The Coolidge examiner., 1933-09-22


idea that 1t was Patterson who re-
jected him?"
The boy hesitated. 81 /
guess | told him." he admitted
apologetically, and Stanton frowned.
after the PLEDGES were 'sewed up,
| mentioned to Ralph how disap-
pointed was he hadn't got a bid.
and then asked why Ned held a
grudge against him. When he said
he didn't even know Patterson, |
was darned puzzled"
"And was he aware that Mr.. Pat.
terson acted as Jordan's sponsor,
Mr.. Palmer?"
II think | told him that, too. Be
cause the next thing he wanted TO
know was whether we had offered
Stuart pin. answered that we
had and spoke of Ned as having
backed him up"
II was what the detective had
expected to hear. Then Buckley
must have seen Stuart at that first
smoker, since both were present" {"
he said.
"Very likely, sir" Palmer agreed.
But If they met, | didn't notice a
thing to suggest they were ever
acquainted before; and was with
Ralph most of the evening. In fact,
his question about Jordan was the
first time he showed any interest In
him. And the last as well, that
remember"
"How did Buckley reqct wien
you Informed him Of Mr.. Pattersons
association with Jordan% Rankin
inquired. Did he make any com
ment about it?"
mot a word, sir. Come to think
OF it, II made him change the sub
ject right away, and he didn't raise
II again"
"He never spoke detrimentally of
the dead boy or tried to influence
your vote against him as a pledgee?"
The query echoed the detectives
perpleXity.
Again Palmer's reply was In the
negative. which failed to accord
with his conjectures. He was al a
loss to comprehend Buckley's for.
bearance. when he should have been
vengeful until he realized that the
young mans position forced him to
be silent He dared not slander his
rival. lest il reach Jordan's ears and
rebound on him. For the dead boy
could set the university authorities
TO examine his previous record in
school and thus discover the decep.
ton by which he had gained admis.
sion to Philadelphia. II was also
probably this fear of disclosure that
prompted him to avoid Jordan. If he
encountered him al the fraternity
smoker. Pondering the problem. the
detective nodded in satisfied under
standing.
ITO return to your movements,
last night" he continued his inter-
rogation. where did you and
Buckley go for your drinks?"
Larry Palmer ran his hand
through his hair. well. II isn't all
very clear to me-" he said uncer-
tainly. "But as far as | can re-
member, we only visited one place
kind OF speakeasy on Spring
Garden street. | don't know exactly
where II was: an ordinary house
somewhere between Twenty-fifth
and Twenty-sixth streets near ="
yes. ! know the place." Rankin
interrupted sternly and critically.
"How the devil do you come to be
frequenting Joint like the Morton
club?"
The boy recognized the reprlmand
implicit In his biting inquiry.
"Oh. II wasn't my idea, sir" he
explained quickly. II never even
heard of II until Ralph told me
about it. He first mentioned II early
in February and suggested that we
ought to take 1t in some night. II
was different. he said, from any
thing I'd seen before. And when
he spoke of II several times after
that. my curiosity was aroused
and | wanted to go; had been to
all the speakies nearer the campus.
But somehow. things always turned
mp to prevent Ralph from making
II until last night"
Well acquainted with the under.
world. Rankin easily identified the
establishment to which Palmer re-
ferred, from It's location. The Nor.
ton club was generally known to
the city authorities: actually. II
was more than speakeasy-an
elaborate gambling house where
faro. roulette and a dozen other
games of chance were played night.
ly for high stakes.