The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-08

messages Was litSLI54iLei-
Darrell threw aside the paper, lighted
n cigar and leaned back in his chair.
A throbbing fear was leaping along
his nerves.
The cabin empty Had Scatterly
made a mistake n 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 coo!er air. His situa-
ton had become greatly complicated
n the issue confronting him vas
very trying even to his iron nerves.
Should he retreat? he asFed himself
1t would be easy to close his account
at the hotel n proceed TO some other
part of the country.
But to do that he II abandon his
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. He would face the issue, hop
ing that Scatterly had made some mis-
tai @. hoping that no interruption would
come before Nurgatroyd's guilt had
heen proved, hoping that the ladies he
was soon to meet would request moth
ing Of him that would lead to his dis
corcry-hoping everything, in fact,
that seemed impossible.
When he re-entercd the ONCE 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.
The two ladies were alone in the
apartment and We're seated near IL
window overlooking the street. One
was rather stout and with a tinge of
gray in her dark hair; the other was
young, slender and with a face of rare
loneliness.
Both rose and urned toward Darrell
as he entered. The elder advanced a
step.
Mr.. McCloud?" she asked.
AT your service, madam" he an
swered with a bow.
Il am Mrs. Corton," went on the
iNN ~ PiCstilllllS lleT udUu Wild
a cordial smile, land my companion is
my niece. Miss Avery"
There was a settled sadness in Miss
face which touched Darrell to
the heart and made him ashamed OF
the part he was playing. The difficult
ties of his assumed role were to COM
with this moment, as he knew
full we'll.
He barely touched Miss Avery's small
white hand.
1T gives me great pleasure" said he,
TO meet the friends of Lorry Ormsby."
You have received Mr.. Ormsby's
queried Miss Avery.
h came to hand several days
ago."
Here is another, Mr.. McCloud,"
Mrs. Gorten, rendering him a
letter.; after you have read it, if you
can spare the time we will tell you the
nature of our errand to his part of
the country. We are entire TRANCE
here and are very grateful to Mr.. Orms-
by for directing is to you"
They resumed their seats and Darrell
drew a chair neal and excused himself
while he read the communication from
Ormsby. The envelope was sealed.
which Darrell accounted strange if i.
contained simply a letter of introduce
ton.
AS he read, the eyes of the two Ia
dies stole 1urtlVely to his face. They
were not prepared for the sudden
whlteness they saw there, the sharp.
almost imperceptible compression of
barrels thin lips, the ~convulsive move
ment OF the slim, white fingers that
held the sheet from which he was read
ing. Puzzled and interrogative chances
passed etwce the elderly lady ana
her niece.
Darrell seemed distracted. He hello
the letter long enough to have read it
nall Il dozen times. The writing ran
as follows:
Dear Junius: This Will be handed Won
pS Mrs Gorton and Miss Avery. There
Is something about the man whom thpx,
are seeking which they do not know and
"hICh / 90 not care to have them know
stt aWhi!e' In your own time and when
you think best you may give rhpr, rha
Information. Through private sources :
nave learned that the man has taken am
o'htr name. and when these tactics nre
fesorted to it is clear that something is
wrong. Miss Avery has cx~pericnced
hluch sorrow and l would not care to add
one straw TO her burden, If il could he
helped. You understand. do Won NOT ,
1ou VIII help them. l know. and nIa,s.
De a little tactful in what YOU do. Tha
name now used by the one they dcsir.
to find is Stursis. Jack Sturcis. H. wa :
conda. ~
is there any bad news from Mr..
ormsby, Mr.. NIcCloud?" asked Mrs,
CnrfrYo IN ~, a-;,.