The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-01-19
CHAPTER XII-Continued

attended the University of Philadel-
phia, you know. You might have heard
he died suddenly under suspicious cir.
cumstances. Naturally, | want all the
Information about him l can gather.
and / am visiting every one who had
any contact with him for It."
The doctor did not make the mistake
of displaying too much familiarity
with the facts.
Yes. I read about II in the papers,"
he returned warily. at Is quite
shocking business. Precisely what
happened?"
HE was poisoned while being init
ated into the Philadelphia chapter of
your fraternity. My attention was d.
reeted to you when | discovered you
we're partly responsible for his being
pledged. You suggested him as pros
pect."
Doctor Prince relaxed noticeably.
"Oh, so that's why you came to see
mel" He smiled his relief. "Yes, ]
felt it duty to advise the boys there
to rush him. But never actually met
Jordan and can tell you nothing about
him."
"Still, you were well informed of his
matriculation In the East" Rankin
stated bluntly.
81 learned Of that wholly by acct
dent" the physician returned. through
his uncle. Mr.. Merrick. In September
] called at his Vandalia bank about a
loan | wished to arrange; and during
our conversation. he mentioned his
nephew was junior at Philadelphia"
The detective nodded. "Your own
alma mater was Hawthorne, wasn't 1t,
Doctor Prince?"
Eyes. In Fort Wayne: belonged
to the Omicron chapter of Mu Beta
Sigma there. graduated eight years
ago. but have always retained an in
terest In fraternity affairs and kept in
close touch with its activities"
"And your meeting with Mr.. Mer-
rick was your only connection with
young Jordan?'
Lulled into false sense of security,
the alumnus answered with a touch of
insolence.
"Our paths crossed just that once"
he declared confidently. much as
I'd like to help you, Mr.. Rankin, I'm
sorry cannot"
''Then, Doctor Prince" and suddenly
an implacable tone replaced Rankin's
ingratiating manner, what about his
wife, Laura Dumont, who was also
your mistress for more than a year?"
Caught off his guard, CONSERVATION
leaped into the physicians dark eyes:
but despite his surprise, he screened
his alarm by an assumption of anger.
Laura Dumont?" he demanded. 81
never heard Of her! Who the devil is
she?"
"It was your relations with her that
caused the Jordans to separate. He
found out about you only last May.
after his marriage, when he happened
to visit his wife unexpectedly from
school. That was why he decided TO
quit Aberdeen and go to college else
where" ..
"You must be crazy, Rankinl I
haven't the least idea what you are
talking about"
There's no point, Doctor, In claim
ing you were ignorant of Stuart's
movements" Rankin interrupted ac-
cusingly. Mrs. Jordan kept you well
posted In several letters she wrote
the boy, asking his forgiveness, she adj
mits you were her lover. And to per-
suade him of her good faith, she prom
ised him to forget you completely
He lied convincingly. certain that Doc
tor Prince could scarcely know the
exact tenor of the actress correspond.
enee.
AS though in anger that some part
of his plans had gone awry. the doc
tors features revealed a genuine fury
mingled with his sudden alarm. you
found some of her letters?" He com
pressed his lips viciously, then re-
gained his suavity with an effort
"You are on the wrong track altogeth
er. Rankin. Whatever she wrote, they
have nothing to do with me-"
Except as very satisfactory proof
of your association. Stuart's blindness
and how he detected you. It would
carry weight pc evidence in court"
Abruptly. Doctor Prince appeared to
realize the futility of further evasion.
well. what If Laura and I were
lovers for while?" he shrugged
THAT'S an old story; it has been over
since last June--nearly ten months
In fact, we broke off soon after Jordan
discovered US together I'm May"
Since the letters had only vaguely
outlined the circumstances leading to
that exposure, the detective asked: II
suppose that occurred in the Somerset
apartments he had taken for his wife?"
"Yes," Doctor Prince answered will
ingly enough. "You see. the arrange
ment was that Jordan visited Laura
only over the week-ends; at other
times, he couldn't very well get away
from Aberdeen And Hannibal was
too small town In which to establish
his wife secretly. That left me most
of the week with her. though didn't
take advantage of it; we were careful
not to make my presence conspicuous
and start the other tenants gossiping.
Even her maid never suspected any
thing wrong In our two and one-half
months at the Somerset; she came In
to clean, always In my absence. and
didn't sleep in"
"How did you become acquainted
with Miss Dumont in the first placer
''Our affair began in Chicago year
ago last fall" Doctor Prince related
"Laura's show. 'The Blue Rose" had