Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-26
"Yes. There was not even a sus-

just done it. | was in the front room.
He left a note. mentioning that you
had called him on the phone"
"Sweetwell has killed himself?"
Trench put the question after one long
moment of silence.
HE has
What folly. | phoned the man
to give him chance to get away.
Why. told him would help him."
You told him WHAT" roared
Tom, thinking of the note left by the
dead man which, to him, admitted his
connection, in some manner, with the
stolen package.
"Kingsbury, Sweetwell has lost
money. He's made use of bank funds.
1t was discovered late this afternoon,
and | was notified. | called him to
give him chance to get away and
he's killed himself, I'm coming" and
Jerry Trench hung up his receiver.
Tom, thunderstruck, at Trench's
IL.
as he was about to call police head.
quarters, turned from the telephone.
1t wouldn't take the politician long to
reach the house, and he wondered If
it would not be better to await
Trench's coming before doing any.
thing
As he turned to reenter the dining.
room. Cruthers, white as ghost,
came staggering out into the hall.
I'm going; can't stay here. Oh.
this is terrible, terrible."
Kingsbury backed slowly down the
4 hall and the lawyer followed him.
Under the light at the foot of the
stairs Tom halted,
step into the front room, Mr..
Cruthers.' he suggested in quiet
tone. I'VE will wait until others
come. you and l."
Cruthers threw up his head and an
angry light flashed in his gray eyes.
I'VE will do what? How dare you
tell me what l snail 40.
Because | fear you are too dazed
10 realize what YOU are doing. Step
into this room"
Cruthers's lips drew back in an ugly
sneer and his long neck shot out.
Stand aside. I'm going 10 leave this
house. and you might as well know it
first as last
You are quite mistaken" smiled
Tom, but there was no humor in his
face. You're going into that room,
now
He turned like a flash, snapped the
lock on the front door and dropped
the key into his pocket
an there. Mr.. Cruthers There
will be good many people here in Il
very few minutes, and you and have
some things to say before then"
Cruthcrs drew back and one
clenched fist lifted He looked as if
he would strike and Tom watched for
the blow ready to side-step and catch
the arm il it should descend
But suddenly the attitude of bravo
do dropped from the mans face like
mask. His eyes, angry until that mo,
ment lowered before the steady re.
gard of kingsburys, and like stink
ing hound he passed ahead of Tom
into the front room.
Nov, answer and be quick"
snapped Kingsbury facing the man.
Mr. Sweetwel is short in his ac-
counts, and that fact, knowing he was
suspected tthe telephone call he got
told him thaD, led him to do what he
did Is that the TRUTH"
How do you know? How do you
know these things cried Cruthers,
THAT | do is sufficient The facts
are making a long guess, "Mr,
Sweetwell took your advice and tried
for fortune in Wall street. You
lost. he lost; the bank has suffered.
What else was done, Mr. Cruthers, to
make good your losses?'
The older man was watching
kingsbury's face with a fascinated
stare "What--what do you mean"
he whispered.
you didn't know the code which
was to be presented for that package,
but Sweetwel did. He told you. and
between you, you two planned to get
hold of that money. Cruthets, it Is az
plain as day, now. 1t takes no guess.
ing TO hit the nail on the head Now.
| want to know how il happened that
You got MaeLean to go to the bank,
and what you have done to him.
A crafty, sneerine light flashed in
lhe lawyers eyes.
80 you think you have hit on the
truth, do you?" he snapped We'll,
YOU are long way from the facts. II
Sweetwell is short in his accounts,
well and good. ! know nothing as to
that. The package, that money, ask
Trench, the cur. He got it. I've
proof
And have here drawing the let
ter from his pocket, "a statement
written by Mr., sweetwell just before
he ended his life Tell me where Mac.
Lean can be found Tell me that
Cruthers, or I'll--Ill'--- but Kings
bury stopped, dropped his reaching