The Irish standard., 1905-07-29
In any other walk of life his ster1ine


hardly have been ignorant of this; but
passion for play was too deeply in
grained in his nature. The notoriety
he had courted and won, in any other
profession would have been the mill
stone that pulled him under
The recovery of the boys money
aptly illustrates barrels character
He could not see anything wrong in
turning the tables on the blacklegs
and it was a pleasure for him to be
able to do it.
He played an honorable" game; and
he considered it honorable to worst =
couple of sharpers at their own tao
tics.
AS he made his way back along tho
struggling street toward Hawkbill
.Henderson's he was warily watchful.
Recent events had taken his attention
somewhat from his main purpose in
coming to Sandy Bar and the murder
GUS Murgatroyd might be lurking any
where In the shadows or dogging his
steps.
The wheezy tones of fiddles, guitars
and bass-viol, accompanied by hoarss
shouts, laughter and fall of dancing
feet echoed from building across
the way. Other buildings along the
street were aglare with light and rife
with clink of glasses, rattle ct
poker chips and boisterous cries 0
drinkers and players.
There were few on the street at that
moment and Darrell passed rapidly On
in the direction of the gambling place
Abruptly form hurled itself across
his path from a dark space between
two shantes on his left.
Instantly a revolver was in his hand
'Now then, my buck" cried voice
sharp with passion, we'll settle OUT
differences man to man."
1--WE have no differences TO settle,
Sturgis," returned Darrell, relieved and
not little surprised He was looking
for Murgatroyd not Sturgis.
The gambler was in a blind unrea-
soning fury. In the light of later
events it was patent that Darrell had
set trap for him and beaten him
and his confederate at their own game
When a man like Sturgis has such
grievance there is but one way in
which the score can be settled. Sur
gis was lercely determined and Dar-
rel was quick TO comprehend his peril.
| A flaring lamp in front of The dance
hall opposite cast a dim light over the
scene. The field was clear for the en-
counter, no one being abroad in the
| street apart from the two concerned.
Rigidly erect the two men stood, re-
volvers ready and swinging at their
sides, their eyes alert and watching
catlille each others slightest move
ment
You're either the devil himself or
else you're-Nate Darrell of Frisco"
said Sturgis, between his teeth. No
man could play the game you did with
out being one or the other. II was
barrels discard you threw into the
deadwood, and you sat between Cliff
and me and helped yourself to just
what you wanted out of the pack"
Darrell laughed little at that 1t
wasn't the first time his phenomenal
skill had led gambler to confound
him with the arch fiend.
You're Il bungler, Sturgis,'' said he,
land have yet to learn the first rudi-
ments of your profession. have
taught you a lesson and If you want to
live long enough to profit by it you'll
put that gun In your pocket and talia
yourself off,
An exasperated cry fell from Stur-
gis' lips. Recklessly he threw himself
forward. raising the six-shooter to a
level with his eyes.
There was no blood on Nate Darrel's
hands. In his whole career he had
never found ii necessary to protect his
life by taking anothers.
| His ready wit and his wonderful
strens1ll-which his slight form in q
manner belied-had times out of mind
been his bulwarls of self-defense. He
had horror of blOodslled and carried
a revolver in humble demonstration of
build great navies-hoping to make The
arbtrameEt of war still more remote
BY coming to Sandy Bar in quest OF
Murgatroyd he had faced an issue at
direct variance with his inclinationk
He was well aware that fatalities were
almost certain to result; il he were
the victim, no aching void would be
left in the world while if MurgatrOyl
fell the cause of humanity would be
| advanced.
But he wanted no exchange of shots
| with Sturgis. He had threatened, hul
1t was with the forlorn hope of avoid
| ing q clash.
AS the irate blackleg plunged for
| ward. Darrell threw himself to one side
At that precise moment shot rang
out from some point at barrels rear.
bullet famed his cheek and Sturgis.
with an agonized cry, tossed his hands
in the air, reeled and fell face down
ward on the sidewalk.
Darrell was stunned by the sudden
ness of the tragedy. In a second he
had whirled to look back up the street,
but saw no one. Then he did the
worst thing possible for himself by
fastening to the PROSTATE form and
making an examination.
Sturgis was already dead. The bullet
had penetrated his heart and a stream
Of blood flowed from the wound and
formed pool beneath him.
The shot and the tortured cry of the
dying man had aroused the people
From the dance hall they came on