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


to Ted Stanton, 1t was In October that
the physician had written the Phila-
delphia chapter about young Jordan.
After a pause. he abruptly focused his
inquiry on another subject.
What caused Stuart to change
schools this year? Had he any spe-
cial reason for wishing to leave Aber-
deem at the end of his sophomore
year?"
None that l know Of" the banker
replied. beyond an understandable
preference to go to school with a
more complete college life. Probably,
too, he figured on more freedom far
Their from home" he finished with an
austere effort at lightness. I'm the
beginning, | opposed the idea of shift
ing, but finally agreed to let him
have his way"
"Was Stuart ever guilty of serious
misconduct" Rankin queried. ANY
thing gross or unprincipled enough to
justify the exercise OF your authority
to deprive him of his inheritance?"
mo, he never caused me the least
difficulty-even allowing for youthful
follies. He had good training and. If
not impeccable, he was decent and
honorable"
"Still appearances are often decep-
tive" Rankin pursued "You see, Mr..
Merrick, made a peculiar discovery
NH
at the dormitories. | found certain
stubs of his check books indicating
that he was paying regularly to some
unknown person, the sum of four hun
dred dollars month. Do you know
Of anything that might explain them?"
Unless Mr.. Merrick was a skillful
actor. his startled. puzzled expression
betokened his ignorance.
-Four hundred dollars a month?
And there is no record of what these
expenditures were for?"
ut almost looks as though there was
some secret in his life" Mr.. Warwick
contributed gravely. "Some incident
he wanted concealed. And he was
paying someone to keep quiet about it. .
The guardian shook his head SOL
EMMY. "These expenditures are a
total mystery to me-" he confessed.
"As said, Stuart's income was ninety
five hundred year, more than enough
to meet even this great drain. So that
he never had occasion to approach
me for additional funds"
"What about an ENHANCEMENT with
q womanr"
At the suggestion, Mr.. Merrick's fea-
lures grew dark and his eyes f1inty.
"If he was, it never reached my ears.
And If he had. it would sustain any
measures | chose to take under his
fathers will" A harsh note crept into
his voice. Stuart was well aware
that sexual improperly was the one
misstep ] would not countenance"
do you know of any reason why
anyone might have had animosity
against him?'
But here again, the banker respond
ed negatively. He could not conceive
vi hO" Ills ucDlc" COulu nave
a hatred so virulent as to be a mo
tive for murder. The name of Buckley
was familiar to Mr.. Merrick. only be
| cause people of that name resided in
vandalia; but he was not acquainted
with the family or Ralph All be
could tell of them was that they were
| middle-cla folks. small merchants
in the outskirts. He could not say
whether the boy had ever displayed
interest in any particular girl at school
or in the town.
On concluding his inquiries about
Jordan's past, the detective ended the
interview. Though disappointed at his
meager information on few points,
he was satisfied he had covered all
the important ground.
Before Mr.. Warwick and the banker
departed. Rankin also questioned the
upervisor-about the feasibility of
Buckley's having gained admission to
the university by the fraud Walter
Randall had outlined. He did NOT
however. name the boy about whom he
inquired Mr.. Warwick, looking per-
| turbed. conceded that the imposition
was possible.
| Rankin did not consider he was be-
ing unduly distrustful in suspecting
! Howard Merrick. The situation ere
ated by Mr.. Jordan's will was too sig.
nificant to be disregarded. the tempta,
ton 1t produced perhaps too strong
for the guardians probity. In the cold
light of reason. it furnished an all
powerful motive for the boys murder
For all the detective was aware. Mer
rick had some urgent desperate need
for the estate. And under these
eQuivocal circumstances, the nephew
had actually died less than two months
before his birthday.
| Immediately, however. Rankin was
confronted by the problem of MIR. Mer
rick's opportunity to commit the crime
Each suspect in turn, who was moi
member of Mu Beta Sigma, present
| ed the same problem. If, as MerricE
claimed, he had left Vandalia a
eleven O'Clock the previous morning Il
come east, he could not have been II
Philadelphia the Tuesday night of tn,
murder or be personally responsible,
for the crime. And an accomplish
among those who attended the initia
ton was improbable. Clearly, Rankin
must have Mr.. Merrick's journey ant