Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-03-20

i
plcion OF surprise in the voice.
Hes shot himself He's hes
Just done 1t. l was in the front room.
He left note, mentioning that you
had called him on the phone"
"Sweetwell has killed himself?"
Trench put the question after one long
moment of silence.
HE has"
"What follyl phoned the man
to give him chance to get away.
Why. told him would help bim!"
"You told him what9" roared
Tom. thinking of the note left by the
dead man which, to him. admitted his
connection, in some manner. with the
stolen package.
"Kingsbury. Sweetwell has lost
money. He's made use of bank funds.
+, 1t was discovered late this afternoon,
and ] was notified. called him to
give him chance to get away and
he's killed himself. I'm coming" and
Jerry Trench hung up his receiver
| Tom, thunderstruck. at Trench's
statement. waited second. and then,
as he was about to call police head
quarters. turned from the telephone
1t wouldn't take the politician long to
reach the house. and he wondered II
1t would not be better to await
Trench's coming before doing any
thing.
AS he turned to reenter the dining
room, Cruthers. white as ghost,
came staggering out into the hall.
I'm going: / can't stay here. Oh.
this is terrible. terrible!"
Kingsbury backed slowly down the
hall and the lawyer followed him.
Under the light at the foot Of the
stairs Tom halted.
"Step into the front room, Mr..
Cruthers," he suggested In a quiet
tone. I'VE will wait until others
come, you and L.
Cruthers threw up his head and an
angry light flashed in his gray eyes.
I'VE will do what? How dare you
tell me what shall do"
Because fear you are too dazed
to realize what you are doing. Step
INTO tnls room.
Cruthers's lips drew back in an ugly
sneer and his long neck shot out.
stand aside. I'm going to leave this
house. and you might as well know it
first as last"
"YOu are quite mistaken" smiled
Tom. but there was no humor in his
face. You're going into that room.
now"
He turned like "A flash, snapped the
lock Oh the front door and dropped
The key into his pocket.
In there. Mr.. Cruthers. There
will be "A good many people here in a
very few minutes, and you and have
some things TO say before them
Cruthers drew back and one
clenched fist lifted He looked as if
he would strike and Tom watched for
the blow ready to side-step and catch
the arm if it should descend.
But suddenly the attitude of brava-
do dropped from the mans face like a
mask. His eyes, angry until that mo-
ment, lowered before the steady re-
gard of Kingsbury's, and like a sink.
ing hound he passed ahead Of Tom
into the front room.
Nov, answer, and be quick" !"
snapped Kingsbury, facing the man.
"Mr. Sweetwell is short in his ac-
counts, and that fact, knowing he was
suspected (the telephone call he got
told him that), led him to do what he
did. Is that the truth?"
'Eow do you know? How do you
l;now these things?" cried Cruthers.
THAT do is sufficient. The facts
are" making long guess. "Mr.
Sweetwell took your advice and tried
for fortune in Wall street. You
lost. he lost; the bank has suffered.
What else was done. Mr.. Cruthers, to
make good your losses?"
The older man was watching
Kingsbury's. face with a fascinated
stare. "What-what do you mean?"
he whispered.
"You didn't know the code which
was to be presented for that package,
but Sweetwell did. He told you, and
] between you, you two planned to get
hold of that money. Cruthers, 1t is as
plain as day, now. 1t takes no guess
ing to hit the nail on the head. Now,
l want to know how it happened that
you got MacLean to go to the bank,
and what you have done to him."
A crafty, sneerin3 light flashed in
the lawyers eyes.
so YOU think you have hit on the
truth. do you?" he snapped. We'll,
! you are long way from the facts. II
Sweetwell is short in his accounts,
well and good; know nothing as to
that. Tho package. that morcy, ask
Trench. the cur. He got it, I've
proof"
"And have here" drawing Tie let
ter from his pocket. "a statement
written by Mr., Gwectwell just before
he ended his l.fc. Tell me where lilac
Lean can be found. Tell me that
Cruthcrs. or Ill-l'll"- but Kings