mr.. Fletcher related. ale
had evidently taken it for her, for she
reminded him of their pleasures to.
gether and reiterated her affection for
him. She seemed anxious to rejoin
him after separation; and the tone
| nf hnr MI
to conciliate him, after some differ
ence with him. Other letters, which
also acknowledged money he sent her,
Indicated he was at school during
their affair. She mentioned the week.
ends as the only time he could get
away to spend with her. That meant
their intrigue was ciandestine and the
arrangement secret, while he ostensi-
bly, lived respectfully at college"
The detective shook his head sober
". THAT doesn't sound at all like
Jordan" he commented. "My In
quiries suggest he was decent, quiet
and well-behaved."
"Quiet chaps are often the most de-
ceptive," the lawyer returned. "And
I was only too ready to credit the let
tiers. At the moment, was too rushed
TO discover from where they came and
when they were written; and couldn't
tell how long ago their co-habitation
occurred. 1t had apparently ceased
for the time being. But If the boy
had lived with this woman at any time
this year, while at Philadelphia, had
a weapon to cause his dismissal"
"Then how is it possible you were
mistaken? The facts seem to speak
for themselves
Mr.. Fletcher replied slowly, with en-
phasis. Because they had another
Interpretation. which / failed to con-
sider--the correct one" He paused.
Namely, that instead of his mistress,
the writer was his wife. Their nup-