Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-05-28

called his furtive wiping of the dishes
at the Half Way house and wondered
to note that even then, as he lay in the
bunk, his face was clearly shaven and
his hair neatly brushed.
There were no marks of violence on
McCloud's person and it must be that
he had taken something to hurry him
self out of the world His burden of
guilt had been greater than he could
bear and he had made his preparations
and left life like a gentleman.
In the midst of his meal, Darrell
heard the impatient whinnying of the
horse. The animal was probably in
need of water and Darrell went out at
once, pulled up the picket-pin and led
the horse to the creek. Then, after
seeking out a fresh range, he drove
the pin into the ground once more
and returned to the house.
A bold expedient had suggested itself
to Darrell. Sweeping the uneaten food
aside he picked up the diary and
opened it.
A third of the leaves were gone, hay-
ing been torn raggedly from the book
and undoubtedly destroyed. On the
remaining leaves there was not a scrap
of writing.
A sigh of disap continent escaped the
man and he laid down the book
and drew the little heap of letters in
front of him. Suddenly he paused.
What right had he to read that cor
respondence? He boasted of being
honest and honorable; was there any
thing honest or honorable in reading
another's letters, even though that
other were dead:
= 1t was fine point and it is to OAR
reps credit that it occurred to him.
There is time, however, when neces.
sity makes its own laws and Darrell,
with half-apologetic look in the di-
rection of the bunk, was soon deep In
the matter before him.
CHAPTER VIII.
Darrell AND THE LETTERS OF
JUNIUS.
First, Darrell arranged the letters in
sequence according to their dates.
Then he began his perusal with the
earliest, following through each one
down to the last
The most frequent writer was one
Lawrence Ormsby whose name was as
often abbreviated to "Lorry" or IL.
o." as signed in full He appeared to
be devoted friend of McCloud's.
The very first letter was from Orms-
by, bore date at New York and the
envelope showed it had reached Nc
Cloud in ST. Paul. Part of it was
especially significant
- we still have faith in you,
Junius, for God knows how much those
unfortunate spells, over which you have
no control, has helped in your undoing.
1t Is not so hard to live down the past
Other men have done worse and have
retrieved themselves. Simply renounce
all intercourse with this man who has
been your ruin. That is the first and
most important step. Then, If there is
anything holy for you on earth or above
IL, swear by that never to stake another
dollar a. play.
You say this man has a strange In
nuence over you-a weird and malign
power which you cannot fight against
and that 1t is impossible for you to keep
away from him. Nonsense! Brace UP.
my boy, and be a man. If you cannot do
this for yourself, do it for the sake OF
your family, for love of the girl who is
to link her fate with yours. If all these
influences are powerless to sway you,
then certainly you must go your own
course and forfeit the esteem of all who
know you, including that of your friend.
LORRY.
Unfortunate spells" The words