The Irish standard., 1905-09-09

premises saw fit to speak.
Il got your letter, McCloud, but I
doubted whether you would be fool
enough to come here-here. Of Ill
places in the world"
Darrell swerved his eyes to the
speakers face, but hesitated to trust
his voice.
Letter." he murmured, at last.
"You must have been in one of your
spells when you wrote it." was the
sneering comment Murgatroyd took
folded sheet from his pocket, opened
and read: "I shall be in Sandy Bar
tonight You may look for me. for I
shall surely come" With a jeerinE
laugh the letter was returned to the
pocket. And here you are" added
Murgatroyd, "Allow me to tell you.
McCloud, that you're crazy fool"
The letter was surprise to Dared
and he stirred restlessly.
II don't know what wild notion
brought you here" went on Murga-
troyd, but do know that you're 60
ing to pike out of camp as quick az Z
horse can carry you. Luck has IA
vored you so far. but you're so ire
sponsible you're likely to spoil every
thing. A few words from you about
Nate Darrell and the game will be .
losing proposition for both of us
That blow-up on the War Eagle traiQ
was the best thing that ever happened
for us. If you yield to any of your
mad eccentricities now there's no tell
ing what harm you may do"
This touched at vital point Of tho
Sturgis matter. Darrell longed to learn
more, but knew he could not question
without arousing suspicion. He made
no answer
What have you done with that re-
volver?"
Darrell took the ebony handled
weapon from his pocket.
"Give it TO me-" said Murgatroyd.
starting up and snatching it roughly.
didn't you have one of your own!
You played hell using this that night"
Fiercely Murgatroyd pulled down the
cylinder and examined the cartridges
"One empty SHE'LL he muttered.
frowning blackly; "slugs in the other
five shells and the slugs marked" He
stamped his foot in a fury. How in
the DEVILS name did those marks como
there? Did you do 1t. you?" He
hurled the question at Darrell, who re-
ceived it silently. But you couldn't
have done that. you'd have had no OBJ
ject in doing it. 1t must have been
Darrell, when he sat in that Office,
there, writing his note that afternoon
l was away in the hills. Much good
that evidence will do Darrell now"
A steel letter opener-either repli-
ca of the one Darrell had used In this
inner Office when he marked the bull
lets, or else the same-lay on tho
clerks desk nearr7the lighted lamp. It
was sharp and might prove of use In
an emergency. Darrell leaned one arm
on the desk close to the instrument
and bowed his head ON his lifted hand.
In disarming himself by yielding up
the weapon he believed he had effect
lively disarmed any doubts Of Muir
gatroyd's, present or to come. He was
"
tions with McCloud.
"I'll put this revolver in the vault
for now said Mnrgatroyd, land when
l have seen you safe out Of town Ill
put six fresh cartridges in the cylin-
der"
Then, while he worked at the knob
OF the combination, he dropped the
weapon into his pocket In few mo-
ments he pulled open the vault door.
made as though he would step inside
but halted and whirled around to SEQ
what his companion was doing.
Darrell had not changed his position
and still had his elbow on the desk
and his chin in his hand. A spar
king gem on barrels finger drew MUIR
gatroyd's eyes and brought an ex-
clamation to his lips.
The circlet was coiled serpent with
diamond head-a ring Darrell had
worn for years. Murgatroyd had seen
1t often and knew it we'll.
Recognition came with a rush. Muir
gatroyd's hand dropped to the pocket
that held the revolver and barrels
leaped to the letter-opener, and there
was an overturning of chairs rs the
men hurled themselves at each other.
A lurid oath broke from Murgatroyc
but was strangled under the gripping
white fingers Of his adversary. The
revolver was not drawn nor the let
ter-opener used; from the first shock
of contact necessity threw them back
on their ba.e hands.
Neither spoke. Each felt that this
was to be their final battle and the
sharp, hard breath came from their
lips as they clinched and fought
Then followed terrible half-minute.
Murgatroyd was like a wolf, remember.
Ing only the injury suffered at tho
hands Of one whom he had believed t.
be his friend. Darrell was calmer, but
none the less determined.
Chairs were tipped over, the desk
and lamp barely escaped, and then, In
a frenzy of brute force. they fell
against the mineral cabinet, dropping
to the floor with the cabinet on tok
of them.
Darrell was no match for his antag-
onfst in sllch rough work and he was
underneath. A feeling flashed through
him that he had failed, and that the
victory would be Murgatroyd's, but the
block of galena, tipping with the cabi.
net, struck the stronger man on the
back of the head and crashed to the
floor.
Murgatroyd's fingers relaxed; with
a stif1ed groan he Strengthened out and
lay like one dead. Excited and breath