Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-10-26

CONTINUED from last weekly

oward rlatchers young wife, and re-
s. .has :nJ .' 10 s' her. :u'BS'i x:
Eight before the fraternity initiation
- PLEDGES. according to custom. were
e r.. SSm. Z. SD sss t a"S oosie
n. poison stolen from the laboratory
assvsmsnts the night before his death
Rankin nnds that. on his abandon
bment. he tslsphoned from farmhouse
- Mrs. Fletcher, who came for him in
2Ankin nnds . hypodermic needle.
1ng Ralph Buckley. 10 secured. Nel
PATTERSON pawns a watch. obviously
Gordon's answer terminated his re-
1 Port. Scarcely had he gone when Ser
igeant Daniel Gilmore dropped in and
proceeded to detail to the younger man
the results Of his particular assign.
ment-the private search of Ralph
Buckley's apartment.
His information brought back to his
colleague with fresh force how potent
the case was he had SO painstakingly
constructed against Buckley. Rankin
had been so engrossed the past day In
Investigating Mr.. Fletcher's connec-
zion with the crime that, temporarily
at least. the evidence duplicating the
student had been pushed into the
background of his mind.
GilmOre's account began with his
preliminary reconnoiter on the Wednes-
day evening. two days before, when
ne had agreed to aid the detective.
Recognizing the necessity for utmost
caution, he had dared leave nothing
90 chance; he had to familiarize him.
self In advance with the premises he
intended to invade illegally. And hav-
ing never seen his quarry, he had to
Identify him to know when he quit his
quarters long enough to take ad-
vantage Of his absence.
These preparatory measures, Gil
more successfully managed that same
evening. The letter boxes in the vesti-
oule listed Buckley's apartment as 4D.
Then, as all apartments had similar
locks. he climbed the stairs and ex-
gamined those on the second floor.
When he came again, 1t would be
armed with keys to fit any of them.
10 get look at Buckley. he adopted
the stratagem of deliberately knock
Eng on his door; and when it was
epened, claimed to be a tailor's en-
'pioyee calling for a suit, who had
mistaken the address.
Hes a well-built, rather handsome
ishap, Tommy" Gilmore said. "He
has broad features and a decidedly
istrong nose. He is older and far more
sophisticated than the average student
Just beginning college; I'd say he 10
ALREADY twenty-four or twenty-five"
Rankin nodded. "Given an ade-
aNuate motive. would you suppose him
capable Of serious crime?"
The sergeant answered slowly and
,ehoughtfully. THAT'S difficult ques.
:eicn. Tommy; but he has a decidedly
vicious streak In him."
well, shall be able to Judge for
myself this afternoon" his colleague
Returned. II was only waiting for con-
4rmation Of Randall's story from Aber-
seen and your report. before swore
cut a warrant for him. II he can't
'sxcnerate himself. intend to exc
cute 1t. So finish your story"
On the following morning, Thursday,
before eight-thirty. Gilmore continued
he had returned to the Harrowgate
apartments. ready for the actual entry.
He waited across the street in an in
conspicuous position until, at eight.
Afty. Buckley left for the university;
then he fastened into the building
and upstairs. No one witnessed his
burglarious intrusion, and In a few
moments one Of his keys opened ting
door Of 4D.
Beginning his examination with Tho
desk, for almost an hour he hSnta1
leisurely through the desk ana ther
I'd turn. the closets and bureau IN ~.
bedroom, careful to replace svarv a.
ticle he moved as he fourd u "a.
found many questionable pos sessions
loaded dice, marked cards, licuor ava
Q revolver; but no sign of INV no,soc
Or the syringe with which the cr,r,o
vas committed.
"Just the same, Tommy tho cav
Reant pursued, and paused b nrrr =,
~ pipe, ut wasn't altogether wash.
eat ID a found one tMng every
BIT as important as those We were
hooking for. II was neatly tucked
away in the bottom drawer Of Buck
lsy's bureaus long, plain Eellow
gown. resembling those worn inn mon
astic orders"
"A yellow gown Rankan repeat-
"a quickly. -You mean Q robe like lPl
the brothers at the Initiation wor,. IL
espt the officers and PLEDGES, DallfV
"From your description, practically
no difference. I thought you'd con-
cider It significant"
"0f course it is" the younger man
agreed. Buckley would certainly
need SUCH a robe to get into the
chapter, Chamber disguised as a men, |
Der. And he'd have to look like the
majority to Join the line Oh hose who L
were to unite the pledge1 &c mushEa'
xase JgoDe~ By tan fre1 Mort
~ ~