The Newark journal., 1905-03-17

 was the best thing that ever happened for us. If you yield to any of your mad eccentrieities now there's no tell ing what harm you may do
 This touched at vital point of the l Sturgis matter Darrel 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?"
 Darrel 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 shell" he muttered, frowning blackly; "slugs in the other five shells and the slugs marked. He stamped his foot in fury. How in the devils name did those marks come there? Did you do it, you?' He hurled the question at Darrel, who re- ceiyed it silently. But you couldn't have done that, you'd have had no ob- jeet in doing it. Ii must have been Darrel, when he sat in that office. there, writing his note that afternoon I was away in the hills Much good that evidence will do Darrel now.
 A steel letter opener-either a repli- ca of the one Darrel had used in the inner office when he marked the bull lets, or else the same-lay on the clerks desk near the lighted lamp. It was sharp and might prove of use in an emergency. Darrel leaned one arm on tno desk close to the instrument and bowed his head on his lifted hand.
 h disarming himself by yielding up the weapon he believed he had effect lively disarmed any doubts of Mur- gatroyd s. present or to come He was eager to know more of this mans rela- tions with McCloud
 'Ill put this revolver in the vault for now" said Murgatroyd, and when l have seen you safe out of town I'll put six fresh cartridges in the eylin- 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 see what his companion was doing.
 Darrel had not changed his position and still had his elbow on the desk and his chin in his hand. A spar king gem on Darrel's finger drew Mur- gatroyd's eyes and brought an ex- clamation to his lips
 The cirelet was eoiled serpent with diamond head-a ring Darrel had worn for years. Murgatroyd had seen 1t often and knew it well.
 Recognition came with rush. Mur- gatroyd's hand dropped to the pocket that held the revolver and Darrel's leaped to the letter-opener, and there was an oyerturning of chairs as the men hurled themselves at each other.
 A lurid oath broke from Murgatroyd 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 bare 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 a terrible half-minute Murgatroyd was like a wolf, remember ing only the injury suffered at the hands of one whom he had believed to be his friend. Darrel 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 top of them.
 Darrel was no match for his antag- onist in such 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 stided groan he strengthened out and jay like one dead Excited and breath less, Darrel drew himself out from un- der the cabinet and rose to his feet.
 Murgatroyd was at his mercy and what should he do with him? AS he debated the question he heard a quick tread of feet in the hall below.
 Acting on a quick impulse, he flew to the vault, pulled open the inner doors, dragged the unconscious Murga- troyd inside and had closed him in and turned off fha conn hinntio,, ,,.1....