the twins of table mountain-第16章

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exceedingly　well…informed　gentleman。　　I　have　not；　of　course；
imparted　to　him　the　extent　of　my　suspicions。　　But　he　can　help　me　to
what　I　must　and　will　know。　　You　might　treat　him　a　little　more
civillyor；　at　least；　a　little　better　than　you　do　his　servant；
your　guide。　　Mr。　Ryder　is　a　gentleman；　and　not　a　paid　courier。〃

Miss　Alice　was　suddenly　attentive。　　When　she　spoke　again；　she
asked；　〃Why　do　you　not　find　out　something　about　this　Silsbiewho
diedor　was　hungor　something　of　that　kind？〃

〃Child！〃　said　Mrs。　Rightbody；　〃don't　you　see　there　was　no　Silsbie；
or；　if　there　was；　he　was　simply　the　confidant　of　thatwoman？〃

A　knock　at　the　door；　announcing　the　presence　of　Mr。　Ryder　and
Stanislaus　Joe　with　the　horses；　checked　Mrs。　Rightbody's　speech。
As　the　animals　were　being　packed；　Mrs。　Rightbody　for　a　moment
withdrew　in　confidential　conversation　with　Mr。　Ryder；　and；　to　the
young　lady's　still　greater　annoyance；　left　her　alone　with
Stanislaus　Joe。　　Miss　Alice　was　not　in　good　temper；　but　she　felt　it
necessary　to　say　something。

〃I　hope　the　hotel　offers　better　quarters　for　travellers　than　this
in　summer；〃　she　began。

〃It　does。〃

〃Then　this　does　not　belong　to　it？〃

〃No；　ma'am。〃

〃Who　lives　here；　then？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　stammered　Miss　Alice；　〃I　thought　you　lived
where　we　hiredwhere　we　met　youinin　　You　must　excuse　me。〃

〃I'm　not　a　regular　guide；　but　as　times　were　hard；　and　I　was　out　of
grub；　I　took　the　job。〃

〃Out　of　grub！〃　〃job！〃　　And　SHE　was　the　〃job。〃　　What　would　Henry
Marvin　say？　　It　would　nearly　kill　him。　　She　began　herself　to　feel　a
little　frightened；　and　walked　towards　the　door。

〃One　moment；　miss！〃

The　young　girl　hesitated。　　The　man's　tone　was　surly；　and　yet
indicated　a　certain　kind　of　half…pathetic　grievance。　　HER　curiosity
got　the　better　of　her　prudence；　and　she　turned　back。

〃This　morning；〃　he　began　hastily；　〃when　we　were　coming　down　the
valley；　you　picked　me　up　twice。〃

〃I　picked　YOU　up？〃　repeated　the　astonished　Alice。

〃Yes；　CONTRADICTED　me：　that's　what　I　mean；once　when　you　said
those　rocks　were　volcanic；　once　when　you　said　the　flower　you　picked
was　a　poppy。　　I　didn't　let　on　at　the　time；　for　it　wasn't　my　say；
but　all　the　while　you　were　talking　I　might　have　laid　for　you〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Alice　haughtily。

〃I　might　have　entrapped　you　before　folks。　　But　I　only　want　you　to
know　that　I'M　right；　and　here　are　the　books　to　show　it。〃

He　drew　aside　the　dingy　calico　curtain；　revealed　a　small　shelf　of
bulky　books；　took　down　two　large　volumes；one　of　botany；　one　of
geology；nervously　sought　his　text；　and　put　them　in　Alice's
outstretched　hands。

〃I　had　no　intention〃　she　began；　half…proudly；　half…embarrassedly。

〃Am　I　right；　miss？〃　he　interrupted。

〃I　presume　you　are；　if　you　say　so。〃

〃That's　all；　ma'am。　　Thank　you！〃

Before　the　girl　had　time　to　reply；　he　was　gone。　　When　he　again
returned；　it　was　with　her　horse；　and　Mrs。　Rightbody　and　Ryder　were
awaiting　her。　　But　Miss　Alice　noticed　that　his　own　horse　was
missing。

〃Are　you　not　going　with　us？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　ma'am。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！〃

Miss　Alice　felt　her　speech　was　a　feeble　conventionalism；　but　it　was
all　she　could　say。　　She；　however；　DID　something。　　Hitherto　it　had
been　her　habit　to　systematically　reject　his　assistance　in　mounting
to　her　seat。　　Now　she　awaited　him。　　As　he　approached；　she　smiled；
and　put　out　her　little　foot。　　He　instantly　stooped；　she　placed　it
in　his　hand；　rose　with　a　spring；　and　for　one　supreme　moment
Stanislaus　Joe　held　her　unresistingly　in　his　arms。　　The　next　moment
she　was　in　the　saddle；　but　in　that　brief　interval　of　sixty　seconds
she　had　uttered　a　volume　in　a　single　sentence；

〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　me！〃

He　muttered　a　reply；　and　turned　his　face　aside　quickly　as　if　to
hide　it。

Miss　Alice　cantered　forward　with　a　smile；　but　pulled　her　hat　down
over　her　eyes　as　she　joined　her　mother。　　She　was　blushing。


PART　III。


Mr。　Ryder　was　as　good　as　his　word。　　A　day　or　two　later　he　entered
Mrs。　Rightbody's　parlor　at　the　Chrysopolis　Hotel　in　Stockton；　with
the　information　that　he　had　seen　the　mysterious　senders　of　the
despatch；　and　that　they　were　now　in　the　office　of　the　hotel　waiting
her　pleasure。　　Mr。　Ryder　further　informed　her　that　these　gentlemen
had　only　stipulated　that　they　should　not　reveal　their　real　names；
and　that　they　be　introduced　to　her　simply　as　the　respective
〃Seventy…Four〃　and　〃Seventy…Five〃　who　had　signed　the　despatch　sent
to　the　late　Mr。　Rightbody。

Mrs。　Rightbody　at　first　demurred　to　this；　but；　on　the　assurance
from　Mr。　Ryder　that　this　was　the　only　condition　on　which　an
interview　would　be　granted；　finally　consented。

〃You　will　find　them　square　men；　even　if　they　are　a　little　rough；
ma'am。　　But；　if　you'd　like　me　to　be　present；　I'll　stop；　though　I
reckon；　if　ye'd　calkilated　on　that；　you'd　have　had　me　take　care　o'
your　business　by　proxy；　and　not　come　yourself　three　thousand　miles
to　do　it。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody　believed　it　better　to　see　them　alone。

〃All　right；　ma'am。　　I'll　hang　round　out　here；　and　ef　ye　should
happen　to　have　a　ticklin'　in　your　throat；　and　a　bad　spell　o'
coughin'；　I'll　drop　in；　careless　like；　to　see　if　you　don't　want
them　drops。　　Sabe？〃

And　with　an　exceedingly　arch　wink；　and　a　slight　familiar　tap　on
Mrs。　Rightbody's　shoulder；　which　might　have　caused　the　late　Mr。
Rightbody　to　burst　his　sepulchre；　he　withdrew。

A　very　timid；　hesitating　tap　on　the　door　was　followed　by　the
entrance　of　two　men；　both　of　whom；　in　general　size；　strength；　and
uncouthness；　were　ludicrously　inconsistent　with　their　diffident
announcement。　　They　proceeded　in　Indian　file　to　the　centre　of　the
room；　faced　Mrs。　Rightbody；　acknowledged　her　deep　courtesy　by　a
strong　shake　of　the　hand；　and；　drawing　two　chairs　opposite　to　her；
sat　down　side　by　side。

〃I　presume　I　have　the　pleasure　of　addressing〃　began　Mrs。　Rightbody。

The　man　directly　opposite　Mrs。　Rightbody　turned　to　the　other
inquiringly。

The　other　man　nodded　his　head；　and　replied；

〃Seventy…Four。〃

〃Seventy…Five；〃　promptly　followed　the　other。

Mrs。　Rightbody　paused；　a　little　confused。

〃I　have　sent　for　you；〃　she　began　again；　〃to　learn　something　more　of
the　circumstances　under　which　you　gentlemen　sent　a　despatch　to　my
late　husband。〃

〃The　circumstances；〃　replied　Seventy…Four　quietly；　with　a　side…
glance　at　his　companion；　〃panned　out　about　in　this　yer　style。　　We
hung　a　man　named　Josh　Silsbie；　down　at　Deadwood；　for　hoss…stealin'。
When　I　say　WE；　I　speak　for　Seventy…Five　yer　as　is　present；　as　well
as　representin'；　so　to　speak；　seventy…two　other　gents　as　is
scattered。　　We　hung　Josh　Silsbie　on　squar；　pretty　squar；　evidence。
Afore　he　was　strung　up；　Seventy…Five　yer　axed　him；　accordin'　to
custom；　ef　ther　was　enny　thing　he　had　to　say；　or　enny　request　that
he　allowed　to　make　of　us。　　He　turns　to　Seventy…Five　yer；　and〃

Here　he　paused　suddenly；　looking　at　his　companion。

〃He　sez；　sez　he；〃　began　Seventy…Five；　taking　up　the　narrative；〃he
sez；　'Kin　I　write　a　letter？'　sez　he。　　Sez　I；　'Not　much；　ole　man：
ye've　got　no　time。'　　Sez　he；　'Kin　I　send　a　despatch　by　telegraph？'
I　sez；　'Heave　ahead。'　　He　sez；these　is　his　dientikal　words；
'Send　to　Adam　Rightbody；　Boston。　　Tell　him　to　remember　his　sacred
compack　with　me　thirty　years　ago。'〃

〃'His　sacred　compack　with　me　thirty　years　ago；'〃　echoed　Seventy…
Four；〃his　dientikal　words。〃

〃What　was　the　compact？〃　asked　Mrs。　Rightbody　anxiously。

Seventy…Four　looked　at　Seventy…Five；　and　then　both　arose；　and
retired　to　the　corner　of　the　parlor；　where　they　engaged　in　a　slow
but　whispered　deliberation。　　Presently　they　returned；　and　sat　down
again。

〃We　allow；〃　said　Seventy…Four；　quietly　but　decidedly；　〃that　YOU
know　what　that　sacred　compact　was。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody　lost　her　temper　and　her　truthfulness　together。　　〃Of
course；〃　she　said　hurriedly；　〃I　know。　　But　do　you　mean　to　say　that
you　gave　this　poor　man　no　further　chance　to　explain　before　you
murdered　him？〃

Seventy…Four　and　Seventy…Five　both　rose　again　slowly；　and　retired。
When　they　returned　again；　and　sat　down；　Seventy…Five；　who　by　this
time；　through　some　subtile　magnetism；　Mrs。　Rightbody　began　to
recognize　as　the　superior　power；　said　gravely；

〃We　wish　to　say；　regarding　this　yer　murder；　that　Seventy…Four　and
me　is　equally　responsible；　that　we　reckon　also　to　represent；　so　to
speak；　seventy…two　other　gentlemen　as　is　scattered；　that　we　are
ready；　Seventy…Four　and　me；　to　take　and　holt　that　responsibility；
now　and　at　any　time；　afore　every　man　or　men　as　kin　be　fetched　agin
us。　　We　wish　to　say　that　this　yer　say　of　ours　holds　good　yer　in
Californy；　or　in　any　part　of　these　United　States。〃

〃Or　in　Canady；〃　suggested　Seventy…Four。

〃Or　in　Canady。　　We　wouldn't　agree　to　cross　the　water；　or　go　to
furrin　parts；　unless　absolutely　necessary。　　We　leaves　the　chise　of
weppings　to　your　principal；　ma'am；　or　being　a　lady；　ma'am；　and
interested；　to　any　one　you　may　fetch　to　act　for　him。　　An
advertisement　in　any　of　the　Sacramento　papers；　or　a　playcard　or
handbill　stuck　unto　a　tree　near　Deadwood；　saying　that　Seventy…Four
or　Seventy…Five　will　communicate　with　this　yer　principal　or　agent
of　yours；　will　fetch　usallers。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody；　a　little　alarmed　and　desperate；　saw　her　blunder。
〃I　mean　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　she　said　hastily。　　〃I　only　expected
that　you　might　have　some　further　details　of　this　interview　with
Silsbie；　that　perhaps　you　could　tell　me〃　a　bold；　bright　thought
crossed　Mrs。　Rightbody's　mind〃something　more　about　HER。〃

The　two　men　looked　at　each　other。

〃I　suppose　your　society　have　no　objection　to　giving　me　information
about　HER；〃　said　Mrs。　Rightbody　eagerly。

Another　quiet　conversation　in　the　corner；　and　the　return　of　both
men。

〃We　want　to　say　that　we've　no　objection。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody's　heart　beat　high。　　Her　boldness　had　made　her
penetration　good。　　Yet　she　felt　she　must　not　alarm　the　men
heedlessly。

〃Will　you　inform　me　to　what　extent　Mr。　Rightbody；　my　late　husband；
was　interested　in　her？〃

This　time　it　seemed　an　age　to　Mrs。　Rightbody　before　the　men
returned　from　their　solemn　consultation　in　the　corner。　　She　could
both　hear　and　feel　that　their　discussion　was　more　animated　than
their　previous　conferences。　　She　was　a　little　mortified；　however；
when　they　sat　down；　to　hear　Seventy…Four　say　slowly；

〃We　wish　to　say　that　we　don't　allow　to　say　HOW　much。〃

〃Do　you　not　think　that　the　'sacred　compact'　between　Mr。　Rightbody
and　Mr。　Silsbie　referred　to　her？〃

〃We　reckon　it　do。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody；　flushed　and　animated；　would　have　given　worlds　had
her　daughter　been　present　to　hear　this　undoubted　confirmation　of
her　theory。　　Yet　she　felt　a　little　nervous　and　uncomfortable　even
on　this　threshold　of　discovery。

〃Is　she　here　now？〃

〃She's　in　Tuolumne；〃　said　Seventy…Four。

〃A　little　better　looked　arter　than　formerly；〃　added　Seventy…Five。

〃I　see。　　Then　Mr。　Silsbie　ENTICED　her　away？〃

〃Well；　ma'am；　it　WAS　allowed　as　she　runned　away。　　But　it　wasn't
proved；　and　it　generally　wasn't　her　style。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody　trifled　with　her　next　question。

〃She　was　pretty；　of　course？〃

The　eyes　of　both　men　brightened。

〃She　was　THAT！〃　said　Seventy…Four　emphatically。

〃It　would　have　done　you　good　to　see　her！〃　added　Seventy…Five。

Mrs。　Rightbod