The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-27
CHAPTER Vl-Contlnued

tective voiced his regret at the
meagerness of Whitaker's disclosure
and account
"All saw" Whitaker answered
promptly. when they came down.
stairs. took Mrs Fletcher away
for a dance. TO relieve the strain.
But | never let on | had any idea
OF the trouble upstairs We talked
mainly about the pledgees-how we
haze them and have fun with them
the last few days before initiation" "
Rankin's features suddenly dis
played a fresh animation and he
shot his question at the boy.
did you mention to Mrs. Fletch-
er the annual practice of taking
the PLEDGES for a ride late on the
night preceding the initiation, and
losing them in the country?"
.Yes. in some detail" the boy
replied. Il described the way we
dressed them In old clothes. made
sure they had no money with which
TO return and separated them In
some deserted spot outside the city
To get back the best way they
could"
The detective turned to Ted
Stanton. what time did you drive
out to the country with the initiates
and where did you eventually
strand themT
We'll. we started from the house
with them at ten-thirty by ma
chine" Stanton complied unreserv-
edly. Three cars in all went out,
belonging to the boys: each carried
three PLEDGES and the same num-
Der of brothers.
Before that. at what time did
the earlier hazing of the night be.
gin?"
Right after supper. Mr. Rankin" E"
the president returned The
pledgees had all been instructed to
report here by supper on Monday ;
they knew In advance II would be
hGNAiN iOt NNCti
The detective nodded. "How
about SIR. Fletcher? Did he take
any part in the actiyities?"
only as a spectator" It was
the president who replied. 1--WE
could scarcely ride a person In his
position. He was invited to attend
the whole affair: but he could just
drop i'm for few minutes around
nine O'Clock on his way 70 town.
lie said he mad business which
would detain him 50 late that he'd
probably stay in town overnight.
lie left about nine-thirty"
who composed the party that
drove Stuart out OF the city?" RAN
kin inquired.
Wallace Lloyd answered. IL did
for one. We went In George Pat
terson's car-he. George Drunmon
and myself. The other PLEDGES be-
side Stuart were Roy Martin and
Alex Pike-both freshmen In the
business school"
Then you should be able to To-
cate the exact spot where you final
iy deserted him How far out was
Il and by what route did you
reach it?"
AS Lloyd described the compli-
Gated course followed three nights
before. Rankin jotted II down In
his notebook. Not until he fully
understood the students explana
tion did he ask
How late was II when you
reached this place. MIR. Lloyd, and
left Stuart to shift for himself?"
Nearly eleven-thIrty, sir" the
recorder replied.
"And how long did il take him TO
get back to The fraternity? Have
you any idea of what time OF the
night he turned up here for his
clothes?"
But of this, Lloyd was ignorant
he had retired Immediately upon
returning to the house. Nor could
any other brothers enlighten Ran.
kin on this point. Jordan had told
no one how he had Jared the night
before.
AT length convinced that he had
learned all he could about the
Fletcher incident. Rankin shifted
20 his second mission al the fra
:ernity. That was to gain private
access to Ned Patterson's bed
room. Accordingly. as subter-
fuge. he requested to speak again
To- Larry Palmer. whose chambers
adjoined the sponsors: Palmer, aft
er being questioned among others
had gone upstairs to il As for Pat
tersun himself. he had been absent
all afternoon, so that the detective
knew he corld safely make the at
tempt.
I'll call Larry down for you. Mr
Rankin" Stanton volunteered. IL
suppose he is still upstairs: he sait
he had some studying TO do before
supper"
Rankin was equally quick TO re
fuse the offer. Never mind both
ering him." he halted Stanton. III
inst run up for few minutes.
want to speak to Mr.. Palmer