The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-13
CHAPTER V-Continued


created by Mr.. Jordan's will was too
significant 10 be disregarded, the
temptation II produced perhaps too
strong for the guardians probity. In
an all-powcrful motive for the boys
murder. For all the detective was
aware. Merrick had some urgent des-
perate need for the estate. And I'M
der these equIvocal circumstances.
the nephew had actually died less
than two months before his birth
day.
Immediately. however. Rankin was
confronted by the problem OF Mr..
Merrick's opportunity to commit the
crime. Each suspect in turn, who
was not a member of the Mn Beta
Sigma. presented the same problem
IL. as Merrick claimed, he had left
Vandalia at eleven O'clock the pre-
vious morning to come east, he
could DOT have been In Philadelphia
the Tuesday night of the murder or
be personally responsible for the
crime And an accomplice among
those who attended the initiation
was improbable. Clearly, Rankin
must have Mr.. Merrick's journey and
his movements the past forty eight
hours investigated.
This was his conclusion when
Simpson entered Captain Thomas
ciiice to announce to him another
9isitor. asking for the officer in
charge of the university case.
well. bring him In here, Simp-
son." Rankin instructed, "and let's
i,ear what his business is"
Ushered into his presence, the
newcomer was obviously a college
man. hut slightly older than the
average undergraduate. Perhaps
twenty-six. thin featured ar intel
llgent. his slender mustache and
pince- nez added several more years
TO his age.
II am handling this unfortunate
affair."" the detective introduced
himself. My name is Rankin.
What can do for you. Mr.-T
Hayward. Kenneth Hayward"
the stranger Informed MIN. Il am
a graduate student in the depart.
ment of chemistry at the college"
You have some information
about this fraternity house mnr-
der?" Rankin inquired. Were you
acquainted with Jordan. Mr.. Hey.
ward?"
mo, | was not. But my reason
for coming may have some bearing
on the crime. though ! hope not
The newspapers all say the poison
used TO kill him was cOnine. the
Juice of hemlock Conine is not
easy to obtain and II was one of
the alkalolds with which am
working. This morning. | measured
my pply at the laboratory and
discovered that some Of II. and
some atropine. as well. were miss
mg."
The detective nodded. gratified
that the publicity given the name
of the poison In the papers had
brought the results he hoped IL
would. "You kept il In the chem
istry laboratory at the university"
he asked.
"Yes. for my specific expert
ments." Hayward replied
II see. And for your expert
ments. you have in your workrooms
a quantity of alkaloids, including
conine?"
"Just a little at once. They are
seldom used and the department
orders them. only when required. a
few ounces at time"
Gould conine be procured from
any other departments in the col
Iege. where the handling of chem
icals is part of the curriculum"
Il doubt it. Mr.. Rankin" Hey
ward answered. THAT was how
knew anything was wrong In the
first place. compared my stock
this morning with my chart of what
remained. and ascertained | was
shy two grains of atropine and over
six drops of the hemlOck alkaloid."
"More than sufficient to cause a
great deal of damage" Rankin COM
mented grimly He leaned across
Captain Thomas desk. From your
Iast check up. Mr. Hayward, have
YOU any idea what day they disap-
reared? When .id anyone have the
opportunity TO remove them?''
Il am almost positive | lost them
day before yesterday On Tuesday.
happened to he experimenting
with both pOisons and | weighed
them IN the morning before start
ing Nome was missing then; and |
flndp no mistake about the amounts
| measured Om for my tests The
fac, is that during the afternoon
left The laboratory several times
fpr maybe twenty minutes or more. :"
The detiniteneSs of the probable
cate WAS pleasing; the Tuesday he
mentioned was that of the tragedy.
Couldn't the theft have occurred