Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-24


and my ears downstairs.
Thanks" agreed Tom; III YOU
will drop ME at my hotel"
He didn't feel like fencing with the
wary politician that night, and he
realized that he must have his full
wits about him if he was to get at the
truth in the charge and countercharge
to which he had listened.
Trench gave him his arm and they
went down through the deserted club
to the street. Once in the car it turn
ed swiftly out into the country, and
kingsbury, who had shut his eyes,
feeling trifle dizzy, did not notice
the direction until he looked up as
they stopped
The cool rush Of the night wind
against his face had cleared his head
considerably, and he leaped to his
feet in surprise as he viewed the wire
yeranda of the Trench home.
Il thought you were to take me to
the hotel" he protested.
Il thought YOU might need glass
of water or something BETTER smiled
Trench, getting down. Once | was
all in at a hotel. Did you ever notice
what dismal place hotel is when
YOU are under the weather.
But I'm not. I'm fit. Ny head
aches a little"
And you'll be all right in the
morning or course, if you feel that
you can't even accept bed from me,
my man will see you
Tom made a protesting gesture and
Trench gave a nod to the driver. The
car rolled away and the two men went
into the house
To the surprise of both. Edith was
still up. She came quickly down the
hall and look of horror touched her
troubled face as she caught sight of
Toms bandaged head
What has happened?' she de-
mandcd. "Uncle Jerry, what does
this mean"
Trench began to chuckle softly. "A
slip will do strange things at times.
kingsbury stubbed his toe and went
down before he could save himself.
He looks d good deal worse than he
is. Brought him out; he and I've got
some things to go over
The girl accepted the explanation
without word. but her face told
plainly that she doubted the truth in
it.
Women are the greatest blessings
given u.s. suggested Trench when he
had shown Tom to his room and sup
Piled everything needed; but at the
same time Kingsbury, they are the
darndest nuisance when it comes to
questions"
Miss Trench is worried about
Dick also about the man who took Il
shot at you in. the garden. fancy
she has learned from Miss Holcomb
what happened tonight; it has natu
rally added to her fears for you.
Sure. Another reason they are a
bother. If you sneeze once, you've
/ got a cold. II you get red in the face,
it's apoplexy coming on. Remedies
for all ills were invented about the
ac.ne time Adam lost that rib and
4 Trench was gone with a nod.
A slow smile crossed Toms face.
He was certain of the fact that he
liked Uncle Jerry better the more he
saw of him. And he was also positive
| that he didn't like to believe Cruth.
erss charge; but deep down in his
| brain there lurked suspicion.
Jerry Trench hadn't come out frank
/ " and asserted that he was innocent
Of any complications in the matter. If
/ his hesitancy pointed to guilt, Tom
stood ready to get at the truth, re-
CARELESS of who might be hit, for to
him there was just one purpose. the
finding OF Dick MacLean and the
clearing Of his friends name
He went to sleep with one thought
uppermost: days had passed, Mac
Lean was still missing. and he had
actually made no progress in locating
his friend. He awoke in the morning
certain he had been negligent. All
this time he had been chasing clews
which led TO nothing.
The police, TO him. was the one
thought. He believed they could be
asked TO find MacLean without 1t be
ing necessary to tell them anything in
regard to the bank matter
AS he dressed, however, the start
ling thought flashed across him that
Trench. in whose sagacity he had
come to believe, would have resorted
to such course had he not feared
that the hunt would unearth the
whole truth. Franklin had insisted
that the affair must not become public
property.
Kingsbury began to feel as If he
worked with his hands tied But 80
strong was his belief in MacLean's in
nocence that he made up his mind to
run down his clews that day, and il
nothing came Of them TO go to the pc
lice and have a general alarm sent out
for his friend.
To him 1t WAS the only way of get
ting al the facts.