The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-09-08
CHAPTER TX
The Stone Wall

The Stone Wall
1t was a diSgruntled and decidedly
perplexed detective who returned to
headquarters at four o'clock Friday
afternoon. three days after the MUIR
der. In turn, two suspects-Ned Pat
terson and Ralph Buckley-had cleared
themselves; the evidence he had so
painstakingly collected had disinte-
grated before explanations that
changed their value. The only i'm
pOrtant case remaining was that in
eliminating the lawyer. And against
him, Rankin was not yet prepared to
move. Though civil lawyer, Mr..
Fletcher was acquainted with the sub
tleties of criminal law and no mean
opponent; it was no trifling matter to
charge him with murder until his facts
were altogether impregnable. First he
wanted to ferret out and marshal
every possible proof of his guilt. He
dared leave no loophole through which
the attorney might escape because Of
his position or superior knowledge Of
legal technicalities.
Momentarily, Rankin experienced
qualm of alarm lest it again develop
that he was trailing a red herring.
Then, unless Jordan's guardian was
the culprit, he would face stone wall.
So far, he had unearthed only a mo-
tive to implicate Mr.. Merrick-the es-
tate his nephew would inherit at twen-
ty-two, if he did not forfeit it by inn
proper conduct. But even supposing
that In some mysterious manner, the
uncle could have got into the initia-
ton chamber, he had no opportunity
to commit the crime if he actually
came east from Vandalia on Wednes-
day morning. Nevertheless, as the
sole remaining suspect, his alibi de-
manded attention which thus far in
the press Of events it had not re-
ceived. This was task for Gilmore.
the detective decided, until he could
handle it himself.
The most serious weakness in his
theory of Mr.. Fletcher's guilt, he real
lied with fresh dismay, was the extra
person at the initiation. It was GER
tain someone besides the thirty-one
brothers already identified had at
tended; but unless he was Ben Craw-
ford, his identity was still an enigma.
But Crawford had every right to be
present and hence no apparent reason
to deny his whereabouts. Only his
peculiar tale of the pickup" rem
devious that had not materialized was
responsible for whatever suspicion he
was under. And the nurse with whom
he claimed to have spent the night
could not check his movements; he
had not joined her until three quarters
Of an hour after the murder. On the
other hand, if he told the truth about
his absence from the ceremony, then
the unknown intruder and not Mr..
Fletcher must inevitably be the muir
derer he sought.
AS he reached the central detective
bureau, Rankin resolved to delay deal
ing with the lawyer at least until Gill
more reported his interview with
Crawford's nurse friend. But It was
Mr.. Fletcher himself who forced the
ISSUE for he was there, waiting to see
him. He had first phoned about two
thirty, Captain Thomas informed the
detective, and learning that Rankin
was expected back later in the after
noon, stated he would stop in when
the court closed.
'He got here about forty-five min
utes ago." the captain related. "It
sounds like something serious, Tom
my; was talking to him just before
you came in and he seemed quite up
set. though I can't say what about.
Now he is In the empty Office down
the corridor"
"Thank you, Captain" Rankin re-
turned, "I'll see him right away"
AS he entered the room in question,
he too sensed the promise of trouble
brewing. Mr.. Fletcher's greeting was
harsh and he was manifestly angry.
But typical Of the man, his resent
ment smoldered, controlled and i'm
placable, and did not express itself In
any outburst of temper. at the same
time, he was uneasy, as If anxious
and under a distinct strain.
He began without preliminaries, Civ
ing Rankin no time to reflect on the
object of his visit.
Il imagine you have a pretty good
notion why l am here, Rankin" he
spoke sternly. Your position as a
detective gives you no authority to
annoy innocent people, compel them
to answer you by indiscriminate
threats, and trespass on private prem
ises and search them. This high
handed conduct requires satisfactory
explanation, unless you want the mat
ter carried to your superiors."