Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-17

JUS "ipuHu tHiuklHS HiIlSpit rlCn
Say, Cruthers," with Just a touch o
sarcasm in the tone, will you answe
my question:"
Z Cruthers sat down hard and drew
deep breath
Il saw Sweetwell just as soon as
hnlshed talking with you. The pack
age was delivered according TO YOU
orders, the blank slip of paper with
five pinholes in it and your initials al
the bottom having been presented in 4
plain envelope"
Trench nodded 81 know that al
ready he grunted.
You've seen Sweetwell"
i have not. II that package is
gone, ii went upon presentation of the
paper prepared as agreed upon be-
tween Sweetwell and myself when
put it in his charge"
Yes, yes, to be sure" nodded
Cruthers, watching Trench closely.
Suddenly he bent forward. "You
called the bank on the phone before
you talked with me?'
Just to make sure. | knew that
package was gone before | got near a
telephone.
But"
Trench took his cigar out of his
mouth, looked at the badly chewed
end, and showed ii back between his
thin lips.
Il have had things happen to me.
Cruthers. Last night man came 10
my camp and said the Governor want.
ed me on the phone. Well, he didn't:
| found that out when | got to the
village | fancied it was a joke or a
mistake; that postmaster up there is
a fool. But when found myself
rowed out into the lake and onto an
island instead of being taken back TO
my camp, decided it wasn't"
Trench drew in his breath He had
made very long speech for him
When you were what?' demanded
the lawyer.
Il was taken by that Eoatman on to
an island reiterated the politician.
and my boots We're taken off There
was a big fire, and three masked men
held my feet to the blaze until | told
them the kind of paper to deliver to
the bank to get that package. You
perhaps would have stood the roasting.
didn't-after few minutes"
Good Heavens, Trench. do Won
mean to say you were seized, carried
out into the lake, and tortured to give
up the code for that PACKAGE"
The round head nodded, the little
eyes never moved from Cruthers' face
That's why I'm trying TO get You
o tell me what you've found out
CrutherS, | don't give two
'ents for your fifty thousand No
more, as ! told YOU when you came TO
no, do care whether the Midweather
Water company grabs what it's after
+ not. But ! do care for that roas,.
NJ | got Some one of your people
nay be at The bottom of it. Perhaps
ou are
What" Cruthe.s. his gray hair
.ctually standing on end, was out OF
lis chair the red of anger mounting
0 bis checks.
Sit down." growled Trench
Can't you stand anything? Or does
he shoe fit SO tight"
What are you saying, man? Do
on mean to"
i mean that your people know that
ley raised fifty to see their bill
trough. You know; perhaps some
ne In this office OF yours knew it
now it. Now, out Of that lot, pick
lie one or ones who put me before the
re and got my initials to piece of
aper. | want to land that man or
EN-. and The politicians fst.
fought down gently upon The arm of
s chair, ended his sentence.
Cruthers sank back, his lips wide
'art. his breath coming in short
Isps.
Certainly not. They've had pack.
'es of mine before, aud they didn't ,
low what was in them and they {
dn't ask. they just took them. kept ,
EN-. and handed them over, perhaps ,
ter I'd split The one package up
to lots OF little ones, TO whoever +,
He'd for them-with the proper +,
edentials" :
Yes. yes" nodded Cruthers, his :
,ubled frown increasing. I,
'Well?' came the question again. i
But didn't know the code YOU =
re using. my people didn't h
NO one did until told it, my
I baking snapped Trench q,
Cruthers looked at his caller. and h
the first time he seemed able TO =
away from The enormity of the
$ and appreciate just how the THEFT p,
4 been carried out.
But a reporter got 1t, The cashier q,
allied him-knew him in fact" =
TRENCH leaned forward. "A re.