The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-09-01
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

IL
"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
q loan"
Patterson shook his head dejectedly.
~Not for what I was in a hole, Ted;
I've lost over q thousand dollars alto
gether. / borrowed a bit from Tony
Graham, but made him promise not
to tell. To be honest, was ashamed
to admit what I was doing and where
/ 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 met Savoulos through
Carl Walton. figured my luck would
turn If continued to go back to the
club, and 1 could redeem what I had
pledged with him. Only, somehow, !
never got any breaks"
s'You could hardly expect them from
the Meyer-Kahler crowd" Rankin conf
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."
II well, you see, that was be-
cause. :" For the first time, the
student floundered nervously, unwilling
to answer.
Eat the club on Wednesday," the
detective pressed him, "you claimed
something had prevented your settling
with him in time" Abruptly he shot
the question at him. "Was 1t the fact
that Jordan discovered you in the act
of robbery, so that you dreaded to
get rid of the watch while he lived?"
"No, he didn't actually catch me at
It'll" Patterson contradicted hurriedly.
II was already leaving Ben's room
with it, when he appeared in the hall
and saw me coming out"
Rankin grunted at the accuracy OF
his deductions. "You had best tell me
exactly what happened from the be-
ginning. What time did you make the
attempt?"
"a little after three o'clock; by two
thirty, all the boys were in bed and l
allowed them long enough to fall
asleep. Even then, If Walton hadn't
been pressing me, I'd have postponed
stealing it until some night when
things were less busy. I was positive
of finding it on his dresser where he
invariably put it. And if Stuart hadn't
turned up, I'd have got back to my
room without anyone being wiser.
AS it was, did not hear him come up
stairs and had no idea he was about
until practically ran into him. He
had changed his clothes in the dark
below. he said, and was going to the
bathroom. On the spur Of the mo-
ment, couldn't think of any explana-
ton for my presence in Ben's room;
so all I did was greet him and go on
upstairs. Then 1 was afraid that it
would strike him as peculiar and rouse
his suspicious"
Sand 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.
II was ready to replace the watch
to stave that off," he said. But it
wouldn't have helped; the other bur-
.glaries would still tell him the truth.
Then, when his death removed that
danger, I didn't dare get rid of it
until Walton grew insistent."
"Still, it was most opportune. Espe-
cially as on the day he died, you stole
a quantity of CONNIE and atropine from
Mr.. Kenneth Heyward's chemistry
laboratory. You had heard Of the
supply of poisons he experimental
with"
AS though Rankin had touched a
vital nerve, the student clutched his
chair with a grip that whitened his
knuckles, and moistened his dry lips.
"You know that, toov' he gasped in
a hoarse whisper. you must have
found the test-tubes in my bureau!"
II did, Mr.. Patterson; traced them
to you as soon as Mr.. Hayward re-
ported to me about his tempered poi
son supply" Rankin's manner be-
came definitely accusing. "That was
my first clue that you were impli-
Gated in the murder. And there is
other evidence, just as discriminating !:
throughout the case, your conduct has
been suspicious and required investi-
CATION"
discriminating evidence? What do
you mean? Surely you don't consider
me responsible for poisoning Stuart I"
It was scarcely the response the de.
tective expected to evoke. Instead of
alarm, Patterson's CONSERVATION dis.
closed only astonishment, and he stared
at Rankin with widened, incredulous
eyes.
Nevertheless, the detective main
tained his stand. what else am to
believer" he demanded harshly. "Be-
sides obtaining the poison, you admit
having the strongest reason for want
ing to silence him. You could not face