The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-11

old, when the boys large fortune became his o
SON including CONNIE, is stolen from the univers
an undelivered letter to Jordan. but Rankin Sc
been intensely jealous. because OF MS
harsh, dominating temper. The fact
that he seldom gives way to 1t makes
him capable, I fear, Of deeper anger
and a resentment more subtle than
any resulting from a mere outDurst
Of passion. That is why l dread to
give him any further grounds for
doubling our relations.
TT Is most unfortunate that twice
now, circumstances made them appear
compromising. By itself, the incident
at the fraternity on Saturday night
was not so serious; later, my husband
would have taken a more sensible
view and realized 1t was too trivial to
make a fuss about. After all, / had
never been through fraternity house
before and there was no harm in our
looking around together. But last
night is entirely different, am afraid,
and he refuses to believe in its pro-
priety and innocence. OF course, you
know that at our first meeting at the
dance, intended our friendship to be
only a pleasant companionship. Any
thing more intimate was furthest from
my mind; am sorry If what has oc-
Cured since may have suggested
otherwise.
SIN view of these facts, my dear
Stuart, we had best not meet again,
Immediately. At least. for the sake
Of appearances and until we can do
so without risk. Later, shall drop
you line and we might continue this
utterly enjoyable association.
"Affectionately, from
VERA FLETCHER"
This was the letter which Mr.. Thorne
had held for Rankin. He had half
OWNED the identity of the woman
claiming 1t, from the postmaster's
statement to her that it was mailed
from Gladwyne; that was one reason
he did not attempt to detain her pre-
cipitous fight. For Gladwyne was the
home of the lawyer who was being
indicted into Mu Beta Sigma as an
honorary member on the night of Jor-
dams murder. He had settled there
with his bride after his marriage FIVE
years before All that Rankin could
recall about them was that Mrs.
Fletcher was twenty years his junior
about the age Of the woman he had
Just encountered-and lacked any So
cial standing.
The letters implications were dis
tfnct enough; but the exact situation
between Jordan and Mrs. Fletcher
that aroused in her husband resent
ment more subtle than any resulting
from a mere outburst of passion" was
obscure. Since she and the boy only
met the past Saturday night, how had
that situation arisen? And what about
'last night" that ended so disastrous
ly? That referred to the Monday
night the PLEDGES were treated to
their final and most severe hazing-
when they were abandoned quite late
outside the city. Stuart must have
been one Of the victims; when then,
unless early in the evening, could he
have had an adventure with Mrs.
Fletcher?
To discover some answer to these
perplexities, Rankin proceeded to the
fraternity house. At least as to the
incident at the dance. he expected en-
lightenment. He began his Inquiries
in the downstairs living room, as be-
fore. quizzing the members one by one.
Mr.. Fletcher, 1t appeared. had not
danced throughout the evening. The
responsibility of entertaining his pretty
wife. therefore, had devolved upon the
students. Several of the first young
men Rankin questioned supplied a
shrewd and strangely unanimous char
acter appraisal of Mrs. Fletcher that
conceded with his own. They agreed
that she was alluring; but quickly
sensed that her enchantment was cal
culated and artificial. that she sought
excitement and adventure merely to
relieve her boredom. For her own
amusement. she tempted and invited
but beyond certain point Of famil-
iarlty, withdrew before the advances
her Establishments produced.
To Rankin, this estimate was i'm
portant in proving sound his original
judgment of the dead boys integrity
and uprightness. Though he might be
gullible and impetuous. he was also
ordinarily decent; into whatever en-
l. =
been drawn, It was not on his own
Initiative. Instead. he was led on.
unconscious that she was playing with
him, to accept her interest and any
fondness she might have displayed, as
genuine.
The first direct contribution to the
subject of Rankin's probe came from
-, .oD,0d TIorrtC Gonuollu Tod