The Coolidge examiner., 1933-08-18

| were twice marched about the
room behind one another In single
file"
How long before Jordan's col
lapse did this part of the ceremony
occur?
"About twenty minutes before I
should guess, for the first march"
Stanton replied. The second was
FIVE minutes later, probably ten
after nine"
II see." The detective entered a
notation In his book. Now, then, "
he asked, "at the altar, who knelt
closest to the boy on either side?"
His sponsor stood next to him
on the left, Mr.. Rankin. They al
ternated that way In the line, first
the sponsor standing. then the in
itiate on his knees. Stuart's spon-
sor was Ned Patterson" He
paused, rejecting a moment. "Ar-
thur Wilson, believe, was on his
immediate right"
"Then suppose this er
Patterson put Jordan's pin
on himT' the detective queried. At
Stanton's affirmation. he signed for
him to finish his statement
That's all there really Is. sir"
the president stated. stuart was
seized shortly after that part Of the
ceremony. The final rite of the eve
ming was a toast; all the pledges
had been united and stood up, so
they could drink it with me. While
l pronounced it, he staggered and
dropped to the floor"
Rankin. suddenly alert, sat for
ward in his chair. grasping the arm
tightly. "a toast?' he demanded
sharply. what kind of toast?'
Stanton glanced watchfully at the
supervisor, as though to note his
reaction.
From a bottle of wine, prepared
by a special recipe with unusual in
gradients. only for chapters of Mu
Beta Sigma. We keep it locked In
a cupboard in the meeting cham
Der. It's used just for these par
ticular occasions and otherwise
never touched; I've got the single
key to the cupboard door"
so you took 1t out yourself, Mr..
Stanton? Did anyone else handle
it?"
"No. that was the duty of two
other officers of the fraternity" the
boy corrected Rankin. "the secre-
tary and the treasurer. They
poured out the wine and gave a
glass TO each initiate. :" Star
tied. he perceived the trend of the
detectives conjectures. But that
didn't kill Stuart, SIR" he added
hastily, IF that's what's In your
mind. He collapsed before he had
a chance to taste a drop"
The detective sat back. express
ing his cbagrin with a brief shrug.
Nevertheless, want to exam
Inc both the wine and the glass he
used to drink FROM" he said.
''They may have to be analyzed.
What has become of them?'
"He broke the glass, when he
fell. But the bottle is still on the
altar In the chapter room"
At the detectives request, Stanton
described the exact location OF this
chamber. Rankin summoned the
second officer from the hall.
go out and stand guard at the
first door on your right across the
hail." he instructed him. THE one
nearest the entrance. Stay there
until | dismiss you. and meanwhile
don't let anyone inside or disturb
anything"
He turned again to the president,
as his subordinate went to obey.
"Can you suggest any other part
of the ceremony that might be con-
nected with the tragedy? Or any
thing that happened, no matter how
trivial. the least unusual?"
II don't think so; nothing that
- The boy stopped short, as
though at recollection; when he
continued, the finality of his tone
had wavered. "Come to think of
it. there was some delay in unity
ing Stuart's wrists. Whoever freed
him had trouble with his cords and
we had TO wait a minute till he got
done. But that couldn't be of any
Importance
Rankin spoke with renewed ca
gerness. I'm not so sure about
that. Just when was he un-
bound?"
soon after the main part of the
ritual, but before the wine was
brought out for the toast. | gave
the order and ten brothers in the
chairs behind came forward; each
united one PLEDGE. Then they also
removed their blindfolds and re-
turned to their places"
do you mean by that you don't
know which particular chap tended
to Jordan?'
"No, sir, l don't" Stanton an
swered. in fact, l can't say just