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I(,V754V I,' l .- t IJLV V. ts. M 'I ,' If "" Mysterious MacLean BY T. ELDftlGE' Copyright The Frank A. Munsey Co. His face was ashen. " Great rings bung under his eyes, and be looked aa If be had 'had Utile sleep the night before. Trench motioned toward chairs find faced the three men. "Gentlemen, he announced, "I'm going to do a little explaining. There are several things (lint can be dealt with In detail now. I'll speak or what has happened and why, and alio tell .you just what Mr. Crutbers Is going to do." , The lawyer shot's sharp look at -Trench. While bis attitude was plain ly sullen there was a hopeless expres sion In bis eyes. He bad every ap pearance of a beaten man from whom all thought of fight had passed. "First," went on Trench, dropping .Into a chair by the desk, "I want to 'say that I had Mr. Crutbers arrested last nigbtlJust as be was about to 'leave town." "You did," snarled Crutbers, break ing tils hiience suddenly. "Let me tell you that jou'll pay for what you've done and for stealing that money!" Trench brushed the threat aside with a slight gesture and a faint smile. "Yes," ho admitted calmly, "I got the money. 1 bad It taken from the bank." Kingsbury uttered an exclamation. "Ob, there were reasons;" binilod Trench. "To go back to the begin ning. That package was turned oer fto Sweetwell to keep for me. He and (I alone knew the code word which was 'to be used when I seht for it, Mr; 'CrutbeiH and t alone knew what was In it. Mr, Cruthers had been specu lating on the Htocl; niaikct for some, II mo. He Induced Sweetwe) to do tbe same thing, and Sweetwell, not hav- Ing the money, used funds belonging a the bank. The time came when hone speculations turned out badly. "Grulhu-8" turning on the law. ,1r" '. "J'ou nn,l ..- Sweetwell needed money? nr.d you.'knowing where fifty thousand dollars lay, persuaded Sweetwell to tell you the code word The Thompson-Hudson Company's (TOLEDO, OHIO) Ninth Anniversary Sale Starts Thursday, May First There Will be 15 Days of Values Extraordinary Thousands of dollars worth of New, Fresh Merchandise have been bought especially for this event at the most favorable i ' prices known within the past two years. Through price concessions by the manufacturer s and the price concessions that we, ourselves, have made, By Actual Figures, More Than Fifty Thousand Dollars Will be Distributed Among Our Customers by the Saving Opportunities of This Sale wnich would get the pacirage irom tne bank. You two didn't dare steal the package outright, but thought to do tbe same thing in a way that would make it appear I had taken it. With the money thus obtained you expect ed to cover margins, while Sweetwell hoped to make good the amount be had taken from the bank. I learned part of your plans from a clerk in the bank who overheard you two talking, and partly from letters found in your f office and Sweetwell's home." "It's a lie!" snarled Cruthers, but the tone in which he uttered tbe words was enough to prove Trench bad hit the truth. Without noticing the interruption the politician went on: "When I heard what was planned I simply moved and beat you to it! I got the package first. I also started a quiet Investigation to find out why you and Sweetwell should need such a sum of money. Then I learned of your stock market transactions; of how you and Sweetwell bad been seen together a great deal, and I had men put to work on the bank's books, "That woik was done at night. Tbe instant I was told what the shortage amounted to I took a liberty. I've al ways liked Sweetwell, who was sin ned against more than ho sinned, and I telephoned him last night to get out of town. I knew the bank couldn't get a cent back by arresting him, and I hoped he'd be able to slip away. In Ktead, be felt, the.end bad come and did as he did " Trench .paused a second. His cigar shifted to, the other corner of bis mouth. "Tha, " bo resumed slowly, "ex plains how Sweetwell came to take bis own life. Now for my reasons for having the money taken from tbe bank, as I did. You understand" to MacLean' and -Kingsbury "that I sent for it to keep It out of this man's hands.. The, method employed was, followed for the reason that I did not want Mr Cruttyern to know where it had tone. I hoped to give, hltu some uneasy moments, wondering who had it; and also, in the hunt for it. tu bring about a situation where ne would be shown up, just as he has been." "Shown up?" snarled Cruthers. "You can make up any tale to your liking." Again Trench disregarded the inter ruption. "What I did was just this. I had a man phone to the lllage below my camp saying the governor wanted to talk with me. Then I sent a man back to my camp, after answering that call, saying I had left for Concord. You bee I wanted the stage set so it would appear, when Mr. Cruthers came to investigate for I was quite bure he would suspect I had the package as if I had been shanghaied and forced to give up the cade word. I take the credit that what I did rather backed up the story I told about having my feet roaeted. The facts are: 1 sent a man by the name of Bancock to Concord with a note containing tbe code word. He was told to send some one to tbe bank who would not be known as one of my men. He was to do other tbings for me, but to see that tbe man who got tbe package delivered It to another man I sent down on the train. Now all this followed as I planned, and in such a way that Mr. Cruthers was never able to trace the bands through which the package passed back to me." The lawyer shot a look of malice at Trench. "So far so good," roused Trench. "If another had not taken a hand In affairs a good ileal th.it has bothered us all would never have happened. Danroi'k Just happened to select Mac Lean to go in the hank, meeting him on the train. When h" did so he had no puipose to proceed as he did. ,Uut when he came to think how he might profit by my commission and he Is always looking for the ehanco to pull down easy money it occurred to him (hat ho would woik a little racket on his own booh. "He 'realized tho package must be of considerable value, but didn't know what was In it. He figured that' I would lie Kome worried it the one who went to tho hank and got it disap peared. He also fannied ao that per son was Dick I'd give up a good-sized sum for his release. He had two rea1 t.onn for-sueh nn opinion. Qne because, hr I've said, Dick bud been to the bank: the other because he knew bow Edith and Dick regarded each other. "You see, it seemed a very oppor tune time, under the circumstances; for him to get his Innings. So he hod llentmere get you, Dick, out to the Dfwey place, and there you were sand-bagged ttnd-wrwd-ogr-Iha just learned all this. Before I bad an idea, Cruthers, that you bad made MacLean a prisoner and were trying to force him to tell you what he bad done with the money. Not being certain, I wasn't able to be frank with you, Kingsbury." "And you got the facts how?" questioned Tom. "Bancock has been around town pretending to bunt for Dick. But all the time I was being told that it I -put up five thousand dollars Dick would be released. To make that threat seem more real, I was assured that if I re fused I'd be manhandled myself and Spinder has taken pot-shots at me in an effort to make good the bluff. Once he shot too straighth. "However, I got hold of Bancock last night and, by bluffing, I broke him down. I sent him up to the lake, to let jou go, Dick; and I told him and Rentmere 'to shake the dust of Con cord from their feet for once and all time." "I got free before he arrived," ex plained MacLean. Trench nodded. "Now that explains everything, I fancy, except what Mr. Cruthers is going to do." The lawyer straightened with tho words. Until now he had watched Trench from under lowered brows a sullen scowl on bis face. MacLean and Kingsbury glanced at the man. "Mr. Cruthers," went on Trench, "Induced Sweetwell to go in for the market. The bank has lost a large sum through the money taken for that purpose, and Mr. Crutbers shared in the use of the money Sweetwell" and Trench's voice swung low 'Is beyond making restoration, and be would not have been' able had he lived. Mr. Cruthers is going to make good the loss to tbe bank." Crutbers was on bis feet, white and defiant. "You think you have been smart," he Bnarled, "but let me tell you that you've tricked me, and that's as far as you'll go. If "Sweetwell robbed the bank, it's nothing to me, for I know nothing about it. As for making good any money, I'll see you In hades first!" Trench did not move. His eyes' lifted, however., and be regarded witb quiet calmness the angry, face. "Mr, Crutbers la going to make good the money tbe bank has. lost," be rearinbiinced. Tat a long' moment, during which, tbe younger menvwatched with check ed bieath, these two. face each other. Trench was calm, unmoved only,. bis small eyes .held a look that backed' ,m liilil..ViV.t').., ' 1 Cruthers studied those eyes aa a1 bird might watch the serpent. Sud denly be straightened, flung his two iraaBrTrtoveisraaTnrorTttnTrinio tbe chair by the table. "My God!" be moaned. -ij-qvm "'S'-wivis-'. if j- i r . .J i ' i(t 1 ) t' I -, "Mr. Cruthers is going to make good the money," spoke Trench then, "because neither be nor tbe bank de sire any publicity in this matter." "I haven't got it," moaned Cruthers. Trench reached under the desk, pro duced a leather bag and placed It at Cruthers hand. "There is the bag you had when the police ai rested ou last night," he suggested. "In that jou were taking with you a large number of securities. Here is a list of the exact amount the bank wants. Just endorse over to the bank sufficient securities to- make good that sum." Cruthers sat straight. "You've looked through my per sonal papers?" he cried. "Tbe police alwas search a prison er and go oer his effects," reminded Trench. For an instant Cruthers fought against the inevitable. In a burst of anger, stirred by the way in which he bad been beaten and trapped, he raged and fumed at Trench's demand But in tbe end he gave In, became more calm, and with a hopeless, de feated look upon his face executed tbe necessary documents. When the last was signed Trench arose. "The detective who brought 700 "here has left, Mr. Cruthers. You are free to go, but may I suggest that Concord is not a good place for you to continue in practise?" Cruthers got to his feet and seemed 'about to speak. Instead, his teeth ,'snapped together, and he seized his ,bag containing tbe remainder of his Property. 'Without a word he walked from the room. ' MacLean and Kingsbury were press 'Ing Trench with questions the instant tbe door closed. "Good Heavens!" moaned Uncle Jerry. "What an awful lot of talking I've done! Dick, I'm sorry you got dragged Into this; sorry you had to "suffer as you did. Kingsbury, I'm obliged for all you've done." "Little enough," smiled Tom. "More than any of us could do, try as we would. I've not had a chance to talk with Spinder, but I shall be fore noon. I'll answer for him that (he'U sign an agreement not to contest an action for divorce." "Then his wife will leave himT demanded, Tom. . . ,; Trench nodded. Xi "You got her to make the more none of us could bring about It's a relief a relief. But here, you two! There Is some one in the garden who Svanta to thank some one, and there la Home one In tbe music rooas who grants to say how glad she .Vs. to.a4e,i fome one sare ana sound." Aner uncit Jerry,, twisting, bis cigar,. threw open the library door., The two passed out, and Trench, a queer ijgbt in bis eyes, walked back rl . ,....' ,. ad.....A..,,c . !..... i..fi..,.,,'1.1i...l!.'i.j . . i '-t -iv: ' i f . ... ijK.&,,'sl f' fyw"vaj51rit.Y. ivy- '1 7 - f - , p 3- l 'ip :, : ii i a iu.i5 i ). and Bat down. For half an hour he did nothing but stare at the celling and turn bis cigar. Then suddenly he got up, went tpto tbe ball, cleared his throat, and spoke at the door to tbe music-room. Edith appeared. "Good Lord!" groaned Uncle Jerry. "There is no need for me to say more than 1 want breakfast! Glad to know jou nephew," he called to MacLean. Looking younger, by ten years,' t Trench walked onto tbe veranda. He went through the garden, making a good deal of noise about bis move ments, and suddenly stopped. "Breakfast needs two more to fill the table," he called. Kingsbury and Marjory appeared from the summer-house. "Nice to be well paid, isn't it?" he suggested, with a broad smile. "Law yers have an awful way of demand ing big fees, Marjory. Snetlmes they deserve all they get more, too; but I fancy this time Say, will you two young people come in and stop staring at me? I'm old; I need food' to keep me going." He swung and went straight for the bouse. Wafted back came a growl, perhaps more of a chuckle. "Past the stage when I can live on just love. Food, food. I -want break fast." And Uncle Jerry went on, his cigar set jauntily in one corner of bis mouth. (THE END.) If a mule and a horse are hitched to the same wagon the mule looks as meek as any married man. Yet a man hardly ever stnikes a happy vein in tbe vicinity of his fun ny bone. REST YOUR EYES Your vision may be fairly good and yet glasses worn temporarily will afford your eyes relief and comfort,. Let 'us make up a pair of "rest" glasses" for you. m L. BECKMAN C8. 1, New Ijtta Mh 32a'8T. ciiAnrffr: TOLEDO, OHIO bsssbbIbbsbbsbV. ' bs55bbbbbbbs wJSr lSSflBSi sBBsBHBaV Bv BbBbVIIIb i- 41 d rJS.ff': irtnlTlt'r. it A11 111 'I, 1 -1 , -"- - r - TIT " -. -Tf i i Mg I iih . n i 1 IW