NG WITH FATE
LIAM WALLACE COOK
old Gleaners: A. Slory of the Cyanide
by*s Ban." "His Friend the Enemy/'
offers <if 'Butte/' Etc., Etc.
D
(Copyright, 1903, by William Wallace Cook >
ER I
TO SANDY BAR.
rrel went to Sandy
took his life in his
'< >yd was there arn
1 sworn to shoot him
ft nient of chance, however, en
tlO^ ifitiigately into every act of Dar
rers career. It was guide, counselor
and friend for him and formed tin
basis of iiis rule of conduct.
Never since he could remember had
he wavered between the Known and
the Unknown. Luck was the single
known factor in his equation and he
yielded himself blindly into the hands
of fate, always expecting good fortune
yet always prepared for the worst.
The feud between Murgatroyd and
himself was bitter and of long stand
ing; and Darrel, while caring nothing
for bridges in front, was careful to
bdrn those behind. An enemy in the
rear is a foe in ambush and it was well
that this Murgatroyd affair should be
settled once for all.
Thus Darrel reasoned. After study
ing the aspect of his bright particular
star he took team and buckboard, one
fine morning, and traveled out oi
Anaconda by the Blackfoot trail.
Anaconda knew little of the astute,
gentlemanly and well dressed young
man. He had been in town over night
and had essayed a game in the
"Colonel's Own,'' causing a ripple of
excitement by showing a discard of
two aces and drawing a pair of knaves
that “filled'' his hand and won him
the fable stakes.
"It's foolish to tempt fate In that
way,' said a veteran blackleg who
stood near watching the play.
“We mal e our own fate, my friend,"
replied Darrel in the easy, well bred
way that was always his; “it is not
fate that makes or inars us. Be truc
ulent and apprehensive and destiny
turns and rends you; lay hold of it
with your bare hands and you make
it your slave. Fortune crawls at the
feet of a daring man but hates and
spurns a coward."
The habitues of the "Colonel’s Own”
listened wonderingly. Such philosophy
was over the heads of most of them,
but the veteran blackleg was Im
pressed.
I nave ne”’u or nut one man. sain
he “w ho inv wiably discards aces wlien
he pets a pair. That man is Nate Dar
rel of San Francisco.”
The veteran might have added that
the play was known as “Darrel's dis
oar';" and lhat the man who had
originated it had quit college to fol
low the cards and prove his startling
theories—a philosopher of the devils
picture books, courting ruin over the
P® green cloth that he might work out a
hypothesis of doubtful value.
Darrel had no intention of revealing
himself, lie was tarrying at Anaconda
enroute to Sandy Bar and when his
eccentric orbit crossed Murgatroyd's
he wished it to be sudden and un
expected.
It chanced, nevertheless, that Dar
rel had overplayed his hand. That
night the veteran gambler dispatched
a mounted man to Sandy Bar with a
notice to his friend Murgatroyd that
Nate Darrel was in Anaconda and pos
sibly would continue on to the mining
camp.
When Darrel drew In his team of
bronchos at the Half Way House,
the hour was high noon. The team
was given into the hands of the hos
tler and Darrel went into the house for
his dinner
This baiting place was midway be
tween Anaconda and Sandy Bar. East
and wee’ trails also crossed at this
point leading to mining regions farther
back in the hills.
There was much travel along the
trails and it was common report that
the Half Way House was tlie biggest
gold mine in those parts. So it hap
pened that the dining room was com
fortably filled when the Chinese waiter
ushered Darrel to a vacant chair at a
side table.
The newcomer was eyed with sus
picion. hi the eyes of the rough and
ready crowd already there he was toe
well dressed, too “pretty" and defied
the laws of convenience by making a
distinction in his use of knife and
fork.
Then, too, his voice was loo soft and
his language too precise. These evi
dences of superiority rankled under the
greasy blue shirts affected by the min
ers and freighters.
Before Darrel s entrance another had
been looked at tiskance. This othei
was a white-faced man in corduroys
with “easterner” and ’‘tenderfoot*
written large in person and manner.
His reserve was stretched to th<
point of timidity and before he hac
used plate, knife and fork he had sur
reptitiously wiped them on the edge ol
the table cloth.
That of Itself was an Insult which
might have resulted in gun-play had
the proprietor been a witness. The
stranger was slender, like Darrel, had
the same dark eyes and closely cropped
hair and was near the same height.
His face was smooth, however, w'hile
Darrel had a neatly trimmed full
beard. There wras something about
the stranger that held Darrel's eye.
A man in Darrel’s peculiar line is
perforce a reader of character. After
a little study over the bacpn, beans,
cottee and sour dough bread, Darrel
concluded that the gentleman in cor
duroys had been driven west under the
spur of conscience.
Possibly his absence had left an un
profitable void in some eastern bank,
or other financial institution.
The coming of Darrel caused gen
eral attention to withdraw itself from
the tenderfoot and focus upon him.
Yet. although his superiority was man
ifest, every man in the room knew that
tlie second stranger was not a raw
recruit in the ranks of the frontier.
Finishing his meal under a running
fire of half veiled sneers and covert
jests. Darrel calmly rose and went out.
“Coin’ south?” asked the proprietor,
withdrawing is attention from a Mex
ican hag who, for four bits, was read
ing an old deck of cards for a pros
pector and telling him where he would
best go to strike a paying lead.
Darrel nodded as he seeled his bill.
“Mebby you'd lil e to help out a
fellow human who’s down on his
luck?” proceeded the proprietor tenta
"THE SCRATCHING OK THE CLERK'S
PEN CEASED Sl'DDENI.Y WHEN
HE SAW A STRANGE R IN THE
OFFICE.”
tively, for he was likewise impressed
with Darrel's superiority and feared he
might refuse the favor.
‘‘I shall be happy to do what I can,”
replied the young man and imme
diately went up a notch in the other's
estimation.
"Then come this way,” said the pro
prietor, turning and making for a rear
room. "It ain't much you’ll be asked
to do an’ yer kindness ’ll be appre
ciated.”
Darrel presently found himself in a
little back room where a red-whiskered
man lay groaning on a cot, his right
arm in splints and bandages.
"Got a man for ye, Hasbrook,” said
the proprietor cheerily; then added,
facing Darrel: "Hasbrook’s hoss played
out hyer an’ I give him another, the
best I had. The bronk threw him-”
”1 can ride with the best of ’em.”
groaned Hasbrook, breaking in, “but
the brute is a regular devil.”
“The bronk threw him,” continued
the proprietor, heedless of the inter
ruption, "an’ Hasbrook’s laid up with
a busted arm. He was carryln’ a mes
sage to Sandy Bar an’ if you’ll take it.
he’ll be obliged.”
"What’s the message?” queried Dar
rel.
"It’s for Murgatroyd." said Ilas
brook.
“Who is Murgatroyd, and where will
L find him?” asked Darrel, artfully.
“He’s a gambler at Sandy Bar an’
I reckon anyone can tell where he is.
Tell him Oowperthwait says Nate Dar
rel is in Anacondy and maybe intends
cornin’ to the Bar.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, ’ceptin’ you might add that
Hasbrook started with the message, but
got hung up at the Half Way House.”
“I’ll deliver the message,” said Dar
rel.
“Murg ’ll make it right with you.”
Darrel threw up his hands deprecat
ly and returned to the office.
’’he fortune teller had just finished
!i the prospector and swerved in
quiring eyes on the young man.
“Your fortune, senor?” she whim
pered. “For four bits I tell you what
has happened-”
“I know what has happened.”
“tin Then I tell you what is to
come, senor. Four bits.”
“Very well," said he.
She shuffled and shuffled and he cut
the pack into three piles. Then she
ran over the cards with great care and
elaborate show of knowledge.
"Marde mia! Senor it is malo, muy
malo. Forswear the cards and keep
away from Sandy Bar. That is what I
read. Trouble awaits you at the min
ing camp, ah, tnucho, mucho. What
I see, senor, I cannot understand, but
here it is: You are to die and after
that you are to live-”
He laughed, but she flashed him the
indignant look of a devotee of an exact
science and continued.
“The second time you live you prove
your innocence of a crime by fastening
it upon yourself. Is it not strange?
I no sabe your fortune, senor, but there
it is, plain to see. And, look! there
ia a queen of hearts; a fair young
senorita whose fate links with
yours-”
“That will do.”
The silver rang as he threw it down
on the table and turned away, lie
had not taken two steps before the oui
woman had him by the arm.
“You make your living with the
cards, senor,” she breathed harshly;
“have a care that you do nothing
wrong."
He pulled away from her and drew'
himself up.
"1 play an honorable game," said he
curtly.
“Ojala!” she mumbled: “you may be
honest, but you cannot be honorable
and follow the cards. Beware of three
knaves and two red sevens, senor.”
“Why?”
“When you hold that hand you never
leave the table alive!”
“Gracias, senora,” he said, a fine
scorn lurking in the w'ords; “the fu
ture is a riddle and a riddle you have
read me. As for the jacks full on red
sevens, it is a good hand in any game
and I shall be glad t.o receive it.
Adios!”
Thereupon he left the office and or
dered the hostler to bring his team.
CHAPTER II.
DARREL “PRESENTS 1US COMPLI
MENTS."
As Darrel climbed into his buckboard
the man in corduroys rode past on a
calico cayuse. To the saddle cantle
was strapped a well-worn traveling
bag.
Darrel caught the stranger survey
ing him covertly. The man’s gaze
was quickly averted,however,when the
other parried the scrutiny with a keen
look.
meres certainly a neawy loan on
that fellow's mind," thought I>errel as
he gathered up the lines and flicked
the whip lash between the bronchos’
ears.
The galloping cayuse was pointed
south and Darrel's plunging team
swiftly carried him abreast of its rider,
nnd ahead. Quickly the stranger drew
rein and was still at a halt when the
buck board and its single passenger
topped a rise and vanished on the other
side.
In those days all sorts and condi
tions of men were to be met in that
section, so Darrel scarcely gave the man
in corduroys a further thought. "You
may be honest, but you cannot be
honorable," were the words that passed
and repassed through his mind.
Rarely, indeed, did this freelance al
low anything to weigh upon his spir
its. Dut there was something in the
Meilcana's statyjent that struck cru
| elly affanlst a desire to be a ilttJe differ
ent and a little belter than he knew
hLmself to be.
"An honorable man mnwt be honest,”
thought Darrel, “but an honest man is
no’ necessarily honorable." He smiled
to '• 'mself. "That is what the senora
wo Md imply and she is not consistent”
AM fhe way to Sandy Bar he soliio
qul .' l. coming to himself abruptly
wher he sighted the Eponay below
him end made out the huddled build
ings l’ the camp. With a shrug he
dism -ed his unpleasant reflections
and ; nve attention to the work that
! conf: nted him.
“\ Mere will I And Murgatroyd?” he
aske of the man who took charge of
his t un at the camp corral.
“Vat's tellln'.” was the answer, as
a p r of speculative eyes traveled
over the newcomer. "By ten an' after
you < an generally find Murg at. Hawk
bill's. Sometimes durin’ the day lie's
at hi" minin' office.”
“Where is the office?”
“Up stairs over Kaliper's place. See
that buildin’ with the lamps in front?"
The man pointed down the street as
; he put the question.
“Yes,” replied Darrel. “Is that Kal
! iper's?”
"Naw, that’s Hawkbill’s. Kaliper’s
! is the next buildin' north.”
"Thank you.”
Darrel started immediately, his
j slight, graceful figure watched curious
i ly by the man at the corral. "A tin
| horn, if 1 know the brand,” the man
| muttered, shaking his head foreboding
ly as he began unhitching the team;
"he looks it all right, and besides he
asked for Murgatroyd.”
At that hour of the day Sandy Bar
was quiet and orderly. Night brought
the miners out of the hills and the
gambling gentry from their lurking
places, the games and the excitement
beginning simultaneously.
While passing the cluster of lamps
that arched above the sidewalk, Dar
rel took note of the temple of chance
behind them. Such establishments al
ways interested him professionally, and
this one, with Its elaborately painted
front, its fulsome display of red
globes and its air of prosperity, was
plainly a favorite rendezvous.
Kaltper's place was a restaurant, at
least a sign indicated that "meels”
were to be had at all hours. A narrow
stairway led to the second floor and
at the top of the flight Darrel was con
fronted by a door bearing the words:
“L. Murgatroyd, Mines and Mining
Stocks."
Without a moment’s hesitation, Dar
rel opened the door and stepped with
in. A sallow-faced young man sat at
the fable, writing.
The clerk was alone, but off to the
right was a door, partly ajar, and
marked "Private.” The scratching of
the clerk’s pen ceased suddenly when
he saw a stranger in the office—a
stranger with one hand behind him,
under his coat.
"Well?” queried the clerk.
"I have business with Murgatroyd,’’
answered Darrel.
“He’s out of town,” said the clerk.
A shadow of disappointment crossed
Darrel’s face as the hand was with
drawn from under the coat.
"When will he return?”
"In time for the games at Hawk
bill’s.”
i: I left a few lines for him would
Ik :i ■ them if he gets back?”
“K on he would. He always comes
to the office after a trip into the hills."
"Where can I write?”
“Step right into his private room.
Stranger in camp?”
“Yes.”
“Know Murgatroyd?”
‘T've known him for a good many
years.
Barrel was ushered into the other
apartment and the clerk placed paper,
pens and envelopes at Darrel’s dis
posal. As he seated himself, Darrel
saw a revolver lying on the desk by
the inkwell.
The weapon had an ebony stock,
carved with a death's head. It was
Murgatroyd’s, as Darrel well knew, and
by what chance had its owner gone
into the hills without it?
The clerk noticed Darrels curious
glance at the firearm.
“That’s the old man's,” he vouch
safed; "first time I ever knew him to go
away and forget it. Make yourself at
home. What name did you say?”
"Nathan."
"All right, Mr. Nathan. Nothing in
this layout ht too good for the old
man's friends. If you don’t see what
you want, ask for it.”
"Much obliged.”
The clerk withdrew and resumed his
penwork in the outer office. Picking
up the pen, Darrel wrote as follows:
"Mr. Darrel presents his compliments
to Mr. Murgatroyd and desires to state
that he is now In town awaiting Mr.
Murgutroyd's pleasure Mr. Darrel also
wishes It known that he can bo found
this evening at Mr. Huwkblll Mender
son's. Me trusts Mr. Murgatroyd will
embrace his opportunity."
Darrel knew his arrival In camp
would be noised abroad and reach his
enemy's oars. Murgatroyd’s absence
from Sandy Bar, therefore, made a
sudden and unexpected meeting Im
possible.
Darrel therefore desired the notifl
cation to come through himself. In hi*
own way. Having addressed the en
velope, he inclosed the folded sheet,
laid the communication on the desk
and placed the revolver on it for a
paperweight.
Then, lighting a cigar, he leaned
back in the chair, wondering why fate
couldn't be kind and send Murgatroyd
to him as he was then—In his enemy's
own room with his enemy's own re
volver within easy reach. Presently
the artfulness of Murgatroyd’s charac
ter suggested something and the re
volver suggested something else.
Picking up the weapon, Darrel
pressed a spring and turned the barrel
down, revealing the cylinder. Six
cartridges nestled murderously under
his eyes.
He listened intently. The scratch,
scratch of the clerk's pen came to him
monotonously.
One by one he extracted the car
tridges and then, by means of a sharp
pointed steel letter opener he embed
ded deeply in each leaden slug the ini
tial "M.” To replace the cartridges
and return the revolver to its original
place by the inkwell took but a mo
ment.
Next, Darrel recovered the pen and
continued his writing.
"In the evpnt that Mr. Nathan Dar
rel, in whose pocketbook this message
is placed, should be, made a victim of
foul play, he respectfully suggests the
following for the coroner’s considera
tion:
First—The fact that Lester Mur
gatroyd has sworn to shoot Nathan
Darrel on sight.
Second—The fact that a covert at
tack has ever been preferred by Lester
Murgatroyd to a meeting in the open.
Third—The fact that the bullets in
Lester Murgatroyd’s revolver have been
marked with the letter "M."—Note:
The letter “M” might be mistaken foT
I "W” and technicalities have mors
than once saved Murgatroyd.
A word to the wise, etc.”
Folding the sheet Darrel placed ft
in a red Morocco purse taken from his
breast pocket. Immediately after
wards he 5?ot up and passed into the
other room.
"Get through?” asked the sallow
faced young man.
“Yes,” said Darrel. With a pleasant
"good afternoon” he left the office an«l
turned his steps in the direction of one
of the two hotels which the town
boasted.
(To be continued.)
City Directory.
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS
Mayor, J. II. Holderby,
Recorder, O. F. Craig,
Marshal, Walter Pascoe,
Treasurer, E. J. Madness,
Aldermen:- Fred. D. Whiting, W. T.
Mag ness, Morg Drennen, W. C. Mims,
and C. M. Edwards.
Council meets first Monday night in
each month.
CHURCHES
Met hodist church, services at 11, a.
I m and 7:30 p. m. the second and fourth
Sundays in each month. Rev. C. 11.
| Newman, pastor.
| Baptist church, services at 3 p. m.
j Saturday before third Sunday, and 11
; a. m. third Sunday in each month.
| Rev. .1. L. Brown, pastor.
Christian church, services first and
third Sundays in each month at 11 a.
m. and 7:3U p. m. Kev. W. W. Young,
Pastor.
FRATERNITIES
Pannelly Chapter It. A. M. meets
third Saturday night. 1. C. Nuckolls,
E. II. 1\: T. II. Hearing. Sec. #
Newark Lodge F. & A. M. No. 24S
meets secend Saturday night. T. J.
Raney, W. M.; J. II. JImerson, Sec.
Newark Encampment I. O. <). F. lt>«
meets second and fourth Thursday
nights. 6. A. Ashley, C. P; F. C. Hoyt.
Seri he.
Newark Lodge I. O. O. F. No.
meets the first and third Wednesday
nights. T. J. Raney, N.G:0. F. Craig
Secretary.
Newark Camp W.O.W. No. 28H meets
second and fourth Tuesday nights in
each month. E. II. Magness, C. C.;
O. F. Craig, Clerk.
Independence Lodge No. 2379 K. &
L. of II. meets lirst and tnird Monday
nights in each month. O. F. Craig,
Protector; Zed Griffith, Secretary.
Railroad Time Card,
WHITE RIVER BRANCH
St. L. I. M. & S. Ry.
Trains pass Newark as follows:
GOING WK8T.
No. 127.12.50 p. m.
No. 125.8.00 a. m.
GOING K AST.
No. 128.D.10 a. m.
No. 12*5.7.02 p. m.
F. C. Hovt, Agent.
A. A. HENDERSON
Notary Public
Makes a specialty of
Writing and Correcting Deeds.
Office in The Journal Building.
Call at
J. QUALLS’
BOOT AND SHOE SHOP
For Legal Advise.
J. T. MILLER,
Physician and Surgeon
Office Back of John Martin’s Store.
Residence Phone No. 03.
Office Phone-No. 70.
CALLS PROMPTLY ATTENDED.
CITY BARBER SHOP
First class in every respect
Up-to-Now Artists.
Sharp Knives. Clean Towels.
T. J. Moore, Proprietor.
A. D. HOLLAND,
Dentist,
Newport, - Arkansas