Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-06-04
CHATTER XVI.
BARREL AccrsEp As MccLoup,

BARREL ACCUSED As McCLOUD.
"Ah, the marshal said Darrell, re-
lieved to find that the officer was one
81 the first to be drawn to the scene.
4 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
ais disarranged clothing into shape,
but l am glad to say that 1t did not
result seriously
Where is Murgatroyd now?''
The officer had peered about the
place and had even cast hasty glance
INTO the inner office
Il have him-safe.' Darrell smiled
grimly. who is this gentleman" he
asked, turning TO the thick-set man
with the leather case under his arm.
That's Doc Payton, !" replied the be-
wildered marshal
mot 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 scuffie and come to
investigate. What you see merely in
creases yoair curiosity and suspicion
want to talk with the two Of You and
beg of you to set 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.
Il want to understand this thing"
be 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,"
said the doctor, righting one of the
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.
II 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. Bat reckon you can
fire away
Darrell, fearing interruption from the
vault, plunged into the subject at once.
"What was the verdict of the corr
oner's jury In the Sturgis case, doc
tori" he asked.
1T was found that Sturgis met his
death by bullet, 45-caIiber, fired by
one Nathan Darrell, of San Francisco"
returned the doctor.
"Were the proofs of barrels guilt
quite conclusive?"
1.-THE jury found them SO"
But you, in your own mind; were
you quite convinced?"
IT 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?"
Gust this, Mr.. Merrick," returned
Darrell, steadily; "Murgatroyd killed
Eturgis-"
What" exploded Merrick. starting
up.
The doctor was less amazed, al
though not little startled.
Darrell repeated his words.
why" exclaimed the marshal.
"Sturgis and Murgatroyd was friends!"
"Murgatroyd would have no motive"
added the doctor.
"Murgatroyd and Darrell were not
friends" said Darrell.
That's no news" came from the
marshal. 1T don't bear on Murga-
troyd and Sturgis, anyhow"
Eyes, it does" persisted Darrell;
.Murgatroyd killed Sturgis in such a
way that they would hang Darrell for
It,"
"Preposterous!" declared DR.. Pay
ton.
You're FOOL averred the marshal,
frankly. "Do you think Murgatroyd
would shoot a friend down in cold
blood just for the sake of having OAR
rel hung?"
did you ever know Murgatroyd to
make play that wasn't cruel, crafty
and safe?" asked Darrell. He's
snake and would trail his Shiny length
over any friendship for the sake OF
getting his fangs into an enemy's
throat"
BE reasonable, young man." said
the doctor, impatiently, "be reason,
able"