The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-11-10

By ten o'clock, the detective was
back at headquarters. There he turned
over to Detective Lester Gordon the
task of finding the taxi Buckley must
have taken from the Morton club, to
reach the Mu Beta Sigma house by
eight-forty-five Tuesday evening. With.
out the taxi drivers testimony, he had
nevertheless ample evidence to justify
an arrest.
The detective also instructed Cor
don to visit Croft hall at his first op-
portunity, to complete the investiga-
ton he had left unfinished there Also.
there was the cleaning woman to be
interviewed.
''Be particularly thorough when you
question her. Lester" Rankin admOn-
ished. Someone marked all Of Jor-
dams shoes with thumb-tacks; and II
was done recently-within few days
before his murder. | want to know
when anyone might have chance 70
get at them; also whether she saw
any person about his rooms. acting
the least bit suspicious. And Jordan's
desk looks as If it had been searched.
Find out from the charwoman If she
observed anything In connection with
that. Probably his shoes and desk
were both tempered with at the same
time, by the same person"
"All right, Tommy, I've got that all
straight" Rankin's colleague nodded.
Another angle of the problem Ran
kin decided to handle himself as soon
as he could. This was the interview
with the graduate nurse. Ben Craw-
ford's companion of Tuesday night, to
get her confirmation of his account Of
himself.
After Gordon left, he conferred with
the coroner and Superintendent of Po-
lice wainwright about the inquest on
Jordan. 1t was to be held that after
noon, purely routine affair 1t was
decided.
On his return to the central bureau
after the consultation, an officer in
formed him that two gentlemen had
called about the crime at the fra
ternity house.
Zone of them said he was from the
university, sir" he told Rankin. Il
said you would be back shortly. ]
thought it would be all right for them
to wait in Captain Thomas office"
AS it was close upon eleven o'clock.
the detective surmised that his Wis
itors must be Mr.. Warwick, with Jor.
dams guardian who had just arrived.
"That was o. K, Simpson" he re-
turned briskly. "I'll see them imme-
diately."
In the Office, the supervisor greeted
him and presented his companion,
tall, well built, middle-aged man. as
Howard Merrick. The lengthy contour
of his face was the only likeness to
Jordan that Rankin could discern, In.
dicative of their relationship.
He motioned both his callers to
chairs. 1.-THE journey east must have
been rather a strain" he addressed
Mr.. Merrick sympathetically, and SAT
down himself. "Did you just arrive.
directly from Vandalia this morningY
81 have been here almost two hours,
now" the visitor replied. "after travel.
ing twenty hours. Naturally, went
directly to Mr.. Warwick at the uni
versity, as it was from him l heard
what had happened"
"And l then accompanied Mr. Mer-
rick to the morgue." the supervisor
added, ito pay our last respects to the
boy. That is where we have come
from"
look of pain tempered Mr.. Mer.
rick's stern features. ut Is my de
sire, Mr.. Rankin, to have Stuart's re-
mains sent home as soon as possible.
don't want him buried among stran.
gers; he'd prefer, himself, to rest be-
side his parents. No doubt that can
be arranged"
"At your convenience. And
now, Mr.. Merrick." Rankin went on.
distressing as the subject must be,
will ask you to bear with my questions
about the boy, his life and family.
Only in this way can we hope to solve
the mystery of his death; and | am
counting on your cooperation. First,
let me understand your position. You
are the boys guardian, believer"
That's right" the visitor answered
soberly. "Mr. Jordan's will appointed
me guardian and executor as we'll My
bank is the trustee of the property.
which comes to him under it's terms
when he reaches :" he pursed his
frightened lips and corrected himself.
when he would have reached twenty
two. Stuart's late mother was my sis
ter and only immediate relative; and,
as Mr.. Jordan also had no near kin. he
placed the boys interests in my hands,"
81 see," Rankin unused slowly, "you
are in the banking business in Van
dalia?"
81 am the president of the First
Exchange bank. 1t is a position my
father held before me for many years"
"How long has it been since Mr.. and
Mrs. Jordan. died, Mr. Merrick?"
my sister passed away In the win.
ter of 1922" the guardian informed
Rankin. "She was barely thirty-six,
and Stuart a boy of twelve. Mr.. Jor.
dan followed her five years later. He
was forty-fve."
For brief period. the detective was
thoughtful THAT makes your nephew
twenty-one years old now" he com.
mented presently. "He was an only
child?"
"Yes. In fact. We are the only mem
bers of our family remaining. | am a
bachelor and have no dependents"
Rankin glanced toward Mr.. War.
wick, silent but attentive, before con-
tinuing.
please tell me about Stuart's par
ents," he requested, something about