The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-06-23

twenty-five, whose DreeQlng ana eQu-
cation were at once apparent. He had
a shock of unruly light hair. Candor
was written in the staring blue eyes
the sophistication he might have pos
sessed was inoffensive and without
conceit. True, his chin suggested ir-
responsibility and his full lips, an ar
dent impetuous nature; but they were
insufficient to mar an unmstakable
innate refinement and sense of decency.
The character he read left the de-
tective more perplexed than before.
Under any circumstances, the murder
of boy scarcely out of his teens and
still student was mysterious; but
in the case of the amiable, care-free
youth the victim appeared to be, it
was doubly battling. What motive,
Rankin reflected, could anyone have
for desiring Jordans death and plan
ming it so subtly?
From his features, the detectives
attention passed to his hands, placed
neatly at his sides. Doctor Thomp-
son was already examining them; his
muffled exclamation brought Rankin
to his side to bend over quickly.
"Well, Doctor, what is it," he
asked.
you are probably right about the
poison being administered subcutan-
eously," the physician said. "This mark
is undoubtedly that of a hypodermic
needle; it was so aimed as to inject
the contents into the blood along the
arm"
"Do you think that whoever united
Jordan could have introduced the
poison at the same time without be-
ing observed?'
"Since we must face facts" Doctor
Thompson answered, II should say it
is easily possible. 1t would be the
work of an instant; and the needle to
hold fatal dose is small enough to
conceal in the palm of the hand"
Rankin nodded. How long was the
interval between the time Jordan was
unbound and his prostration?" he
asked Stanton.
"Not more than five minutes, sir"
he returned. Long enough to get out
the wine and distribute the glasses,
and for me to explain the toast"
"If you could tell, Doctor" Rankin
unused, show long after injection, the
poison would take effect, we. could be
more positive about the time it was
given. I don't suppose, however, I'M
til it's analysed that. -. Hello,
that's stranger"
He stopped short and suddenly
stopped over to inspect the dead boys
shoes. On both, in the hollow of the
soles, against the heel, he discovered
two wide-headed, fiat thumb-tacks.
Conspicuously, in the light Of the
room, one tack lay embedded in the
side of each heel, itself. and the other
in the arched leather beside 1t.
How do you explain that, Doctor?'
the detective questioned. "What in
the world are those thumbtacks doing
in Jordan's shoes?"
For a moment Doctor Thompson was
silent, his eyes puzzled and bordering.
''It almost looks as though the GRIM
inal put them there to aid in identify
ing him." he responded at length.
'The guilty person would have taken
that precaution if he knew the room
would be dark. Otherwise he could
not differentiate one Pledge from an
other. They all looked alike in their
robes, covered by hoods; and kneeling
at the altar, only their wrists and feet
were visible. The entire crime seems
to have been ingeniously planned In
advance with remarkable foresight"
The detective lifted one foot to
catch the light and scrutinized the
tacks closely.
"They were put in very recently"
he announced. "They are still bright
and new-not scratched or nicked a
bit. =. What do you think, Doc
tori"
Doctor Thompson took a moment to
examine them. "Yes, you're quite
right, Rankin. He hasn't been carry
ing them, should judge, over day
or two at the most"
"Then it might be worth tracing
his movements of the last forty-eight
hours, to learn who had the oppor-
tunity to tamper with this pair, I'M
known to him."
"Only last night. Jordan's shoes were
left here, at the fraternity house, with
the rest of his Clothes" Stanton volun-
teered. "All the PLEDGES undressed
here before they were driven out in
the country in clothes other than their
own and deserted"
last night?" Rankin asked sharp
ly. HE didn't wear his own clothes?
How was that 2"
swell. we always haze the initiates
rather severely on the final evening be-
fore the ritual" Stanton explained
sits to !. /. er -. humble them
for the more solemn ceremonies. Usual
ly we leave them in some lonely Sec
ton far out of town, without money
or means of transportation. And to
guard against their hiding funds in
their clothing. they all strip and put
on other clothes that we give them,
instead; their own clothes they leave
here"