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

Il suppose he must have been. Only
1t was a deliberate, impersonal sort
of anger, like fire smoldering under
the surface. Then remembered I
hadn't seen Mrs. Fletcher anywhere
for an hour volunteered to find her
but he refused; he said he would do
it himself without any trouble. BY
that time, was pretty certain some
thing was up, and when he left me. I
began to trail him. / couldn't help
wanting to learn why Mr.. Fletcher
was upset"
"Your interest may prove very
valuable, Mr.. Whitaker" Rankin en-
couraged him gravely. snow, what
did Mr.. Fletcher do? He searched for
his wife, of course?"
very thoroughly, sir; he looked
into every room along the halls, re-
CARELESS of whether the door was
closed or not. He had to excuse his
intrusion to the people inside several
times. At first, he had no luck, if you
can call 1t that; and began to think
Mrs. Fletcher had left the house alto
gether. But when he reached Harris
Connelly's room, he suddenly entered
and shut the door behind him. That's
the one next to mine, Mr.. Rankin, on
the top floor"
do you recall If the door was open
or closed when Mr.. Fletcher ap-
preached the room?"
stHlNcad e;r ood ~ d,l.,,& La%l,o.
knock" Whitaker returned. He just
walked in without warning. AS soon
as he shut 1t, slipped into my own
den, next door, figuring might be
able to hear what happened"
"Well, how much did you overheard
Rankin inquired. Gould you make
out what was being said?"
mot at first" the student related.
las l closed my own door, Mrs.
Fletcher was talking fast and earnest
ly, as If explaining the situation. She
said something about being tired of
dancing and having headache; and
then, Mr.. Jordan was kind enough to
keep me company while rested
Then knew 1t was Stuart with her,
though he didn't utter a word the en-
tire time. The surprising part Of it
was that Mr.. Fletcher was almost as
quiet; interrupted just once and said,
Don't you think your place as chap
eron is downstairs. Vera? And he
spoke in such firm, almost threaten
ing way that it was definitely a CON-
mand. When they all came into the
hall. I felt tension between them
that made the situation seem even
more serious than it had sounded.
Stuart was flushed with embarrass-
ment and Mr.. Fletcher looked posi-
lively vindictive; and his wife was
scared, in spite of her efforts to cover
her confusion"
"And that was all that was said or
done between them?" The detective
voiced his regret at the meagerness of
Whitaker's disclosure and account.
"All saw" Whitaker answered
promptly. when they came down.
stairs, I took Mrs. Fletcher away for
a dance. to relieve the strain. But
never let on I had any idea of the
trouble upstairs We talked mainly
about the pledgees-how we haze
them and have fun with. them the last
few days before initiation"
Rankin's features suddenly dis
played fresh animation and he shot
his question at the boy.
did you mention to Mrs. Fletcher
the annual practice of taking the
PLEDGES for ride late on the night
preceding the initiation, and losing
them in the country?"
"Yes, in some DETAIL" the boy re-
piled. II described the way we dressed
them in old clothes, made sure they
had no money with which to return
and separated them in some deserted
spot outside the city TO get back the
best way they could"
The detective turned to Ted Stan
ton. "What time did you drive out to the
country with the initiates and where
did you eventually strand them?"
"Well, we started from the house with
them at ten-thirty by machine" STAN
ton compiled unreservedly. "Three
cars In all went out, belonging to the
boys: each carried three PLEDGES and
the same number Of brothers"
Before that. at what time did the
earlier hazing Of the night begin?"
Fright after supper, Mr. Rankin"
the president returned "The PLEDGES
had all been instructed to report here
by supper on Monday; they knew in
advance 1t would be a hectic evening
for them"
'Was Jordan present at the meal
and throughout the EVENING"" Rankin
asked.
Ted Stanton hesitated doubtfully.
but his roommate replied with con-
viction.
"Oh, yes. l remember he sat at my
table during supper"
The detective nodded. "How about
Mr.. Fletcher? Did he take any part
in the activities?"
"Only as a spectator" 1t was the
president who replied. I'VE could