The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-10-06

"Do you think that whoever united
| Jordan could have introduced the
poison at the same time without be-
ing observed?"
"Since we must face facts" Doctor
Thompson answered, II should say 1t
Is easily possible. 1t would be the
work OF an instant; and the needle to
hold fatal dose Is small enough to
conceal In the palm OF the hand"
"If you could tell. Doctor" Rankin
unused. ''how long after Injection. the
| poison would take effect, we could he
more positive about the time II was
given. don't suppose. however. IN
til it's analysed that Hello,
that's strangei"
He stopped short and suddenly
stopped over to inspect the dead boys
| shoes. On both. In the hollow of the
soles. against the heel. he discovered
two wide-headed, fiat thumb-tacks.
Conspicuously, In the light of the
room. one tack lay embedded in the
side of each heel. itself. and the other
in the arched leather beside 1t.
How do you explain that. Doctor?"
the detective questioned. "What in
the world are those thumbtacks doing
in Jordan's shoes?"
For moment Doctor Thompson was
silent, his eyes puzzled and bordering.
at almost looks as though the GRIM
mt 70 oi6 tn
ing him." he responded at length.
"The guilty person would have taken
that precaution If he knew the room
would be dark. Otherwise he could
not differentiate one PLEDGE from an
other. They all looked alike in their
robes. covered by hoods; and kneeling
at the altar. only their wrists and feet
were visible. The entire crime seems
to have been ingeniously planned in
advance with remarkable foresight"
The detective lifted one foot to
catch the light and scrutinized the
tacks closely.
"They were put in very recently"
he announced. "They are still bright
and new-not scratched or nicked a
bit. :"
"Only last night, Jordan's shoes were
left here, at the fraternity house. with
the rest of his Clothes" Stanton volun-
teered. "An the PLEDGES undressed
here before they were driven out in
the country in clothes other than their
own and deserted"
DooI-;. oeJ-od .ho..
ly. "He didn't wear his own clothes?
How was that?
"Well, we always haze the initiates
rather severely on the final evening be-
fore the ritual" Stanton explained
sits to er i. humble them
for the more solemn ceremonies Usual
ly we leave them In some lonely Sec
ton 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 nothing
pertinent, at least on the surface, to
his death. There was an expensive
watch, a fountain pen and pencil:
costly black leather pocketbook. In
itialed IS. j." containing thirty dol
lars and Missouri automobile license:
creased program of formal dance
the Mu Beta Sigma fraternity had
evidently held on Saturday. three
nights before. A check book of the
Philadelphia Western bank indicated
Jordan's bank balance to be fully four
thousand dollars, immediate proof of
his affluence and position. His pants
pockets held gymnasium disk, grant.
ing 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 Bis"
There were no letters to give Ran
kin any information about his family
or associates.
He looked up from his scrutiny.
"Theres little enough to work on
here" he again addressed Stanton.
what do you know about Jordan and
his people?"
"TI 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 month; only since the be.
ginning of February, when our rushing
season for new members started"
"Only a month"; The detective
raised his eyebrows inquiringly. Hes
a junior, isn't he? thought Mr.. War
wick said this was his third year.
The supervisor nodded his vertical
| ton. $50 1t is"
That's right, SIR" Stanton con-
| Cured. "What l meant was that this
is his first year at the university. He
spent his freshman and sophomore
years at Aberdeen college, near his
home out west; he transferred east
| just this past September"
Aberdeen :? That's in Mis-.
souri,, somewhere. Hannibal,
isn't it? Have you any idea why he
exchanged colleges as junior and
| chose Philadelphia?
The president shook his head. mo.
he never mentioned any reason. l
suppose because he wanted to go to
better known school and get away
| from home"