Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-10-05
CHAPTER v
The Jordan Estate

At nine the next morning-the Sec
ond after the murder-Rankin pre-
scented himself at the Philadelphia
Western bank. To the cashier, Mr..
Perry. he explained his interest In Jor-
dams account. But the cashier could
not aid in tracing the identity Of the
recipient Of the dead boys mysteri-
Gus monthly checks for four hundred
dollars. Cancelled checks, he related,
were returned to their makers quarter
ly. Jordan's most recent payment
that Of March secondhand not yet
been cashed, It appeared.
By ten o'clock. the detective was
back at headquarters. There he turned
over to Detective Lester Gordon the
task Of finding the taxi Buckley must
have taken from the Morton club, to
reach the Mu Beta Sigma house by
eight-forty-hve Tuesday evening. With
out the taxi drivers testimony, he had
nevertheless ample evidence to justify
an arrest; and once Aberdeen college
replied to his inquiries there, and Gil
more reported. he intended swearing
out warrant. But this gave Rankin
no excuse for neglecting so obvious a
link in his case as the drivers deposit
ton.
The detective also instructed Cor
don to visit Croft hall at his first op-
portunity. to complete the investiga-
ton he had left unfinished there. Also,
there was the cleaning woman to be
interviewed.
BE particularly thorough when you
question her, Lester" Rankin admon-
ished. Someone marked all of Jor-
dams shoes with thumb-tacks; and It
was done recently-within a few days
before his murder. want to know
when anyone might have a chance to
get at them; also whether she saw
any person about his rooms, acting
the least bit suspicious. And Jordan's
desk looks as If 1t had been searched.
Find out from the charwoman If she
observed anything in connection with
that. Probably his shoes and desk
were both tempered with at the same
time. by the same person."
"All right. Tommy, I've got that all
straight" Rankin's colleague nodded,
Another angle Of the problem Ran.
kin decided to handle himself as soon
as he could This was the interview
with the graduate nurse. Ben Craw.
ford's companion Of Tuesday night. ia
get her confirmation of his account OF
himself
After Gordon left. he conferred with
the coroner and Superintendent of Pc.
lice wainwright about the inquest on
Jordan. II was to he held that after
noon, a purely routine affair 1t was
decided, and little of Importance would
transpire.
On his return to the central bureau
after the consultation. an officer in
formed him that two gentlemen had
called about the crime at the fra.
ternity house.
Zone Of them said he was from the
university. sir" he told Rankin. ~
said you would be back shortly.
thought 1t would be all right for them
to wait in Captain Thomas Office"
AS it was close upon eleven o'clock
the detective surmised that his Wis.
itors must be Mr.. Warwick, with Jor.
dams guardian who had just arrived
THAT was o. K, Simpson," he re.
turned briskly. an see them imme
diately."
In the Office, the supervisor greeted
him and presented his companion, q
tall, well built, middle-aged man, as
Howard Merrick. The lengthy contour
Of his face was the only likeness tc
Jordan that Rankin could discern, In
dicative Of their relationship.
He motioned both his callers ia
chairs. The journey east must have
been rather a strain" he addressed
Mr.. Merrick alphabetically, and sal
down himself. did you just arrive
directly from vandalia this morning r
Il have been here almost two hours
now" the visitor replied, "after travel
Ing twenty hours. Naturally, l went
directly to Mr.. Warwick at the uni.
versity. as 1t was from him l heard
what had happened"
And l then accompanied Mr.. Mer.
rick TO the morgue,' the supervisor
added, ito pas our hast respects to the
boy. That is where we have come
from"
| A look Of pain tempered Mr.. Mer
rick's stern features. 1T IL my de-