The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-25

mo, nothing like that" the student
declared. "This isn't the first time
things were stolen in the fraternity
house since school began. told you
yesterday that several of us stayed
up very late Monday to wait for the
PLEDGES to get in from the country;
we figured on little more fun with
them. But we all retired by two-thirty
in the morning and 1 distinctly remem-
Der putting my watch on my dresser.
The next day it had disappeared; no
one knew anything about it."
Then you were robbed early Tues
day morning. Which is your room,
Mr.. Crawford?"
'"The second one along the second
floor corridor that runs toward the
back of the house. It's opposite the
third-story steps, next to Ted's here.
George Patten shares it with me-"
Rankin leaned forward intently.
you say that other things have also
been mysteriously missing during the
year? Do you mean there has been
a series of robberies at the house?"
''Three of them, Mr.. Rankin, in the
last few MONTHS" Crawford declared,
land always at night"
"And no clue to the thief has ever
been discovered?"
It was Stanton who replied, reluct-
antly, but clearly perceiving the fulfil
ity Of any attempt to suppress the
truth.
mo, we haven't the least idea Of
the culprit's identity" he admitted
soberly.
"You never informed the police of
these thefts, did your The detec-
tive turned bluntly to Stanton. "That
would have been the proper action"
The president hesitated at the crit
icism. well, no." he replied at length,
because we scarcely wanted news of
that sort bruited about the campus. 1t
was really our own private business
and we were afraid Of undesirable
scandal. So we decided to keep 1t
secret and not even consult the college
authorities"
"Still l should have been told of it
after the MURDER" Rankin pressed him
more severely, INSTEAD of learning
quite by accident. Surely it was your
duty then, not to conceal from me
these serious crimes in the chapter"
"The shock of Stuart's death drove
them from my mind, sir" Stanton de-
Tended himself quickly. "They seemed
Insignificant beside Tuesdays dread
full affair.""
"I'm sorry to inform you, Mr.. Stan
ton, that the thief" Rankin paused be-
fore speaking the name, sis Ned Pat
terson."
OF the two students, Ben Crawford
was the more astonished. The presi-
dents pallor reflected his concern.
as he compressed his lips in grave
silence.
He shook his head slowly. II was
afraid it might turn out like that" he
said. "But Ned-that's really awful!
I can't believe it."
"Well, there isn't the slightest doubt
Of it. You may not be aware of 1t.
but he has been gambling recently for
high stakes in questionable establish
ments. Mr.. Palmer could tell you he
is in debt far beyond his MEANS"
With that, Rankin briefly sum-
married. the scene Larry Palmer
and he had witnessed at the Morton
club, and the proofs that Patterson
pawned the timepiece. And as he lis
tened, Ted Stanton's expression grew
more strained at the new problem that
burdened him. But when the detec-
tive finished, he had determined his
course.
"Isn't 1t possible, Mr. Rankin, for the
fraternity to handle this trouble with
Ned? After all, that is side issue
to poor Stuart's death; and any action
you take won't help your main inyesti-
CATION"
Il appreciate your position" Ran
kin said alphabetically. "And if
they were really isolated events. I'd
drop them in moment. But actually
the two crimes are connected: and n
is Mr.. Patterson who supplies the link
between. I've got to learn the truth
about the murder. so can't afford
to disregard the lesser offense. If
Patterson isn't Jordan's murderer
himself, then he is surely implicated
in his death as well as the thefts,"
"But that's ridiculous!" Stanton
cried. Surely. sir, you aren't seri.
0usr'
Rankin shook his head. SIT isn't so
hard to believe as it sounds. A small
amount of CONNIE, the poison which
killed Jordan, was kept in the chem
istry laboratory at school, for special
research. Mr.. Patterson knew this
TACT; and on Tuesday itself, he stole
more than a fatal amount of it. He
left finger-prints in the laboratory.
Yesterday, found some of it hidden
in his bedroom, the rest missing"
"But why?" Stanton protested. "Why
should Ned want him out Of the way?