The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-15
CHAPTER VIII-Continued
-12-

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.
Not for what | was in hole. Ted:
I've lost over a 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 | was doing and where
l 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 Sayoulos through
Carl Walton. figured my luck would
turn if | continued to go back to the
club, and | could redeem what | had
pledged with him. Only, somehow, ]
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 f1oundered nervously. unwilling
to answer.
"At 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 ii the fact
that Jordan discovered you in the act
of robbery, so that you dreaded to
get rid of the watch while he uved?"
mo, ne didn't actually catch me at
it," Patterson contradicted hurriedly.
81 was already leaving Ben's room
with 1t. 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
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. 1 was positive
of finding il 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 ii was. did not hear him come up
stairs and had no idea he was abOut
until l 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-
tion for my presence In Bens room;
so all did was greet him and go on
upstairs Then / was afraid that ii
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 II
wouldn't have helped; the other bur
glaries would still tell him the truth
Then, when his death removed that
danger, | didn't dare get rid of 1t
until Walton grew insistent"
"Still, 1t was most opportune Espe
ciaIly 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
vital nerve, the student clutched his
chair with grip that whitened his
knuckles. and moistened his dry lips.
"You know that, tooi' he gasped in
a hoarse whisper. lyon must have
found the test-tubes in my bureaul"
81 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"
1t was scarcely the response the de
tective expected to evoke. Instead of
alarm, Patterson's CONSERVATION dis
closed only establishment. and he stared
at Rankin with widened, incredulous
eyes.
Nevertheless. the detective main
tanned his stand. what else am to
believer" be demanded harshly. "Be-
sides obtaining the poison. you admit
having the strongest reason for want
ing TO silence him. You could not face
the scandal his speaking would cause !;
you were frantic to conceal your guilt
at any cost. The opportunity was also
yours; instead of acting as Jordan's
sponsor during the initiation. you stood
behind him in position TO admin
lister the CONNIE. And your nervous
ness. afterward. :"
"But didn't | never thought of
giving it TO himl If the worst came to
the worst. was going to use it my
self"
The confession, rung from Ned Pat
terson by sheer desperation caused
a suspended silence OF pure horror
The students CHASTITY hue rivaled only