The Irish standard., 1905-08-26

A throbbing fear was leaping along
his nerves.
The cabin empty! Had Scatterly
made mistake and gone to the wrong
place?
While possible this was hardly prob
able. Yet, if the sheriff had made no
mistake in the cabin, what had become
of McCloud?
Darrell got up and walked out of the
hotel into the cooler air. His situa-
tion had become greatly complicated
and the issue confronting him was
very trying even to his iron nerves.
Should he retreat? he asked himself
1t 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 barrels withdrawal from
the scene.
That was the point that decided the
fugitive. lie would face the issue, hop
ing that Scatterly had made some mis-
take. hoping tha, no interruption would
come before Murgatroyds guilt had
been proved, hoping that the ladies he
was soon to meet would request Moth
ing OF him that would lead to his dis
covery-hoping everything, in fact,
that seemed impossible
When he re-entercd 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. Darrell was
in his room and went at once to the
public parlor on the second floor
Tho two ladies were alone in the
apartment and were seated near q
window overlooking the street One
was rather stou, and with tinge OF
gray in her dark hair the other was
young. slender and with face of rare
lONelineSS.
Both rose and turned toward Darrell
as he entered. The elder advanced a
step
MIR. McCloud?" she ASKED
Al your service, madam" he an
swerch with a bow.
81 am Mrs. Gorton." went on the
elder lady. presenting her hand with
Il cordial smile, and my companion is
my niece. Miss Avery"
There was a settled sadness in Miss
Avcrys face which touched Darrell to
the heart and made him ashamed of
tho part he was playing. The difficult
ties Of his assumed role were to COM
mrncn with this moment, as he knew
lull WELL
lie barely touched Miss Avery's small
white h>nd.
1T gives me great pleasure" said he,
ITO meet The friends of Lorry Ormsby."
You have received Mr.. Ormsbvs
letter. uuorrd Miss Avery.
THAT came TO hand several davs
ago"
Here is another. MIR. McCloud."
SAID Mrs. Gortcn, rendering him
letter, after YOU have read it, if you
ran spare The time we will tell you the
nature of our crrand to this part of
the country. We are entire strangers
here and are very grateful to Mr.. Orms-
by for directing us to you"
They resumed their seats and Darrell
drew chair near and excused himself
while he read the communication from
Ormsby. The envelope was sealed,
which Darrell accounted strange il i.
contained simply letter of introduc-
ton.
AS he read, the eyes of the two la
dies stole furtivey to his face. They
were not prepared for the sudden
whitcness they saw there. the sharp,
almost imp"rccptible compression OF
'Darr"l's thin lips, the convulsivc enove-
mont OF the slim, white fingers that
hrld the sheet from which he was read
ing. Puzzled and interrogative glances
passed between the elderly lady ana
her niece.
Darrell seemed abstracted. He held
the letter long enough to have read it
halI dozen times. The writing ran
us follows:
Dear Junius: This will be handed you
ny Mrs. iort"n and Miss Avery. There
Is something about the mln whom they
afr seeking which they do not know and
which ] do not care to have them Know
yet awhile. In your own time and when
you think best you may give them tn.
Information. Through private sources
have learned that the man has taken an
| '''''' iiiI'I when lncSI tactics
resnrtcd I" II is clear that something is
WRONG. Miss Avery has experienced
much sorrow and | would not care to add
one straw to her burden, If 1t could be
helped. You understand, do you not?
You will help them, | know, and pleas.
be little tactful in whn, you do The
name now used by the one they desire
to find is Sturgis, Jack Sturgis He was
last heard of ut Sandy Ba.., near A a.
conLa.
rs there any bad news from MIR.
Ormsby, Mr. McCloud?" ashed Mrs.
Gort0n, in an agitated tone.
I'VE must not anticipate, Mrs Cor
ton,' answered Darrel, with an en-
conraGing smile. as he put the letter
away. "Il You will tell me in Whit
way | can serve you, shall be most
happy to do all | can"
"Thank You came from ...iss Ayery.
in 10" voice. Then she looked to-
ward her aunt as Though desiring that
she should maie the re e e,sary eyDlan-
aiOnS
wv" have come here to find Elisa's
father" said Mrs. GortOn. He has
been absent from home for five wears
and during the last year no word Whit
ever has Lcen nc aveh from him.
Naturally we can draw but one in. er-
ence'-she cast hasty glance in her
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