Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-03

snug and pretty in her charming
apartment in New York. The
chances are that she's laughing at
the credulcus ones In here who
have been SO foolish as to worry
over her little kidnapping hoax. It's
one OF Patricia's best ideas OF a
poke. She'll be waiting for US with
out question:
Had there been any lingering
doubt In the minds OF Rex ballard
Margery or Doctor Gordon that
Pat Blair's disappearance was the
result OF a w~ell-cooked plot, this
mans manner and attempt to make
light of a matter that should have
caused him worry and anxiety dis
PEELED that doubt.
She may be waiting for you. Mis-
ter Maxwell" said ballard a rasp IN
his voice like a file on saw teeth,
but If so, she's waiting somewhere
in Paris. and the place Is not of her
choosing, let me tell you that You
laughed at the idea that she had
been kidnapped, and you belittled her
character by assuming that she j.
playing a contemplate joke on her
friends herel Anyone privileged TO
know Patricia Blair knows she is ut
terly incapable of the action you
ascribe 10 her. What your reasons
are for trying TO discredit her ]
can't imagine. unless you are en-
gagged in some dirty work TO defraud
her, That she is the victim right
now Of crooked work / am virtually
certain, though I can't say that
know positively that you are impli-
Gated in that work.
But your remark. Mister Max
well" went on ballard. growing an
grier as he proceeded. your fool re-
mark about the likelihood of Patricia
Blair being in New York at the pres
ent moment, is not only a reflection
on her loyalty but an insult to our
intelligence! For since the night she
was grabbed and whisked away il a
limousine, police have been constant
~ on the watch for herl Even If ii
we're in peace times it would have
been very difficult for her TO have
left France IN a vessel. In these war
times with the extra watchfulaess
on land and on sea, it would have
been absolutely imposSiblel So. II
Patricia Blair awaits you anywhere
il is somewhere here in Paris!"
ballard had spoken with an accu-
rate knowledge of the conditions pre-
vailing during the last days Of the
war Paris, il was known. IA the
stamping ground for women spies
from various enemy camps. Any wo-
man trying TO leave the country be-
came at once the object Of police
espionage.
Had Pat Blair made such al at
tempt she would have been appre-
nended az the very start. That she
was still missing was conclusive evil
dence that she had made no move 10
leave the city.
DR.. Frank Gordon who. with Lieu
tenant ballard. Nurse Lynne and the
hospital superintendent made up the
small committee receiving the guard
ian OF the Blair twins. heard the
mans libelous aspersion on the hon
or OF his beloved comrade with feel
Ing closely akin to murder.
Il agree with the lieutenant. Max
well" said the doctor. his voice trem-
bling with suppressed anger. "v%u
know very well you have no reason
Tor expecting to meet Miss Blair in
New York upon your return-if you
go back at once. It's my firm con-
vlction that YOU were aware of her
disappearance before you came here
today. Otherwise you would have re-
ceived the information with some
show of surprise If not anxiety"
Sitting where he could study, prac-
tically unobserved. the face Of the
man, Maxwell, during DR.. Gordon.
brief araignment. Lieutenant Dali
lard saw that which gave rise 10 a
new suspicion in his mind. He saw
100, that Herbert Foxhall Maxwell.
was no weakling. Nor was he a mar
10 play a subordinate's part. II Max
well was implicated in the plot be-
hind the kidnapping Of Pat Blair !;
was safe TO assume that he was the
head and brains of that plot.
There was something else the leu
tenants keen eyes had noted. The
man representing himself AS the L.
gal guardian Of James and Patricla
Blair had complete confidence il
himself. The slightly derisive smile
that played about the thin-lipped
mouth at the unmistakable accuse
ton conveyed in DR.. Gordon's words
indicated CLEARLY the dominant orr