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

dSkeu, al the dudT, VINO knelC clOSeSL
to the boy on either side?'
His sponsor stood next to him on
the left, Mr.. Rankin. They alternated
that way in the line, first the sponsor
standing, then the initiate on his
knees. Stuart's sponsor was Ned Pat
terson." He paused, rejecting a mo-
ment. arthur Wilson, believe, was
on his immediate right"
"Then / suppose this er +. /.
Patterson put Jordan's pin on him?"
the detective queried. At Stanton's
affirmation, he signed for him to finish
his statement.
THAT'S all there really is, sir" the
president stated. "Stuart was seized
shortly after that part of the cere-
mony. The final rite of the evening
was toast all the PLEDGES had been
united and stood up, so they could
drink it with me. While pronounced
it, he staggered and dropped to the
floor"
Rankin, suddenly alert, sat forward
in his chair, grasping the arm tightly.
"a toast?' he demanded sharply.
what kind of toast?"
Stanton glanced watchfully at the
supervisor, as though to note his re-
action.
"From bottle of wine, prepared by
a special recipe with unusual ingre-
dients, only for chapters of Mu Beta
Sigma. We keep it locked in cup
board In the meeting chamber. It's
used just for these particular occa-
sions and otherwise never touched ;
I've got the single key to the cupboard
door,"
$50 you took it out yourself, Mr..
Stanton? Did anyone else handle it?"
'No, that was the duty of two other
officers of the fraternity" the boy cor
rected Rankin. ''the secretary and the
treasurer. They poured out the wine
and gave a glass to each initiate. ;"
Startled, he perceived the trend of
the detectives conjectures. But that
didn't kill Stuart, sir" he added
hastily, ''if that's what's in your mind.
He collapsed before he had chance
to taste drop"
The detective sat back, expressing his
chagrin with a brief shrug.
Nevertheless, l want to examine
both the wine and the glass he used
to drink FROM" he said. ''They may
have to be analysed. What has be-
come of them?"
"He broke the glass, when he fell.
But the bottle is still on the altar in
the chapter ROOM"
At the detectives request, Stanton
described the exact location of this
chamber. Rankin summoned the Sec
ond officer from the hail.
$50 out and stand guard at the first
door on your right across the hail." he
instructed him. "The one nearest the
entrance. Stay there until l dismiss
you, and meanwhile don't let. anyone
inside or disturb anything"
He turned again to the president, as
his subordinate went to obey.
"Can you suggest any other part of
the ceremony that might be connected
with the tragedy? Or anything that
happened, no matter how trivial, the
least unusual?"
Unusual, sir?" Stanton shook his
head wonderingly. "No, the ritual
went off without hitch.'
"Try to remember" the detective
urged. Couldn't any incident possibly
have bearing on Jordan's death?"
II don't think so; nothing that !. .
The boy stopped short, as though at a
recollection; when he continued, the
finality of his tone had wavered
"Come to think of it, there was some
delay in untying Stuart's wrists. Who
ever freed him had trouble with his
cords and we had to wait a minute
till he got done. But that couldn't be
of any Importance"
Rankin spoke with renewed eager
ness. I'm not so sure about that
Just when was he unbound?"
"Soon after the main part of the
ritual, but before the wine was brought
out for the toast. I gave the order
and ten brothers in the chairs behind
came forward; each united one
Pledge. Then they also removed Their
blindfolds and returned to their places
"Do you mean by that you don't know
which particular chap tended to Jor
DAMP
'No, sir, 1 DON'T" Stanton answered
I'm fact, can't say just who undid
any Of the initiates. Don't forget they
| all wore hoods" He hesitated an in
slant. SIT is matter of volunteering
Whoever is nearest in the circle be-
hind can get up to assist"
But whoever freed the boy took ar
exceptionally long time about it?" the
| detective observed.
Ted Stanton nodded, growing ex
| preston Of distress on his handsome
| features; and Rankin rose.
II think, before 1 60 any further,
he said, addressing the supervisor. 'l
ought to see the body. I'll want q
look through his belongings; and III
specially like to examine his wrists"
CHAPTER II