Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-03

his disarrangen clothing into snapt,
"but l 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 hasty glance
into the inner Office.
81 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?"
81 am the coroner" spoke up Pay
ton, land held the inquest" N
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 scufIle and come tc
investigate. What you see merely in
creases your curiosity and suspicion
l 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 I'M
derstand it is by listening to what /
wish to say. If anything has gone
wrong, l am here to be held to &C
count"
Hes right about that, Merrick,"
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.
81 don't like the looks of things"
he grumbled as he sat down, land we
seem to be leaving Che whole matter
to you entire. But 1 reckon you can
fire away"
Darrell fearing interruption from the
vault, plunged into the subject at once
what was the verdict of the cor
tor?" he asked.
at was found that Sturgis met his
death by bullet, 45-caliber, fired by
one Nathan Darrell, of San Francisco"
returned the doctor
Were the proofs of barrels guilt
quite conclusive?"
"The jury found them So"
But you, in your own mind; were
you quite convinced"
81 don't recognize your right to ask
such a question | am the coroner and
l 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
Sturgis-"
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!"
"Margatroyd would have no motive"
! added the doctor.
"Murgatroyd and Darrell were not
friends" said Darrell.
That's no news" came from the
marshal. at 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."
J "Preposterous!" declared DR.. Pay
ton.
you're a 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 tc
make a play that wasn't cruel, crafty
and safe?" asked Darrell. Hes g
snake and would trail his Shiny length
over any friendship for the sake Of
getting his fangs into an enemy''
throat"
BE reasonable, young man." sale