The Coolidge examiner., 1933-08-25
CHAPTER ll-continued


initiates rather severely on the
final evening before the ritual"
Stanton explained. Its to 8.
er humble them for the more
solemn ceremonies. Usually we
leave them in some lonely section
far out of town, without money or
means OF transportation. And TO
guard against their hiding funds in
their clothing, they all strip and
put on other clothes that we give
them, instead; their own clothes
they leave here"
Then anyone could have used
the chance to mark these shoes?"
Rankin queried. disappointed.
Stanton replied affirmatively. The
detective turned to the murdered
boy and removed the contents of
his pockets.
He inspected them briefly. but
thoroughly enough to disclose moth
ing pertinent, at least on the sur
face, to his death. There was an
expensive watch, a fountain pen
and pencil; a costly black leather
pocketbook, initiated rs. j." con-
tanning thirty dollars and Mis-
Souri, automobile license; a creased
program Of a formal dance the Mu
Beta Sigma fraternity had evident
ly held on Saturday, three nights
before. A check book OF the Phila-
delphia Western bank indicated
Jordan's bank balance to be fully
four thousand dollars, immediate
proof of his affluence and position.
His pants pockets held a gymnasi-
um disk. granting the holder all
the privileges of the university's
athletic facilities, loose change and
several keys; one belonged to his
letter box, one apparently to an
auto. and one was labeled Croft
3I5."
There were no letters to give
Rankin any information about his
family or associates.
He looked up from his scrutiny.
There's little enough to work on
here" he again addressed Stanton.
what do you know about Jordan
and his peopleT"
I'm tell you what | can, sir" the
president replied. But you mustn't
expect too much. After all, no one
in the house was acquainted with
him for more than a month; only
since the beginning of February,
when our rushing season for new
members started"
"Only a month";" The detective
raised his eyebrows inquiringly.
Hes a junior, isn't hef / thought
Mr.. Warwick said this was his third
year"
The supervisor nodded his verifi-
cation. $50 it is"
That's right, sir" Stanton con-
Cured. what | meant was that
this Is his first year at the univer-
sity. He spent his freshman and
sophomore years at Aberdeen col
lege, near his home out west; he
transferred east just this past
September"
Aberdeen :? That's In Mis-
souri,, somewhere. Hannibal,
isn't 1t? Have you any idea why
he exchanged colleges as a junior
and chose Philadelphia
The president shook his head.
NO, he never mentioned any rea-
son. suppose because he wanted
to go TO a better known school and
get away from home"
Rankin removed the dead boys
automobile license from among his
other belongings.
Il suppose this is Jordan's ad-
dress. if he went to college in the
same general locality. Hunt
er street. Vandalia, H." he read.
THAT can't be very far either
from Hannibal or st. Louis.
Yes, Vandalia is his home, y
Stanton informed him.
Rankin went on. how much can
you tell me of his family and posi-
tion? What are his connections
and situation at home?"
"As l said, very little; our only
information on those matters was
what he gave us on the question
naire he had to fill out when we
pledged him"
Then you had better let me see
the QUESTIONABLE. the detective
suggested. II can yet what facts
there are most accurately from his
answers"
The form, when produced, dealt
with miscellaneous data mostly
concerning the dead boys family
religion and prev ious schooling
The most valuable fact it revealed
was that both his parents were
dead. His mother had been Alice
Nerrick, before her marriage, ant
his father. Edward Jordan; after
their names were written the wOrC
deceased" Howard Merrick. evi
IDENTIFY a relative on his mothers
side, who also lived on Hunter
street. in Vandalia, was mentioned
as his guardian. According to the
record, he was a banker.