Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-25

1T certainly Is. Think of the time
that's passed since he disappeared
What might have happened to him.
I'VE seen that blood spot on the Dew
ey vcranda in my sleep, and thought
of Dick, Knocked in the head, perhaps
dead"
We can't think thoughts like that,
Kinesbury,' warned the politician.
perhaps YOU can't. | can
Trench nodded
Look here, Mr. Trench" suddenly
insisted Tom. you must have some
idea why you've been shot at twice.
What has that got to do with the
AFFAIR.""
at may not have anything to do
with it," came the instant answer Il
can tell YOU this. certain men are try
ing 10 make me conc over. Money,
yes. I fancy they think they can
brighten me by taking potshots.
Really. You know, this arm" raising
his still bandaged member. was
never intended. Those fellows are
Just shooting to try and back up a
bluff. In the garden he fired too true.
Why. man alive" swinging about and
glancng at the window little TO his
right. mo one could have hit me,
firing from The cottage over there!
Miss Holcomb WAS al the window.
They might have shot at her"
Trench swung back, facing KINGS
bury THE best answer 10 that Is
that he didn't come within a mile Of
his mark. I've looked, from the va
cant yard below The bullet went in
to the caves of this building. Do you
think you'd have made such poor
shot as that? Not much"
What are these men after" de
manded Tom, why are they so
anxious TO brighten you"
"A little matter that is neither here
nor there" smiled Jerry.
Despite the indefinite reply to this
question Trench showed, upon the
whole. a frankneSs with kngsbury
that made the lawyer question wheth-
Or he had not been wrong in feeling
the politician was holding anything
back
From every angle the situation was
discussed. and vet nothing new
brought to lieht. Trench admitted he
hoped for news; insisted his men
who were hunting, could do more
than the police and, with the situation
no clearer than at the first, klnSsburN
finally took his departure
He headed straight for Cruthers s
Office. |, was true that he was grow
Ing more and more confident that
Trench was playing fair with him. and
yet ne was not going TO allow Such
impressions to interfere with his OBJ
tanning any information that might
help.
Surprise had come 10 him before
now in lawsuits and he wasn't, much
going TO be overstartled if he dis
covered CmthcrS had good grounds
for the charges ne had made against
the political boss.
Cmthers was not in when Tom ar
rived. but after half an hours wait
the tall, neryously active man came
,l,n,,yI tb, JD,r
He shot sharp, QucsliOnin9 look
az Tom and went on into his private
Office. His clerk followed him and, in
few moments, rcappcarod and nod
ded &c kngsbury
"Wcll, sir" questioned Cuthers,
what can | do for YOU
Possibly YOU have made a guess"
suggested Tom. I'm up here look
inc for . friend, Mr. MaCLean. I'm
an attorney, as my card has told you,
and the News Office wants me to find
out what has happened TO their re.
porter.'
Yes nodded Cruthers, his lips
set hard. I've understood that was
what you We're in town for
Pm ilattered to think my presence
has claimed your attention"
why shouldn't it? What do YOU
know? How much has that shark,
Trench, told you"
Mr.. Trench has been rather ex-
plicit. bu he may not have gone as
far as he could have. | don't know
the man. Is 1t his natural inclination
TO be brief and say little, OF do you
suppose he is holding things back ?"
Cru,herss lips curled in a nasty
sheer. well. il you can't guess, YOU
can't expect me to do it for YOU
Toms lips parted in slow smile.
"lf you fancy I'm here to get you TO
make some statement against Trench,
let me tell YOU sir that YOU are
wrong. I'm a personal friend of Mac.
Leans. | want the truth, no matter
whom il hits. In fact, what want
is to find MacLean, nothing more"
"N6," snapped Cruthers you
/ don't give a hang FOR veg" and he naus
cd abruptly
"You were going to say for the
money that is missing supplied Tom.
Cru,hers swung about sharply and
bent forward. You know about
! that" he demanded
IL know that MacLean got that
package from the bank and has van