The Coolidge examiner., 1933-12-01

Just before you reached Croft
hail." Rankin ignored the protest,
inexorably, "the cleaning woman
Strengthened out Jordan's rooms.
She put all his clothing away. And
she can vouch as a witness that
after you arrived, three pairs of
his shoes were scattered about. re-
moved from where she had neatly
set them"
"But tell you they were al
ready lying in the vestibule when !
entered; | almost tripped over
them. All wanted was to have
little talk with the boy: | felt
that plain speaking would save him
future trouble"
The detective shook his head
Yet not finding him in," he stated
deliberately. you gave the char
woman a cock.and-bull story about
being his uncle, and got her to let
you enter his quarters. It's hardly
likely that some other person stole
in unnoticed by her In ten minutes
between the time she quit them
and opened the door to let you in"
In answer, Mr.. Fletcher spoke so
persuasively. extending his hands
to stress his argument, that he
compelled Rankin's attention.
TRY TO judge my state of mind"
he requested, when | called on
Jordan. had just proved he was
the chap who fed from my wifes
bedroom at two-fifteen that morn
ing-who was responsible. | be-
lieved, for stealing her affections.
Naturally, she enjoyed youth and
excitement. She had always loved
living at a pace with which | am,
unfortunately, unable 10 keep up.
But though | don't blame her.
wanted no repetition of the Incl
dent: the boy threatened to disrupt
my marital happiness and break up
my home. | was resentful enough
to wish him out of the way; but
murder was farthest from my
thought"
Amazed that for all his shrewd-
ness. the lawyer was so blind to his
wife's shortcomings - unless he
purposely CLOSED them over-Ran-
kin merely asked:
"And how else did you propose
to get rid of him?"
'By bringing about his dismissal
from the university. That would
probably cause him to quit Phila-
delphia and go home; and again
insure my peace of mind and the
integrity ! value in my house. But,
Of course, his expulsion had to be
subtly managed for some other rea-
s n than my real grievance that
would have reflected my own weak
ness and necessitated public
scandal That was why l seized
the chance TO enter his rooms to
learn something about him. 1t oc-
Cured TO me | might possibly dis
cover some information among his
private effects to use as a weapon
against him. But | handled only
his letters and papers; | assure
you | neither touched his shoes nor
moved them into the vestibule by
the door"
One of the most puzzling cir
cumstances of the entire case had
been the absence of mail to the
student and Rankin's voice was
suddenly sharp.
Letters, you say. That's strange !;
| found none when | examined his
belongings on Wednesday,"
"No, because | took them with
me-" the lawyer explained IRE
member, | had to act rapidly and
couldn't read them there. | didn't
dark risk the embarrassment of be-
ing caught. And on a hasty glance
got the impression that they sup
plACd TIC NClS piOOLS VI us lUOSt-
ness and immortality that | want
ed. So | pocketed them when the
woman entered. AS it turned out,
was mistaken; but from what
did read, | gathered they were
written by JOrdan's mistress-some
woman with whom he had been
This casually volunteered, but
totally unexpected intelligence
brought Rankin to the edge Of his
chair.
His mistress? You mean the
boy and the writer were having
an affair? What did the letters
say to give you such an idea?"
First my attention was caught
by q reference to the fact that they