Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-21

uIN Ntol JuNt iot mt " Nv 1
that something has happened. | hope
you will tell me, Don't you realize.
Mr.. Kingsbury, that woman can
stand the truth better than uncer.
tainty?"
Some can" he admitted slowly.
realizing that the girl was truly
troubled.
Il can. asked my uncle this
morning. and he insisted that there
was nothing wrong. feel that he
was not truthful to me" Her eyes
lifted to Toms face, and in their
depth he read the hope that he would
do for her what her uncle refused.
His brow lowered in troubled
frown. Quick TO grasp situation he
understood instantly that Trench real
lied how his niece felt toward Dick,
He saw the politicians predicament
in a new light; in a way. he felt he
understood why the man had been re-
luctant to go into details with him.
What did your uncle say-to this
caller of his?" he questioned.
Pm not sure" Edith answered
her eyes troubled. 1T wasn't so
much what | overheard as-every-
thing
"Everything?' he frowned.
Dick was here looking for uncle.
He went away. saying that he would
be in town until he found him and
would see me again. He didn't find
uncle. he didn't come back. took
a note to Mr.. Franklin, and he was
dumbfounded, almost discOurteous
after he'd read it. Then you came
and when got back home uncle had
been wounded. He doesn't know that
! realize that; he thinks I believe his
story"
"Is that the trouble with his
ARM" demanded Tom.
She nodded, the worried express
sion upon her face increasing. III
happened in the garden. One of the
servants, maid we hav, had foi
years, told me. although Uncle Jerry
made her swear not to do So"
who did it? Who would shoot
your uncle?'
How do know? I'm worried
about that I'm worried about Dick
You are his friend; cant you be
mine, too?"
Her hand went out impulsively. and
he took it,
"You didn't tell me what you over
heard your uncle say to his caller he
suggested,
"He-he either asked him what ht
had done to Dick or whether he hat
found him. she hesitated Il dom
know why | didn't listen. No ons
will help me, and I've got to find on
some way
She turned and walked to the win
dow, and Kingsbury, all his sympath,
aroused, stepped after her
I'm help you, if there is anythins
requiring help. | fear you are build
ing wild alarms out Of whole cloth
Franklin sent Dick up here afte
some news. and he's chasing it, that.
all. | have an idea that your uncle
roy not want him to find out wha
he's after"
! He had made up the first eXcus'
he could think Of and was relieve,
to see that the girl did not suspect
! THAT might be IT, Uncle like
Dick, but sometimes he won't tell hin
what he wants to know Her fac
frightened as she swung about.
That's it, ten to one,' he laughed.
With such an adjustment of tn
/ question, Kingsbury took his depal
ture half an hour later and hurried
straight for the Farewell club. wher
he hoped to find Trench. He wante'
to tell the man what he had discover
ed at the Dewey place, and also Of tn
suspicious held by his niece.
But at the club he was Informed
that Trench was not there. Tom wa
disguised, but more so when h
searched town, and the day ende
with no trace Of Trench anywhere.
He went back to his hotel for din
ner TO find a note in his box.
Tearing open the envelope, h
glanced at the scrawl. and his eye
narrowed as he read the few lines
Come to the crossroads on the MOI
ton road tonight will be there abou
eight. and will tell you something tina
may help"
Kingsbury stuffed the paper into hi
pocket and went into dinner. II
hadn't decided just what to dc
While anonymous correspondent
usually turned out worthless. he feI
that he should not miss any chance t
get at the truth in the tangle which
SO far, had baffled him completely.
He called up Edith Trench just b'
fore setting out, and she told him he
uncle was still away. With the que
ton of whether the night might brin
another puzzling disappearance TO b
. solved. he set out having obtane
his directions a.
He couldn't get Trench out Of hi
mind. The man had been fired upon