Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-10
tcoDyrishs. IN. b willian waila.s cooll

William Wallace Coek)
You may be honest, but you can
never be honorable!"
The words pierced him like pointed
5avelins and he writhed under the
smart. Rousing, he brushed hand
across his eyes, laughed at the folly
into which the perilous hour had be-
euiled him and dropped back to be q
further prey Of his disagreeable rev.
cries.
The queen Of hearts tripped through
the semi-g1oom, but between her smil-
Ing countenance and his came the
dead face of Stursis; and when this
faded it left the gruesome hand OF
Death raising five cards for his inspec.
tion-three knaves and two seyens,
dripping red.
With a sudden movement he threw
himself forward in the chair and raised
his clenched fist. There was nothing
before him. however, except the dull
gleam Of the candle.
What was wrong with his nerves?
This mood was foreign to him and he
could not understand 1t.
springing up, he tramped the creak-
Ing boards for an hour. When he
again seated himself he bowed his head
on the table In his folded arms. The
restless stirring at the guards outside
died away in his ears: he slept, and
the candle burned to Its socket, sput-
tered and went out.
Some time latsr-just how long he
had no means Of knowing peculiar
sound aroused HIM. He started up,
his eyes peering into the blank dark
ness.
He still heard the guards; but the
noise that had awakened him came
from within, not from without.
A labored breath, carefully stifed;
the sweep of hand over a rough sur
face; creaking lift of one of the floor
boards; a fall Of wood, mufied with
painstaking care. Then silence again,
broken only by the tramp of the armed
sentries.
In the opaque gloom, Darrell strained
his ears to follow the sounds and
couple each with corresponding
movement that must have caused It..
He readily gathered that entrance was
PeiAg forced into his prison chamber
frem beneath, Who could it be?
"parrel!" came kissing whisper.
"Yesg" he returned, in undertone.
Ut you would save your life you
have not moment to spare. The
marshal has been lured away and made
prisoner and there is nothing to
prevent Sturgis' friends from wreaking
their vengeance on you. There are a
lot of them at Hawkbill's now, getting
ready. The guards posted by the mar
shall are in sympathy with them and
l!sten!" The voice broke off, trem-
ulous with excitement. "Do you hear
anything? They may be coming this
minute"
isNo," returned Darrell, after mo-
ment, tits the watchers outside that
you hear. In the first place, who are
yo1?"
aThe man whose life and honor you
saved at Hawkbill's."
"How have you been able to come to
me"
Through one of the drifts from the
creek bank. 1t was only necessary to
dig out few feet OF earth in order
to come up directly under this build
ing-but it has taken hours and every
hour seemed an age. was afraid !
should not be in time. God knows I
could not abandon you after what you
have done for me-"
"aturgis' friends would take the law
into their own hands, would they?"
They intend to lynch you"
For crime did not commit" sup
plemented Darrell.
"The doctor found the bullet that
killed Sturgis and it's As. The re-
volver taken from you by the marshal
was also AZ and one shell was
empty"
'Who Is the doctor?"
An eastern man and one of the
safest and best men in the camp. He
has implored the mob to let the law
taRe its course, but no one would listen
to him. But there's no time for talk.
You can drop into the tunnel through
this hole have dug. reach the creek
anc get to a poiut below the camp un-
der shelter of the bank My horse is
there. saddled. bridled and ready.
Come, you must hurry!"
There was not little feeling mani
tested in barrels voice as he an
sweled:
you have done good deal for me
and appreciate H. You do not think
killed sturgis?"
II haven't stopped to think very
much about it. 1. would be no more
than a natural supppsition after that
row in Hawkbill's-that row on my
account"
We'll, I'm innocent of murder, but
circumstances haVs got 3 grip on me
aud + shall avail layself of the means
Of escape which you offer. l can't
take your horse. though. That would
throw suspicion on you"
How will you get out of the couA-
try?"
with any kind Of a start you can
trust me for that. 90 back through
the tunnel. take your horse away and
get to your lodging place. am much
obliged to you for the interest you
have taken in me. Some time I shall
hope to repay you"
y am already repaid. But think
S'sNo."
"You won't be long in coming?"
mot long"
"Good-by, then. and good luck to