Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-01-30

leading out toward the Trench place
he saw a buggy with young fellow
in 1t.
Don't that beat the Dutch, Jack?''
shouted the boy.
Tom turned and saw a man stand
ing on the curb in front of a livery
stable.
where in the devil did you find
her?" came the answering yell. "Seen
anything of Mr.. MacLean or that
other chap?"
Kingsbury had barely hesitated, but
as he caught his friends name he
stopped short.
mot thing. She was in the barn
on the Dewey place. Saw the doors
open and looked in there"
The buggy drew close to the livery
man, and his reply was lost upon
Kingsbury, who went on, halted at the
next corner and turned back.
He appeared in the open doors Of
the livery stable as the white mare
was being led away.
"Can l get team?" he questioned
I'D like to be driven out to Mr.
Trench's place."
"Sure," nodded the liveryman.
To Kingsbury's satisfaction the
same boy who had brought in the
white mare climbed into the buggy
WHOM 1t was ready.
The lawyer said nothing until
block or two had been covered.
"By the way" he suggested. 'Tm
looking for some property around
here. I might go and see one place,
out this way l think, before 1 go to
Mr.. Trench's. Isn't there place that
belongs to man by the name of
Dewey?"
The boy looked his surprise. "Well,
that beats the Dutch!" he grinned.
"How so?' with well-feigned sur
prise.
"Why, I just found our team out
there. Been looking for it since yes
terday."
Kingsbury indicated a desire for the
story, and few questions brought
him the facts.
might before last the team went
out" explained the boy. "A Mr..
MacLean - he gets teams from US
often, chases out to Jerry Trench's
place heap-he came running in, all
excited, and yelled to the boss for a
team quick. He had friend with him.
and we hitched up fer 'em double.
quick, and off they went.
well. sir. perhaps you won't be.
lieve it, but that was the last we seen
Of our team until found it this morn
ing out here where you're going. Bug
gy in the barn. the old mare in stall.
and she some darned hungry, let me
tell you"
"MacLean." mused Kingsbury. not
trying to appear too interested. why,
| know him: he's reporter of Bos-
ton paper"
Sure" nodded the boy.
And he didn't come back or send
you any word where he had left the
team?" frowned Tom.
"He did not The boss didn't think
much of it until the next day. Thought
Mr.. MacLean was chasing news, you
know. but when lie didn't show up,
why he set me hunting. l looked all
around and asked bunch of people,
and at last | seen them doors open to
the Dewey barn (place all closed up,
you know. and took look in
there"
One or two more questions and
Tom realized that he had all the in
formation his driver could furnish.
Playing the part OF prospective
purchaser of real estate Kingsbury
got down at the Dewey place and went
about the grounds.
IL was an old house. standing amid
tall trees, and its shuttered windows
gave 1t dismal aspect hardly reliev.
ed by the shafts of sunlight falling
through the arching limbs upon the
mOsscovered shingles.
An examination Of the wheel-tracks,
still diHcernlhle in the mud, showed
HAT the buggy had driven straight to
the front door. There were foot.
The marks where the buggy had been
turned and taken toward the barn.
Iingsbury went around the house.
came up onto the wide veranda from
the far side and walked about the cor
ner of the building and toward the
front door.
He was making an obvious pretense
Of examining the house, for he re-
allied his driver was watching him.
At the same time he was looking for
any signs that might give him some
nkling as to why MacLean haG come
10 that place.
Suddenly he stopped. In front of
him was dark brown spot upon the
veranda boards
He knelt down.
One look proved the truth. Fear
and apprehension was fully alive now.
H. Il t..nx