The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-07-14
CHAPTER discontinued

met" he remarked. Eyes, was a
freshman last year in Hannibal, but
decided 1 would rather go to a larger
and better known school in this part
of the country. Now it seems I'll have
to quit school, without even finishing
the term"
Rankin was properly interested. "Is
that SO? Mrs. Bixby said something
about you not being in the best of
health. hope it isn't that"
That's just the trouble" Randall
explained. "a damnable tubercular
condition keeps undermining my
strength. / wasn't here in October
more than a week and classes had only
begun when it got the better of me.
My doctor advised me to withdraw for
the semester and rest while at home;
and Mr.. Warwick granted ne leave
of absence on his certificate of illness.
That's why just signed up for mill
tary training class, instead Of GYM
nasium. But feel the whole trouble
beginning again and I don't think I'll
be able to see it through"
II was wondering what your uni
form signifed," the detective stated. Il
didn't know that the university taught
military tactics as study"
ut is a substitute for gymnasium
work. Naturally, in my condition, 1t
was much easier"
Rankin reverted to the object of his
visit. 'What wanted to ask you, Mr..
Randall, is whether you were acquaint-
ed with Stuart Jordan at Aberdeen. l
life in hopes of learning something
that will help clarity the problem Of
his death. Anything you know of him
might be valuable"
"As a matter Of fact, I did know
him." the student replied. "Only cas-
ually, though; he was sophomore,
a class ahead of me. For one term,
he happened to serve as proctor of the
freshman dormitory in which I lived
at Aberdeen. But that was my only
contact with him and 1 don't suppose
there would be anything in that which
you could possibly USE"
"Didn't anything ever occur that
might throw some light on the crime?"
Though reasonably Rankin could hard
ly have expected more, he was disap-
pointed.
Nothing that remember" Ran
dali spoke slowly. "Jordan had some
difficulty with classmate of his.
Ralph Buckley; heard of that be-
cause it took place in my dormitory.
But that couldn't have anything to do
with. :"
The detectives recognition of the
name startled him.
"Ralph Buckley, did you say?" RAN
kin demanded sharply. do you mean
that he was also at Aberdeen?"
"Certainly-at the same time as Jor-
dan, during the past two years. AS 1
said, they were both sophomores just
when entered. The trouble between
them broke out the middle of last
year." The boy paused. "How is it
you were familiar with Buckley's
name when / mentioned it?" he in
Quifed curiously.
II had heard he came from Jordan's
home town, Vandalia, and intended
looking him up. Besides that, he is
freshman right here at the university"
1t was Walter Randall's turn to be
surprised and he raised his eyebrows
expressively.
"Here at Philadelphia? That's news
to me, SIR"
Had you known that Stuart Jordan
was here before you got news of his
death today?"
"Only for the past few weeks" the
student replied. II caught sight of
him one day going into the college
bookshop on Woodland avenue. I
didn't speak to him then; 1 meant to
look him up later. but haven't got
around to it."
Rankin shook his head in obvious
perplexity. Il don't see how Buckley
could possibly have studied at Aber-
deem for two years." he ruminated.
"His record from the office of admis-
sions says nothing about any college
education before he came to Philadel-
phia. In fact, it distinctly states that
since graduating from high school, two
years ago, he worked at home"
II think / can explain that" Ran
dali declared. HE simply gave false
information in the application he filed
out for admission here. You see, be-
cause Of his run-in with Jordan, he
was dismissed dishonorably from Aber-
deem. With such a blot on his record,
no other school in the country would
accept him. To get in another col
lege, he would have to begin all over,
as if he came directly from high school.
And then he'd have to lie about how
he spent the two intervening years.
If the university didn't suspect any
thing, it would believe his story about
working"
The scheme Randall outlined prob
ably explained the deception correctly,
but Rankin made mental note to in
quire of Mr.. Warwick as to it's feas-
Utility.
''Now, Mr.. Randall" he asked,
he -