Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-01-09

Ing around thinking himself rich
Say, Cruthers." with just touch of
sarcasm in the tone, will you answer
my question:"
Cruthers sat down hard and drew
deep breath.
II saw Sweetwell just as soon as I
finished talking with you. The pack.
age was delivered according to your
orders, the blank slip of paper with
FIVE pinholes in 1t and your initials at
the bottom having been presented in a
plain envelope"
Trench nodded. "I know that al.
ready" he grunted.
you've seen Sweetwell?"
81 have not. II that package is
gone, it went upon presentation of the
paper prepared as agreed upon be-
tween Sweetwell and myself when l
put it in his charge"
"Yes, yes, to be sure" nodded
Cruthers, watching Trench closely.
Suddenly he bent forward. "You
called the bank on the phone before
you talked with me?"
"Just to make sure. I knew that
package was gone before got near a
telephone"
"But-"
Trench took his cigar out of his
mouth, looked at the badly chewed
end, and showed it back between his
thin lips.
II have had things happen to me,
m Tn
my camp and said the Governor want.
ed me on the phone. Well, he didn't;
found that out when / got to the
village. / fancied it was joke or
mistake; that postmaster up there is
fool. But when l found myself
rowed out into the lake and onto an
island instead of being taken back to
my camp. l decided it wasn't"
Trench drew in his breath. He had
made very long speech for him.
when you were what?" demanded
the lawyer.
II was taken by that boatman on to
an island" reiterated the politician,
was big fire, and three masked men
held my feet 20 the blaze until told
them the kind of paper to deliver to
the bank to gel that package. You,
perhaps would have stood the roasting.
didn't-after few minutes"
"Good Heavens, Trench, do you
mean to say you were seized, carried
out into the lake, and tortured to give
up the code for that package?"
The round head nodded, the little
eyes never moved from Cruthers' face.
"That's why I'm trying to get you
to tell me what you've found out.
Frankly, Cruthers, l don't give two
cents for your fifty thousand. No
more, as told you when you came to
me, do care whether the Midweather
Water company grabs what it's after
or not. But I do care for that roast
ing l got. Some one of your people
may, be at the bottom of 1t. Perhaps
you are"
"What?" Cruthers. his gray hair
actually standing on end, was out of
his chair. the red of anger mounting
to his cheeks.
"Sit down." growled Trench.
Cant you stand anything? Or does
the shoe fit SO tight" f'
what are you saying. man? Do
you mean to-"
u mean that your people know that
they raised fifty to see their bill
through. You know; perhaps some
one In this office OF yours knew 1t.
nf hot lot soly
the one Or ones who put me before the
fire and got my initials to a piece of
paper. l want to land that man or
men. and" The politicians fist,
brought down gently upon the arm of
his chair, ended his sentence
-Cruthers sank back. his lips wide
apart. his breath coming in short
gasps
Certainly not. They've had pack
ages of mine before, and they didn't
know what was in them and they
didn't ask; they just took them, kept
them. and handed them over, perhaps
after I'd split the one package up
into lots OF little ones, to whoever
called for themr-witb the proper
credentials" -,,t,ei
''Yes. yes" nodded Cruthers. his
troubled frown increasing.
"Well?" came the question again.
"But | didn't know the code you
we're using. my people didn't"
mo one did until told 1t. my
feet baking" snapped Trench.
Cruthers looked at his caller. and
for the first time he seemed able to
get away from the enormty OF the
loss and appreciate just how the theft
had been carried out.
but a reporter got 1t! The cashier
recalled him--knew him In fact"
Trench leaned forward. "A re.
porter?"
For the Boston News. MacLean.
Richard MacLean."
Trench looked at Cruthers through
and through for one long second.
"Dick MacLean." he said. but his