Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-01-23

of words; but nevertheless the recital
left the lawyer staring at the man be.
fore him as If he questioned his own
ears.
"Well?" came that same word that
Trench was so often using.
ITS out of the question. it can't be
true!" urged Kingsbury.
ut is true. The facts are straight.
Want to see my blistered feet?"
The suggestion of dry humor in the
question was lost upon Kingsbury.
do on mean to sit there and tell
me that Dick MacLean tortured you
on that island?"
He was at my camp. Two OF my
friends have told me that"
"Then how did he get that paper?"
"He left and crossed the lake on
the early morning boat, came straight
to Concord, and little after noon
went to the bank. Find him, and he'll
tell you what you want to know
perhaps"
What have you done, what move
have you made to find him?" de-
manded Tom.
"I've men hunting. Not the police,
1t isn't an affair they need meddle
with, but men on whom | can de.
pend I've got MacLean's move.
ments down pat. He went to the
bank, got the package, hurried to the
railroad station and then-shall we
say, he decided tc linger here while
longer? = went back up town. He
was here, at this house, at dusk. He
left, and after that"
"You know nothing?" as Trench
shrugged.
II know nothing yet. Perhaps
you'll be able to tell me the rest by
morning"
There was suggestion in the
words that Tom did not fail to note.
What do you mean by that?" he
challenged.
Trench shrugged again. "You
said you'd come to get at the truth
of the affair thought it might not
take you such a great WHILE"
Kingsbury's cheeks paled just the
least bit "You mean that | know
more than care to say: Do you
think that? Is that the reason for
your note to Mr.. Franklin? You mean
to insinuate that fifty thousand dollars
is big enough sum to tempt Mac
Lean and his friends, including N.Y.
self, to rob you? Is that what you
are trying to hint at what your round
about talk?"
Trench seemed not to note the
anger in the lawyers tone. His little
round eyes blinked trifle faster, that
was all.
I'm saying nothing, I'm saving
wood. want that money, l want Mac
Lean. Turn him over to me. No harm,
no publicity will follow-if-I-get
my money"
Kingsbury leaped to his feet
"You've answered me. You mean
just what l said. All right, look at
it that way if you please. What was
this money? Fifty thousand dollars
is a pretty big sum to tie up in brown
paper and leave at bank to be turn
ed over to any one who might call.
What was it there for? That's easy
to guess. Some of your dirty work,
to be used to buy votes, to twist the
will of the people SO that the word
Legislature in this State, because of
men like you, is a mockery and
farcei
IF MacLean did take it, and | say
that knowing he didn't, it's d sight
better off in his hands, or the hands
of any one else, than left to be used
as you'd use it!
Trench studied the flushed face of
the younger man as if there were abb
solutely nothing personal in the
hastily flung words.
"I've had more people get eXited
over this thing than over anything
else l ever had hand in"
Kingsbury started, got a sudden
control of his temper, and sat down.
"Mr. Trench, want to get the facts.
MacLean is my friend; your charge is
serious. I'm going to clear him. Give
me all tie details"
"For example?" as if but moment
before the conversation had not been
on the verge of a rupture.
who put that money INTO your
hands?"
Trench took fully half minute to
answer, his cigar moving uneasily all
tho time.
'That is side of the matter I am
not going to say IA word about.
You've done some tall guessing. and
you've called some names. Perhaps
you are bit right about this buying
and selling of votes. The willing
ness of men to sell makes men like
me a necessary evil. If that's what we
are.
"However, I'm no moralist, and
I'm not drawing any brief in my de-
fense. .on't need to; it wouldn't
do any good. But I'm not leading any
one else up to the roasting pan seem