The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-06

I cooperation. First, let me under
stand your position. You are the
boys guardian, ] believer"
That's right" the visitor an
swered soberly. "Mr. Jordan's will
appointed me guardian and execu-
| tor as well. My bank is the trus-
tee of the property. which comes to
| him under its terms when he
reaches :" he pursed his tight
ened lips and corrected himself,
when he would have reached twen-
ty-two. Stuart's late mother was
my sister and only immediate rela-
tive; and, as Mr. Jordan also had no
near kin, he placed the boys inter
ests in my hands,"
Il see," Rankin mused slowly,
''you are in the banking business in
Vandalia"
Il am the president of the First
Exchange bank. II is a position
my father held before me for many
years"
How long has II been since Mr..
and Mrs. Jordan died, MIR Merrick p
MY sister passed away In the
winter of 1922" the guardian in
formed Rankin. "She was barely
thirty-six. and Stuart a boy of
twelve. SIR. Jordan followed her
five years later. He was forty-five.
For a brief period. the detective
was thoughtful. THAT makes your
nephew twenty-one years old now"
he commented presently. "He was
an only child?"
"Yes. In fact, we are the only
members of our family remaining.
| am a bachelor and have no de-
pendents."
Rankin glanced toward Mr.. War
wick, silent but attentive, before
continuing.
please tell me about Stuart's
parents" he requested, something
about who they were and their life
together. I'd like TO get an idea of
his youth and the character of his
home influences"
With his prompting. Mr.. Merrick
supplied a lucid summary of the
environment in which young Jor-
dan grew up. His father. Edward
Jordan, had been self-made man.
the son of mechanic IN vandalia !;
and he worked strenuously to give
Stuart the college education he had
lacked. AS rising young archi-
tect. his marriage at twenty-seven.
to Alice Merrick caused prophetic
comment In the town. For she was
the daughter of Its foremost banker
and a great beauty, with opportu-
nifty for a more brilliant match. But
the union proved harmonious Tn.
til his mother died. Stuart's home
life had been normal enough with
out particular change; and after.
he was sent. as Rankin had already
learned, to private school
Meanwhile, Edward Jordan had
reached the peak of his profession
His architectural work was recog-
niZed the country over for its SYM
metry and modernity. So that he
became quite wealthy, accommodating
property well worth over a quarter
of million dollars. This. coupled
with what Mrs. Jordan had left her
husband In her own right. brought
! the value of the estate close TO half
a million"
And most OF it," Rankin asked
at this point in the guardians ac-
count, stuart would have inherit
ed on his twenty-second hirthday?"
Mr. Merrick's reply held shadow
of doubt. "Well. yes. :" he hesi-
tated as if undecided how to ex.
plain. THAT is. il would probably
become his. But not for certain !;
the bequest held a restriction and
whether ne received II all or only
an income from II depended entirely
on himself. To obtain the property
at twenty-five he had TO deserve it.
That is. he could not disobey my
reasonable orders or do anything
while under that age of which. In
| effect, | would disapprove At least.
that was the gist of the condition /:
the will constituted me the final
judge of his department until my
I frtrct apAaA
"Can you specify the terms more
particularly" Rankin asked. search
ingly.
"As nearly as | remember" the
banker complied carefully, stuart
was to receive an income of ninety
five hundred dollars year up to his
twenty-second birthday. Any income
| earned over that amount went back
into the bulk of the estate. Then.
AT twenty two. the principal of ii
! would he paid over TO him. but sub.
jeci To this limitation: that before
/ that time hP behaved in no way
In which, in my opinion was imprOp-
or or Indicated such lack of mora
restraint -! stability of character as
I In maxi. him uuwni;-v RI tho loo