Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-02-16
CHAPTER As

And so you are n Of the Twenty
Million Dollar Blair Twins. are
you?" commented Sergeant Mike
Kelly, his keen old eyes resting ad-
miringly on Pats piquantly pretty
face. i had the pleasure Of meet
ing your father, Big Jim Blair, once
N Cleveland He vas the plaintiff
in the Moriarty Oh Investigation
involving several Wall street brokers
and some thirty million dollars!
Big Jim won his case-as he usu-
ally dbl ! was n OF his witnesses,
tool"
When Pat and her friends left
police headquarters IL was with the
satisfying assurance that not only
would Jean Bouchard'S mysterious
disappearance receive immediate at
tention, but three special officers
detailed at once on eight hour shifts
each at the Lynn residence to act
IS guards day and night over Jim
my Blair. The first officer would
arrive on the job at six O'Clock that
evening. they were assured by Ser
geant Kelly.
I knew. OF course. that Dad used
to be called Big JIM " said Pat
in answer TO a remark from Rex
about the sergeant happening to
know her father, as the limousine
speeGed back to the house near
Gramercy Park. And I think we
were lucky" she AIDED, that it
CHANGED to be Sergeant Kelly on
duty this afternoon. We might not
have Jared SO well If he had not
known Dad!'
ct would have been about the
same, Miss Blair. with any other
on duty" said Marks. the lawyer,
with a knowing grin. "A young lady
with a fourteen million dollar bank
account is pretty likely TO get quick
action and close attention, event at
police headquartersl'
ballard and the doctor. with
Marks. were left at the Gramercy
Park house with the understanding
that the girls should call the next
day at noon, and take luncheon
again with them. II was decided at
the same time that Margery and
Pat would stop at Madame Leclerc's
hotel and bring her with them. She
lived, she told them, at a small
place in 18th street, only a few
blocks from Gramercy Park and to
this address she was driven, after
parting with the men. Here she
babe the two girls good evening
and Bill Perkins headed the car for
home. Both Pat and Margery were
anxious to get back to Jimmy. There
was no telling what Maxwell might
have been UP to during the hours
OF their absence.
They found Jimmy sitting in the
same big easy chair in which he
was ensenced when they left the
house that morning at ten thirty.
He had vacated the chair twice
since then, Aunt Lottie and Lucy
told them. The first time had been
when Lucy had ushered him into
the dining room for luncheon. and
once again when he got up Of his
own accord and went into the bath
room. They had heard him, they
said. washing his hands, and when
he came out and reseated himself
in the big chair they noticed he
had dampened and brushed his
hair. From that time, Lucy and
Aunt Lottie declared, both talking
at once. he had remained quietly
seated in the chair. playing with
his fingers. seeming TO find in them,
something Of ineXhaustible interest.
Pat looked at him sitting there
in the deep chair. twiddling his
thumbs. A big lump rose in her
throat as she thought Of the JIM
my Of war days, the quick-acting,
bright-eyed and handsome Jimmy
Blair in his natty aviator's uniform.
Would she ever see him again as
he was then, his brown eyes aspark-
le with intelligence and the JOY OF
living? Or would he remain al
ways as he was now, just the huSk,
the empty, unthinking shell OF his
old self?
Her heart sickened at the thought
OF such a possibility, such a bitter
fate. She would almost-But. no.
She caught herself up. Alive. there
was always a chance, laways a liv-
ing hope. But dead-NO. no. she
told herself. she would rather have
him this way than not 10 have him
at all.
The first OF the three special Off
GERS detailed for guard duty over
Jimmy Blair, arrived at the Lynne
home Just before six o'clock that
evening. He took up his post in the
spacious hall, on one side OF which
a soft coal fire in a huge crate
threw cheerful atmosphere to the
place. To reach the room occupied
by Jimmy on the second floor, one
would have TO pass through this
hall. Looking at the officers bur-