Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
BARRELS DOUBLE.

BARRELS DOUBLE.
A bomb. suddenly exploded in the
midst Of those in the Office. could not
have caused greater CONSERVATION than
the furious words Of Murgatroyd. The
ease had been proved against Murga-
troyd, then shifted to McCloud, and
now McCloud was said to be Darrell
and Darrell was known to be innO-
cent.
Merrick, as soon as he had recovered
himself little, gave vent to a hollow
groan. Lenyard stared at Darrell like
one in a trance.
Gentlemen" said Darrell, who was
the first to speak, ''if Mr.. Merrick will
put the irons on Murgatroyd, we will
make him prove what he says"
Merrick would not leave barrels
side. but tossed the handouts to Glenn.
Snap 'em onto him. Glenn" said
he. "I'll stay right here until we can
get head and tail to this Chinese puz-
zle. Different things have been hap
pening so quick that I'm blamed If I
know whether I'm afoot OF horseback.
Mebby Sturgis wasn't killed at all; and
If he was, here's Doc and me left yet.
I'm expecting some one to blow in and
prove that we did It"
In some trepidation, Jim Glenn
snapped the bracelets about his en-
ployer's wrists. Murgatroyd was then
seated near the light and Merrick
handed one of his revolvers to Len
yard.
Get close to him." said the mar
shall, land If he makes n move to bolt,
| shoot him"
Like one in a dream Lenyard took
| the revolver and placed himself at MUIR
gatroyd's side. Murgatroyd was deep
| ly perplexed. Darrell himself seemed
to be the only one in the Office who
had kept his head.
"You say am N tie Darrell, Murga-
troyd," said he. "How can you prove
it?"
Hold up your left hand" said Muir
gatroyd, there, in the lights"
Darrell did so.
anyone who knows Darrell" went
on Murgatroyd, twill know that ring.
There isn't another like it in the
| United States.
'Tt's-it's barrels ring" gasped Len
yard 81 saw it that night in Hawk
bills when Darrell played that game
for me-"
He took half-step towards Darrell,
his face bloodless and his eyes bright.
Watch your man, Lenyard," said
the marshal gruffly.
"Keep back, Roy" said DR.. Payton.
"This man may be McCloud, after all
The testimony of the ring is not suffi-
cient. 1t may have been stolen"
"Then," said Darrell calmly, ''let me
shield McCloud's reputation to the ex-
tent of saying the ring was not stolen
1t is, perhaps, the only ring of its kind
in the United States, and it has moi
been out of my possession during the
last six years"
"Then you are Nate DARRELL" asked
Lenyard huskily.
Eyes"
This avowal sent the marshal off OIL
: another tack.
B"Sure he says he's Darrell. Why
not? AS McCloud he stands convicted
of the murder of Sturgis. Under those
circumstances most anyone would
rather be Darrell than McCloud
Well have to have better proof thar
the ring. Murgatroyd knows the ring
and Lenyard seems to; but the balance
of us don't"
; "Supposing you are Darrell" sale
Payton, why did you assume that dis
! guise?"
'It was convenient" answered Oar
! rel; ''and besides, directly after tina
, explosion, it was hardly safe for me tt
= go anywhere as my true self"
How did you escape the giant pow
der?"
Darrell eased their minds in this re
y spect.
"Jupiter!" muttered the marshal
wagging his head. 'eThat's too mirac
lous to be true"
: Now tell us how you came to pos
as McCloud," Said Payton.
a Darrell did so, at length, and on hi
4 auditors the wonder grew. The mar
u shall was derisive in his unbelief.
"Now, look" said he. expatiatint
|. "Here goes OF powder explosion, on
y of which Mr., Man, there, is snaked b
2. the lines and bits Of the runawa
!, bronks. That's. q hard one to tax
down. but 1t amt the hardest He