Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-10-05

mains sent home as soon as possible.
l don't want him buried among stran-
gers; he'd prefer, himself, to rest be-
side his parents. No doubt that can
be arranged"
"At your convenience And
now, Mr.. Merrick," Rankin went on,
distressing as the subject must be,
will ask you to bear with my questions
about the boy, his life and family.
Only in this way can we hope to solve
the mystery of his death; and am
counting on your cooperation. First,
let me understand your position. You
are the boys guardian, believer"
THAT'S right" the visitor answered
soberly. "Mr. Jordan's will appointed
me guardian and executor as well. My
bank is the trustee of the property,
which comes to him under it's terms
when he reaches :. :" he pursed his
frightened lips and corrected himself,
when he would have reached twenty
two. Stuart's late mother was my sis
ter and only immediate relative; and,
as Mr.. Jordan also had no near kin, he
placed the boys interests in my hands"
II see," Rankin unused slowly, lyon
are in the banking business in Van
dalia?"
II am the president of the First
Exchange bank. 1t is a position my
father held before me for many years."
"How long has it been since Mr.. and
Mrs. Jordan died, Mr. Merrick?"
my sister passed away in the win
ter of 1922" the guardian informed
Rankin. "She was barely thirty-six,
and Stuart boy of twelve Mr.. Jor-
dan followed her five years later. He
was forty-five.''
For brief period, the detective was
thoughtful. THAT makes your nephew
twenty-one years old now" he COM
mented presently. HE was an only
child?"
"Yes In fact, we are the only men,
bers of our family remaining. am a
bachelor and have no dependents"
Rankin glanced toward Mr.. War
wick, silent but attentive, before con.
tinuing.
please tell me about Stuart's par
ents," he requested, something about
who they were and their life to-
gether. 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 en-
vironment in which young Jordan grew
up. His father, Edward Jordan had
been a self-made man, the son of a
mechanic in Vandalia and he worked
strenuously to give Stuart the college
education he had lacked. AS a rising
young architect, his marriage at twen-
ty-seven, to Alice Merrick caused
prophetic comment In the town. For
she was the daughter Of its foremost
banker and a great beauty, with op-
portunity for a more brilliant match.
But the union proved harmonious. I'm
til his mother died. Stuart's home life
had been normal enough without par
ticular change; and after, he was sent,
as Rankin had already learned, to a
private school.
Meanwhile, Edward Jordan had
reached the peak of his profession.
His architectural work was recognized
the country over for its symmetry and
modernity. So that he became quite
wealthy, accommodating property well
worth over a quarter of a million
dollars. This. coupled with what Mrs.
Jordan 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 account,
"Stuart would have inherited on his
twenty-second birthdayr
Mr.. Merrick's reply held a shadow
Of doubt. swell, yes !" he hest
tated as II undecided how to explain.
"That is, 1t would probably become
his. But not for certain; the bequest
held restriction and whether he re-
ceived 1t all or only an income from It
depended entirely on himself. To OBJ
tain 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 con.
1ition; the will constituted me the
final judge of his department until my
trusteeship ended"
"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-tive
hundred dollars year up to his twen-
ty-second birthday. Any income earned
over that amount went back into the
bulk Of the estate. Then, at twenty
two, the principal of it would be paid
over to him, but subject to this limita-
ton: that before that time, he be.
haved in no way which, in my opinion,
was improper or indicated such lack
OF moral restraint or stability of char
acter as to make him unworthy of the
legacy. If he violated the clause, he
lost the principal though he still
retained the income. If 1 considered
him undeserving, l could deprive him
Of his Inheritance by notifying certain
officers Of my bank to that effect. OF