Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-17
CHAPTER XIX.


shouts from the dance-hall were waited
to the group in the gamblers Office.
In the presence of suffering like Nc
Clouds the festive sounds we're incon-
gruous and brutal.
"Did you know this all the time,
Roy?" asked Payton, in a low tone.
Il did not know he was McCloud,"
answered the young man. HE was In
a stupor, apparently, and we could get
little out OF him. We thought he was
Nate Darrell"
Dr.. Lenyard ran to Darrell and took him
by the hands.
"How wonderfully this has come
about, Mr.. Darrell" he went on, il
q voice full of emotion. Il believed in
you all the time and did what | could
to establish your innocence, but it We.
not until this afternoon that the cards
were placed in my hands that helped
me win this game for you. McCloud
walked into camp and Glenn was
among the first to see him. Glenn
thought he was you, and took him to
his own lodgings and made him a!
comfortable as possible, then came tC
me, knowing | was about the only
friend Nate Darrell had in the camp.
1--WE could get nothing out of Nc
Cloud and | also thought he was your
self. Your arrival on the Anaconda
stage-you, whom l thought to be Nc
Cloud-all but carried me off my feet.
I followed you covertly and arranged
for DR.. Payton and the marshal to
wait in front of Kaliper's after you
and Murgatroyd had come up here.
"Glenn had told me-spurred to re-
morse at sight of the man we thought
to be you-of his discoveries here on
the night of the murder. 1t was our
intention to confront you and Murga-
troyd with Darrell and do what we
could to get the whole truth. God
knows, Darrell. bow much this moment
means to me>%
A mist was In the young mans eyes.
He aVerted his face and would have
with drawn his hands had not Darrell
chung to them.
"And / know, for the first time," re-
turned Darrell with feeling, "the worth
OF a true friendship"
He shook the young mans hands
and released them. Turning to the
doctor and the marshal he added:
Gentlemen, you have doubted my
words"
"Confine that remark to Merrick,"
broke in the doctor; 81 was more than
half convinced all the time"
Thank you" said Darrell. There
is an opportunity, now, to prove every
thing have said. AS to the explo-
sion on the War Eagle trail, the mere
fact that l am here is evidence that
that part of it is true"
Darrell sat down and all eyes were
fixed on McCloud. Murgatroyd leaned
cantly at the ceiling.
Merrick paid little attention to OAR
rel. Passing over to McCloud he
raised his head and endeavored to
press a flask of liquor to his lips.
With sudden strength, McCloud
pushed the flash aside.
81 don't want that" he said huskily
whisky and cards have been the ruin
of me-whisky, and cards and-and
Murgatroyd."
Murgatroyd dropped his eyes from
the ceiling and fixed them on McClouG
with a sneering smile.
Keep your devilish looks off o.
met" muttered McClOud, in a passion
"Take that man away" he went on
addressing the others, his voice culver
ing with excitement.
Murgatroyd was not taken away bu
Payton drew his chair in front if him
You say that you are Junius Nc
Cloud?" said the doctor.
Eyes"
"Do you know Jack Sturgis?"
mo"
"You know he was murdered?"
TITS that that has haunted me an,
made life a hell for the last month,
was the signing, helpless response.
"You were in these rooms on tn
night the murder was cOmmitted%
81 was in that private room, there
with Murgatroyd, the night Sturgi
was shot" He fiuttered one han
toward the other apartment
"Are you willing to tell us every
thing. here and now, Mr.. McCloud, @
would you like to consult lawye
nrst?"
81 want no lawyers" said McClouC
decisively, and If everything Is nc
told now 1t may never be-"
"Get pen and paper. Lenyard." sal
AIerrick. "and sit at the desk"
That's right" said Payton. TAX
down everything. Roy"