Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-10-26

snonsor's reaction when he saw it. In
the door, Patterson hesitated; he
glanced from the detective to his
schoolmates, perplexed anxious
frown on his swarthy features. Sud-
denly. his eyes on the timepiece. he
stiffened: tell-tale recognition drained
the blood from his hollow cheeks. He
clenched his fingers and swal-
lowed hard. Then, as if robbed of
all power to dissimulate, he dropped
into an empty chair by the door and
buried his head hopelessly in his out
stretched arms. It was wordless
scene. which his two friends watched
In silent concern and commiseration.
At length Patterson raised despair
ing face, its haggard lines accentuat-
ing a new wanness.
"Well, you've caught the thief at
last Ted" His words were grim and
bitter, but without defiance. "What
do you intend to do about 1t? Make
an example Of me, suppose"
Stanton spoke roughly, to cloak his
emotions. "Don't be d-n fool,
Ned!" he replied. "Of course, we'll
see you through this. What good are
fraternity brothers if they don't stand
by you at time like this?"
The detective swiftly took charge
of the situation. 1.-THE money Mr..
Savoulos gave you for the property
you stole went to pay your gambling
debts at the Morton club" he stated.
Isn't that so, Mr.. Patterson"
"Yes, Walton's debt and others. I"
Wisely the boy tried to conceal moth
ing. II settled with him last night for
sixty dollars. have been going there
almost twice a week the past year to
play poker and blackjack; and l also
lost to Lew Meyer and chap named
AL Kahler. l used all the funds I
could scrape together the last few
months to square them-even what
MY folks sent for tuition and expenses |:
and simply had to get hold of more"
"Why didn't you let us know you
needed money. Ned?" Stanton admon-
ished. "Some of the fellows would
have been glad to help you out with
a loan"
Patterson shook his head dejectedly.
mot for what l was in a hole, Ted I;
I've lost over thousand dollars alto
gether. borrowed bit from Tony
Graham, but made him promise not
to tell To be honest, / was ashamed
to admit what was doing and where
I went; and afraid my family might
learn what became Of their checks.
My people are strict, especially dad,
who would have taken me out Of
school Then 1 met Savoulos through
Carl Walton. figured my luck would
turn If l continued to 60 back to the
club, and / could redeem what had
pledged with him. Only, somehow. I
never got any breaks"
you could hardly expect them from
the Meyer-Kahler crowd" Rankin COM
mented bluntly. But what made you
delay pawning this watch until last
night? You took it Tuesday morning
and agreed to give Walton the money
that evening. Yet on Wednesday, you
still put off paying him."
Il well, you see, that was be-
cause. :" For the first time, the
student fioundered nervously, unwilling
to answer.
"At the club on Wednesday," the
pressed him, you claimed
uetecti ESaA prevented your settling
sometn SA tue" Abruptly he shot
with hiE@an timA "Was II the fact
the question at hinAs Nd you in the act
that Jordan discovers Nm dreaded to
of robbery, so that yAIle no lived9"
get rid of the watch WIN catch ma at
"No, he didn't actually hnrriedlv
It" Patterson contradicted ,s room
Il was already leaving Benyse hall
with 1t, when he appeared in
and saw me coming out" NJ
Rankin grunted at the hest ta,i me
his, deductions. you b ..ou. ~. h.
exactly what happeg,,d Won make the
attemptr Y
80, I'VE Z" .i.es rs were in bed and I
49, long enough to fall
.n, U" W. then, II Walton hadn't
Men .rey.g me. I'd have postponed
Y.,Np. until some night when,
Hn;r-vsre less busy. I was positive
ling 1t on his dresser where ne
III ia bly, put it. And If Stuart hadn't
~ Led up, I'd have got back to my
IN without anyone being wiser.
A. was, I did not hear him come up
- .rs and had no idea he was about
Ultil practically ran Into him. He
hid changed his clothes In the dark
t.low, he said, and was going to the
bathroom. On the spur Of the mo-
nent, I couldn't think Of any explana-
ton for my presence In Ben's room |;
20 all 1 did was greet him and go on
upstairs Then / was afraid that It
would strike him as peculiar and rouse
his suspicious"
"And still more scared" the detec-
tive stated significantly, that after
initiation, he would be able to inter.
pref the incident and identify you as
the thief. That would have meant
exposure and disgrace for you"
Flushing at his tone, Patterson new
ertheless admitted the Indictment.
Il was ready to replace the watch
to stave that off," he said But 1t