Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-01

MaCLeanI
/. BY z
by w. 7. ElDRlDGE. /.
Copyright, .
The Frank A. Munsey Co. 3
by w. 7. ElDRlDGE.



wei, I went 10 the bank, got that
package, and turned ii over to fel.
low who got off the afternoon train
coming down. Who that man was |
have no idea--never saw him before
but he gave me the word hancock
Said he would, and so | delivered"
do you mean that you turned fifty
thousand dollars over to a stranger
like that" cried Tom.
Fifty thousand dollars?" smiled
Dick. Il never knew until now that
ever had so much money in my
hands at one time"
do YOU mean you just learned that
fact? Why, man, you sat there and
never dropped an eye.lash when told
YOU what that package contained and
OF Sweetwell's suicide.'
Well" said MacLean, I'VE get
strange stories in my game, and | sup
pose We learn the art OF looking bored
at anything. No, had no idea what
that package contained, anda was
wondering why got handled as | did
1t ALL"
Handled as you did? Go on, 60
on cried Tom. What happened to
you at the Dewey place.
s.
Il dropped that fifty thousand
gee, bu' that funny" intcrposed Dick
with q shake of his head. and then
went cat to see Edith Trench. Just
wanted to find out where rncl Jerr.
could be landed
"Of course" grinned Kingsbur,.
From her anxiety over your absence
should Judge you had no other reas
on for going there besides to see Tn
Gle Jerry
"Oh. WE'LL admitted Dick" there
are some things in life besides the
mad chase for news Still | did go
out to see what | could find out about
Trench, He wasn't in town. and
wanted to see him. left there, Tom,
about dark walking, and got nearly
back to town when a fellow ran into
me. He was all excited, started on,
and then drew up short demanding
TO know If | was not reporter for the
News. When admitted the truth he
spit out a tale about Frazer Strahan,
the author, having shot himself out at
the old Dewey place.
Il didn't stop to ask questions;
was just like a lamb for the slaughter.
We got team at that stable and
drove out there, hell bent for election
Well" and there was queer light in
MacLean's eyes, Il was working on
the front window, next the door, with
my knife. trying to get the sash up
when got IA clip on the head that
made me see stars. have day
recollection of being lugged into an
auto and carted off What followed.
for a while, is all out of my head until
came to, tied up, and in a motor
boat"
you were taken to the lake in a
car" frowned kinssbury,
That's a fair guess" nodded Dick
AT any rate, found myself in a little
two.by-four room, and | had the food
showed into me by chap never saw
before ] tried to pump him. and he
was as dry as the sand of the Sa
hara."
"And you've been there all this
time?'
Until last night. | managed to
slip the cords on my wrist, then, for
the first time; dropped Out of the win
dow and, finding boat, rowed across
to the mainland II was some walk to
a farmhouse. and there got team
TO take me to Wiers. The first train
landed me right here, and | was see.
ing a big job ahead, trying to get the
ms and outs of the dirty handling |
received, when found you. Say, Tom
Kinesbury, what is the game?"
Don't ask me- protested the law
yer. Man. I've sat up nights with
the puzzle! Trench says Cruthers
didn't steal the package, and from
what Stone told me fancy that's
right
"Cru,hers had II planned to do SO"
unused Dick
But you were ahead of him." pro.
tested Tom.
Il was, but why did get itwell.
the good Lord only knows"
"This fellow hancock who got you
to go to the bank could tell u.s.
"Sure, II we could find him"
According to Spinder, hancock