Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-06-16
GAMBLING
WITH FATE
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Author Of "Ths Gold Cleaners: Story OF
the Cyanide Tanks, "wilby's Dan."
ellis Friend the Enemy" Rogers
Of Butte" Etc. Etc.
Copyright. 1908. by William Wallace CookI
CHAPTER XVI.

Darrell ACCUSED AS McCLOUD.
"Ah, the marshal" said Darrell, re-
Iieved to find that the officer was one
of the first to be drawn to the scene.
Il am glad you have come"
The marshal pushed farther into the
room, followed by his companion.
What's been going on here"
"Murgatroyd and | were settling an
old score" answered Darrell, pulling
his disarranged clothing into shape,
but | am glad to say that it did not
result seriously"
Where is Murgatroyd now?"
The officer had peered about the
place and had even cast a hasty glance
into the inner Office.
Il have him-safe,' Darrell smiled
srimly. who is this gentleman" he
asked, turning to the thicll-set man
with the leather case under his arm.
That's Doc Payton," replied the be-
wildered marshal.
Not the same gentleman who had
charge of the body of Sturgis?"
II am the coroner" spoke up Pay
ton, "and held the inquest"
Better and better" said Darrell.
Naturally, gentlemen you are curl
Gus. You see me follow Murgatroyd
upstairs to this place and later you
hear sounds of a scuiiie and come to
investigate What you see merely in
creases your curiosity and suspicion.
| want to talk with the two of you and
beg of you to set a couple of those
chairs upright and be seated"
AS he finished, Darrell settled him
self comfortably on one corner of the
desk. The marshal was inclined to
parley on Murgatroyd's account.
81 want to understand this thing"
he began, aggressively, and Darrell in
terrupted him with:
Precisely! The quickest way to un-
derstand it is by listening to what
wish to say. If anything has gone
wrong, | am here to be held to ac-
count"
Hes right about that, Merrick 4"
said the doctor, righting one Of the
overturned chairs and seating himself
in it. Lets hear him"
Merrick had an uncomfortable feel
ing that matters were strangely
wrong, somehow, and he picked up the
lamp and stepped apart to survey the
other room. He came back directly
and again set the lamp on the desk.
Il don't like the looks of things"
he grumbled as he sat down, land we
seem TO be leaving the whole matter
to you entire But | reckon you can
fire away"
Darrell, fearing interruption from the
vault, plunged into the subject at once.
What was the verdict of the cor
oners jury in the Sturgis case doc
tori" he asked.
ut was found that Sturgis met his
death by a bullet, 45-caliber, fired by
one Nathan Darrell, of San Francisco" :"
returned the doctor.
Were the proofs of Darrel's guilt
quite conclusiye?"
'The jury found them so.
But you, in your own mind; were
you quite convnced?"
Il don't recognize your right to ask
such question. | am the coroner and
| have repeated to you the jury's YER
dict"
In spite of this Darrell could see
plainly that Dr. Payton had an honest
doubt
Whats the use of splittin' hairs?"
said the marshal "And what has the
murder of Sturgis got to do with your
row with Murgatroyd?"
Just this, Mr. Merricll," returned
Darrell, steadily; "Murgatroyd killed
Sturgis-"
What" exploded Merricl starting
up
The doctor was less amazed, al
though not little startled
Darrell repeated his words
"Why," exclaimed the marshal.
Sturgis and Murgatroyd was friendsl"