The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-08
an nErREss OF RED DOC.

OF 1904. lie was al that time IN possession OF
considerable property heavily mortgaged to
one friend. and wife OF some attraction on
whose affections another friend held an encum-
boring lien. One day 1t was found that he had
secretly dug. or caused TO be dug a deep trap
before tho front door OF HE dwelling. into
which few friends. in the course OF the even
Ing, casually and Familiarity dropped This cir
eumstanoc, slight In ITSELF seemed TO point
10 the existence OF certain humor in the
man. which might eventually get into literature.
although his wife's lover-a man OF quick dis
cernmcnt. whose leg was broken by the fall
took other views 1t was some weeks later that.
while dining with certain other friends Of his
wife. he excused himself from the table to
quietly reappear at tho front window with
three-quarter inch hydraulic pipe. and a stream
Of wator projected at the assembled company.
An attempt was made to take public cogniZance
OF this but a majority OF tho citizens OF Red
Dog who were not at the dinner. decided that
man had right to choose his own methods
of diverting his company. Nevertheless. there
were some hints OF his insanity his wife re-
called other acts clearly attributable to demon
lia; the crippled lover argued from his own
experience that the integrity Of her limbs could
only bo secured by leaving her husbands
house; and tho mortgagce, fearing a further
damage to his property. iorecosed But here
The cause Of all this anxiety took matters into
his own hands. and disappeared.
When we next heard from him he had. in
Iome mysterious way been relieved alike Of his
wife and property. and was living alone at
Rockville, nity miles away. and editing news
paper. But the originality he had displayed
when dealing with the problems OF his own
private life was singularly unsuccessful when
applied to politics In the columns OF the Rock
pile Vanguard An amusing exaggeration. pur-
porting 10 DO an exact account OF tho manner In
which the opposing candidate had murdered
his Chinese laundryman. was. l regret to say.
answered only by assault and battery.
A Rratuitous and purely imaginative de-
tcriptlon OF great religious revival In
Cnaveras. in which the sheriff OF the
sounty-a VIGOROUSLY profane skeptic-was AL
legged to have been the chief exhorter res ulted
bnly in the withdrawal Of the county advertis-
Ing from the paper. In the midst OF this prac-
hcal confusion he suddenly died. II was then
discovered. IA n browning proof OF his absurd
lty. that he had left a will. bequeathing his en-
IRE effects to frecke-faced maid servant at tho
Rockville Hotel But that absurdity became Sc
fious when It was also discovered that among
hese effects were a thousand shares in the
Rising Sun Mining Company" which, a day
DR. two after his demise. and while people wore
Mill laughing at his Rrotcsque benefaction. sud
denly sprang into opulcnce and celebrity.
Three millions Of dollars was roughly esti-
mated as the value Of the estate thus wantonly
Tacrnedl For II is only fair to state. as a Just
tribute 10 the enterprise and energy Of that
young and thriving settlement. that there
was not probably single citizen who
did not feel himself better ablo 20
control the deceased humorists property.
Some had expressed a doubt OF their ability to
support n family; others had felt perhaps too
keenly the deep responsibility resting upon
them when chosen from the panel as jurors,
and had evaded their public duties: few had
declined oifice and low salary but no one
shrnnk from the possibility OF having been
called upon to assume the functions Of Peggy
Moffat-the heiress.
The will was contested. First by the widow.
who, II now appeared. had never been legally
divorced from the deceased: next by four Of his
cousins, who awoke. only too late. 10 a con-
sciousness Of his moral and pecuniary worth.
But the humble legatee. a singularly plain. I'M
pretending. uneducated Western Rirl. exhib-
tied dogRed pertnacity In claiming her
rights. She rejected all compromises. A rough
sense Of justice in the community. while doubt
ing her ability to take care OF the whole fortune
suggested that she ought to be content with
three hundred thousand dollars. She's bound
10 throw even that away on some derned skunk
Of a man, Nationally. but three millions Is too
much TO give chap for maxim her
Unhappy. It's offerln' temptation 70 cussed-
ness" The only opposing voice 10 this counsel
came from the sardonic lips Of Mr. Jack Ham
lin. Suppose" suggested that gentleman
turning abruptly on the speaker; suppose
when you won twenty thousand dollars Of me
last Friday night suppose that instead Of hand
ing you over the money as did. suppose I'd
got up on my hind legs and said. Look yer.
Bill Wethersbeo. you're I'D fool. II / give
We that twenty thousand you'll throw II away in
the first skin game in Frisco. and hand II over
10 the first short-card sharp you'll meet.
There's housand-enough for you 10
fling Away-take it and getr Suppose
what I'd said TO you was the frozen truth.
and you'd know'd it-would that have been the
square thing 10 play on your" But here Weth-
ersbee quickly pointed out the inefficiency OF
the comparison by stating that he had won the
money fairly with stake. And how DO you
Snow." demanded Hamlin savagely, bending
his black eyes on the astounded casuist how
do you know that the gal hezn't put down n
stalker" The man stammered an unintelligible
repy The gambler laid his white hand on
Wethersbees shoulder. " Look yer, old man.
he said every gal stakes her whole ple-You
can bet your life on that-whatever's her little
game. II she took 10 keerds instead OF her
ieellngs-if she'd put up chips instead O.
body and soul, she'd bust every bank 'twixt this
and Frisco You hear me-"
Somewhat OF this idea was conveyed. I feaI
not quite as sentimentally. to Peggy Moffat her
self. Tho best legal wisdom Of San Francisco
retained by the widow and relatives. took occa
sion. in a private interview with Peggy 10 pon
out that she stood in the quasi atti
fude OF having unlawfully practised upon the
affections Of an insane elderly gentleman, witt
view Of getting possession Of his property
and suggested to her that no vestige Of he
moral character would remain after the trial
II she persisted in forcing her claims to tina
issue. 1t is said that Peggy. on hearing this
stopped washing the plate she had in her hands
and twisting the towel around her fingers. ike,
her small pae-bVe eyes on the lawyer.
And ez that the kind o. chirpln these crltter
keepup7"
60 regret to say. my dear young lady" re
spondcd the lawyer, that the world is censori
Dus. ! must add he continued. with engaging
professional fraukness, " that we lawyers ar
Apt to study the opinion Of the world. and tina
such will be the theory oi-our side"