The Newark journal., 1905-03-03


 tion had become greatly complicated and the issue confronting him was very trying even to his iron nerves.
 Should he retreat2 he asked himself. It would be easy to close his account at the hotel and proceed to some other part of the country.
 But to do that he must abandon Lis designs against Murgatroyd. Murga- troyd the real murderer, would be left immune by Darrel's withdrawal from the scene.
 That was the point that decided the fugitive. He would face the issue. hor- ing that Scatterly had made some mis take. hoping that no interruption would come before Murgatroyd's guilt had been proved, hoping that the ladies he was soon to meet would request noth- ing of him that would lead to his dis eovery-hoping everything, in fact. that seemed impossible
 When he re-entered the office he was his same calm, resolute self and had made up his mind to fling his defiance in the very teeth of Fate.
 Early in the afternoon the coming of Mrs Gorton and Miss Avery was announced by the clerk. Darrel was in his room and went at once to the public parlor on the second floor.
 The two ladies were alone in the apartment and were seated near a window overlooking the street One was rather stout and with q tinge of gray in her dark hair; the other was young slender and with a face of rare loveliness
 Both rose and turned toward Darrel as he entered. The elder advanced a stef.
 "Aa. MeCloud?" she asked
 At your service. madam he an- swered with bow.
 T am Mrs. Gorton," went on the elder lady, presenting her hand with a cordial smile. and my companion is my niece. Miss Avery"
 There was settled sadness in Miss Avery's face which touched Darrel to the heart and made him ashamed of the part he was playing. The difficult
  mence with this moment, as he knew full well.
 He barely touched Miss Avery's small white hand.
 Tt gives me great pleasure" said he to meet the friends of Lorry Ormsby.
 You have received Mir. Ormsbys letter.. queried Miss Avery.
 sfFF-t.- = ago"
 Here is another. Mr. McCloud. ]" said Mrs. Gorten rendering him letter; after you have read it. if yoG can spare the time we will tell you the nature of our errand to this part ot the country. We are entire strangers here and are very grateful to MT. Orms- by for directing us to you.
 They resumed cir seats and Darrel drew chair near and excused himself while he read the communication from Ormsby. The envelope was sealed. which Darrel accounted strange if i. contained simply a letter of introduc- tion
 AS he read, the eyes of the two la dies stole furtiVely to his face. They were not prepared for the sudden whiteness they saw there, the sharp, almost impereeptible compression Of Darrel's thin lips, the convulsive move ment of the slim, white fingers that held the sheet from which he was read ing. Puzzled and interrogative glances passed between the elderly lady ana her niece
 Darrel seemed abstracted. He held the letter long enough to have read it half a dozen times. The writing ran as follows:
 Dear Junus: This will be handed you by Mrs. Gorton and Miss Avery. There Is something about the man whom they are seeking which they do not know and which l do not care to have them know yet awhile. In your own time and when you think best you may give them the information. Through private sources 1 have learned that the man has taken an- other name, and when these tactics are resorted to 1t Is clear that something is wrong. Miss Avery has experienced much sorrow and 1 would not care to add one straw to her burden, if 1t could be helped You understand do you not? You will help them, l know, and please be a little tactful in what you do The name now used by the one they desire to find is Sturgis, Jack Sturgis. He was last heard of at Sandy Bar near Ana conda.
 Gro be continued.l