The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-11-17

CoHeT was obviously cOiieSe mdn
but slightly older than the average
undergraduate. Perhaps twenty-six,
thin featured and intelligent, his slen-
der mustache and pince-nez added sew
eral more years to his age.
II am handling this unfortunate
affair."" the detective introduced him.
self. MY name is Rankin. What can
do for you. Mp"
Hayward. Kenneth Hayward" the
stranger informed him. II am grad
uate student IN the department of
chemistry at the college"
"You have some information about
this fraternity house murder?" Rankin
inquired. Were you acquainted with
Jordan, Mr.. Heyward?"
mo. | was not. But my reason for
coming may have some bearing on the
crime. though ! hope not. The news
papers all say the poison used to kill
him was CONNIE. the juice Of hemlock.
Conine is not easy to obtain and 1t
was one of the alkaloids with which ]
am working. This morning, I meas
ured my supply at the laboratory and
discovered that some Of it. and some
atropine. as well. were missing"
The detective nodded, gratified that
the publicity given the name of the
poison in the papers had brought the
results he hoped 1t would. "You kept
1t In the chemistry laboratory at the
university" he asked.
"Yes. for my specific experiments, !"
Hayward replied.
II see. And for your experiments,
you have in your workroom a quantity
of alkaloids, including conine?"
"Just little at once They are sell
dom used and the department orders
them. only when required. a few
ounces at time"
"Could CONNIE be procured from any
other departments in the college.
where the handling of chemicals is
part of the curriculum?
Il doubt it, Mr.. Rankin" Hayward
answered. "That was how knew
anything was wrong in the first place.
! compared my stock this morning
with my chart of what remained; and
ascertained ! was shy two grains of
atropine and over six drops of the
hemlock alkaloid."
"More than sufficient to cause a
great deal of damage" Rankin COM
mented grimly. He leaned across Cap
tain Thomas desk. "FrOm your last
check-up. Mr.. Hayward. have you any
idea what day they disappeared?
When did anyone have the opportunity
to remove them?"
II am almost positive | lost them
day before yesterday. On Tuesday. I
happened TO be experimenting with
both pOisons and | weighed them in
the morning before starting. None
was missing then: and made no mis-.
take about the amounts | measured
out for my tests. The fact is that
during the afternoon, | left the lab
oratory several times for maybe twenty
minutes or more"
The definiteness Of the probable
date was pleasing; the Tuesday he
mentioned was that of the tragedy.
Couldn't the theft have occurred
just as well yesterday. during your
absence?"
"No, because the place Is always
under lock and key" Hayward replied.
"Short of breaking inland there Is
no sign of that-it is impossible to
enter"
"You have the only key to the room
in the department." the detective in
quired.
"Oh, no, my adviser. Professor
Harris. also owns one" the young man
returned quickly. "But he assured me
this morning that he lent it to no one
and that 1t was not out of his pos
session either Tuesday or Wednesday"
Rankin's voice held the grave note
which usually accompanied an i'm
portant inquiry
"Have you any suspicion of the
identity of the culprit? Any reason
to believe he was some particular per.
SOM"
Hayward shrugged his shoulders
carelessly. I'm afraid not. Mr.. Ran.
kin. But almost anyone could nave
sneaked into the laboratory Tuesday
afternoon and taken the poison"
"Who. for instance, was aware you
were dealing with variety of poisons
l just want a general notion of how
widespread the fact was"
"Well. Professor Harris of course
and the assistant professor in organic
chemistry. Mr.. Nichols" The visitor
reflected a moment. Then outside
the department. my roommate in the
graduate dorms, Frank Powell. knows
of my efforts; he is In the medical
school. And yes. so does Ned
Patterson" he added
Rankin remained casual. "You didn't
observe Mr.. Patterson near your work
room on Tuesday afternoon"
Beginning negative nod. Heyward's
eyes suddenly widened, as at an unex
pected recollection.
"Yes, didr he exclaimed In evi
QeDt eACltemeuI. III TACT, 1 TeInem
Der he was actually in the Laboratory
itself while l was out. though | didn'
think anything of it. About three
| o'clock, | went downstairs to consul
| Professor Harris, and stayed with hin
twenty minutes When I returned. n,
was in my room standing by tn,
shelves of chemicals almost a.
if he had been meddling with them =
"What excuse did he make for hi
presence?" Rankin asked. still un
| moved.
"He said he had merely stopped IL
to learn how my research was progress
ing. And not finding me in, he ha,
been waiting"
| Rankin rose to his feet. He wa