The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-22
Gambling With Fate !!

place ana nau even cast nasty giance
into the inner office.
II have him-safe," Darrell smiled |
grimly. 'Who is this gentleman" he |
asked, turning to the thick-set man |
with the leather case under his arm.
That's Doc Payton," replied the be-
wildered marshal.
mot the same gentleman who had
charge of the body of Sturgis?'
II am the coroner" spoke up Pay
ton, land held the inquest"
Better and better" said Darrell
Naturally, gentlemen, you are curl
GUS. You see me follow Murgatroyd
upstairs to this place and later you
hear sounds of a scutfie and come to
investigate. What you see merely in
creases your curiosity and suspicion.
want TO talk with the two OF you and
beg OF you to set couple OF tEuse
chairs upright and be seated"
IS he finished, Darrell settled him
SELF comfortably on one corner of the
desk The marshal was inclined to
parley on Murgatroyd's account.
II want to understand this thing"
he began, aggressively. and Darrell in
terrupted him with:
Precisely! The quickest way to un-
derstand it Is by listening to what
wish to say. If anything has gone
wrong, | am here to be held to ac-
count"
He's right about that, Merrick."
said the doctor, rghting one Of the
overturned chairs and seating himself
in it. Lets hear him"
Merrict had an uncomfortable feel
ing that matters were strangely
wrong, somehow, and he picked up the
lamp and stepped apart to survey the
other room He came back directly
and again set the lamp on the desk
II don't like the looks OF things"
he Erumbled as he sat down, land we
seem to be leaving the whole matter
to you entire. But ! reckon you can
fire away"
Darrell. fearing interruption from the
vault. plunged into the subject at once.
What was the verdict of the cor
oner's jury in the Sturgis case, doc
tor?" he asked.
1T was found that Sturgis met his
death by bullet, i5-caliber fired by
one Nathan Darrell, of San Francisco"
returned the doctor.
quite conclusive?"
THE jury found them So
But you, in your own mind: were
you quite convinced?"
Il don't recognize your right to ask
such question. I am the coroner and
| have repeated to you the jury's YER
dict"
In spite of this Darrell could see
plainly that DR.. Payton had an honest
doubt.
whats the use OF splittin' hairs?"
said the marshal. And what has the
murder Of Sturgis got to do with your
row with Murgatroyd?"
Just this. Mr.. Merrick," returned
Darrell, steadily; "Murgatroyd killed
Sturgis-'
What" exploded Merrick. starting
up
The doctor was less amazed, al
though not a little startled.
Darrell repeated his words
why" exclaimed the marshal
"Sturgis and Murgatroyd was friends!"
"Murgatroyd would have no motive"
added the doctor.
"Murgatroyd and Darrell were not
friends" said Darrell.
That's no news" came from the
marshal. 1T don't bear on Murga-
troyd and Sturgis. anyhow"
Yes. it does" persisted Darrell;
'Murgatroyd killed Sturgis in such
way that they would hang Darrell for
it,"
''Preposterous!" declared DR.. Pay
ton.
You're a fool" averred the marshal,
frankly. do you think Murgatroyd
would shoot friend down in cold
blood just for the sake of having OAR
rel hung"
Did you ever know Murgatroyd to
make play that wasn't cruel, crafty
and safe?" asked Darrell Hes a
snake and would trail his Shiny length
over any friendship for the sake of
getting his fangs into an enemy's
throat"
BE reasonable, young man." said
the doctor, impatiently, be reason
able
Talks cheap" supplemented the
marshal. 1T would take strong proofs
to make me believe anything like
that
Gentlemen resumed Darrell II
happen to know that Nate Darrell came |
to this town on the day the murder
was committed. He came to Sandy
Bar to settle his differences with Muir !
Satroyd and, directly after he reached
the camp, made straight for this office. |
'MurSatroyd was out in the hills and |
barrel went into that private office |
ana wrote line for him. Murgatroyd /