Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-04-04
CHAPTER XIV.
Darrell CONTINUES HIS TALK
WITH LENYARD.


depths of his being. A swift SYM
pathy surged into the look Darrell fas-
tened on him.
II recall the occurrence" said OAR
rel, hiding his own feelings under an
assumed GOODNESS of voice and man
ner. "Sturgis was shot by scoundrel
named Darrell"
Lenyard Strengthened his 1.-THE form
in moment.
Darrell was no scoundrel," he re-
torted hotly.
He was a gambler. How could he
be that and not be everything else that
man could lay tongue to?"
"You shall say nothing against OAR
rel to me-" cried the young man. 81
owe him my life and my honor-he be-
friended me at time when it re-
CURED courage and skill and he suf-
fered dishonor and lost his own life
because OF 1t. Do you hear me?' Len
yards voice rose excitedly. II will not
hear breath against him."
very WE'LL" said Darrell, in paci-
ficatory tone. please lower your
voice-you are attracting attention this
way. Circumstances all point to the
fact that Nate Darrell killed Sturgis,
as you must know"
circumstances" sneered Lenyard.
"All l can say Is that circumstances
lie, and shall prove them lie and"
He broke of sharply, the old distrust
in the look he flashed at Darrell.
II have heard, too" persisted OAR
rel, that Darrell and Murgatroyd had
a murderous feud, based upon some Of
their rascally practices, no doubt
Il have Looked into that" returned
Lenyard with an obvious desire to
parry every thrust at barrels reputa-
ton. "The rascally practices were all
on Murgatroyd's part. Darrell, as /
happen to know, acted like an honor
able gentleman"
| you surprise mel"
cit Is the truth, whether you are
surprised at 1t or not. Murgatroyd,
under false name, had laid his plans
to marry a young woman in Denver.
The young woman was of good family
and her father was one OF the wealth.
lest mining men in Colorado. Murga-
troyd had his eye on the money and
his schemes would have succeeded but
for Nate Darrell
Darrell meddled in the matter, /
suppose?"
"Murgatroyd took him into the plot
and Darrell went with it to the girls
father"
AN informer, eh?"
il who would not have been an in
fDrmer under such circumstances
Murgatroyd was given "a hours to get
out of Denver and has never dared to
go back there since. 1t was then he
swore to shoot Darrell on sight, and
he'd be equal to tiff he could
Strange that the woman in the case
should have been taken with Murga-
troyd, in the first place Don't you
think so? These gambling gentry
usually show what they are"
il "Murgatroyd has way with wom-
en-, and with men, too, that's hard tt
understand. He's success at gam.
bling as we'll as at other lines of bust
ness, all through some Internal power
which he yields over his dupes. He.
a thoroughbred villain, If there evel
was one. Now that l have set yo,
right concerning Darrell I'd like tt
know if you have finished your tall
with me?"
II haven't yet touched upon the mat
tel that spurred me on to seek an in
terview. There Is a misunderstanding
between you and Elise Avery, is Their,
not?"
THAT is none of your affair, Mr.. Nc
Cloud" was the sharp and threaten
ing answer
You defend this gambler, Darrell
for interfering in love affair and nov
you question my right to trench upol
a subject of the same kind"
ut is not the same kind and you ar
not Darrell" The young man got up
Z SIS that all?"
1t would not have been all had no
barrels gaze encountered familia
4 figure just entering the door, A tall
square-shouldered man with sloe
black eyes and overhanging brows.
, |
yard" said Darrell. He did not deig
the youth another glance. hut watche
the tall man with cat-like intensity.
you may be done with me, Mr.. Nc
Cloud" said Lenyard, leaning acros
. the table, "but I'm not done with you.
With this enigmatical remark Le1
yard walked away. The tall ma
l he ;r~l,
of Darrell and advanced upon him wit
slow deliberation. barrels han
dropped beside him into his cos
pocket
One. two, three, four-Darrel counte
the tall mans steps as he crossed tn
room. Presently he was at the tabl
looking down at the man in the chair
you will come with me, McCloud
said the tall man. at last. His blac
eyes seemed to burn as they looked int
barrels. You will come with me-"
Every well, Mr.. Murgatroyd"
Murgatroyd turned slowly an
walked away, Nate Darrel followin
him.
CHAPTER Nv.
DARREL's FIGHT WITH MURGA-
TRO.n.
Darrell was a man OF quick wi
Following tie CARDS wiie5s 2 mans IA
ulties and mane,' Item cen and aier
In q second his mind had explor,
the depths of Murgatroyd's singul
action and had evolved startliI
conclusion. McCloud was known to
q stranger in that part of the cou