The Washington times., 1913-10-31

Nn lying at his home, the VIC
V tim of a stroke of paraly-
sis, which has rendeI>d
him totally unconscious, and deprived
him of the power of speech or move
ment- Since the attack, which struck
him down in his home week ago. his
condition has remained unchanged, and
his phEsi:ian-who is, of course. under
the stri"test bonds of secrecy-can fore
tell nothing of the ultimate result of the
seizure.
/ executed the will of Mr.. Lowndes
some months ago, and, although l can
not now go into any particulars con-
cerIling 1t, can tell you that it was as
concise and Tnethodical as one would be
led to believe from Mr.. Lowndes' Won
dertul, almost superhuman, business
aCumen.
with no kith or kin, MT Lowndes
has disposed of every penny of his vast
holdings. and should he die at this
since his illness il has been discovered
that an enormous sum in negot'a able
bonds has disappeared.
''Ahp calculated Yorke. sitting back
In his char.
To be exact, the sum of $4,000, in
bonds of the Great United Transconti-
mental railway, of which Mr. Lowndes
is president"
Entirely so, and we cannot issue any
warning concerning them without pre-
cipitating the very catastrophe il is so
imperative that we avoid.
VINO discovered the loss of the
bonds?''
MIR Courtney. He cameat once 10
me. and we instituted a quiet. exhaus-
tive search for them without avail. We
decided to await the outcome of Mr.
JoWndes' illness before taking any ac-
ton, but the matter has assumed too
grave an aspect to admit of further de-
lay"
Are you sure you. are not harassins
yourselves unnecessarily, gentlemen?
asked Yorke, with swift glance at Mr..
Courtney, whose somber eyes were now
fixed intently upon him.
is it not probable supposition that
Mr.. Lowndes, Immediately prior to his
illness, made some private disposition OF
these bonds concerning which he took
neither of you into his confidence"
Impossible, Mr. Yorke. Mr.. Courtney
has been entirely and absolutely in his
confidence in every detail OF his affairs
for Years and would have known of any
contemplated transaction. no matter
how obscure. Also, not a week before
his illness, / myself saw those identi-
cal bonds in Mr.. Lowndes possession.
He was detailing 10 me his plans con-
cerning these and other negotiable Sc
curities lying dormant in his possession,
10 the extent of a half million or more
and his purpose regarding them en-
tailed their retention for some months
TO come. Mr.. LOwndes was man of
enormous tenaCity of purpose, and any
change of mind or deviation from a
predetermined line Of action was totally
foreign 10 his character and method
Have you any theory or clue to their
disappearance
None whatever. That is what is so
peculiarly distressing to Mr.. Courtney
and myself. AS his private secretary,
and his attorney. We are practically Mr.
Lowndes' only confiGaHts. and it is upon
US first OF all that public suspicion
would fall
That is why ! came to see you on
Wednesday. Mr.. Yorke. / felt that, at
any cost, those bonds must be recovered
before Mr.. Lowndes' death took place.
Oddly enough. the idea Of consulting
day morning Mr.. Courtney came to me.
and himself suggested that we place
this affair in your hands
Il had not taken him into my con-
fdence regard ng my intention TO See
you, fearing he might object TO such u
step without authority from MIR l-Own-
des himself but r. fees rs koenly as |
the delicate position n which We are
both placed, and is equally anxious to
have your help in or grave difficulty"
Has the physician any idea Of how
long Nj. LoWndes condition may re-
main unchaEgeG?'.
IL his heart holds out as well as IT
has up 10 the present, II may be week
Or ten days before any change takes
place in his condition. but with a man
80 advanced iE years as my client, moth
ing can be certain
Well. Mr. Bradield. it will be sew
eral days before / will be able to de-
vote any tine TO your case | am now
occupied by an Investigation which
The Van Rensselaer, murder, YOU
mean. | have read OF your connection
with the affair. of course, but l had
hoped that in view Of the supreme i'm
portance of this matter"
Mr.. Bradfeldi'' interrupted Yorke
sternly. ANY case which l accept /
carry through 10 the end. without re-
gard 10 any other problem which may
come nv way. no matter. how important
or far-reaehing AND in this instance /
- not consider the loss of property,