Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-28

By CLIMBED e1oaS

flaunts his one claim TO honor from
every housetop, while the by-paths
he has trodden are foul with his
misdeeds.
But she had no alternative.
circumstances-and superior cunning
had triumphed. had given him the
tentative offer, his vaguely worded
promise II he failed.
"Ill accept" she said. finally, and
they reioined the others around
the table.
I've decided that J. made a mis-
take" she said. simply, as she paused
ut the side Of the young man she
had Just agreed to recognize as her
twin brother. She placed a hand on
his shoulder. I'm convinced now
this is Jimmy" she added and in
token OF her acceptance Of the sit
uation she seated herself at his
side. It might have been noted by
the closely observant that she had
not included the surname: Blair"
It was q bitter pill she was having
to swallow, but the end. she felt,
justified the means to IL; the pur-
pose at stake vas worth the while.
She would explain it all later to
her friends, she told herself.
The business connected with the
transfer Of misunderstanding from
the former executor to the heirs of
all the James K. Blair securities,
bonds, stocks etc, was then trans
acted. In accordance with Maxwell's
suggestion. papers were drawn up
and signed by Pat. as nearest rela-
tive, authorizing Herbert Maxwell to
continue. for the time being, in the
office Of the advisor to. and ad-
ministrator of. James X. Blair's
share Of the estate.
The cash value OF the entire list
OF holdings. according to Maxwell's
figures, now totaled up to about
twenty-eight million dollars. These
figures were taken from the orr
ginal list. a copy of which Maxwell
had made in 1911. the date upon
which the securities yer placed IN
the deposit box Of the trust COM
pany by James X. Blair, ST.. accom-
panied by Maxwell. Their valuation
then was twenty million dollars
From that date until now all the
executive york connected with the
Blair holIlngs had been done in the
presence Of three bank officials. At
no time had the administrator sole
access to or control Of these secur
tiles. The figures now submitted
showed the increase III valuations,
some Of the stocks having more
than quadrupled in eight years. This
gave to each Of the twins a fortune
Of fourteen million dollars.
At this stage in the proceedings
Pat and the young man answering
to the name Of James *. Blair, ac-
companied by Maxwell and Grier-
son, were escorted 70 the safety de-
post vault Of the trust company.
and there an equal division OF the
securities was made and each share
placed in a separate box. Pat was
given q key and instructed regard
ing the procedure necessary fer her
TO gain admittance TO her proper
~. They returned then 10 the di-
rector's room, where the balance
Of the business was completed. And
Herbert Maxwell's fat face certain
ly wore a SNUG expression, as Pat
observed TO herself, at the ternin-
alton Of negotiations.
To give the surface situation
something OF the color Of legal pro-
bity, which the inside facts SO man.
.festly lacked. and to account for
Pats failure to insist upon taking
her brother" under her OWL per-
sonal wing and supervision, the willy
Mr.. Maxwell proceeded to offer ex-
plapation.
His unfortunate ward, Jimmy, he
said, was in such a deplorable men
tai state that ii would be folly for
his sister to try and take care OF
him. Until he was well enough 70
undergo a surgical operation ii was
advisable, In his opinion. for Jim
my to remain under the personal
and exclusive care Of his nurse,
Mrs. Duane. who had cared for him
ever since thei- return from France.
Patricia would, q course, be at Ii
berty to visit her brother at any
time and have him with her when
ever she wished, or when it was ex-
pedient.
During this harangue Grierson
never once interrupted to ask any
question. But his rather broad coun-
tenance wore an odd expression as
he listened to Herbert Maxwells
platitudes.