The Newark journal., 1905-03-31
seas$Fsg4 ..... ..44 Continued from last wcek)
CHAPTER XVIII. DARRELL $ DOUBLE.

A bomb. suddenly exploded in the midst of those in the office, could not have caused greater c0nsternation than the furious words of Murgatroyd. The ease had been proved against Murga- troyd, then shifted to McCloud. and now MeCloud was said to be Darrel and Darrel was known 10 be inno- cent
 Merrick as soon as he had recovered himself little, gave vent 10 hollow groan. Lenyard stared at Darrel like one in trance.
 Gentlemen. said Darrel. who was the first 10 speak, If Mir. Merrick will put the irons on Murgatroyd. We will make him prove what he says"
 Merrick would not leave Darrel's side, but tossed the handcuffs to Glenn
 Snap 'em onto him. Glenn, said he. "I'n stay right here until we can get head and tail to this Chinese pug gle Different things have been hap pening so quick that I'm blamed if know whether I'm afoot or horseback Mebby Sturgis wasn't killed at all. and If he was, here's Doc and me left yet
 
 prove that we did it.
 In some trepidation Jim Glenn snapped the bracelets about his em- ployer's wrists Murgatroyd was then seated near the light and Merrick handed one of his revolvers to Len yard.
 Get close 10 him" said the mar shal. and if he makes a move to bolt, shoot him"
 Like one in dream Lenyard took the revolver and placed himself at Mur- gatroyd's side. Murgatroyd was deep ly perplexed Darrel himself seemed to be the only one Tn the office who had kept his head.
 You say am Nate Darrel, Murga- troyd, said he. How can you prove it?"
 Hold up your left hand" said Mur- satroyd, there, in the lights"
 Darrel did SO
 Anyone who knows Darrel." went on Mureatroyd. will know that ring There isn't another like it in the United States.
 "Its-its Barrels ring" gasped Len yard T saw il that night in Hawk bills when D&rrel played that game for me -
 He took a half-step towards Darrel, his face bloodless and his eyes bright.
 Watch your man. Lenyard" said the marshal srutly
 Keep back. Roy said Dr. Payton. This man may be McCloud, after all. The testimony of the ring is not suffi- cient Ii may have been stolen
 Then" said Darrel calmly, let me shield McCloud's reputation to the eX- tent of saving the ring was not stolen. It is, perhaps. the only ring of it's kind in the United States, and it has not been out of my possession during the last six years.
 Then you are Nate Darrel?' asked Lenyard huskily.
 Yes.
 This ayowal sent the marshal off on another tack.
 Sure he says he's Darrel. Wht not? As MeCloud he stands convicted of the murder of Snrgis. Under those circumstances most anyone would rather be Darrel than MeCloud We'll have to have better proof than the ring Murgatroyd knows the ring, and Lenyard seems to; but the balance of us don't.
 "Supposing you are Darrel," said Payton, why did you assume that dis guise?"
 Tt was convenient" answered Dar- rel: and besides, directly after that explosion, it was hardly safe for me to go anywhere as my true self"
 How did you escape the giant pow der?"
 Darrel eased their minds in this re- spect
 Jupiter, muttered the marshal, wagging his head. That's 100 mirac- 'lous to he true
 Now tell HIS how you came 10 pose as McCloud said Payton.
 Darrel did so. al length. and on his auditors the wonder grew The mar shal was derisiVe in his unbelief.
 Now, look said he, ex9atiating. Here goes of Q powder explosion. out of which MT. Man, there. is snaEed by the lines and bits ot the runaway bronks, That's . karG one To take down, bet 1t atn't the hardest. Hes in pretty bad share. you see. with peo- pie hunting after him 10 lynch him, but Darsusding themselves that be was ground into powder and scattered over about all outdoors.
 "Its a pretty hard row of stumps for this man Darrel but he walks from the powder explosion right into an old shanty where there's a dead man