The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-09-16
GAMBLING
WITH FATE
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Author Of 1.-THE Gold Cleaners: A Story Of
the Cyanide Tanks. Why's DAM
"His Friend tho Encmy."" Rogers
Of BUTTE Etc., Etc.
Icepyrisnt. 1905. BY William Wallace COOK
CHAPTER XVI


| lfeved to find that the officer was one
OF the first to be drawn to the scene.
Il ain glad you have conle."
The marshal pushed farther into the
room, followed by his companion.
Whats been going on here?"
"Murgatroyd and | were settling an
old score" answered Darrell, pulling
his disarranged clothing into shape,
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.
Il have him-safe," Darrell smiled
gr;mly. "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, land 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 your 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"
he began aggressively, and Darrell in
terrupted him with:
Precisely! The quickest way TO I'M
derstand it is by listening to what l
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
overturned chairs and seating himself
in it, Let's hear him."
Merricl had an uncomfortable feel
ing that matters were strangely
wrong, somehow, and he picked up tho
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 SIT down, land we
seem to be leaving tn, whole matter
to you entire. But reckon you can
| fire away"
Darrell, fearing interruption from tho
vault, plunged into the subject at once
What was the verdict of the cor
oners jury in the Sturgis case, doc
tor?'' he asked.
ut was found that Sturgis met his
death by bullet, 45-caliher, fired by
one Nathan Darrell, of San Francisco"
| returned the doctor.
Were the proofs Of barrels guilt
quite conclusive?"
"The jury found them So
"Bnt you, in your own mind; were
you quite convinced?"
II don't recognize your right to ask
| such question. ! am the coroner and
| | have repeated to you the jury's ver-
dict"
I
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.. Merrick," returned
Darrell, steadily; "Murgatroyd killed
Sturgis-"
What" exploded Merrick, starting
up.
The doctor was less amazed al
though not a little startled.
Darrell repeated his words.
"Why," exclaimed the marshal.
"Sturgis and Mnrgatroyd 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. at don't bear on Murga-
troyd and Sturgis, anyhow"
Eyes, it does" persisted Darrell;
"Murgatroyd killed Sturgis in such
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 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. Hes
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"
Talks cheap" supplemented the
marshal. at would take strong proofs
to make me believe anything like
that"
Gentlemen" resumed Darrell. 81
happen to know that Nate Darrell came
to this town on the day the murder
was committed. He came to Sandy
Bar to settle his differences with Muir
gatroyd and, directly after he reached
the camp, made straight for this Office.
| "Murgatroyd was out in the hills ard
Darrell went into that private Office
and wrote line for him. Murgatroyd
had forgotten his revolver and left 1t
behind-it was lying on the desk in
front of Darrell as he wrote his note.
Before leaving the room Darrell