Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-01-02
cHAPTER l.
Ext Trench.

flaming cOlO.S llSht S..lii OC"Cneu On
the sand in front of small camp, half
hidden ami towering oal.s.
Luck" called man Il lnging ua.
der one of the trees.
The occupant of the stern scat
arose, Gsh-pole in hand.
"Some," and he stepped past his
boatman and on TO the beach.
He glanced back into the boat, made
some mumbled remarks To the boat.
man, and went up the grassy slope.
Fair" he grunted again To the
man under the tree. and went ON into
the camp, his compact. hammered-to.
gether figure appearing unusually
squatty in the failing light.
Murdock, the man under the tree.
smiled as he watched Jerry Trench
out of sight. The brevity of the re-
ply he had received was like Trench.
the New Hampshire political boss.
He seldom used unnecessary words,
even If the conversation turned to fish
ing, for which he had passion-per-
haps the only passion in his life, un.
less 1t was to rule men and dominate
in political questions of his State.
Murdock got up slowly and walked
down to the boat. In the bottom lay
five big trout, and he smiled at the
idea of Trench having designated such
luck as only fair"
"Uncle Jerry would have to catch
q whale or dozen of 'em to think
he'd landed anything" he suggested.
The boatman grinned. gathered up
the fish and departed for the kitchen
as Trench reappeared, deposited his
short, set frame in a hammock, and
turned his little, round eyes upon the
shimmering waters of Winnepesau.
kee.
Murdock, recognizing in the politi-
clans attitude a desire 10 be lett
alone, went off through the woods. He
couldn't get out of his mind the fact
that Trench was unusually uncom.
municative of late-actually acted as
II he were worried, condition Of
mind he seldom displayed.
Trench reclined, unlighted cigar in
mouth, and continued to study the eX.
panse of water until ii was too dark
for him to see more than a hazy out
line of the two islands which lay in
front of the camp
Once or twice his glance turned
down the lake in the direction of the
little New Hampshire village, and
then, with perhaps just the shade OF
impatience in his set face, back to the
sweep of water.
He stirre finally. just as Murdoch
came out of the wood-path and as the
sound of oars heralded the approach
of rowboat. h4
Murdock halted at the edge of the
beach, and Trench stepped to his side.
The approaching boat took shape in
the dusk, and" bow ran, grating, on
to the sand. .,,
"Mr. Trench there?" came the
drawing question.
"Well?" retorted the politician.
Telephone call fer ye down ter the
post-office.'
"The devil!" growled Murdock.
Looks as If they couldn't give you
few days rest, Uncle Jerry"
Trench made no answer to Muir
docks complaint.
''Who from?" he demanded. STEP
ping forward.
Governor, .Humes. the postmaster.
said. Told me to row up. You
oughter have phone put in, Mr..
Trench" 4
J Trench pulled his little round hat
down over his stub of a nose and,
without a word to his friend, crossed
the beach and stepped into the boat.
Theilman who had brought the mes
sage stepped off. picked UP his oars,
and turned the boats bow down the
lake.
"We'll wait supper for you," called
Murdock. Harrison is still out"
Needn't" came Trench's answer,
and the boat glided away.
When it ran alongside of the little
wharf''by the village. Trench climbed
out and started for the post-office.
He arrived there to find the connec-
tion with Concord cut Off.
Hunes. the postmaster. who was
not unappreciative of the honor of
serving the man who was power in
State affairs, hurried to get the chief
executive, and at last nodded toward
the small booth half hidden among
cracker-barrels and variegated as
sortment of boxes half filled with mer.
chandise. @4fa H
"Trench." announced the politician,
as he put the receiver to his ear.
"Well, This is the Governor. What
Is it, Jerry?"
"You called me-" snapped. Trench.
"Why, no! Nothing wrong. Some
mistake-must be-"
Trench hanged the receiver on to
the hook and walked out into the
store.
"Who got that message2" he
snapped. cycling Humes angrily.