The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-08
MILTON PROPER
Copyright. 1892. by Milton Proper
WNU Service
CHAPTER VII-Continued
IL

Rankin now realized that the Stran
ger had been MIR. Fletcher and not
the guardian at all He had repre-
scented himself as Jordan's uncle.
merely as a subterfuge to gain the
woman's confidence and access to his
rooms. And he must have sought the
boys apartment Immediately after re-
gaining his roadster at the Shawnee
garage. But what was his motive for
entering 315 Croft hall In Jordan's alb
sence, unless to tamper with the shoes
he had left there?
"Well, was that all Mrs. Hogan had
to tell?" Rankin asked. "She didn't.
by any chance. see what this man did
In JOrdan's room"
"As a matter of fact" Gordon re-
lated, "she looked in once after ne
had been inside alone for ten min
utes. She said he was standing In the
boys study by his desk: he had one
drawer open Her entrance startled
MIN and he closed II quickly. Then he
explained he had changed his mind
about waiting for his nephew and
would get in touch with him instead.
She followed him ont few minutes
later. Jordan never heard of the incl
dent. because he was dead before she
saw him again."
Besides that, the apartment hadn't
been disturbed in any way, GordonT'
Rankin's assistant smiled quizzical-
ly. 81 was coming to that, Tommy.
he returned. Before she left it, Mrs.
Hogan had swept Ii carefully and
put everything in place. And ii was
still just as tidy, except for this very
peculiar difference. Three pairs of
JOrdan's shoes lay about in the vesti-
bule between his study and bedroom"
"She was positive she hadn't left
them there when she finished her
work." Rankin asked, pleased at this
immediate confirmation of his theories.
"Yes, of course; and ii puzzled her
how they got there and what the boys
visitor wanted with them"
GordOn's answer terminated his re-
port. Scarcely had ne gone when Ser
geant 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.. Fletchers connec-
ton with the crime that, temporarily
at least, the evidence duplicating the
student had been pushed into the
background of his mind.
Gilmores account began with his
preliminary reconnoiter on the Wednes
day evening. two days before, when
he had agreed to aid the detective.
Recognizing the necessity for utmost
caution, he had dared leave nothing
to 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 adj
vantage of his absence.
/. These preparatory measures, Gil
more successfully managed that same
evening The letter boxes in the vesti-
bule listed Buckley's apartment as AID.
Then, as all apartments had similar
locks, he climbed the stairs and ex-
amined those on the second floor.
When he came again. it would be
armed with keys to fit any of them
To get a look at Buckley, he adopted
the stratagem of deliberately knock
ing on his door; and when ii was
opened, claimed to be a tailor's en-
ployee calling for suit, who had
mistaken the address.
Hes a well-built, rather handsome
chap. Tommy" Gilmore said. "He
has broad features and a decidedly
strong nose. He is older and far more
sophisticated than the average student
just beginning college; I'd say he is
already twenty-four or twenty-five"
Rankin nodded. "Given an ade-
quate motive, would you suppose him
capable of serious crime?"
The sergeant answered slowly and
thoughtfully. that's difficult ques-
ton, Tommy; but he has decidedly
vicious streak in him."
We'll. shall be able to Judge for
myself this afternoon" his colleague
returned. II was only waiting for con-
tirmation of Randall's story from Aber,
deem and your report, before swore
out a warrant for him. If he can't
exonerate himself. L intend to exc
cute it. 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
fifty, Buckley left for the university !;
then he FASTENED into the building
and upstairs. No one witnessed his
burgarious intrusion. and In few
moments one of his keys opened the
door of AID. "
Beginning his examination with the
desk. for almost an hour he hunted
leisurely through the desk and then
in turn, the closets and bureau in the
bedroom. careful to replace every ar
ticle he moved as he found it, he
found many questionable possessions
loaded dice. marked cards. liquor and
a revolver; but no sign of any poison
or the syringe with which the crime
was committed.
"Just the same. Tommy" the SER
Uaant nurSnod and nanSpd f0 nuff Of
his pipe. lit wasn't altogether wash
out In fact. found one thing every
bit as important as those we were
looking for. IL was neatly tucked
away in the bottom drawer of Buck
ley's bureau-a long plain yellow