Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-03-20
CHAPTER XVII.
News of Maclean

| SHRf CH XVII.
News Of Mactean.
AS Kingsbury turned to the tele-
phone down the hall. Trench stepped
close to the portieres which covered
the doorway leading into the room in
which Cruthers waited. The politician
had heard sound, faint, but one that
reused his interest.
He parted the curtains, and slow
smile touched his thin lips.
The front window was being raised,
and as the sash went up. Cruthers,
awkward in his haste, slipped through
and onto the front veranda.
Trench dropped the curtains. Then,
as Tom came down the hall, the poll
tician turned to the telephone.
| Cruthers, not realizing that his es-
cape had been noted, hesitated a mo-
ment, shielded by the vines. His face
was study. A look of actual fear
drew deep lines about his mouth.
The man was SO palpably nervous
that he seemed without power to
| move.
| The front door was straight ahead,
and the lawyer turned in that direc.
tion. Then he wheeled and, climbing
the rail. dropped to the ground.
With deep-drawn breath he swung
| across the lawn, climbed the fence.
and lodged into the heavy shadows Of
an elm.
| His glance was on the house. Seem.
ingly reassured by lack of sound from
that quarter which would announce
that his absence had been noted, he
turned and hurried across the street.
He covered block, going toward the
city, in long strides, and again and
again he glanced back toward the lit
tie cottage.
He was more himself now. BY the
time he had put dozen blocks be-
| tween him and the scene of the trag-
edy he was IL good deal at his ease.
And yet he hurried on as if his life
| depended upon his speed.
Dead, dead!" he muttered again
and again.
| He caught street-car, and was in
the center of the city in short order.
Swinging down, he started for his Of
fee, still muttering to himself.
| Once he halted, and his head lifted
with start.
HE said there was nothing to show
my But can't take chances. l can't
i can't!" and he was on his way, al
most at run.
AS he was about to turn into the
building where his Offices were locat-
ed a man stepped out OF the hallway
above.
Cruthers barely checked smother
ed cry. Then, as he recognized the
man, he seized him by the arm and
literally dragged him after him.
Where in the name of heaven
have you been?" snapped Cruthers,
once the two wore in the lawyers
office.
where have / been? Well, I'm
here now, and l want money-see?"
There was a nasty sneer about the
fellows mouth, and Cruther's eyes
narrowed.
"Where have you been?" demanded
the lawyer again. You didn't come to
me-you didn't report"
"Well, why should 1? Didn't
Sweetwcll tell you? l went for that
package and it was gone. Sweetwell
held. me up, too. He went out to tele
phone-thought he got you."
Cruthers nodded uneasily. But you
didn't come here" he insisted.
"Say," grinncd the fellow, "why
should / come here? What's got you?
Did you thlnl, / sneaked the thing!
Say, Cruthers, what was in that darn
ed package? l ran into Jack Spinder
I'm just back in town, having got out
that very day l went for your darned
package - another jc3 - and what
Spinder said put, me wise to some
thing being up. Where does Jerr,
Trench come into this gamer"
The fellows regard was crafty, and
he searched the lawyers face as II te
read the truth in his expression.
"Trenoh? Trench Isn't in the
thing. That 10" = hastily there
isn't any game as you call it. Thai
package was of no Importance, nnth
Ing at all"
"Well. II 1t wasn't, ! wonder why
was to get 1t, pull down a nice Pile
from you, and beat 1t for parts TN
l;nown?" ln
"Wel. you cidn't get the package
,nap.cl Cruthe.s.
(To be oatinued)