The Newark journal., 1905-04-07

forging checks to cover my losses.
Murgatroyd took the stolen money and.
finding me an apt pupil, taught me
how 10 play with him and help him
fleece others. went from bad 70
worse. Friends paid the amount of the
forged paper. hushing the matter up
From that hour. however. ! was lost.
The letters OF Murgatroyd's devilish
influence were things from which
could not free myself / did not IN
derstand his power then and / do not
understand it noW-but il was an in
Yineible weapon and he used il merci-
lessly For that monster I have re-
nOunced everything | hold dear In life
and see how ! am repaid"
In the brief, lowering stiffness that
followed there was not one but looked
upon McCloud in pity and upon Muir
gatroyd with horror and loathing.
So, said Payton, softly you came
10 Sandy Bar, met Murgauoyd in that
private room, heard him read The note
from Darrell and was asked to help
him commit murder!"
Not asked returned McCloud.
hoarsely, commanded Perhaps |
should have obeyed him but for what
happened. Murgalroyd stood n the
Office window, looking down INTO tie
street He saw Darrell walking $
in the direction OF HaWkbills S8in-
ming around, Murgatroyd said 70 me:
There is my man now: he is go
ing TO Hawl1bill's, but he shall never
reach there alive. / will spring out
into his path suddenly, from between
the buildings When / leave you take
that revolver on the desk, McCloud,
step to this window and shoot from
il in case | need you barrels back
viii be toward you and ii will be an
easy shot.
Then Murgatroyd hurried away 1
picked up the revolver from the desk
and stepped to the window as directed
| could see Darrell plainly and reeog-
nized him as a man | had met earlier
in the day at the Half Way house, on
the trail from Anaconda
while | stood watching form
leaped from the buildings and con
fronted Darrell | could not make out
the form distinctly, owing to the
shadow of the buildings, but revolver
cleaned in the mans hand | could
not Kill Darrell, but the thought struck
me that | could Kill Murgatroyd and
sweep the inearnate devil forever from
my path | sighted the gun carefully
and fired My God, gentlemen! when
| found out later that Darrell had been
imprisoned, accused Of the murder Of
Sturgis-When | learned that had
slain the wrong man with such terri
BILE consequences 10 another, the earth
slipped away beneath me aud thought
/ should die | thought"
The words trembled on his lips and
faded away to silence With wild
tossing al the arms MeCioud stood up
roehng. MS eyes gazing on a point
above Payton's head
That's a lie, McCloud and you
know it. came the cutting words ot
Murgatroyd lie had risen behind the
doctor and stood Iike statue his
manaeled hands stretched toward Me
Cloud and his burning gaze fixed on
his face Tell these men that YOU
have spoken lie! Tell them YOU are
trying to revenge yourself against me
and have"
4 deep oath and sudden rush of
feet interrupted the speaker; then a
brawny fist leaped out like lightning
and struck him down.
It's the act OF coward to strike
man in irons said Merriek, turning
blacliy from his work, but that cur
deserved il. There, Darrel-McCloud
quick"
MeCloud. with a feeble moan.
pitched forward, but Darrell caught
him and eased him to the floor. His
form became rigid, his eyes staring,
and he was again as Darrell had seen
him in Kansas Joe's old hut, just OF
the War Eagle trail
(To be continued)