The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-13

tim more safely to unite his wrists
Particularly was the substitution
suspicious in view of his disquiet
and anxiety while being interrogat-
ed after the tragedy. lie had easy
access to Jordan's quarters. lie
could therefore have marked all of
his shoes. Rankin was certain that
If Patterson killed the boy, he had
acted for himself and not to aid
Buckley, against whom he had vot-
ed as a candidate and whom he
obviously disliked. Were they in
cahoots. Buckley would not have
needed to enter the house at all.
The real obstacle in making out
case against Patterson was that
Of motive. For ostensibly, he was
Jordan's friend; up till Tuesday
itself, he appeared to favor the boy,
recommending him TO membership
and guiding him. Otherwise, un-
less he deliberately masked a long
standing enmity, he would have
prevented Stuart from becoming a
PLEDGE. 1t followed then that the
cause for hatred, IL any existed,
was of extremely recent origin.
But what could have happened in
the past few days to turn esteem
n ~ Int
hostility? Cropping for an answer,
Rankin recalled the scene he had
overheard at the Morton club, when
the sponsor explained why he could
not pay Carl Walton his gambling
debt. Something, he said, had pre-
vented him from obtaining the
money both on Tuesday and
Wednesday. Was that something
the students murder or. in some
fashion, connected with the motive
behind 1t?
Whether or not this suppositlon
was far-fetched, the incident at
least revealed Patterson's desper-
ate need Of money. And the coinci-
dence of events was remarkable; /;
his need. the theft of the poison
and the murder were all develop
ments OF the same day, Tuesday.
So significant was this sequence
that Rankin felt II justified further
steps against the sponsor. Besides
securing his finger-priDts. he ought
to search his room and belongings
at the fraternity; possibly he might
discover some trace of the missing
chemicals. For the present, too,
he resolved to have Patterson
watched and followed. There was
always the likelihood that some OF
his future actions would be incrim-
mating.
Kenneth Heyward's visit did not
end the unanticipated occurrences
OF the day. Scarcely had he gone
with the tinger-print expert, when
the phone bell rang. The call
came from the dormitory Office at
the university; the detective had
no difficulty In recognizing over the
wire the deep. slightly cracking
tones OF Mr.. Thorne, the attendant
at the college post Office. He had
phoned TO apprise Rankin that he
was In possession Of a letter for
Stuart Jordan.
Il found II just now, on sorting
the batch OF noon mail." he stated.
I'm holding 1t for you. sir; and /
didn't waste minute in ringing
you"
That's very good of you, Mr.
Thorne." the detective returned.
'Tll be out for II this afternoon.
Can you tell whether II is a person
al letter or. not?"
We'll. II looks private, II that's
what you mean." Mr.. Thorne re-
piled. 1t was mailed early yester.
day. And. Mr.. Rankin :"
he paused. Il think | ought 10 tell
you there was a lady here today.
asking for his mail, too; whether
anything had come for him"
Rankin's voice held a note OF
wonder. "A lady TO find out about
his letters? What was she llke?"
Quite young. sir-hardly more
than twenty-five and very attrac.
tive" was the response.
And precisely when did she stop
in to make this inquiry" the detec-
tive queried.
AT about ten. after I'd distrib-
uted the first mail which arrived
at nine o'clock. She asked kind of
anxiously II letter had come this
morning for Mr.. Stuart Jordan.
And when said none had. she
looked disappointed and worried. as
If she was expecting one. She
wanted to know waat time this
next mail would be sorted; then
she thanked me nervOusly and left
in hurry without another word"
"You have no idea. suppose,
Rankin demanded eagerly, who
she was?'
Mr. Thorne was positive. mo.
To tell the truth, was so surprised
by her questions that | gave her
the information she was after and
she went hpfnra | had q channa To