Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-17
CHAPTER ".
Trench Shows Feelinn


Went straight to the Farewell clut
but he didn't enter by the imposin
front door.
There was another way, known wei
enough to Trench and just few o
the men who knew him. but who IN,
general public never suspected knew
Trench at all.
Through this back entrance III,
politician made his way to small
room, unostentatiously furnished, an,
sank down in chair BY the cbeal
desk which carried nothing in the wa,
OF ornamentation upon its rusty ton
There was ten-cent bottle of ink =
few pieces of plain paper, large
clean blotter that covered good part
OF the desks top and generally con
cealed the unvarnished surface
Dick MacLean." muttered Trench
deep in his chair. his cigar turning
slowly from one corner of his month
to the other.
Trench knew MacLean we'll he had
liked the young Harvard man who had
begun at the bottom of the newspaper
ladder and was climbing rapidly to
the top.
For perhaps half an hour Trench
never moved. The man appeared lost
IN day-dreams. but in reality his brain
was working fast.
AT last he aroused himself sudden
~ and walked across the room TO The
telephone on side table.
He called three numbers and went
back to his desk.
1pere was no question about il;
DICK Mclean had been the man who
mad called at the bank for the pack.
age.
Another half hour Trench sat deem
in his chair, and then. as the spring
night came on. there was a faint tan
at the door across the room, not the
door by which the politician had
gained his private room
Trench raised his head The knock
came, once, twice, with a pause, and
then three sharp raps.
Come in," he growled.
The door opened slowly, admitted
man, and closed again. Trench
hadn't moved, but his eyes were on
the face of the little wzened Irish.
man who had proven himself a safe.
suard against undesirable callers for
a GOOD many years.
ITS Mr.. Cruthers, sir. He's sure
Oh are here after having been out ter
yer house and not finding yer there at
all, sir He says he must see yer"
Trench simply nodded, and O'Brien
elided out of the room as quickly as
he had entered. A few moments later
he door opened again and Samuel
Cruthers, flushed and excited. came
)ustling in
AT lastN he cried, drawing up
hair and dropping into il. 1--WE
ooked everywhere for you, Trench.
They swore you weren't here. Why
he devil don't you leave word when
'ou come in?"
Trench hadn't made a sign. He
Iidn't answer now. nor did he move
Cruthers, who had known the man
My recently, save by reputation. was
byously annoyed
why'd you walk out of my Office
Ike that? Man. this thing has cot to
y looked into The police have got
D land MacLean. ] only held off
rom going to them because you said
ou'd be in town at once. Have YOU
ct them hunting?"
Have you?' came the mumbled
uestion.
Cruthers mopped his damp fore.
cad. NO. haven't. but will I'VE
OF TO, Trench. I've got to do some.
iing' Heavens. man don't YOU see
hat this means? Fifty thousand
ollars may not mean much TO YOU
ou who deal in big figures but it's
Ferything to my clients. Ny reputa. {
on Is at stake here. agreed with :
lie Mldweather people to get Won ia I
1T that bill through. and when Won ,
AIMED what IT would cost. we raised .
Ie money. Now--now-" but the
wyer's rush of words ended hating. :
as he got not even sign from
Ienehs expression that the man
ard him
Trench, what are you going to do +" - :,
ked Cruthers after the two men :,
ID looked each other in the eyes and :,
uthers's glance had fallen .,
The police aren't wanted in this" !,
me from the politicians lips. -
What. Do you mean you aren't =,
ing to move finger to catch Mae. I,
AM" ..
Trench simply continued to study