The Irish standard., 1905-10-07
CHAPTER XXI,

lei was III f1dWkOll1 5, playing. LUCK
was against him.
lie was pleasant loser, however.
Again and again he laughed as he
bought the little red. white and blue
columns and again and again he
laughed as they were taken from him.
Fate makes or mars us, gentlemen"
said he, directly reversing his old phil
osophy; 1--WE have little voice in the
matter. Fortune is a coy goddess and
one never can be sure of her."
At last he picked up hand Of three
knaves and two aces. Following his
time-honored custom he discarded the
aces.
What he found in his two-card draw
drove the blood from his cheeks and
held him rigid in his chair. What are
you doing?" asked the next player.
"It's up to YOU"
Darrell slid the cards together and
laid them face down on the table. II
am asking your forbearance for few
minutes, gentlemen" said he and then
turned calmly to waiter and asked
for an envelope and sheet of paper.
They were brought to him and he
took pencil from his pocket and
wrote few words. shielding the writ
ing with his hand from the curious
eyes of the others.
i Folding the sheet, he placed it inside
the envelope, sealed the flap and wrote
the address: "Mr. Roy I.enyard, Grand
Central hotel"
! "Will you deliver thiso" he asked,
laying silver dollar on the letter and
handing 1t to the waiter.
Certainly, SIR" said the waiter.
reading the address. 'T'll take it over
at once"
'The quicker the BETTER" returned
Darrell.
| The other players supposed it was
request on some friend for loan and
the play went on. Darrell lost
Excuse me, gentlemen" said Dar-
rel. showing the cards away from him
and rising. Il shall have to"
His words were lost in a sharp re-
port. accompanied by crash of glass.
Darrcl sank slowly back into his chair
and bowed forward
| MurSatrOyd was showing himself
model prisoner. He was alone in the
jail and was making the guard no
trouble whatever.
He had been incarcerated In the
early morning hours and Merrick pro-
posed holding him in Sandy Bar until
the Anaconda stage made its next trip.
which would be on the following day.
The single guard had been twice re.
lievcd. The third man came on duty
at ten o'clock.
Five minutes after he had posted
himself in front of the building Cliff
came.
Ibid ye bring it?" the guard asked,
hoarscly.
Give me the key" said Cliff,
sharply.
Money frst!"
''ls your horse ready?"
"lf we've got the stuff I'll be away
in three minutes"
"Five thousand" said Cliff, peering
hastily about him into the gathering
shadows and showing something into,
the guards hand. Nov, the key"
Waltz Tho guard stepped to,
where light was shining through one
OF the barred windows and thumbed
the bills with trembling fingers. "All
right" he said. coming back Here's
yer key I'm off,
Like a wrath he faded into the
gloom.
Cliff unlocked the door and stepped
inside
"ls It all right, Cliff" asked Murga-
troyd. starting up from beside a
table.
fright as trivet Here's money
and here's revolver and you'll find q
horse waiting in the creek bottom, d.
rectly north of here. Hustle, now.
The coast is clear, but there's no tell.
ing when Merrick will show up"
MurgatrOyd started for the door.
"Where's Darrell" he aslcd. sud-
denly.
Hos over al Hawhb!r;. So yer
mind Darrcl; yon'vc e. ...t to
think about. Clear out, ou man.
That's your cue I've done all can
for YOU"
Murgatroyd opened the door and
stepped out of the Jail free man.
Passing around the building he start
ed north, toward the Eponay. But,
when in the deep shadow and out OF
Cliffs sight. he turned east and ap-
preached iiawkbill's from the rear
Gliding from one unclrtained win
dow to another along the side of the
structure. he finally came to halt and
drew his revolver
The marshal was passing along the
street toward the Jail and heard the
report, the crash of glass and the cries
of alarm from those in the gambling
den. Whirling about he saw a figure
plunging rapidly away into the night.
HALT" he cried, giving pursuit and
jerking weapon from his belt as he
ran; halt, or I'll shoot"
| The form was merely blot of
shadow in the night and Merrick could
see it still moving away from him.
Another instant and the marshal had
paused, crooked his arm before his
face, laid the barrel across it and
pulled the trigger.
The moving blot sank downward.
seemingly into the earth
AS Roy Lenyard stood at the door Of
the Grand Central hotel man ap-
preached him and handed him letter.
From Mr.. Darrell" he said.
| iy1p hon irto fho 1;.,r,{