The Coolidge examiner., 1933-09-08

away If they're careful" the clean.
er assured him. "They go out
along the wall and crawl into the
next room with open windows
That's how they escape when a
crowd from the other side chases
them into a room. Anyhow, they're
forever poppin' in and out O. each
others place that way"
She led him to the unfastened
windows of Randall's chamber and
pointed out the method to which
she referred From below, the
decorative white mOlding against
the wall just beneath had appeared
comparatively fiat; he now saw
that 1t projected somewhat, the up
per surface forming a level ledge,
no more than ten inches wide.
81 suppose il could be managed"
the detective said; he withdrew
into the room. But it looks dan
gerous."
The charwoman followed, nod
ding darkly. That's what | allus
say, sir. One O. these days, some
body's goin' to fall and get badly
hurt; then there1l be the very
devil raised about it when It's too
late"
Have you seen the afternoon pa
perS, today?" Rankin introduced
the subject OF the crime casually.
Il was reading that only last night
a young man was killed at a fra
ternity house on the campus dur
ing an initiation"
Here at the university? MOI"
The exclamation mingled surprise
with horror. Il don't have no time
till a'ter I'm done work to be look
in at news. so amt heard
nuthin'. :"
She broke off, suddenly inter.
rupted by the light echo of ap-
preaching footsteps in the corridor.
There" she stated eagerly. 81
told you you wouldn't have to wait
long. That's Mr.. Randall comm
back now; l recernize the way he
walks"
Here's a gentleman wantin' TO
see you, Mr.. Randall" the char
woman announced. Il was just
sayin' to him that you'd be in again
any minute
Thank you, Mrs. Blxby." The
newcomer delayed before speaking
further until she had reluctantly
gathered her belongings and gone
"Yes?" he asked the detective.
What is it you wish?"
There was. some Immediately
striking quality about Walter Ran
dali. difficult TO define Chiefly II
was his somewhat pallid features,
clean-shaven and exceptionally
clear-skinned. with freshness
rare In a young man. They were
almost cameo-like In outline; his
dark and expressive eyes had long
lashes. his nose, while not small,
was thin and sensitive, and his
mouth and chin mobile and deli
cate. II the description pretty"
could be applied TO a boy. Rankin
considered 1t would fit him.
He was not wearing civilian
clothes. but a cadets uniform. In
stead This consisted OF a dark
blue coat. with brass buttons along
the front, long trousers of the same
color, though no puttees, single
stripe, running down either side,
and round flat-topped hat with a
metal shield above It's stiff visor.
About his waist was brown
leather belt.
In reply to the boys question,
Rankin took out professional card
from his pocket.
This will tell you my business, ="
he said. "If you have seen the
newspapers today. you'll know that
a student named Jordan from the
next dormitOry was killed last
night in a fraternity house. | am
investigating his death. | believe
the latest accounts mentioned that,
though a junior at the university.
Jordan only entered this year. For
the last two, he attended Aberdeen
college in Hannibal. Mo-. trans
ferring this past autumn The of
flee of admissions informs ME, Mr..
Randall. that Aberdeen was also
your original Alma Mater"
The boy closed the door of his
room and invited Rankin to 8
chair; be took another.
"Oh. is that why you've called
on me?" he remarked. "Yes, /
was freshman last year in Han
nibal, but decided | would rather
go to a larger and better known
school in this part of the country.
Now 1t seems I'll have to quit
school, without even finishing the
term"
Rankin was promptly interested.
rs that so? Mrs. Bixby said some
thing about you not being in the
best of health. | hope it isn't that"
That's just the trouble" Randall
explained. "A damnable tubercular
condition keeps undermining my
strength. | wasn't here in October
more than a week and classes had
only begun when it got the better