The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-22
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uooE, puiied II open and SteDped b,cl.
an ominoas figure in the gloom of the
upper hall.
Go In, said he. CURLY.
Darrell went in and Murgatroyd fol-
lowed. locking the door after hfsn and.
putting the key in his pocket. The
oarkhess was relieved by light reflect
Gu through tho front windows from the
anu In the semi-Sloom Darrell
$1,000. silent. watchful. waiting.
There's chair in the corner"
Mursatroyd went on: "sit down"
The command was mutely obeyed
Mursatroyd then lighted n lamp drew
the shades ut the windows and took n
chair. fixing his dark gaze on Darrell
A year had passed since these two
men had last parted in Denver Re,
fore that they had known eacI, other
well. Darrell, in returning Murpa.
troyds look. searched for some sign
OF lurking recognition. but found none.
me silence heightened and Darrell
swept his glance about the room. The
clerks desk, with its litter of papers.
the brickwork and door of the vault
which served Murgatroyd in lieu of a
nank, tall mineral cabinet against
me wall, Its topmost shelf supporting
large block of "Galena" ore. heavy
ana sparkling. maps of the mining dis
'rlct. letter press-these passed in
SLOW review before the owner of tho
premises saw fit to speak,
got your letter, McCloud but
doubted whether you would be fool
enough to come here-here. of nll
places in the world"
Darrell swerved his eyes to the
speakers face. but hesitated to trust
his voice
letter." he murmured, at last
You must have been in one of your
spells when you wrote It," was the
sneering comment. Murgatroyd took
folded sheet from his pocket, opened
and read: Il shall be in Sandy Bar
tonight. You may look for me, for
shall surely come" With a ieerinr
laugh the letter was returned to the
pocket And here you are." added
Murgatroyd. ALLOW me to tell you,
McCloud, that you're crazy fool"
Inc letter was surprise to Darrell
and he stirred restlessly
don't know what wild notion
brought you here" went on Mursn-
tfoyd, but l do know that you're CO.
ing TO pike out of camp as quick as n
horse can carry YOU Luck has ia
49, ~ Jou oo Dul you re SO ire
sponsible you're likely to spoil every
thlng. few words from you about
Nate Darrell and the game will be a
losing proposition for both of us.
That blow-up on the War Eagle trail
was the best thing that ever happened
for us. If you yield to any OF your
mad eccentricities now there's no tell
Ing what harm you may do"
This touched at vital point of the
Sturgis matter. Darrell 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?"
Darrell took the e3ony-hand,ed
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"
Ffercely Murgatroyd pulled down the
cylinder and examined the cartridges.
One empty SHE'LL" he muttered.
frowning blackly: "slugs in the other
hVe 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, you2" He
-.'N-~N 'tS ibCS'iOh DIT VINO re-
ceived it silently. But you couldn't
have done that. you'd have had no OBJ
1ect in doing It 1t must have been
Darrell. when he sat in that Office.
there. writing his note that afternoon
l was away in the hills. Much good
that evidence will do Darrell now"
A steel letter opener-either a repli-
ca OF the one Darrell had used in the
inner Office when he marked the buI-
lets, or else the same-Iay on the
clerks desk near the lighted lamp. 1t
was sharp and might prove of ,se III
IA emergency. Darrell leaned OIL. arr,
on the desk close to the instrument
and bowed his head on his lifted hand.
In disarming himself by yielding un
the weapon he believed he had effect
lively dfsarmed any doubts of Muir
gatroyd's. present or to come. He was
eager to know more of this mans rela-
lions with McCIoud.
Til put this revolver in the vault
for now said Murgatroyd. and when
1 have seen you safe out of town I'll
put six fresh cartridges in the cyIin-
der"
Then, while he worked at the knob
OF the combination, he dropped the
weapon into his pocket In a few mo-
menss he pulled open the vault door.