Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-11-09
I.nce i;ank.n ~ his assertion

drove the night of the initiation. You
can't expect me to accept that when
you probably hid it there the first
chance you had after the boy was
poisoned"
"But it isn't mine," the lawyer in
sisted. II don't know anything about
1t. Someone must have planted il.
You don't suppose I'd have left such
discriminating evidence since Tuesday
where anyone taking the car might
have discovered it? | would have got
rid of it"
The very fervor of his denial lent Il
a sincere ring; and even as he an
swered the argument, Rankin per
ceived it's validity.
I'm afraid that won't do. Mr..
Fletcher. Under the circumstances,
the pouch would seem as safe place
of concealment as any. Besides,
you tempered with Jordan's Shoes"
= Again Mr.. Fletcher's only reaction
to the charge was perplexity. tam
pered with his shoes" he repeated.
II don't understand what you mean"
you visited his room in the dormi-
tories on Tuesday morning to put
thumb-tacks in the soles of all his
shoes. Only the murderer would do
that and for one purpose-tO distin-
guish him at the initiation from the
other PLEDGES. all of whom wore sim
liar gowns. 1t was a precaution to
insure.
II never touched them, Rankinl"
the lawyer cried in alarmed bewilder-
ment.
"Just before you reached Croft hail."
Rankin ignored the protest. inex0rahly,
'the cleaning woman Strengthened out
Jordan's rooms. She put all his cloth.
ing away. And she can vouch as a
witness that after you arrived, three
pairs of his shoes were scattered
about, removed from where she had
neatly set them"
But / tell you they were already
lying in the vestibule when l entered;
l almost tripped over them. All
wanted was to have a little talk with
the boy; I felt that plain speaking
would save him future trouble"
The detective shook his head. yet.
not finding him in," he stated DELHI
erately, you gave the charwoman
cock-and-bull story about being his
uncle, and got her to let you enter MS
quarters. It's hardly likely that some
other person stole in unnOticed by her
in ten minutes between the time she
quit them and opened the door to LET
you In"
In answer, Mr.. Fletcher spoke so
persuasively, extending his hands TO
stress his argument, that he COM
PEELED Rankin's attention.
TRY to judge my state of mind" ne
requested, "when I called on Jordan.
1 had just proved he was the chap who
fed from my wife's bedroom at two
fifteen that morning-who was re
sponsible. ! believed, for stealing her
affections. Naturally, she enjoyed
youth and excitement. She had al
ways loved living at pace with which
am, unfortunately, unable to keep
up. But though I don't blame her. ]
wanted no repetition of the incident;
the boy threatened to disrupt my
marital happiness and break up my
home. Therefore, l didn't feel kindly
disposed toward him. I was even re-
sentful enough to wish him out Of the
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 rid of him"
"By bringing about his dismissal
from the university. That would prob
ably cause him to quit Philadelphia
and 60 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 l could
prove Jordan's undesirability as a 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. 1t occurred TO
me might possibly discover some in
formation among his private effects to
use as weapon against him. It
wasn't very likely, l admit. but | was
prepared to turn any evidence to my
design"
rs 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-justih-
cation.
II had just finished going through
the room-his bookcase, clothing and
the trunk. But 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: