The Irish standard., 1905-09-23
CHAPTER XVIII.
BARRELS DOUBLE.

A bomb. suddenly exploded in the
midst of those in the Office, could not
have caused greater CONSERVATION than
the furious words of Murgatroyd. The
Ease had been proved against Mursa-
troyd, then shifted to McCloud, and
nov McCloud was said TO be Darrell
and Darrell was known to be inno-
cent.
Merrick, rs soon as he had recovered
himself little gave vent to a hollow
eroan. Ienyard stared at Darrell like
one in trance.
Gentlemen" said Darrell, who was
the first to speak, elf Mr.. Merrick will
put the irons on Murgatroyd, we will
make him prove what he says"
Merrick would not leave barrels
side, but tossed the handouts to Glenn.
Snap EN- onto him, Glenn" said
he, I'll stay right here until we can
get head and tail to this Chinese puz-
zle. Different things have been hap
pening so quick that Pm blamed if !
know whether I'm afoot or horseback.
Mebby Sturgis wasn't killed at all; and
if he was, here's Doc and me left YET,
I'm expecting some one to blow in and
prove that we did It,"
In some trepidation, Jim Glenn
snapped the bracelets about his en-
Mo.ser's wrists. Murgatroyd was then
seated near the light and Mcrrcli
handed one of his reviewers to Len
yard.
Get close to him." said the mar
shall, land if he makes move to bolt,
shoot him."
Like one in a dream Lenyard took
the revolver and placed himself at Muir
gatroyd's side. Murgatroyd was deep
ly perpleXed. Darrell himself seemed
to be the only one in TIC Office who
had kept, his head.
"You say l am Nate Darrell Murga-
troyd," said he. GLOW can you prove
it,"
~Hold up your left hand" said MUIR
gatroyd, "there, in the lights"
Darrell did SO.
anyone who knows Darrell" went
on Murgatroyd. twill know that ring.
There isn't another like it in the
United States"
"It's-it's barrels ring" gasped Len
yard. 81 saw it that night in Hawk
bill's when Darrell played that game
for NO."
He took half-step towards Darrell,
his face blocdless and his eyes bright
Watch your man, Lenyard," said
the marshal grufliy.
Keep back, Roy" said DR.. Payton
"This man may be McCloud, after ALL
The testimony Of the ring is not sufIi-
cient. 1t may have been stolen"
'Then," said Darrell calmly, "let me
shield McClond's reputation to the cx-
tent of saying the ring was not stolen.
1t is, perhaps, the only ring of it's kind
in the United States, and it has not
been out of my possession during the
last six years."
"Then you are Nate DARRELL" asked
Lenyard huskily.
yes"
This avowal sent the marshal off on
another tack.
"Sure he says he's Darrell. Why
not? AS McCloud he stands convicted
Of the murder of Sturgis. Under those
circumstances most anyone would
rather be Darrell than McCloud.
Well have to have better proof than
the rivg. Murgatroyd knows the ring,
and Lenyard seems to; but the balance
of us don't"
"Suprosing yon are Darrell" said
Payton, why did you assume that dis
guise?"
1T was convenient" answered OAR
rel; "and besides, directly after that
explosion, 1t was hardly safe for me to
go anywhere as my true self"
How did you escape the giant pow
der?"
Darrell eased their minds in this re-
spect.
Jupiter" muttered the marshal,
wagging his head. That's too mirac-
'lous to be true"
Now tell us how you came to pose
as McCloud," said Payton.
Darrell did SO, at length, and on his
auditors the wonder grew. The mar
shall was derisive in mis- unbelief.
Now, look" said he, expatiating.
Here goes off powder explosion, out
of which Mr.. Man, there, is snaked by
the lines and bits Of the runaway
bronks. That's a hard one to take
down, but It amt the hardest. He's
In pretty bad shape, you see, with peo-
pie hunting after him to lynch him,
but pursuading themselves that he was