Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-29


10 be- ready 10 do anything"
Say" the fellow whispered. lis
that on the level. Trench your
friend?"
What's that got to do with it?"
Hut To- realized that he had Stone
on the run. Speak up if YOU don't
want 10 face Trench"
God, he'd drive me out OF town
with a word if he knew I'd jumped u
friend OF his, What fool. | might
have known from what Spinder said
that there was something in it thai
Trench was wise 10. Say, where in
does Cruthers get of on this
game"
You've got just one choice, and
make ii quick. Give me the facts or
Wen 20 10 Trench Which will il
be-"
Stone hestated a second, his crafty
eyes searching the darkness but
avoiding Toms regard.
Say" he finally muttered. IN
spiel for you. but you've got to keep it
under your hat. | guess | know when
it's time to crawfish. III give it
straight If you'll let me out"
You'll .5ive il straight with no
promise from me-" snapped Tom.
More than that you'll talk quick
Well muttered Stone. and sud
denly he broke into smile, 4 guess
you've 90 the drop. and | might as
well swing to your side of the fence.
Facts are, Mr.. Kingshury. | dent
know g thing about MacLean."
Tom suspected as much, and yet his
disappointment was hard to bear.
We'll, the facts" he ordered
"Crlthers was the guy that landed
me in this pickle rushed on Stone.
Il ran into him this evening and he
asked me TO land you at the hotel and
spin you some fairy story to get you
where could put you out for the
night. IIe said lie was go & out OF
town. ooek il he wanted to beat it
bolor YOU got after him-and | was
to PCT II paper from YOU
Tom considered with knit brows
"Ihat don't CO." he frowned. I've
got no RAJ II
Enl Suddenly he thought OF his
statement to Cruthers that he held
the last words written by Sweetwell.
What paper was ii9' he de
handed
4 don't know" growled Stone
but I'm handing it TO YOU straight.
He said I'd know tit was some
thing Sweetwell OF the bank had writ
ten, and was 10 get it and bring ii to
him in Boston al the Adams House
Tom nodded. The thing sounded
possible in way, and yet he couldn't
quite see why Crthers was so anxious
for him TO be held up while the law
yer escaped town, unless Cruthers
knew something of the package and
MacLean.
How'd you come 10 tell me what
you did" he demanded.
"Cruthers put me wise. He said
you were hunting for fellow by the
name of MacLean, and IL was Mae
Lean who copied that package ahead
of me"
ahead of YOU" roared Tom.
"Explain,'
well, | might AS well 20 the whole
hog grinned Stone. "Cruthers gave
me an envelope to hand to Sweetwell,
and | took ii to the tank. Sweetwell
was so darned excited when | blew
in on him, and he hit it for the tele.
phone. could see him through the
door OF his office, and just heard him
call out Cruthers's name before he
shut the booth ouor. | guessed he was
phoning the old bloke.
AT any rate. wheu / gave him the
envelope the cashier took me to him
after I'd spelled, I guess you know
what to do with that'-he let out one
veil TO the effect that MacLean lad
got the package Now. ! wasn't wise
at the time, and ! had 10 beat il out
OF town on another tack and Just iii
back
Il heard Jack Spinder (he was
loaded) talking about MacLean heinz
gone, and something about package
and Trench wanting 10 come across
with the goods or get plugged.
couldn't pump spinder, when tried
so I hit II for Cruthers. found him
gone. and was just trying TO decide
what I'd do when the old bloke blew
down the street. He Iugged me up IL
his Office and sicked me on to YOU
There u are
Tom had listened with narrowing
eyes. He felt that the man was tell
inc him the truth, and while he failet
TO see hat he had learned anythini
that would help him 10 locate Mac
Lean. he did feel that he had little
more light on some points.
IL was obvious that Sweetwell an,
Cruthers had planned 10 get hold o
the package. and that the yice.presi
dent of the ban. had supposed he wa
delivering 1t to cruthers's messenge
in MacLean. until Stone arrived viii
second code note.
II also looked as II Cruihers VA