The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-07-28

Anu ehCA dCCOmpdulcu MI. MeT-
rick to the morgue," the supervisor
added, ito pay our last respects to the
boy. That Is where we have come
from"
A look of pain tempered Mr.. Mer-
rick'S stern features. 1T Is my de-
sire, Mr.. Rankin, to have Stuart's re-
mains sent home as soon as possible.
/ 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 l am
counting on your cooperation. First,
let me understand your position. You
are the boys guardian, ] believer"
'That's right" the visitor answered
soberly. MIR. Jordan's will appointed
me guardian and executor as we'll. My
bank is the trustee of the property,
which comes to him under it's terms
when he reaches :" he pursed his
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,"
Il see," Rankin unused slowly, "you
are in the banking business in Van
DALAI"
II am the president of the First
Exchange bank. 1t is 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 a 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?"
Eyes. In fact, we are the only mem
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 lucid summary of the en-
vironment in which young Jordan 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 architect, his marriage at twen-
ty-seven to Alice Merrick caused
prophetic comment in the town. For
she was the daughter of it's foremost
banker and great beauty, with op-
portunity for 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 it's 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 birthday"
Mr.. Merrick's reply held shadow
of doubt. swell, yes :" he hest
tated as If undecided how to explain.
'That is, 1t would probably become
his. But not for certain; the bequest
held a restriction and whether he re-
ceived it all or only an income from 1t
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, I would disapprove.
At least, that was the gist of the con-
dition; 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-five
hundred dollars a 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-
tiOn. that hpforn fhot tima ha ho