Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-28
CHAPTER XII.
Darrell FACES THE ISSUE.

41AIeItEL FACES The lSSUE,
There was sole-leather trunk in
McCloud's room. 1t was locked but
small key ring in pocket of the cor
duroys held a key that gave access to
1t.
NO papers were found. There were
two suits of clothes-both of the best
quality-a supply of clean linen, era
vals and other things usually found in
a gentleman's wardrobe.
Darrell closed the trunk disappoint-
edly and carried his search through the
closet and dresser drawers. There was
nothing there, all McCloud's belong
ings, apart from what he had taken
with him in the traveling-bag, having
been put away in the trunk.
The fastener had told the clerk he
intended to return on the morrow, but
it was perfectly evident that he had
imagined he might be detained much
longer. Had he left Anaconda with the
deliberate intention Of destroying him
self?
When he went down stairs to dinner
Darrell was revolving this question in
his mind. In the afternoon he read an
account of his death in a daily paper
and gave diligent attention to the grue-
some details.
1t was long article and began with
an account Of the murder of Sturgis,
the arrest of Darrell and his night es-
cape from the Sandy Bar Jail. Then
followed summing up of all the
known facts connected with the ex-
plosion on the War Eagle trail.
Nothing new was brought forward
but the author of the account was not
a doubter for he dwelt exhaustively
on the vicarious methods of justice and
pointed the whole affair with moral.
Next morning another paper had
more to say on the subject. Sheriff
| Scatterly had returned from the hills
after personal investigation and gave
it as his opinion that the escaped MUIR
derer had been hurled into eternity
in substantially the manner described
by the men from Sandy Bar.
Abner Gryce's bronchos had run
away: the wagon had collided with a
boulder beside the trail, the horses had
broken loose and the shock of the col
lision had set off the crystalized giant
powder. That explained the arrival of
the runaway team, practically unin-
jured, at the War Eagle mine.
Abner Gryce had been thrown from
the wagon when 1t took the turn. but
the murderer had stayed with it. Con-
sequently there was but one inference
to be drawn.
Thus far Darrell read with amused
Indifference. The paragraphs that fol-
lowed, however, startled him and filled
him with CONSERVATION.
The report went on to state that
scatterly, in returning from the Wal
Eagle mine. had had communication
handed to him at the Half Way house
Usually he took no notice of anony'
nous letters, but in this particular
case he had made an exception.
The communication mad requested
him to call at Kansas Joes old cabir
in Lost Horse coulee. He had gone
there but, aside from evidences tina
the hut had been recently used, he hat
found nothing and no one. The lettel
was, therefore, looked upon as hoa,
and Scatterly's aversion for unsigned
messages was intensified.
Darrell threw aside the paper, Lighted
a cigar and leaned back in his chair
A throbbing fear was leaping alonl
his nerves.
The cabin empty! Had Scatterl
made mistake and gone to the wron
place?
While possible this was hardly prob
able Yet, if the sheriff had made n
mistake in the cabin, what had becom
: of McCloud?
4 Darrell got up and walked out of tn
hotel into the cooler air. His situa
: ton had become greatly complicate
+ and the issue confronting him wa
! very trying even to his iron nerves.
Should he retreat? he asked himself
1t would be easy to close his accoun
at the hotel and proceed to some othe
part Of the country.
a But to do that he must abandon Ill
o designs against Murgatroyd Murgs
troyd, the real murderer. would be lei
immune by barrels withdrawal frol
the scene.
i That was the point that decided tn
It fugitive. He would face the issue, hol
g ing that Scatterly had made some mis-
u take. hoping that no interruption woul
come before Murgatroyd's guilt h;
been proved, hoping that the ladies
Il was soon to meet would request not
ing of him that would lead to his di
covery-hoping everything, in fax
that seemed impossible.
/ When he re-entered the Office he vi
his same calm, resolute self and hi
made up his mind to fling his defian
in the very teeth of Fate.
! Early in the afternoon the comil
! of Mrs. Gorton and Miss Avery W;
1 announced by the clerk Darrell vi
! in his room and went at once TO Il
! public parlor on the second floor.
The two ladies were alone in tt
4 apartment and were seated near
a window overlooking the street. o.
d was rather stout and with a tinge
Il gray in her dark hair; the other w
3 young, slender and with a face of IA
\ loneliness.
d Both rose and turned toward Darr
A as he entered. The elder advanced
d step.
q "Mr. McCloud?" she asked.
. "At your service, madam" he a
] swered with bow.
II am Mrs. Gorton," went on Il
elder lady, presenting her hand wi
a cordial smile, land my companion
my niece, Miss Avery" /.
There was a settled sadness in MI