The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-06

hoped to float through US. The ven
ture must have fallen through, for
after that interview heard nothing
further of II and he never called
again. However, during our CON
versation, he happened to mention
that he had attended Hawthorne {;
and naturally, | told him | had a
nephew studying this year at Phil
adelphla. | met him only that once; /;
and that meeting was wholly for
tuitous."
"DO you remember when Doctor
Prince consulted you about this
loan proposition7"
Last year in the fall" SIR Mer-
rick replied. The early fall, some
where about the middle of Septem-
ber."
Rankin grunted in accord; ac-
cording to Ted Stanton, ii was in
October that the physician had
written che Philadelphia chapter
about young Jordan. After a pause,
he abruptly focused his inquiry on
another subject.
what caused Stuart to change
schools this year? Had he any spe-
cial reason for wishing to leave ABB
erdeen at the end of his sophomore
year?"
"None that know Of" the bank
er replied. beyond an understand
able preference to go TO school with
more complete college life. Prob
ably, too. he figured on more free
dom farther from home" he fin
ished. with an austere effort at light
ness. In the beginning. ] opposed
the idea of shifting. but finally
agreed to let him have his way"
"Was Stuart ever guilty of Sc
rious misconduct" Rankin queried.
Anything gross or unprincipled
enough to justify the exercise of
your authority to deprive him Of his
Inheritance?"
mo, he never caused me the
least difficulty-even allowing for
youthful follies. He had good train
ing and. II not lmpeccable, he was
decent and honorable"
Still appearances are often de-
ceptive," Rankin pursued. you see,
Mr.. Merrick, made peculiar dis
covery yesterday, while searching
his rooms at the dormitory. found
certain stubs OF his check books in
dicating that he was paying regu-
larly to some unknown person, the
sum of four hundred dollars a
month. Do you know of anything
that might explain themp
Unless Mr.. Merrick was a skillful
actor, his startled. puzzled express
sion betokened his ignorance.
-Four hundred dollars a month
And there is no record of what
these expenditures were for?"
1T almost looks as though there
was some secret in his llfe," Mr.
Warwick contributed gravely. "Some
incident he wanted concealed. And
he was paying someone to keep
quiet about it"
The guardian shook his head sol
emnly These expenditures are a
total mystery to me-" he confessed.
"As said. Stuart's income was
ninety-five hundred a year. more
than enough to meet even this great
drain. So that he never had oc-
/ casion to approach me for addI-
tional funds"
what about an entanglement
with q woman?"
At the suggestion. Mr.. Merrick's q
features grew dark and his eyes
fllnty.
"If he was, il never reached my
ears. And If he had ii would sus-
tain any measures chose to take
under his fathers will" A harsh
note crept into his voice. Stuart
was well aware that sexual impro-
priety was the one misstep ! would
not countenance
DO ycu know of any reason why
anyone might have had anirnosity
against him?'
But here. again. the banker re-
sponded negatively. He could not
conceive of how his nephew could
have excited a hatred so virulent
as to be a motive for murder. The
name of Buckley was familiar to
Mr.. Merrick. only because people of
that name resided in Vandalia: but
he was not acquainted with the fam
lily of Ralph All he could tell of
them was that they were middle
class folks, small merchants in the
outskirts. He could not say wheth-
er the boy had ever displayed in
terest in any particular girl at school
or in the town.
On concluding his inquiries about
Jordan's past, the detective ended
the interview Though disappointed
at his meager information on few
points, he was satisfied be had COW
cred all the important ground.
Before Mr.. Warwick and the bank.
er departed. Rankin also questioned
the supervisor-about the feasibility
of Buckley's having gained admis-