Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-05-26
GAMBLING
WITH FATE
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Author OF "The Gold Cleaners: A Story OF
the CYANIDE Tanks" "Wilbys Dan,"
ellis Friend the Enemy Rogers
OF Butte" Etc, Etc.
Copyright. 1898. by William Wallace Cookl
CHAPTER x.


DARREL AGAIN AT THE HALE WAY
HOUSE.
Darrell tarried for breakfast at the
Half Way house. Here he had the
first opportunity of testing the eff
fectiveness of his disguise.
The shrinking personality of the
man in corduroys was well assumed.
In dismountiDg at the stable, Jimmie.
the hostler, wished him a brusque
''howdy," then averted his face,
winked at a friend standing near by
and thrust his tongue in his cheek.
Dislike was written large in the pro-
prietor's face when Darrell entered the
Office. Darrell gave small heed TO this
and dropped into a chair with his eyes
on second man who happened to be
in the room at that moment.
This man was none other than the
youth whose money Darrell had saved
at Hawkbill's and who had so well re-
paid the debt. The young mans keen
glance swept the fugitive then turned
away without the slightest sign of rec
ognition.
V
last night" said the proprietor, resum-
ing his conversation with the young
man.
with the intention of investigating
the explosion?"
81 reckon that's it. He wants 10
make out whether the Sandy Bar chapg
told the facts or jest rung in q YER
sion of the 'Rabian Nights onto him !"
1--WE been up the trail and looked
over the ground and there can't be
the slightest doubt of what happened 4"
There was an undertone of regret and
sadness in the young mans voice.
Here's the pint" returned the pro-
prietor, argumentatively. rs it pos
sible TO snake a man off'n the earth
in that away"
Five hundred pounds of dyna-
mite
81 know about that There amt. no
question in my mind but that that
much giant powder 'u'd lay out a rigi-
ment, but here: would it wipe out the
remains of Il regiment, or of even one
man? 1t don't seem sensible, not ter
me-"
There wasn't a trace of the wagon
left; and if the wagon was sporged
out SO effectually why not Darrel?'
1t was the same argument used by
Cliff and it was unanswerable.
We'll" was the dogged answer "I'll
alters have my doubts, anyways. One
things sure: Uncle Alb was in luck
ter git jounced out'n the wagon be-
ft<zH
luck ter break away from the wagon
an git out o. range. The sheriff is
comm back this afternoon an then
maybe we'll know more. Wonder who
gets Murgatroyd's thousand dollars?"
"It isn't likely that any cne will get
it."
Hardly, that's a fact. 1t was quick
action, don't ye think?" The propri-
etor laughed jestingly. THE Sandy
Bar boys were saved a bad job that
might have looked ugly for them be-
fore they got through"
They'd have lynched Darrell if they
had caught him.
wouldn't they, though? They'd
have hung him higher'n Haman an,
tween you an me, it would have been
good enough fer i'm"
That's where you're wrong" said
the youth, warmly; mo mob ever yet
had moral right to lynch man"
'Oh, shucks!'
And if the Sandy Bar boys had been
able to carry out their lawless de-
signs they'd have hung a man whose
guilt had YET to be proved"
You're plum crazy" declared the
proprietor.
Where the discussion would have
led the two is problematical. Just then
the Chinaman walked through the Of
1ice with his song.