Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-31
| Mysterious
| MacLeanI
BY :
! BY w. T. ELDRlOCE. q
Copyright. 4
The Frank A. Munsey Co. :
BY W. T. ELDRiOCE.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

In the look she gave him he under.
stood that one part of his task was
ended, he had come upon her at the
moment when Il word was sufficient
TO bring decision out o! longing.
The door closed behind her, and
Tom swung upon Spinder
Now" he said, we can talk. Sit
down. man Eve a good deal 10 say 70
YOU"
;;pinder. sober how. sank into a
chair with Il puzzled frown on his
face. He felt there was something be.
heath the surface which he failed to
comprehend. A man who was given
10 undetermined methods, he looked
for a trick and bent forward to meet
kingsbury's regard, prepared for any
thing.
IN come to the point with YOU
quick, Tom explained. You and |
have met before-Mrs. Carey's cot
tage. fancy YOU know what I'm
doing in Concord Now | want your
help want you TO find a man for
me-"
"MacLean you mean MacLean?'
whispered Spnder.
Tom simply nodded, his eyes set
searchmgly upon the fellows face.
Whit n de 20" come TO me?
How T., YOU know I can find him for
YOU
Il don't. Il | lAoue you kno
where he vas, I'd make YOU talk"
"Oh, you would. would you?'
snapped the fellow, a nasty sneer ON
his face You think you're d.
clever. Well. you'd have one sweet
job making me talk, let me tell you
that.
Il might with a confident smile
but I'd do it just the same if /
thought you knew where my friend
could be found. Not thinking that.
I'm ready to hire you to do the hunt
Ing, and I'm ready to pay well ii you
find him for me
You mean you're ready TO pay we'll
II undertake the job"
Tom had il on The tip Of his tonguc
to make a different ansVCe than lie
did, but suddenly ii came to him that
Spinder had the advantage SO long as
they We're in the mans house
Yes" he nodded, "rll pay, How
much will YOU undertake the job for
Spnder named an unreasonable fig
ure and for an hour the men dickered
over terms. At last Tom arose.
Come on" he said Come TO The
hotel and III get the money for you. "
He had taken longer than he
thought would be necessary TO bring
the conversation to the point of such
a suggestion, but still he had, in that
time, eiIectually stilled any suspicious
Spnder harb0red and instiled but
one idea into the mans brain-that
there was big sum in It for him, and
his caller had no other purpose in
view.
Together they starred for Concord,
employing the same horse and buggy
in which the mans wife had come 10
meet Tom 1t the crossroads.
Once in Kinesbury's room at the
hotel, Tom locked the door and mo-
toned Spinder to chair.
"Oh, there amt no SO in sitting
down." reiorled the fellow. You
hand out the money and III he on my
way"
Tom turned, stumbled, and all but
knocked Spinder over as he brushed
against him. As the fellow uttered an
oath and threw out his hands 10 save
himself, Tom had the mans revolver
out Of his hip-pocket.
With an oath Spinder llVng himself
about and faced the leveled weapon.
"St down and be STILL" ordered
Tom. u never like to talk with a man
to whom I'm going 10 be very franz.
knowing he's armed fancy you've
got a temper and you might do things
with this" lifting the pistol trfe
which wouldn't be nice for YOU or
me. Sit down
Spindpr's face was red with fury
"You dirty cur" he reared 50
you're liar. are you? Fine story |
listened to. Got me here Well
you'll let me 70, and
But as the man leaped for Kings
bury he found himself yanked back
and thrust into chair.
Tom had slde.stepped, caught tn,